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Tennessee seniors wait to be drafted
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen "Ace" Clement start their basketball careers all over again Friday. Each of the Tennessee seniors will watch the WNBA draft with their families to find out where they will play professionally. Catchings, considered to be the No. 1 pick until a knee injury in January ended her season early, is still likely to be one of the first players drafted with Notre Dame's Ruth Riley, Southwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles and Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova. Tennessee has produced five first-round draft picks in the WNBA, the most of any other school. Chamique Holdsclaw in 1999 and Dena Head in 1997 were No. 1 picks. "Nothing is for sure right now," Catchings said Wednesday about where she will be taken. "As long as I get to play basketball, I don't even care." All of them are eager to put on a uniform again -- even if it's not orange and white. "I'm just looking to get drafted even if I'm the last pick," Clement said. The seniors' hopes to finish their Tennessee career with another national title to add to the one they won as freshmen were dashed when the Lady Vols lost to Xavier in the regional semifinals. Anticipation of the draft and keeping in shape for preseason camp that starts May 2 has brought new excitement. Catchings has continued rehabilitation on her knee and plans to be ready when the WNBA season begins May 28. She still hasn't been able to run or jump yet and will visit with the Tennessee doctor and trainer one more time before May. "I'm really happy with where I am right now," she said. Randall has been working with a personal trainer in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, in addition to finishing nine more hours of post-grad courses. Randall and Catchings graduated in December. "The biggest thing is I have to make sure I'm ready to walk across that line May second. I don't want to be the one out there sucking air," Randall said, taking a deep breath for effect. Randall has already had her eye on the Rockers, Cleveland's WNBA team. "For me that would be a special moment [to be drafted by Cleveland], but if it doesn't happen, I look forward to whatever team I go," she said. Randall and Clement, who played inconsistently this season, believe their work in the recent pre-draft camp helped raise their stock. "This year wasn't what people probably anticipated," Randall said. "[The camp] showed I can still play. It showed I have a lot of heart and a lot of game." "I just cleared my slate. I didn't put any pressure on myself," said Clement, who will graduate in May with a degree in broadcasting. "I just went out there and played my game." The seniors are well aware of how different pro basketball is from college: a short summer season, the potential to be traded and the money. They will also likely play against each other in different uniforms. That may be the best part. "It's going to be fun," Catchings said.
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