Last Season:
The ASU Sun Devils were 23-10 this past season and 11—7 in Pac 12 Play. They advanced to the NCAAs with a win over Vanderbilt before losing to Notre Dame. ASU lost their first Pac 12 Tournament game to winner USC by just 2. Home attendance averaged 2,041.
The Coaching Staff:
Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 18th season as the Head Coach, and has taken the Sun Devils to the NCAAs 7 of her last 9 years of coaching. Charli sat out the 2012 season on a sabbatical.
Amanda Levens is one of two Associate Head Coaches. She is a former outstanding player with the Sun Devils and returns for her 3rd season. At age 29 Amanda was named the Head Coach at Southern Illinois.
Meg Sanders is the other Associate Head Coach and returns for her 12th season. Meg was a HS teammate of Cheryl Miller, played on the National Hand Ball team and like Charli was the Head Coach at Northern Arizona.
Jackie Moore is in her 3rd year as an Assistant at ASU. She has been an assistant at Miami of Florida, Boston College and Nevada.
The Losses:
Last year ASU played mostly with 3 guards and 2 forwards. One loss was 6-5 Post Joy Burke who started 11 games averaged 16 minutes but was 5th in scoring, 7 points per game and 3rd in rebounding with 5 per game.
However ASU also lost their top two scorers, both guards. Deja Mann averaged 11 points per game and Adrianne Thomas averaged 8 points per game.
The Schedule:
It’s weak. Northwestern and Miami for sure and they aren’t much, but are the headliners. In a tournament ASU could play UConn, Vandy, Green Bay or Minnesota. Doubtful they would play more than 2 of those four, but they would help strengthen the schedule. In League Play ASU plays the Washington and LA schools only once each. A big time break there.
The Additions:
Nicole Iademarco is a 6-1 frosh Forward from Texas. Nicole averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in college. Called a G/F she will be versatile. An excellent student.
Tia Kanoa is a 5-8 frosh Guard from Hawaii. Began her HS career at La Jolla Country Day HS before moving to Hawaii. Lead her team to the Hawaii State title. A knee injury ended her Sr season after 8 games.
Peace Amukamara is a 5-7 Guard and a JC transfer from the Phoenix area and the sister of Sr Promise. Peace averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game at her JC.
Ayanna Edwards is a 6-4 frosh Post from Sacramento. Ayanna nicknamed Shaq for her 11 rebounds and NINE blocks per game in HS. She was ranked the # 15 Post and a top 100 player. Edwards is a big post presence, rather she had go for many minutes is to be seen. She is also an excellent student.
The Team:
Five players return who averaged 16 or more minutes per game.
Katie Hempen is a 5-9 RS Jr Guard, meaning 2 years left, who averaged 8 points per game last season. Katie is the only returning player, of two last season, to hit 20 or more threes. Katie made 44 threes at 34 %.
Sophie Brunner is a 6-1 Soph Forward who had a fine first season starting 22 games and averaging almost 8 points and over 6 rebounds, second on the team, per game. Sophie shot 50% from the field. She had her jersey retired after her HS career and being All State of Illinois for 2 years.
Kelsey Moos is a 6-0 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and a team high 7 rebounds per game. Kelsey was the state of Washington 2A POY three times.
Promise Amukamara is a 5-8 Sr Guard who averaged 7 points and led the team in steals. Promise’s brother Prince was a first round NFL draft choice and a Super Bowl winner. She played on the Nigerian 19U National team.
Elisha Davis is a 5-3 Jr Guard who averaged 5 points and 3rd on the team with threes but only had 19. Elisha went to Berkeley HS and was Division 1 POY as a Sr.
These will probably be the five starters. Short and without a real post but experienced and despite being about 6 foot both Moos and Brunner are good rebounders.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 Soph who averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds in just 7 minutes per game last season. Quinn will be the Post presence. Quinn was on the Canadian 19U team and spent one HS year living in France.
Arnecia Hawkins is a 5-10 Jr Guard who averaged 3+ points last season.
Eliza Normen is a 6-0 and a RS Jr. She averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds last season. Eliza was highly ranked going into her Sr year in HS but suffered a knee injury. Then as a frosh hurt her leg and missed that season.
Isidora Purkovic is a 5-11 Jr G. A Canadian who hasn’t played much at ASU.
Nisha Barrett is a 6-0 Sr Forward. Originally a JC transfer, Nisha missed last season with an injury. She is in Grad School.
Of the newcomers Edwards and Peace should see the most playing time.
Predictions:
On paper this looks like a team destined for 8th-11th place. But ASU has a great and proven coaching staff so very hard to predict. However sure looks like a 2nd division Pac 12 team.
2015 Recruiting:
Armani Hawkins, 5-9 wing AZ, 4 star, ESPN # 10 G # 37 Player
Sabrina Haines, 5-9 G AZ, 4 star ESPN # 16 G
Kianna Ibis, 6-0 F, Neb
