Zeallous makes the WNBA All-Rookie Team

September 24, 2009


Shock's Shavonte Zellous makes all-rookie team

FREE PRESS NEWS REPORTS

Detroit Shock guard Shavonte Zellous has been voted to the 2009 WNBA All-Rookie team, the league announced today.

Zellous, selected No. 11 overall in last year’s draft, played a major part in the Shock’s late run to secure a playoff bid. She ranked second among rookies in points (11.9), was second overall in free throws made (155) and averaged 1.8 assists.


She is joined on the team by fellow-rookies Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry, Phoenix Mercury guard/forward DeWanna Bonner, Minnesota Lynx guard Renee Montgomery and Washington Mystics guard Marissa Coleman.


Deanna Nolan and Zellous led a furious comeback by the Shock on Wednesday night against Indiana to put their team one win away from another trip to the WNBA Finals.

I'm glad Shavonte was voted in by the coaches. She has been having a great rookie season. We've watched her mature and develop as the season passed. With verteran starters being injured and unable to play, Shavonte's minutes grew. She comes off the bench with energy and the ablitiy to play defense and score. Sad there is not an award for the the "un-sung' heros. Alexis Hornbuckle has been playing great and her leadership with the team has been very impressive with Katie Smith out with a back injury. Alexis plays smart and knows when and how to get the ball to Deanna or Shavonte to allow them to get to the basket. The unjuries this season have allowed the young members to grow and mature and our experienced veterans are sitting on the bench giving valued instructions from what years of playing in the league has taught them. Zeallous is quick to give props to the veterans and her coaches who are helping her grow. She is a joy to watch. She is humble and a great team player, but has just a bit of that "Detroit" swagger in her to make it interesting to watch her. Game two of the Eastern Finals will be played Friday in Indiana. That will be a big game. Indiana's coach had much praise for Detroit following game 1 which I am certain did not sit will with the Indiana team. Their pride as well as their Finals hopes will be on the line. The Shock will need the entire team playing real defesive- team basketball if they hope to sweep Indiana. It will be a good, physical game.

It's great to have a young building block to call on for the future.

Congrats, Shavonte.