University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Dean Selected by Chicago Sky in 2020 WNBA Draft
April 17, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Japreece Dean was selected by the Chicago Sky with the 30th pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.
The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close is confident in Dean's ability to take her game to the professional level.
"Japreece is going to be a great pro. Her love of the game is infectious! Her work ethic is unwavering. I'm so excited to watch her with the Chicago Sky!"
After transferring to UCLA from Texas Tech, Dean helped lead the Bruins to Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances in back-to-back seasons. The 2019-20 campaign saw Dean run the point for a Bruin squad that started 16-0 and set a new program record for most consecutive wins to start a season. UCLA finished the season 26-5 and was on track to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Austin, Texas native played in 90 games across her three seasons with the Bruins, starting 64 of those contests. She became the 37th player in program history to reach the 1,000-career-point milestone, finishing with 1,088 points. She dished out 390 assists at UCLA, including 159 this season, the seventh-most by a senior in school history. She knocked down 134 three-pointers in three seasons, the fifth-most in school history.
Dean earned All-Pac-12 honors this past season after putting up 13.6 points and 5.5 assists. She recorded the eighth triple-double in school history with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Yale (Nov. 26), one of five 20+ point performances this season. She was also a top-10 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award for the nation's top point guard.
Dean becomes the 13th draft pick in UCLA history and the fifth under Coach Close's tenure. Former Bruin standout Kennedy Burke had her name called in last year's draft, taken 22nd overall by the Dallas Wings. The 2018 draft saw Jordin Canada (Seattle Storm) and Monique Billings (Atlanta Dream) go fifth and 15th, respectively, while Nirra Fields was drafted 32nd overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2016.
The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close is confident in Dean's ability to take her game to the professional level.
"Japreece is going to be a great pro. Her love of the game is infectious! Her work ethic is unwavering. I'm so excited to watch her with the Chicago Sky!"
After transferring to UCLA from Texas Tech, Dean helped lead the Bruins to Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances in back-to-back seasons. The 2019-20 campaign saw Dean run the point for a Bruin squad that started 16-0 and set a new program record for most consecutive wins to start a season. UCLA finished the season 26-5 and was on track to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Austin, Texas native played in 90 games across her three seasons with the Bruins, starting 64 of those contests. She became the 37th player in program history to reach the 1,000-career-point milestone, finishing with 1,088 points. She dished out 390 assists at UCLA, including 159 this season, the seventh-most by a senior in school history. She knocked down 134 three-pointers in three seasons, the fifth-most in school history.
Dean earned All-Pac-12 honors this past season after putting up 13.6 points and 5.5 assists. She recorded the eighth triple-double in school history with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Yale (Nov. 26), one of five 20+ point performances this season. She was also a top-10 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award for the nation's top point guard.
Dean becomes the 13th draft pick in UCLA history and the fifth under Coach Close's tenure. Former Bruin standout Kennedy Burke had her name called in last year's draft, taken 22nd overall by the Dallas Wings. The 2018 draft saw Jordin Canada (Seattle Storm) and Monique Billings (Atlanta Dream) go fifth and 15th, respectively, while Nirra Fields was drafted 32nd overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2016.
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