Shannon Bobbitt

infobox WNBA Player

name = Shannon Bobbitt
nickname = Lil Bit
position = Guard
height_ft = 5 | height_in = 2
weight = n/a
league = WNBA
team = LA Sparks
number = 6
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|12|6
birth_place = Bronx, New York
college = University of Tennessee
draft =
draft_year = 2008
draft_team = University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers
career_start = 2008
career_end =
former_teams =
awards =

Shannon Denise Bobbitt, [http://www.wnba.com/voices/timeout_bobbitt_080707.html 20 Second timeout] "wnba.com", accessed date.] is a professional basketball player for the LA Sparks of the WNBA. One of eight children and a native of Bronx, New York Bobbitt honed her basketball skills on the neighborhood project courts of Harlem. Following a stellar college career in which 5'2" Bobbitt won two Division I national titles at University of Tennessee she decided to enter the WNBA. Bobbitt began her professional basketball career playing point guard for the Los Angeles Sparks.

High school

Bobbitt attended Murry Bergtraum High School in New York, there she helped lead her team to two straight PSAL and State Federation titles. [http://www.utladyvols.com/basketball/playerbio.aspx?id=28856 Shannon Bobbitt Bio] "utladyvols.com", accessed date] As a sophomore she gained attention for her basketball skills, city rankings had her listed as the second best player. During her junior season her team went undefeated posting a record of 30-0 before winning the national high school championship. She finished her High School career by helping her team post a 29-1 record which was good for third in the nation./]

Junior college

The guard decided Junior College was her best option out of high school, so she chose Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, because they had just won a national title. During the 2005-06 season, Bobbitt handed out 211 assists to rank third in the nation in assists broke the 22-year old school record at Trinity Valley for her career in that category. She lead Trinity Valley to the NJCAA National Tournament, and the 2006 Region XIV Championship with a 30-2 record overall and 18-0 mark in conference play. Bobbitt was the 2006 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Junior College Player of the Year.Chris Allen Baker. " [http://www.sctonline.net/articles/2008/06/04/sports/sports51.txt Bobbitt Enters WNBA] ", "Scott County Times", June 4 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.] Dead link|date=July 2008

Division I

Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt awarded Bobbitt a scholarship, which somewho|date=June 2008 thought a risk. But Summitt said she had found "a true point guard" in Bobbitt. She was correct. Bobbitt proved herself to be a vocal leader on the court, guiding the Volunteers to the regular season SEC title in 2006-2007. Bobbitt's play was also key in ending the nine-year UT title drought, as the Volunteers defeated Rutgers for the National Championship on April 3, 2007. Bobbitt was named to the All-Tournament team. [Jere Longman. " [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/04/sports/ncaabasketball/04women.html Lady Vols Win N.C.A.A. Championship] ", "The New York Times", April 4 2007. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.]

The defending champions successfully defended their title in 2007-2008, again behind their point guard, who guided them to a title by defeating Stanford on April 8, 2008.

To those who have questioned how a short basketball player could make such an impact, and rise from junior college ranks to professional ball, Bobbitt explains that "it's not about the size, it's about the heart."cite quote|date=June 2008

WNBA

Bobbitt was the 15th pick in the 2008 WNBA draft on April 9, 2008, as the Sparks made her the first pick in the second round. Bobbitt joins teammate Candace Parker and former teammate Sidney Spencer on the Los Angeles squad, which also features Olympian Lisa Leslie./] "The chemistry of this team is great," Sparks co-owner Kathy Goodman says. "We love Bobbitt."cite quote|date=June 2008

On July 22, 2008, Bobbitt and her teammates were involved in a skirmish with the Detroit Shock.ESPN.com news services. [http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/news/story?id=3501654 WNBA reviewing Sparks-Shock skirmish in entirety] ESPN.com, July 23, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2008 - [http://www.webcitation.org/5ZahChLxZ Archived at WebCite®] .] The fight broke out at "The Palace of Auburn Hills with" 4.6 seconds left in the game, the game ended with the LA Sparks winning. [LARRY LAGE. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkl_wnba_skirmish WNBA reviewing fight between Detroit, LA players] news.yahoo.com - Associated Press, July 23, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2008. ] The WNBA suspended a total of 10 players and Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn. [Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/news/story?id=3503435 WNBA hands down suspensions for Shock-Sparks skirmish] Espn.com, July 24, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2008.] Bobbitt received an in-game technical and was later suspended two games for leaving the bench.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.wnba.com/draft2008/prospect_shannon_bobbitt.html WNBA Profile Page: Shannon Bobbitt]
* [http://thethunderchild.com/LadyVols/ Pat Summitt and The Tennessee Lady Vols]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2008-04-08-1436981475_x.htm consecutive NCAA championships] usatoday.com