" With the 5th Pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, the Los Angeles Sparks Select Jantel Lavender from The Ohio State University " !!

(4.11.2011 - Renee Brown, WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations & Player Relations presents Jantel Lavender with her new #11 L.A Sparks jersey! - Bristol, Connecticut)

Buckeye Star reaches basketball's highest Level - Cleveland, Ohio's Jantel Lavender was selected as the 5th overall pick by the L.A Sparks in the 2011 WNBA Draft. Lavender enters the WNBA as one of the most accomplished players in NCAA history. Her extensive court resume includes an unprecedented four straight Big Ten Conference Player of the year awards and three First Team All-American honors.

Destination Los Angeles! - Jantel Lavender will be the first Ohio State Buckeye to play for the storied Los Angeles Sparks franchise. The Sparks are one of eight original WNBA clubs (1997). They have three Western Conference titles & Two WNBA Championships. L.A features perhaps the best player in women's Basketball, Candace Parker. Lavender will complement Parker along with veterans Tina Thompson, DaLisha Milton-Jones, and Ebony Hoffman. Jim Jackson is the last Buckeye to hoop in the Los Angeles area (Lakers 2006).

Buckeyes in the Draft - The now former Buckeye, Lavender, was the 5th overall pick in the Draft, and she is also the 5th Ohio State player to be selected in the WNBA Draft.

• Debbie Merrill - 2006 - #28 (2nd round)
  
• Jessica Davenport - 2007 - #2 (1st round)
  
• Brandie Hoskins - 2007 - #33 (3rd round)
• Marscilla Packer - 2008 - #41 (3rd round)
• Jantel Lavender - 2011 - #5 (1st round)

* WNBA great Katie Smith was already a pro when the league was created, she joined Minnesota in 1999.

All-Time WNBA Draft List

WNBA.com - Jantel Lavender Highlights Sparks' 2011 Draft

WNBA.com - Five Questions: Jantel Lavender