Pac 10 Updates

The search for a Head Coach at Oregon State continues very slowly. Last week in an interview the Oregon State Athletic Director claimed 10-12 candidates and that the interviews would be soon. Well this past weekend Kristen Tilleman, one of the two best Beaver players this past season announced that she would be transferring to UCSB after spending another year at Oregon State, not playing but graduating. Here’s the story, Tilleman asked for her release 2 months or so ago, but said she would stay at Oregon State one more year and not play basketball. She is about to start her Jr year and will graduate at the end of the year. At the time it was thought that maybe with a new coach she might play. But her new announcement indicates she is not playing this year. That’s quite a slap in the face of the Athletic Department who slept thru the whole Wagner mess.

Just announced today by Oregon State, Angela Misa a forward who just finished her frosh year, has asked for and been given her release. Now there are only 3 returning players from this past season for the Beavers.

Meanwhile there is no news I can find on who might be interviewing. One possible candidate, former USC coach Mark Trakh, was hired as the Associate Head Coach by Beth Burns at San Diego State.

Shoni Schimmel committed to Louisville. Oregon seemed to fill all their scholarships in April, so it’s unclear where they stood in the recruiting battle after that.

USC has hired two new assistant coaches, both old friends of Coach Michael Cooper. One is actually his son, the other he coached with in the past. Laura Beeman has coached for the past 15 seasons as the Head Coach at Mt Sac JC, where she was very successful. She also coached for Cooper with the LA Sparks in 2008. Michael Cooper II does not have coaching experience, but has scouted.

It’s interesting that Cooper let go two of the three coaches who “held down the fort” as he coached the Sparks, and they recruited. And they recruited a fine class for this upcoming season. Cassie Harberts is a 6-2 Power Forward who really goes all out, tremendous desire and ranked # 11 in the country and the # 2 Power forward by HoopGurlz. Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 forward, ranked # 35 overall by HoopGurlz. The 3rd Top 100 recruit is at #99, 6-4 Thaddesia Southall. Three top prospects coming in to see action right away in November.

Also entering USC are Len’Nique Brown a 5-5 guard, the # 54 Point Guard and 6-4 Lauren White, ranked as the # 61 Center.

USC graduated Hailey Dunham, Heather Oliver and Aarika Hughes, three players who saw a lot of playing time last season.

UCLA lost Erica Tukiainen and Moniquee Alexander, but will gain three frosh for this coming season. The new players are Rhema Gardner a 6-1 forward/wing, Thea Lemberger a 5-6 point guard and Corinne Costa a 6-4 center. Interestingly none are top 100 players but they are close. Gardner is the # 22 small forward, Lemberger is the # 35point guard and Costa is the # 32 center. The biggest addition will be the return of Atonye Nyingifa a 5-11 wing who had a great frosh year before missing this past season with an injury. Atonye was the # 19 player out of High School.

Washington has two new assistant coaches. Kyle Locke comes from Coppin State where he was an assistant for 9 years. Also new is Greg Nared who coached High School in the Portland area and before that worked for the William Morris Agency.