It was an Iowa sweep in the first round of the 2009 Game Time League draft Thursday: Guard Kachine Alexander, guard Hannah Draxten, center JoAnn Hamlin, and point guard Kamille Wahlin were selected Nos. 1-4. The league will begin its ninth summer of competition on June 16 at the North Liberty Community Center.
“I think Kash deserved to be No. 1,” said Game Time League director Randy Larson, who is also coaching in the league this summer. “Although I think everyone agrees that they wouldn’t be surprised if JoAnn Hamlin led the league in scoring and rebounding because there aren’t a lot of centers, and she’s obviously a great player on both ends of the court. You could have made an argument for two or three different players to be No. 1.”
Coralville Hy-Vee head coach Mike Stoermer didn’t hesitate much at all when drafting Alexander, last summer’s most valuable player.
“I’m pretty happy,” Stoermer said. “She was the best player at Iowa last year, so I think it was a no-brainer. I felt lucky about that.”
Larson’s team, L.L. Pelling/Cullen Painting, chose the sophomore-to-be Draxten second overall, as well as sophomore-to-be forward Kelly Krei seventh.
“Hannah has always been a favorite of mine,” Larson said. “I think she’s really going to blossom next year; she’s a great scorer. I think Kelly is just waiting for her opportunity.”
Active Endeavors/ McCurry’s head coach Mark Weaver was happy with the way his team rounded out — he picked incoming Iowa freshman Jaime Printy, whom he coached in AAU ball, sixth to balance the inside game of the senior-to-be Hamlin.
“I was pleased,” Weaver said. “It was nice to be able to get JoAnn Hamlin, probably the best post in the league. Jaime Printy, who I’m familiar with, adds a lot of variety as she can play the 2 or the 1.”
Second year head coach Brendan Unkrich of Goodfellow Printing/Imprinted Sportswear was easily sold when the sophomore-to-be Wahlin was still available with the fourth pick.
“I wanted to get some scoring and some well-balanced players, so I got Kamille who I think is a great point guard,” Unkrich said. “She can distribute the ball, she can shoot, she plays great defense, is just a really intelligent player.”
The next Hawkeyes off the board were incoming freshman center Morgan Johnson of Platte City, Mo., and junior-to-be Kelsey Cermak, back-to-back choices for Coralville Hy-Vee joining Alexander. Ames native and incoming freshman guard Trisha Nesbitt was selected 10th overall, followed by Printy at No. 11.
Shante Jones, a sophomore-to-be guard, was drafted in the seventh round.
Larson is as enthusiastic as always for another summer full of basketball.
“I was very happy with how all the coaches took it seriously. They all took the best player available,” Larson said. “Everybody drafted with good balance, and I think what we’ll have is what we want to have, all the games being really competitive.
“It’s going to be really fun for the fans to come and see three new players that are expected to participate for Iowa next year. So an exciting summer coming up I think.”