This just in from the UGA Sports Communications Office:

ATHENS, GA. — Porsha Phillips (pictured), a consensus first-team All-SEC performer for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs during the 2010-11 season, was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the third round of the WNBA Draft on Monday.

Phillips, a 6-1, forward, was the No. 30 overall selection. She watched the show at her home in Stone Mountain, GA, with her parents, James and Lue, and her brother Jamil. Her other brothers, professional baseball players Brandon and P.J., also were on the phone with the family.

“It’s a dream come true,” Phillips said. “I was just trying to be patient, have faith in God that I would be drafted and just wanted my name to show up. I was so excited. I actually got a call from (head coach) Dan Hughes before my name was announced on TV and he said ‘Welcome to the Silver Stars.’

“I think I had a good college career, especially as a senior, and it was a lot of hard work,” Phillips added. “I still think I have room to grow as a player and I’m excited about that challenge.”

Phillips led the SEC in both rebounding and free throw percentage during the 2010-11 campaign. She also became the first Georgia player to average a double-double (10.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg) in nearly a quarter-century, since Katrina McClain did so in 1986-87 en route to winning National Player of the Year honors. Phillips grabbed 365 rebounds as a senior, the fifth-best effort in Lady Bulldog history.

“Playing basketball professionally is a goal Porsha worked very hard to achieve,” Andy Landers said. “I’m happy and excited that she’ll have the opportunity to play at the next level.”

With Phillips’ selection, 13 Lady Bulldogs have been chosen in the last 11 editions of the WNBA Draft, including eight first-rounders. Twenty-one Georgia players have gone on to play in the league since its inception in 1997, including six during the 2010 campaign. All told, 34 Lady Bulldogs have played professionally either in the U.S., Asia, Europe or South America.

(Photo courtesy of Fastbreaker Bill Zachmann)

Wash behind your ears and wear your church clothes…the Fastbreak Club returns to the Athens Country Club for tonight’s annual year-end awards banquet. We’ll be bidding a fond farewell to seniors Jaleesa Rhoden, Nicole Stroud, and newly drafted San Antonio Silver Star Porsha Phillips. We’ll get the final word on this past season and a look ahead to next year from Coach Landers. And, best of all, we’ll all get to hang out together and enjoy one another’s company one last time before the cruel, Lady Bulldog-less summer. The party gets started at 6:00 with team autographs and photos…and then Lady Dawg legend Lisa O’Connor will take the podium and run the show as our guest emcee. It’s the party of the year for Fastbreakers…and it’s tonight! See you there! 

TONIGHT: THE ANNUAL FASTBREAK CLUB AWARDS BANQUET

Athens Country Club (2700 Jefferson Road in Athens)

6:00 – 6:30 PM: Team autograph/photo session and scrapbook viewing

6:30 PM: Dinner and awards (featuring guest emcee Lisa O’Connor)