My Take: The HRR's 2007 PreDraft Combine Interviews

Thanks, Kris, for the very good 3-30-07 interviews of Coach Karleen Thompson and several draft prospects, including local university Rice's Lauren Neaves, local product from Tulsa University, Jillian Robbins, and C-USA's Carmen Guzman of Alabama-Birmingham ! Here is my take from each interview:

Coach Karleen Thompson - Great questions, Karleen's voice comes across real well and poised, good answers except we didn't lose alot when we lost the Tameka Dixon from last year IMO, Canty yes. This sounds like she might keep the picks though she did say there is a possibility of trading, and she seemed more certain of keeping #14 IMO, just a guess. I hope we keep them. She said Lauren Neaves has been consistent and did good but that we need perimeter players. Coach, Janeth Arcain is an All-Star perimeter player that plays three positions and is 100% Comet. {wink}

Lauren Neaves - Great to hear from our local player from Rice, Lauren Neaves! {smile} I hope she is going after those rebounds and blocks with a passion, same on the offensive side in the paint, gotta want it. Maybe showing a mid range shot too would help. Lauren is one of the players that has very good skills already and "wants to be good", good work ethics and discipline - the part in quotes is what Kara Lawson said she likes in a player here. You have the skill and the IQ, Lauren, showcase it! {smile} Lauren to me is like a shadow of Tina Thompson and/or will be a bigger, stronger, not quite as fast (but nicer heh) Erin Buescher. JMO.

Jillian Robbins - Hmmm, sounds like she had a tough time on the offensive end. I know Samantha Stovall of Rice defended her well, and Sam is a defensive 3 that is somewhat slight. But that was just one game and I've learned that means something but not that much. {biggrin} Best of luck to Jillian, a 3 that can post up a smaller 3?

Carmen Guzman - Oooh, nice discovery, Kris! She made me smile, I really like this pg - "I can lead" speaks volumes to me. I also saw her a couple of times in person this season as well as on tv in the C-USA tournament, and she is a true point guard that impressed me very much.

Bernice Mosby - This young lady sounds like she knows what she wants and where she is going! Very poised and self-assured. Coach Dan Hughes has all good things to say about her in this Q&A session. This is one of the most informative interviews of a coach regarding the draft process that I've read in all these years. Kudos to Coach Hughes, and thanks!

Great job, Kris! Please blog, blog, blog and interview, interview, interview. Congrats on making it to 2007 Final Four!!!