Qcity native Joy Cheek, who played high school basketball at South Mecklenburg High, was drafted Thursday by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.

Cheek was selected in the third round with the 35th overall pick. The 6-1 forward will be leaving Duke University after helping the Lady Blue Devils to the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA tournament.

"I am really excited," Cheek said in a statement. "It is a dream come true. It really shows all the work I have put in since I have been playing basketball. It shows you can reach your goals – nothing is out of reach. I am so excited to be drafted, get started and try to make the team."

Cheek guided Duke (30-6) to its sixth overall ACC Championship and ninth ACC regular season title. She averaged 9.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists as she started all 36 contests for the Blue Devils.

Cheek was named to the Memphis Regional All-Tournament team, All-ACC Tournament First Team, All-ACC Third Team and was a finalist for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.'

"It is hard to even describe to be drafted," Cheek said. "Especially, to be a girl like me who went to every Charlotte Sting game, and when the Mystics came to Washington D.C., we were season ticket holders. I still have newspaper clippings when the Mystics first arrived and when the first WNBA All-Star took place. I grew up wanting to support the WNBA because I wanted it to one day be around for me to be a part of."

Cheek finished her Duke career with 679 rebounds -- 12th all-time for the Lady Blue Devils. She played in 137 games, which tied her for fifth place. She also became the 25th player in Blue Devil history to reach the 1,000 career points mark as a senior and finished her four-year stint at Duke with 1,148 points.

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