Collegiate Times

It?s a secret no longer. Having proven that she can rebound against the best players in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Kerri Gardin will have the opportunity to face the best players in the nation. The Chicago Sky selected Gardin with the 34th pick in the 2006 WNBA draft Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-1-inch forward becomes the third Hokie to be selected in the WNBA draft since the league?s creation in 1996. Tere Williams was selected by the Phoenix Mercury in 2001, and Ieva Kublina was selected by the Indiana Fever in 2004 ? both in the third round.

"I had just gotten back and was walking in the locker room and I was going to check online, then my coach had called me and told me the news," Gardin said. "It's somewhat emotional. It's something I've always had up there among my goals along with winning a championship. It's special to accomplish such a big goal."

This past season, Gardin led the ACC in rebounding, a statistic that stood out most to Virginia Tech head coach Beth Dunkenberger and likely increased her draft status.

"The ACC is undisputedly the No. 1 conference in the nation and she led it in rebounding. She averaged a double-double," Dunkenberger said. "We'll definitely miss her. The one stat that does jump at you is rebounding. Our kids always joke they wouldn't go for rebounds because they knew Kerri would get it."

In her final season as a Hokie, Gardin set the school record for rebounds in a season with 289. She also tied Nare Diawara for most blocks on the team with 25 and was second in scoring with 12.3 points per game. Her numbers garnered her a third-team All-ACC selection.

Dunkenberger said she and the team are excited to see the Morgantown, N.C., native?s hard work payoff, and her selection benefits the Virginia Tech women?s basketball program.

"I think it helps recruiting ... It's a goal of a lot of kids out there," Dunkenberger said. "They need to know they can come to Virginia Tech and help us win some games and let their dreams come true."

Gardin led the Hokies to a 21-10 mark this season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in as many tries in her Tech career.

April 20 marks the departure date for Gardin. She will head to Chicago where she will compete with approximately 15 people for 11-13 roster spots.

"I want to bring what I've been doing my college career," Gardin said. "The aggressiveness, rebounding, defense, just playing hard. I want to bring that work ethic to the WNBA."