October 30, 2014

Pac 12 Preview: Washington Huskies

Last Season:
Washington was 20-14 overall and 10-8 in Conference play. The Huskies won three games in the post season WNIT. Average attendance was 1,795.



The Coaching Staff:
Mike Neighbors is in his 2nd year as the Head Coach after 2 years as the lead assistant. He came to Washington from Xavier with then Head Coach Kevin MuGuff. Neighbors was an assistant for MuGuff at Xavier for 4 years, and before he was an assistant at Arkansas, twice, Colorado and Tulsa.

Kevin Morrison is the Associate Head Coach and in his third year at Washington. Morrison was an assistant at Cal for 4 years before Washington.

Adia Barnes is in her 3rd year at Washington and is the leading scorer at the University of Arizona.

Fred Castro is in his 2nd season after several years at Tulsa.



Losses:
Mercedes Wetmore averaged 6 points and 4 assists per game as the starting Point Guard. That’s the Huskies only loss.



The Schedule:
Washington’s non-league schedule includes Oklahoma, Florida State, San Diego State and Texas A&M. In Pac 12 play they have single games against the Arizona and LA schools, with the LA schools in Seattle.




Additions:
Heather Corral is back after an ACL. Corral is a 6-1 Wing and a redshirt Soph. She played just a few games last season averaging 6 points per game and as a frosh averaged 5 points per game. She is the sister of former USC player Ashley Corral who stands 2nd all time Pac 12 in three pointers made.

Brianna Ruiz is a 5-10 Redshirt Frosh Guard who missed last season with a knee injury. Ruiz averaged 20 points per game as a HS Sr and was a T&F star.

Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 Frosh Forward. Johnson was the AAA Southern CA Section player of the year as a Jr. She was ranked # 83.

Kelli Kingma is a famous name for Washington basketball and is a 5-8 Frosh Guard. Kingma was ranked # 68.

Kalia Lark is a 6-0 wing and a Frosh. Lark played for the fabled Mater Dei program and signed with Fresno State then got her release after the coaching change.

That’s four new players, 2 frosh and 2 off injury and all will play and contribute this season.



The Team:
Jazmine Davis is a 5-7 Sr Guard ranked as only the # 25 PG out of HS and now listed pre- season as one of the Pac 12’s top players. Davis averaged 19 points per game playing 36 minutes per game. She made 82 threes at 34% although shot just 39% overall.

Kelsey Plum is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 21 points and 37 minutes per game. Plum made 81 threes at 37% and 85% from the Free Throw line. Plum also averaged just under 5 rebounds. Her sister was an outstanding setter at Oregon, Mom played volleyball at UC Davis and Dad Football at San Diego State.

Talia Walton is a 6-2 Redshirt Jr Forward who averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds. On the down side Walton shot just 34%, but did make 52 threes.

Aminah Williams is a 6-0 Sr Forward who averaged 7 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 47%. Dad Guy Williams was an All American basketball player at Washington State and played NBA with the Warriors.

These four players started all but 4 games last season.

Katie Collier is a 6-3 Redshirt Soph Center. Collier was ranked # 22 overall out of HS and the first woman from Washington named to the McD All Star game. Collier beat cancer as a HS Sr then sat out her frosh year after injuring her knee. Back this past season she averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds. However Collier is a talent and if back close to her HS Jr ability she can be a force and the key to a run to the top for the Huskies.

Chantel Osahor is a 6-2 So Forward/Center. Osahor is a great passer who averaged 3 points and 4 rebounds.

Mathilde Gilling is a 6-3 Jr Center who averaged 7 minutes per game this past season. Her brother played for ASU the past few seasons.


Predictions:
A strong starting line-up with great three shooters and now good to very good depth. The Huskies will challenge for a top 3 finish in the Pac 12.


2015 Recruiting:
Deja Strother, 6-5 Post WA, PN # 40 overall, Blue Star # 66






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