2024 AU Pro Basketball Draft Report: Week 2 Preview

“Joining Athletes Unlimited allows me to get geared up for the (WNBA) season, but (it’s) also a very competitive league,” said Gray, who earned Game MVP honors for the eighth consecutive game after her team rallied to beat Team Sims on Sunday, 107-103, in what was arguably the best game of the week. “You’re playing with some of the top players in the world, it’s definitely fun. I take every game very seriously. We’re competing out there, so why don’t you want to put your best game out on the court, but I definitely take everything seriously.”

Gray, a captain for the second straight week, saw her team go undefeated in Week One. It became the seventh team in AU history to sweep in a single week after averaging a league-high 99.3 points per contest.

And while she noted during the 2023 WNBA All-Star Weekend the move to Atlanta was a fresh start and had her feeling free, she said during Monday’s press conference her inaugural season with AU Pro Basketball last March also helped develop a fresh outlook for the game.

“It allowed me to realize what type of player I am and what I’m capable of doing,” said Gray, who is averaging 28.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. “Being at Athletes Unlimited lets me get outside my box. I play free, I’m having fun doing it, and it also allows me to test out different moves as well. Overall, playing at Athletes Unlimited, you’re in total control and … you don’t have to worry about (any) consequences or anything, you’re just out there having fun.”

POTENTIAL GAME OF THE WEEK

Saturday, 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT, Team Gray vs. Team Cloud — Former teammates from Week One will now face off against one another, as Gray’s squad could have its hands full against Natasha Cloud’s team.

After immediately hunting for defense and scorers last week by drafting Cloud and Tiffany Mitchell, Gray changed directions with her aforementioned teammates being captains this week. Gray seemingly drafted for balance with a good spread of positional players, grabbing three guards, three forwards, two hybrids and a dominant center in Kalani Brown. One of the biggest questions will be how the team will do if Rae Burrell (inactive) is unable to go and without Theresa Plaisance (prior commitment) to provide minutes off the bench.

Cloud, meanwhile, brought in plenty of scoring and defense, including a pair of Lexies — Brown and Hull — along with spotlight newcomer Adut Bulgak. An OG in Ty Young is also aboard, in addition to AU veteran Destinee Walker. And if Isabelle Harrison (inactive) makes her debut, this team becomes even more dangerous.

STEAL OF THE WEEK

Though she was the seventh overall pick, and Cloud’s second pick of the draft, Hull would have been the week’s steal for any captain whenever she was taken. Hull received two MVP 1 nods last week, despite her team losing in those games. This week Hull comes in ranked 14th on the overall leaderboard, sheds the captain’s role and now can play comfortably in any role Cloud asks of her. Without having to manage a roster and focus on lineups and rotations, look for Hull to have a big week getting back to solely focusing on her game.

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK

Plenty of newcomers could’ve stolen this spotlight but it’s hard to overlook Bulgak, the headline-stealing newbie who was captain Cloud’s first choice during Monday’s draft. Bulgak checks in at sixth overall on the leaderboard, with 1,326 points, just below fellow newcomer Emily Engstler, who deservedly needs to be mentioned.

Bulgak, who was undefeated playing with Team Gray, finished her inaugural week with AU averaging 10.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Her performance on Sunday against Team Sims stood out, as she impressively stepped up to challenge veteran Kalani Brown in the paint, but also showed everyone she isn’t afraid to pull from 3-point range, hitting 60% (6 of 10) from beyond the arc in the opening week.

ACES UP THE SLEEVE

Two-time WNBA champions Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell made their presence known in Week One. Colson and Bell, both members of the Las Vegas Aces, are sitting seventh and ninth on the leaderboard, respectively. Colson went undefeated with Team Gray, providing quality minutes off the bench while averaging 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Bell averaged 15.6 points in 27.6 minutes per game for Team Sims. The Aces teammates will face one another Saturday at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT, with Colson playing for Team Mitchell and Bell back with Team Sims for the fifth time in six weeks dating to last season.

HOMETOWN HOMIES

Of the 40-player roster, 35 are from different hometowns, while the remaining five have familiarity with where they hail from. Sisters Isabelle and Dorie Harrison along with MeMe Jackson are all from Nashville. Burrell and Sequoia Holmes are from Las Vegas.

FANTASY WATCH I

As of Monday’s draft, Burrell, Isabelle Harrison and Jackson were listed as inactive, but were not ineligible to be drafted. There is still a possibility they can play pending their injury report on gameday. Burrell was taken by Team Gray, while both Harrison and Jackson were taken by Team Cloud.

FANTASY WATCH II

With a “p” next to their names on the draft board, both Kelsey Mitchell and Plaisance are designated as limited availability due to prior commitments. Mitchell will only be available to play on Thursday, while Plaisance is unavailable for all three games this week.

W.G. Ramirez is a 36-year veteran sports reporter in Southern Nevada, serving as a correspondent for Athletes Unlimited. Follow him on Twitter at @WillieGRamirez