Mohegan — Curt Miller didn’t think Maryland center Brionna Jones would be available when the Connecticut Sun picked eighth overall in Thursday's WNBA Draft.

Miller, Connecticut’s head coach and general manager, ran through a lot of scenarios by doing mock drafts. He came up with more than a few, which was perhaps nuts because the consensus opinion was it was an unpredictable draft.

Washington guard Kelsey Plum, as expected, would go first to the San Antonio Stars, but don’t bother figuring out the rest.

Jones was still on the board when the Sun made their first pick, and Miller was more than happy to add her to his young team.

“It was a draft day, right-to-the-final second decision on if we were going to take post or if we were going to take a guard with that first pick,” Miller said. “We were really, really excited to be able to pick (Jones).”

Connecticut also drafted Ohio State forward Shayla Cooper (13th overall), Florida State guard Leticia Romero (16th) and DePaul guard Jessica January (28th).

The Sun had multiple needs. They were one of the worst shooting teams last season. Their post game became another issue when Chiney Ogwumike, their best player and rebounder, needed surgery on her left Achilles tendon last November.

Jones, who is 6-foot-3, led Division I in field goal percentage (66.5) and averaged 19.9 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Terrapins. She earned honorable mention honors on both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and AP All-American teams.

“I bring a low-post presence, getting rebounds, getting on the glass and finishing around the rim,” Jones said.

“We needed more post depth,” Miller said. “(She’s) a tremendous low-post finisher (with) a tremendous IQ. And I can honestly say I talked to a ton of these draftees on the phone, and not one person had a better phone call than Brianna Jones.”

Jones also graduated in three years.

“And a pre-med major,” Miller said. “She is absolutely, exactly who we want in our locker room.

“There’s going to be people in the league that are quicker than her. She has to get used to night-in and night-out playing pick-and-roll defense. And so she will have an adjustment, but one of the things we love of her is he’s one of the smartest basketball IQ kids in this draft, without question.”

Cooper, 6-2, averaged 10.5 points and 6.7 rebounds her senior season and was a two-time All-Big Ten second team pick. Miller has close ties to the Ohio State coaching staff and said he knows her strengths and weaknesses very well.

“A tremendously skilled (power forward),” Miller said. “She has the ability to stretch the floor with a really pretty 3-point shot and can also handle the ball.

“She’s got a pro-ready body. She’s a very, very skilled kid. And if she comes in and plays with a consistent motor and stays steady. … she has a real chance to steal a roster spot.”

Romero, 5-8, was a 2016 Silver Olympic medalist for Spain and is the Atlantic Coast Conference all-time leader in 3-point percentage (47.7). She averaged 12.5 points, 4 rebounds and 3.7 assists her senior year.

Romero will not play this season due to her Spanish national team commitments. It just so happens that Connecticut owns the draft rights to forward Alba Torrens, one of the top international players. She was drafted in 2009 and has yet to play with the Sun.

“(She) wants to play in the WNBA,” Miller said. “She enjoys playing in the states. So we have a chance to get Romero back in 2018. It’s exactly what we were looking for.”

January, 5-7, averaged 16.2 points, 6.45 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in this season. She played in just 20 games after breaking her right index finger in late December.

“We had targeted her going into the draft if she was there,” Miller said. “If she doesn’t get hurt, she probably is drafted way higher.”

The Dallas Stars drafted UConn guard Saniya Chong in the third round (26th overall). It marked the first time since 2012 that a UConn player wasn't taken in the first round.

n.griffen@theday.com