Last Season:
5-25 and 1-17 in Pac 12 play. The Wildcats scored just 58 points per game and 31 of those points are gone. Arizona shot just 39% and were out rebounded by 5 per game. Average attendance was 1,374.
The Coaches:
Niya Butts returns for her 7th season as the Head Coah. She is averaging 12 wins a season.
EC Hill returns for her 4th season. Calamity McEntire returns for her 3rd season. Sean LaBeauf returns for his 2nd season.
Losses:
The Wildcats lost 6 players but two didn’t play last season and I presume retired. Kama Griffitts made 50 threes, more than twice anyone else, and scored 10 points per game.
Carrissa Crutchfield scored 8 points per game. Both Crutchfield and Griffitts started every game with the exception of one.
Erica Barnes scored 9 points and had 5 rebounds per game and was 4th in minutes per game.
Ashley Merrill missed 13 games but averaged 20 minutes and 4 points when she did play.
Additions:
The Wildcats have added seven new players and have their best recruiting class in years. Prospects Nation ranks the class at 25.
Taryn Griffey is a 5-7 Frosh Guard. Taryn was ranked # 58 by Blue Star and # 101 by PN.
Charise Holloway is a 5-9 Frosh Guard. Charise is a very good three point shooter. She was ranked # 132 by PN and also the # 23 Guard.
JaLea Bennett is a 6-0 Frosh and ranked the # 21 Guard.
Cherice Harris is a 5-8 Frosh Guard.
Chy Cunningham is a 5-10 Jr Guard and a JC transfer. Last season she averaged 13 points per game shooting 50% from the field.
Malena Washington is a 5-6 Jr Guard.
Lauren Evans is a 5-11 Jr Guard.
Notice all seven are Guards.
The Schedule:
When the only top 100 teams the Wildcats might play are Texas Tech and Wake Forest then I’d say whoa that’s weak. Arizona plays the LA and Washington schools just once each.
The Team:
The Wildcats return just 4 players who saw considerable playing time this past season. Plus 2 return from injuries and redshirt years.
Candice Warthen is a 5-5 5th year Sr Guard who started every game, playing 33 minutes and averaging 11 points per game to lead the Wildcats.
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 Soph Forward who also started every game and averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Breanna Workman is 6-1 Soph Forward who started all but 2 games averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Keyahndra is a 5-9 Jr Giatd who played 19 minutes per game averaging 4 points.
Ali Gloyd is a 6-1 5th year Sr Forward who sat out last season with an ACL. Two years ago she was a starter averaging 9 points and 6 rebounds.
Dejza James is a 6-1 redshirt Frosh Froward who tore her ACL in game 10 and could get a redshirt. In 13 minutes she averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds.
Predictions:
Sadly doomed to last place.
2015 Recruiting:
Ashanti Coleman, 6-1 # 23 Forward, # 110 overall
Destiny Graham, 6-3 Post, # 14 player in NorCal
September 24, 2014
September 12, 2014
Pac 12 Preview: USC
Last Season:
22-13 overall and 11-7 in league and of course won the Pac 12 tournament. USC lost in the opening round of the NCAA. Average Attendance was 1,010.
The Coaching Staff:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is in her 2nd year at USC and her 9th season overall as a Head Coach. Cynthia has made post season, 3 times NCAA and 5 WNIT, 8 straight seasons. She had a storied career at USC and playing Professional that placed her in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Beth Burns is in her first year as an Assistant after a very successful run as the Head Coach at San Diego State. Beth worked on Tara’s staff for a year prior to San Diego State and was an Assistant for Tara at Ohio State. Beth was Head Coach at San Diego State for 8 seasons then Head Coach at Ohio State for 5 years and following a year a Stanford she went back to San Diego State for 8 more seasons as the Head Coach.
Jualeah Woods is in her 2nd season as an Assistant at USC and also a former USC player, a four year starter and 2 year team captain. Jualeah spent 9 years at San Diego State as an assistant to Beth Burns and her final year as the Head Coach. She has been an Assistant at Cal and Oregon State.
Taja Edwards starts her first year at USC coming from Cal State Fullerton where she coached for a year.
The Schedule:
USC plays the Washington and Arizona schools once each. The non conference schedule is very weak with only South Carolina figuring to be a top 25 team. Of course that one is tough, as South Carolina should be top 10 or better team and that’s the first game for the Trojans. After South Carolina comes St Mary’s and Oklahoma State. To be fair last season USC lost to both Oklahoma State and St Mary’s.
The Losses:
Cassie Harberts started every game at Center and scored 15 points and gathered in 7 rebounds per game. Cassie led the team playing 33 minutes per game.
Desiree Bradley scored 5 points per game and was 2nd on the team with 35 threes shooting threes at 40 %
Kate Oliver was the back-up Center and played forward scoring 2 points and getting almost 2 rebounds in 9 minutes per game.
Deanna Calhoun also played some Center but only played 20 games due to injuries. Deanna averaged just 5 minutes and has graduated in three years. She will continue playing at Hawaii.
Additions:
USC had the # 15 recruiting class in the nation, behind Pac 12 schools UCLA (1), Stanford (10) and Cal (14). All four recruits were Top 100 on either ESPN or Prospects Nation. Two were top 50.
McKenzie Calvert is a 5-9 Frosh Guard, # 16 ESPN and # 72 PN. Calvert was a one-time commit to Baylor at a young age. She is an outstanding scorer and was a HS honor student who hopes to major in Pre Med or Pre Law.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Frosh Center/Forward who may well be the starting Post this season. Simon was ranked # 32 and 48. She is very strong in the Paint. Coached in HS by Vanessa Nygaard.
Amy Okonkwo is a 6-2 Frosh Forward ranked # 90 and 120.
Chyanne Butler is a 5-6 Frosh Point Guard. She was ranked # 72 on PN. A three star on ESPN.
Also coming to USC last year from Virginia Tech is5-10 Redshirt Soph Guard Alexis Lloyd. Lloyd averaged 3 points per game as a frosh at VA Tech and was ranked # 81 out of HS.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 RS Soph and the returning starter for the first 2/3 of the season at Point Guard. Jordan was a McD All American and ranked as high as # 7 in HS. She suffered a season ending injury as a Frosh after just 8 games and was hindered by it this past season. She averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds and was 2nd on the team in assists. If fully healthy she could star.
Ariya Crook is a 5-7 Sr Guard who was the starter last year. Ariya’s career goal is being a detective. Last year she led the team with 16 points per game. She also led the team in threes by a lot with 69 and a career high 36%. Ironically she shot just 37% overall from the field, however that too was a career high. Ariya was a McD All American.
Alexyz Vaioletama is a 6-1 Sr Forward who started every game last season averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds. She led the team in steals. She was ranked # 14 out of HS and like Crook and Admas a McD All American.
Kiki Alofaituli is a 6-1 Sr Guard/Forward and started 2/3 of the games last year. Kiki averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds. She was ranked # 26 out of HS.
I believe Frosh Kristen Simon will start at Center.
Others who started last season include 6-1 Sr Forward Kaneisha Horn who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 12 minutes of play, shooting just 32%. Horn played at Alabama for three seasons graduated and is in a USC Masters program. She is USC’s 4th McD All American.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Jr Guard who started 15 games averaging 7 points and led the team is assists. Brianna has 26 starts in her 2 years.
Courtney Jaco is a 5-8 Soph Guard who played in HS with Simon. Jaco scored 4 points per game in 13 minutes as a frosh. However in her brief play she hit 25 threes at 36%.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Soph Center and Destinie Gibbs is a 5-11 Jr Guard. Both of Gibbs’ uncles played in the NFL. Edelman is from Sunnyvale and Menlo HS and plans on a career in medicine.
Predictions:
USC has really good depth with the four good frosh and the returnees. But they return only 41 points per game from last season. Picking up the offense and scoring will be the key for playing time. The Trojans have a big hole at Center, solving that will be the key for success for the team.
2015 Recruiting:
6-3 Fairfax forward Marguerite Effa, ranked 134.
2017 Commits:
6-2 Post Ayanna "Yanni" Clark, LB Poly, Ranked # 4 2017.
22-13 overall and 11-7 in league and of course won the Pac 12 tournament. USC lost in the opening round of the NCAA. Average Attendance was 1,010.
The Coaching Staff:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is in her 2nd year at USC and her 9th season overall as a Head Coach. Cynthia has made post season, 3 times NCAA and 5 WNIT, 8 straight seasons. She had a storied career at USC and playing Professional that placed her in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Beth Burns is in her first year as an Assistant after a very successful run as the Head Coach at San Diego State. Beth worked on Tara’s staff for a year prior to San Diego State and was an Assistant for Tara at Ohio State. Beth was Head Coach at San Diego State for 8 seasons then Head Coach at Ohio State for 5 years and following a year a Stanford she went back to San Diego State for 8 more seasons as the Head Coach.
Jualeah Woods is in her 2nd season as an Assistant at USC and also a former USC player, a four year starter and 2 year team captain. Jualeah spent 9 years at San Diego State as an assistant to Beth Burns and her final year as the Head Coach. She has been an Assistant at Cal and Oregon State.
Taja Edwards starts her first year at USC coming from Cal State Fullerton where she coached for a year.
The Schedule:
USC plays the Washington and Arizona schools once each. The non conference schedule is very weak with only South Carolina figuring to be a top 25 team. Of course that one is tough, as South Carolina should be top 10 or better team and that’s the first game for the Trojans. After South Carolina comes St Mary’s and Oklahoma State. To be fair last season USC lost to both Oklahoma State and St Mary’s.
The Losses:
Cassie Harberts started every game at Center and scored 15 points and gathered in 7 rebounds per game. Cassie led the team playing 33 minutes per game.
Desiree Bradley scored 5 points per game and was 2nd on the team with 35 threes shooting threes at 40 %
Kate Oliver was the back-up Center and played forward scoring 2 points and getting almost 2 rebounds in 9 minutes per game.
Deanna Calhoun also played some Center but only played 20 games due to injuries. Deanna averaged just 5 minutes and has graduated in three years. She will continue playing at Hawaii.
Additions:
USC had the # 15 recruiting class in the nation, behind Pac 12 schools UCLA (1), Stanford (10) and Cal (14). All four recruits were Top 100 on either ESPN or Prospects Nation. Two were top 50.
McKenzie Calvert is a 5-9 Frosh Guard, # 16 ESPN and # 72 PN. Calvert was a one-time commit to Baylor at a young age. She is an outstanding scorer and was a HS honor student who hopes to major in Pre Med or Pre Law.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Frosh Center/Forward who may well be the starting Post this season. Simon was ranked # 32 and 48. She is very strong in the Paint. Coached in HS by Vanessa Nygaard.
Amy Okonkwo is a 6-2 Frosh Forward ranked # 90 and 120.
Chyanne Butler is a 5-6 Frosh Point Guard. She was ranked # 72 on PN. A three star on ESPN.
Also coming to USC last year from Virginia Tech is5-10 Redshirt Soph Guard Alexis Lloyd. Lloyd averaged 3 points per game as a frosh at VA Tech and was ranked # 81 out of HS.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 RS Soph and the returning starter for the first 2/3 of the season at Point Guard. Jordan was a McD All American and ranked as high as # 7 in HS. She suffered a season ending injury as a Frosh after just 8 games and was hindered by it this past season. She averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds and was 2nd on the team in assists. If fully healthy she could star.
Ariya Crook is a 5-7 Sr Guard who was the starter last year. Ariya’s career goal is being a detective. Last year she led the team with 16 points per game. She also led the team in threes by a lot with 69 and a career high 36%. Ironically she shot just 37% overall from the field, however that too was a career high. Ariya was a McD All American.
Alexyz Vaioletama is a 6-1 Sr Forward who started every game last season averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds. She led the team in steals. She was ranked # 14 out of HS and like Crook and Admas a McD All American.
Kiki Alofaituli is a 6-1 Sr Guard/Forward and started 2/3 of the games last year. Kiki averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds. She was ranked # 26 out of HS.
I believe Frosh Kristen Simon will start at Center.
Others who started last season include 6-1 Sr Forward Kaneisha Horn who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 12 minutes of play, shooting just 32%. Horn played at Alabama for three seasons graduated and is in a USC Masters program. She is USC’s 4th McD All American.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Jr Guard who started 15 games averaging 7 points and led the team is assists. Brianna has 26 starts in her 2 years.
Courtney Jaco is a 5-8 Soph Guard who played in HS with Simon. Jaco scored 4 points per game in 13 minutes as a frosh. However in her brief play she hit 25 threes at 36%.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Soph Center and Destinie Gibbs is a 5-11 Jr Guard. Both of Gibbs’ uncles played in the NFL. Edelman is from Sunnyvale and Menlo HS and plans on a career in medicine.
Predictions:
USC has really good depth with the four good frosh and the returnees. But they return only 41 points per game from last season. Picking up the offense and scoring will be the key for playing time. The Trojans have a big hole at Center, solving that will be the key for success for the team.
2015 Recruiting:
6-3 Fairfax forward Marguerite Effa, ranked 134.
2017 Commits:
6-2 Post Ayanna "Yanni" Clark, LB Poly, Ranked # 4 2017.
September 2, 2014
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Last Season:
The Cougars went 17-17 overall. 9-9 in Pac 12 play. This was June’s best season at Washington State and her first 500 season either overall or in league play. The Cougars played in the WNIT losing their first game. Average Attendance was 1,046.
The Coaching Staff:
This will be June Daugherty’s 8th season in Pullman after 11 seasons at rival Washington. Also June was once an assistant at Stanford. This past season was June’s best at Washington State and things could be even better this season.
Mike Daugherty is also in his 8th season at Washington State having coached with wife June for more than 20 years.
Brian Holsinger is also in his 8th season as the recruiting coordinator and like Mike now an Associate Head Coach.
Ashley Grover is in her 3rd year as an assistant after holding several jobs on the staff before and as a student was the student manager.
Losses:
Sage Romberg is a big loss after averaging 9 points per game last year, starting every game. She also was 2nd with 47 threes and at a team high 39%. Sage was 2nd in rebounding with 6 per game.
Hana Potter and Brandi Thomas both played about 10 minutes per game and scored just under 2 points per game each.
The Schedule:
In Pac 12 play the Cougars play the LA schools and the Arizona schools just once. In non-conference play the Cougars play Virginia, Nebraska, Gonzaga, Michigan and Maryland. A solid schedule as always for June and the Cougars.
Additions:
Louise Brown is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from Australia. Brown is ranked has the 9th best foreign recruit for this class. She has played on several of Australia’s National youth teams.
Bianca Blanaru is a 6-5 Frosh Post from Romania. Blanaru has played on several of her countries youth national teams. She originally signed with Arkansas but was released due to their coaching change.
Ashley Bolston is a 6-2 Frosh Guard from Medford, Oregon. Bolston stared on the Oregon State Championship team two years ago with Tess Picknell. She was ranked # 106.
Calia Haley is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from SoCal. She was ranked the # 18 Guard and helped year her HS to a CA stare Title as a Jr.
Nike McClure is a 6-3 Frosh Forward/Center from the state of Washington. Nike is a strong rebounder and was ranked the # 22 Forward. She excelled in HS in the 800 and High Jump.
Pinelopi Pavlopoulou is a 5-9 Frosh Point Guard from Greece. She has played on a number of youth National teams for Greece.
Kyrystle McKenzie is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Australia. She has played on a youth National team.
The Team:
All Pac 12 5-11 Jr Guard Lia Gladeira returns and will start. Lia averaged 18 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She was one of three guards in the 3 guard lineup. Lia had a plus assist to turnover ratio and led the team with 62 threes at 31%. Lia was the POY 3 times in Hawaii.
Tia Pressley is a 5-9 Sr Guard who lead the team with 19 points per game. Tia averaged 4 rebounds and also had a plus assist to turnover ratio. Tia was also all Pac 12 and with Lia the first Cougar teammates ever to receive all Pac honors.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 JR Point Guard who 5 points per game and better than 3 assists a game with an assist to turnover ratio of almost 2:1. Awa was the Gatorade POY in Hawaii as a Sr.
Shalie Dheensaw is a 6-4 Sr Center who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per game this past season. Shalie played for several youth national teams for her native Canada.
Mariah Cooks is a 6-0 Jr Forward who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds this past season.
The Cougars return 4 starters and Cooks played every game, 16 minutes per game.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 5 points per game and hit 29 threes at 39%.
Predictions:
Certainly a program on the rise, but lots of very good Pac 12 programs ahead of the Cougars.
2015 Recruiting:
None yet. But a 7 member 2014 class. They have 2 scholarships available for this class.
The Cougars went 17-17 overall. 9-9 in Pac 12 play. This was June’s best season at Washington State and her first 500 season either overall or in league play. The Cougars played in the WNIT losing their first game. Average Attendance was 1,046.
The Coaching Staff:
This will be June Daugherty’s 8th season in Pullman after 11 seasons at rival Washington. Also June was once an assistant at Stanford. This past season was June’s best at Washington State and things could be even better this season.
Mike Daugherty is also in his 8th season at Washington State having coached with wife June for more than 20 years.
Brian Holsinger is also in his 8th season as the recruiting coordinator and like Mike now an Associate Head Coach.
Ashley Grover is in her 3rd year as an assistant after holding several jobs on the staff before and as a student was the student manager.
Losses:
Sage Romberg is a big loss after averaging 9 points per game last year, starting every game. She also was 2nd with 47 threes and at a team high 39%. Sage was 2nd in rebounding with 6 per game.
Hana Potter and Brandi Thomas both played about 10 minutes per game and scored just under 2 points per game each.
The Schedule:
In Pac 12 play the Cougars play the LA schools and the Arizona schools just once. In non-conference play the Cougars play Virginia, Nebraska, Gonzaga, Michigan and Maryland. A solid schedule as always for June and the Cougars.
Additions:
Louise Brown is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from Australia. Brown is ranked has the 9th best foreign recruit for this class. She has played on several of Australia’s National youth teams.
Bianca Blanaru is a 6-5 Frosh Post from Romania. Blanaru has played on several of her countries youth national teams. She originally signed with Arkansas but was released due to their coaching change.
Ashley Bolston is a 6-2 Frosh Guard from Medford, Oregon. Bolston stared on the Oregon State Championship team two years ago with Tess Picknell. She was ranked # 106.
Calia Haley is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from SoCal. She was ranked the # 18 Guard and helped year her HS to a CA stare Title as a Jr.
Nike McClure is a 6-3 Frosh Forward/Center from the state of Washington. Nike is a strong rebounder and was ranked the # 22 Forward. She excelled in HS in the 800 and High Jump.
Pinelopi Pavlopoulou is a 5-9 Frosh Point Guard from Greece. She has played on a number of youth National teams for Greece.
Kyrystle McKenzie is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Australia. She has played on a youth National team.
The Team:
All Pac 12 5-11 Jr Guard Lia Gladeira returns and will start. Lia averaged 18 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She was one of three guards in the 3 guard lineup. Lia had a plus assist to turnover ratio and led the team with 62 threes at 31%. Lia was the POY 3 times in Hawaii.
Tia Pressley is a 5-9 Sr Guard who lead the team with 19 points per game. Tia averaged 4 rebounds and also had a plus assist to turnover ratio. Tia was also all Pac 12 and with Lia the first Cougar teammates ever to receive all Pac honors.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 JR Point Guard who 5 points per game and better than 3 assists a game with an assist to turnover ratio of almost 2:1. Awa was the Gatorade POY in Hawaii as a Sr.
Shalie Dheensaw is a 6-4 Sr Center who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per game this past season. Shalie played for several youth national teams for her native Canada.
Mariah Cooks is a 6-0 Jr Forward who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds this past season.
The Cougars return 4 starters and Cooks played every game, 16 minutes per game.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 5 points per game and hit 29 threes at 39%.
Predictions:
Certainly a program on the rise, but lots of very good Pac 12 programs ahead of the Cougars.
2015 Recruiting:
None yet. But a 7 member 2014 class. They have 2 scholarships available for this class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)