Last Season:
The Arizona Wildcats were 12-18 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play. Quite a fall from 21 wins just two seasons before. The Wildcats are 7-29 in league play the past two years. Lack of Pac 12 type players would be the reason. I will note that they have two commits for 2014 who are quite good, so a start.
The Coaching Staff:
Niya Butts returns for her 6th season. Brady Manning left to be the Associate Head Coach at USC replaced by Sean LeBeauf who was a JC Head Coach and Athletic Director. E.C. Hill returns for her 3rd season and Calamity McIntire for her 2nd season.
The Losses:
Davelynn Whyte may be the best player in Arizona history and she has graduated. Last season she led the team in scoring at 17 per game and led the team in assists, double the next player. Whyte led the team in rebounding at 6 per game had 70 threes. Only two players had more than 15 threes.
Cheshi Poston who scored 5 per game and averaged 4 rebounds also graduated. Three others players are also gone.
Lynette Holmes transferred from Xavier but played only one game. At Xavier she averaged 12 pointed per game in two seasons. Cheylene Harper didn’t play last season and I believe graduated. The mystery departure is Simone Westbrook, who I can’t find in last year’s media guide. Westbrook was on the team at the start of last season and was one of the best HS players in Arizona.
The Schedule: Not yet released.
The Additions:
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 frosh from Texas, ranked # 87.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas ranked # 136.
Dejza James is a 6-1 forward from Elk Grove, CA ranked # 181.
Ashley Merrill is, a yes another, 6-1 guard from Southern California.
Arizona also added Farrin Bell a 6-0 guard transfer from SMU. Bell averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game for SMU last season as a frosh. She started 9 games and played in 30. I will assume she must sit out this coming season.
The Team:
The Wildcats had 3 players averaged 9-11 points per game returning and three who averaged 5-6 rebounds per game.
For the 2nd straight year the Wildcats do not have a true Center. Erica Barnes is a 6-2 Sr who was 5th on the team in average minutes and scored 9 points per game, 3rd on the team and had 5 rebounds per game, also 3rd. Barnes played more as a Soph averaging 11 and 7.
At the forwards should be 6-1 Sr Alli Gloyd. Gloyd averged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game. Gloyd was the Arizona JC player of the year 2 seasons ago.
Frosh LaBrittany Jones has an excellent chance to start at the 4. She is the highest ranked player out of HS on the roster and Butts describes her as a great rebounder who can really finish around the hoop and plays like she is 6-3 or 6-4.
At the 2 guard will be Kama Griffitts a 6-0 Sr and returning starter. Kama scored 11 points per game last season and hauled in 5 rebounds per. She is the only returning player with more than 15 threes having hit 60 at 31%. As a Soph at JC she hit threes at 58% scoring 22 points per game.
Carissa Crutchfield like Gloyd started every game, and should be the point guard. Last season the 5-8 Sr averaged 6 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists. Crutchfield transferred from Oklahoma State two years ago.
Candice Warthen is a 5-5 Jr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury. Warthen averaged 12 points per game as a Soph but hurt her foot after starting the first 8 games. She missed 6 weeks then came back as a non starter. However before her injury she scored 36 in a game. She will get many minutes and probably start when healthy.
Three frosh stand out and have a great chance for early playing time.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas described as a good rebounder and excellent passer. She looks to be a 4 for the Wildcats.
Dejaza James is a 6-1 forward from the Sacramento area. James is described as a 3 or 4 and a very good rebounder.
Ashley Merrill is a 6-1 guard from Southern California. She is described as a very good passer who can shot from outside. Merrill’s cousin is former Stanford Tight End Derek Hubbard and another cousin is former UCLA WBB player Janae Hubbard.
Layana White is a 5-8 Jr guard who started 12 games averaging 3 points last season. White has a career high of 16 points.
Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Soph guard who played in all the games last season averaging 4 points per game. Cannon was her team captain all 4 of her High School years.
Nyre Harris is a 5-8 Soph guard who played a bit last season.
Shereen Sutherland is a 6-1 Soph guard who played only 83 minutes last season. Sutherland’s older sister played at Kansas.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Soph and transfer from SMU. Last season as a Frosh at SMU she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game with 9 starts. She probably must sit out this season.
Predictions:
Sadly the Wildcats will probably battle with Oregon to stay out of the Pac 12 cellar.
2014 Recruiting:
Off to a great start with 3 commits. Taryn Griffey is the daughter of baseball great Ken Jr, and granddaughter of baseball All Star Ken Sr. Griffey is a 5-6 guard, ranked # 56. Jalea Bennet is a 5-11 wing ranked # 65. Cherice Harris is a 5-8 three star guard.
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