• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, September 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Tayler Hill moves on up to the big time

by MSR News Online
April 24, 2013
11
SHARES
211
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

 

 

 

AnotherViewsquareTayler Hill soon will earn her human economy degree from Ohio State. A few weeks ago, she went on a few interviews and last week got her first job offer.

“I never have been on a job interview, so I’m not sure exactly how that works,” admitted the Minneapolis native before interviewing for and accepting her first job as a professional basketball player. The Washington Mystics selected her as their first-round pick in this year’s WNBA draft, and she starts her post-college job in May.

- ADVERTISEMENT -
 Tayler Hill joins the Mystics. Photo courtesy of the NBA
Tayler Hill joins the Mystics.
Photo courtesy of the NBA

Hill briefly explained the interview process, which for a WNBA prospect is a lot different than NFL and NBA potential draftees: no 40-yard timings or individual workouts beforehand. I once attended a league pre-draft camp in Chicago during its early years, but those camps are no longer held.

“The coaches only get to see you [play] in college,” she noted. “I think that in the WNBA it is a lot of personal questions — it’s about who I am and what I’m like as a person. [Teams] want to recruit not just basketball players but people who are going to come into the organization.

“He and I had some really good talks,” she recalled of her interview with first-year Mystics Coach Mike Thibault. “Other coaches talked about themselves and what they can bring to the table. Then they asked some specific basketball questions.

“He [Thibault] was really interested in me and seemed like he really cared and showed how to get to the next step. His interest level in me was really high.”

Then came the waiting game, and the evening of April 15 was the culmination of four Toni Braxton-like days that left the soon-to-be Ohio State graduate breathless.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“We had rookie orientation Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” said Hill. “We learned a lot and they threw a lot of information at us, but it was very helpful. We learned everything about being a rookie: salaries, communication and marketing, the CBA (the players’ collective bargaining agreement) and players’ organization.”

Then came draft day: “Monday was an exciting day. When we got up in the morning, we had no breaks until the end of the draft.”

But when WNBA President Laurel Richie finally called her name, “It was a relief off my shoulders. I hugged my mom first — she always comes first,” said the new Mystics guard. “My entire family — my parents and my little brothers and sisters — were all there except my two older siblings. It was just a blessing having them all there, having both my parents with me at the table, and all my siblings in the ‘green room’ in the back. My family has been there for me since day one.

“For them to watch and experience something like this is something you really can’t explain,” she said. “I think it will sink in more once I really get down there working out and actually moved to Washington” for training camp next month.

She eventually wants to use her degree “to work with kids. Maybe open a daycare or a little center for children.” But until then, in a couple of weeks Hill heads to her first training camp.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“You can’t prepare for the WNBA unless you’ve played in the WNBA,” she said.  “There’s no way that you can prepare for game speed or playing against the best basketball players in the world night in and night out.”

Therefore, it’s important for her to be mentally sharp from the get-go. “I’ve got to be confident in myself, and I’ve got to know that I can do this,” she pointed out.

After graduating from Minneapolis South four years ago, Hill has been a member of the visiting team whenever she came back to her hometown, a position that will continue whenever Washington plays Minnesota in Minneapolis each season.

“Whenever I came home, I never got booed, and [the local fans] always cheered for me. I just appreciate the support, and I hope they continue to support me through my WNBA years,” said Hill.

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

(Still) gender inequity in media coverage III

Only eight words mentioned Hill’s selection in the Washington newspapers. USA Today and ESPN’s Bottom Line only listed the W’s first-round picks. However, endless words were expended on the NFL draft, which at the time was still a week away, and on the NBA draft still two months away.

 

Did you know…?

Hill and Tamara Moore (2003) are the two only Minneapolis City Conference players who have been WNBA first-round picks. How many teams did Moore play for during her pro career? (Answer in next week’s “View.”)

 

See more sports commentary on “Another View Extra” on the MSR website.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

 

 

To see more stories by Charles Hallman click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The Heat is on — 66-16-REPEAT?

Next Post

No wonder East African students say they don’t feel safe at school

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival
Sports

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival

What should the community do with the Third Precinct now?
Local

City Council reneges on Third Precinct proposal

Hennepin County attorney to handle investigation into Cobb killing
Local

Hennepin County attorney to handle investigation into Cobb killing

The debate over police officers in schools
Local

The debate over police officers in schools

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon
Health & Wellness

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink
Local

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink

Next Post

No wonder East African students say they don’t feel safe at school

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 28
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: