Johns Drafted by WNBA's Charlotte Sting in Third Round
4/29/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan center Pollyanna Johns (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township HS), a 1998 All-Big Ten selection, became the first Wolverine to be drafted by an American professional team when the Charlotte Sting made her the 27th pick overall in the WNBA Draft on Wednesday (April 29).
"I think it's absolutely wonderful," said Michigan head coach Sue Guevara. "Pollyanna's worked her tail off to get where she is, and she's just at the tip of the iceberg. She hasn't even reached her prime.
"Right now, she just needs to keep up her conditioning," Guevara added. "She needs to do for them what she did for us: rebound, run the floor, get on the blocks and score."
At Michigan, Johns set career records for rebound average (9.6 rpg) and field goal percentage (.552). She was Michigan's first All-Big Ten First-Team pick, and ranks second all-time with 827 career rebounds and sixth with 1,251 career points. In 1998, Johns earned all-tournament honors at the Michigan State/Felpausch Tournament, the Florida International Thanksgiving Tournament and the Duke Classic. She was the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week (Feb. 16), Michigan's Most Valuable Player and the Windex Award recipient for top rebounder.
"I'm speechless," Johns admitted, upon hearing of her selection in the U-M coaches offices. "I'm happy my friends and coaches were with me for it. That's why I didn't just want to sit in my apartment and wait. It was a very emotional experience for me.
"It would have been nice to stay here obviously (in Detroit). It would have been closer for people to come see me play, but I didn't really care. As long as I got drafted."
Also drafted by Charlotte were: Tracy Reid, North Carolina '98 (1st round, 7th); Christy Smith, Arkansas '98 (2nd round, 17th); and Sonia Chase, Maryland '98 (4th round, 37th).
The Sting finished third in the Eastern Conference in 1997 with a 15-13 record. They fell to eventual league champion Houston in the semifinals of the playoffs, 70-54. Charlotte opens the 1998 season on June 11 with a home game against the Washington Mystic. Johns and the Sting then head north for a June 13 game at the Palace with the Detroit Shock.
