Last Season:
19-18, 8-10 in Pac 12 play. However UCLA was 13-18 until they won 6 straight to win the WNIT.
The Coaches:
Cori Close is in her 5th season with the Bruins, winning at a 54% rate.
Jenny Huth is also in her 5th season as are Tony Newnan and Shannon Perry. The Bruin staff has had no turnover under Close.
Losses:
Biggest loss is Recee Caldwell who transferred to Texas Tech. Caldwell was just a Frosh and played only half the season, missing the 2nd half with an injury. Caldwell averaged 7 points in 25 minutes. She was a top, top recruit.
Luiana Livulo started half the games but played only 10 minutes and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Corinne Costa started most games averaging 22 minutes, 5 points and 5 rebounds but also set UCLA shot blocking records.
Madeline Poteet, formally Brooks, averaged 2 points.
Savanna Trapp the 6-9 recruit has never played and not on the roster.
Additions:
Ashley Hearn is a 6-4 Frosh Post. Hearn was ranked 12, 15, 30 and 34 out of HS and a McD All American. A top recruit who will play a lot as a Frosh.
Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Frosh Wing. Burke was All State in California and ranked 16, 19, 33 and 41 out of HS. Two top recruits.
With just two players this Class was ranked # 17 overall.
Nicole Kornet is a 6-1 Guard who transferred from Oklahoma. Nicole was a top HS recruit ranked from 19 to 68. She will redshirt this year and have her final season next year. At Oklahoma Nicole averaged about 5 points per game in her three seasons, but had games of 26 and 21 points.
The Schedule:
South Carolina, probably Notre Dame, Michigan and St John’s. They also play Cal in a non- league December game and very interestingly are not playing UConn. The Bruins don’t travel to Cal or Stanford and don’t play Utah or Colorado at home.
The Team:
The Bruins top three returning scorers are guards so I’ll present a three guard line up, which they used last season. Nirra Fields is a 5-9 Sr Guard who led the team in scoring with 15 points per game. However she shot just 39% and 27% from three. Her improved shot selection is the key.
Jordin Canada is the Point Guard, a 5-6 Soph. Last season Canada averaged 12 points over 4 assists per game with a 1.2 ratio of assists to turnovers. However Canada shot just 38% and 17% from three.
Kori Korver is a 5-9 Jr who averaged 10 points per game, while shooting 41% from three. Korver made 74 threes twice the number as Fields who was 2nd on the team.
Monique Billings is 6-4 Soph Post who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The Frosh Hearn and Burke should see many minutes in the rotation.
Kacy Swain is a 6-3 Sr Forward who averaged 4 points and over 4 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Kelli Hayes is a 6-0 Soph Guard who went to Mitty HS. Hayes averaged 2 points in 12 minutes.
Paulina Hersler is a 6-3 Soph who played 5 minutes per game and Dominque Williams is 5-8 Jr Guard who also averaged 5 minutes per game.
Predictions:
If the Bruins shoot better than last season’s just under 40%, they will challenge for the Title. They have the players with great skill. Or they shot 40% and fight for 4th place.
2015 Recruiting:
Ally Rosenblum from SoCal, 6-3 Post ranked # 77.
October 29, 2015
October 13, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Last Year:
23-10, 11-7 in Pac 12 play. Lost 86-80 to Miami in the first round of the NCAA.
Coaches:
Mike Neighbors is in his 3rd season as Head Coach after 2 seasons as an Assistant at Washington.
Adia Barnes is in her 4th season as an assistant. Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona.
Morgan Valley is in her first year as an assistant, coming from Virginia Tech. She played at UConn.
Fred Castro is in his 3rd season at Washington as an assistant coaching the Guards.
Jackie Nared is in her 2nd season as the Director Player Development. That’s a non coaching position. Jackie scored 22 points per game 2 years ago at St Mary’s.
Losses:
Washington lost two top starters in Jazmine Davis and Aminah Williams. Davis was the 2nd leading scorer at 16 points per game and led the team in assists at over4 per game.
Williams led the team in rebounding at 9 per game and scored 9 points per game.
Additions:
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Frosh Center who was ranked # 35 out of HS.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 redshirt Frosh Froward who had to sit out last season with an injury. She was ranked # 83 out of HS and the Southern Section of California Player of the Year two years ago. Johnson is a strong rebounder.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 redshirt Jr Wing who sat out last season with an injury. Corral is the sister of former USC great Ashley and was the Washington HS Player of the Year. Heather played just 7 games as a Soph so has missed almost two full seasons.
Schedule:
Not strong, Texas Tech, Syracuse and Oklahoma are the toughest non-conference games. The Huskies non-conference schedule is ranked # 8 in the Pac 12. The Huskies don’t play Stanford or Cal at home or travel to the Oregon schools. So they get a big break there.
The Team:
There are three potential post players, one of whom is the Frosh Strother.
Another is 6-3 redshirt Jr Katie Collier. Collier had cancer as a HS Sr then hurt her knee as a Washington Frosh missing the year. She was ranked 22 out of HS and a McDonalds All American. Last season she averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds so maybe she will never be the same but I’m rooting for her.
6-2 Jr Chantel Osahor averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds can shoot the three and is a great passer, although lacks quickness.
The Great Kelsey Plum now a Jr returns at Guard. Plum is 5-8 and averaged 22.6 points last season and hit 69 threes at 40%.
Brianna Ruiz returns at Guard as Washington played three Guards last season. Ruiz is a 5-10 redshirt Soph who averaged 5 points.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season. Walton made 59 threes at 39%.
Johnson and Corral previewed above will certainly contribute.
Kelli Kingma is a 5-8 Soph Guard. She will be much improved over last season when she averaged just 9 minutes a game. She is the sister of Kristi a former great Husky.
Khalia Lark is a 6-0 So Wing. Lark averaged 2.4 points in 9 minutes of play.
Mathlide Gilling is a 6-3 Sr Post, who hasn’t played much at Washington.
Predictions:
As far as Plum can take them, but probably middle of the pack.
2016 Recruiting:
Aarion McDonald, 5-6 PG from CA, # 51.
Mai Loni Hensen , 5-11 Wing from CA
Amber Melgoza, 5-10 Guard from CA # 147
23-10, 11-7 in Pac 12 play. Lost 86-80 to Miami in the first round of the NCAA.
Coaches:
Mike Neighbors is in his 3rd season as Head Coach after 2 seasons as an Assistant at Washington.
Adia Barnes is in her 4th season as an assistant. Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona.
Morgan Valley is in her first year as an assistant, coming from Virginia Tech. She played at UConn.
Fred Castro is in his 3rd season at Washington as an assistant coaching the Guards.
Jackie Nared is in her 2nd season as the Director Player Development. That’s a non coaching position. Jackie scored 22 points per game 2 years ago at St Mary’s.
Losses:
Washington lost two top starters in Jazmine Davis and Aminah Williams. Davis was the 2nd leading scorer at 16 points per game and led the team in assists at over4 per game.
Williams led the team in rebounding at 9 per game and scored 9 points per game.
Additions:
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Frosh Center who was ranked # 35 out of HS.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 redshirt Frosh Froward who had to sit out last season with an injury. She was ranked # 83 out of HS and the Southern Section of California Player of the Year two years ago. Johnson is a strong rebounder.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 redshirt Jr Wing who sat out last season with an injury. Corral is the sister of former USC great Ashley and was the Washington HS Player of the Year. Heather played just 7 games as a Soph so has missed almost two full seasons.
Schedule:
Not strong, Texas Tech, Syracuse and Oklahoma are the toughest non-conference games. The Huskies non-conference schedule is ranked # 8 in the Pac 12. The Huskies don’t play Stanford or Cal at home or travel to the Oregon schools. So they get a big break there.
The Team:
There are three potential post players, one of whom is the Frosh Strother.
Another is 6-3 redshirt Jr Katie Collier. Collier had cancer as a HS Sr then hurt her knee as a Washington Frosh missing the year. She was ranked 22 out of HS and a McDonalds All American. Last season she averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds so maybe she will never be the same but I’m rooting for her.
6-2 Jr Chantel Osahor averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds can shoot the three and is a great passer, although lacks quickness.
The Great Kelsey Plum now a Jr returns at Guard. Plum is 5-8 and averaged 22.6 points last season and hit 69 threes at 40%.
Brianna Ruiz returns at Guard as Washington played three Guards last season. Ruiz is a 5-10 redshirt Soph who averaged 5 points.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season. Walton made 59 threes at 39%.
Johnson and Corral previewed above will certainly contribute.
Kelli Kingma is a 5-8 Soph Guard. She will be much improved over last season when she averaged just 9 minutes a game. She is the sister of Kristi a former great Husky.
Khalia Lark is a 6-0 So Wing. Lark averaged 2.4 points in 9 minutes of play.
Mathlide Gilling is a 6-3 Sr Post, who hasn’t played much at Washington.
Predictions:
As far as Plum can take them, but probably middle of the pack.
2016 Recruiting:
Aarion McDonald, 5-6 PG from CA, # 51.
Mai Loni Hensen , 5-11 Wing from CA
Amber Melgoza, 5-10 Guard from CA # 147
October 7, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: USC
Last Season:
15-15 overall and 7-11 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 3rd season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 2nd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once.
Jualeah Woods is in her 3rd year as an assistant. Ironically she replaced Burns briefly at San Diego State and was a Burns assistant for 6 years.
Taja Edwards is in her 2nd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Two graduated, two transferred and one was dismissed mid last season, and another transferred right after the season started.
The top three scorers graduated (2) or transferred (1). Alexyz Vaioletama was the leading scorer at 12 points per game and tied as the leading rebounder at 7 per game.
Kaneisha Horn was tied as the leading rebounder at 7 and was the # 2 scorer at 10 points per game.
McKenzie Calvert averaged 10 points as a highly recruited Frosh and transferred to Kansas.
Amy Okonkwo averaged just 7 minutes but 3 points per game and transferred to TCU.
Kiki Alofaituki averaged 7 points in 12 games before leaving the team. Kiki was a Sr last year.
Additions:
Khaedin Taito is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from New Zealand although she went to HS in Australia. Taito has played for the 16U, 17U and 18U National Junior teams for the New Zealand Tall Ferns.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Frosh Forward who is in her final semester of HS and will join the Trojans in December. Milsic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Spain. Abejon has a year of college in Spain, not playing basketball and still has 4 years as a Trojan. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds this past season for her Club team in Spain.
Temi Fagbenle is a 6-4 Grad student who played at Harvard for 3 seasons, injured her fourth. Temi averaged 13 points during her Harvard career and last season 14 points and 10 rebounds. She was twice All Ivy League and in HS was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey and ranked # 13 out of HS. Temi averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in the 2012 Olympics for her native England.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from North Carolina. Probably a Point Guard at USC ranked # 58 .
Marguerite Effa is a 6-3 Post from Los Angeles. Effa is a two time LA City Player of the Year, averaging 23 points per game in her HS career. She was born in Cameroon.
Those are the six new players, however there is another who has been practicing with the USC team. Sadie Edwards is 5-10 Soph Guard who transferred from UConn last December. Edwards played 6 games with UConn and will be eligible in December. She was the # 8 player out of HS in the country.
The Schedule:
West Virginia and Gonzaga are the only challenges on the non conference schedule, ranked the 11th toughest, or 2nd easiest in the Pac 12. USC doesn’t play at either Stanford or Cal nor do Utah or Colorado travel to USC.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Point Guard, thus starting her 4th year at USC and is already a graduate and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Injuries, she missed most of her Frosh year, have contributed to her career 39% shooting and 21% from three. However we remember she scored 21 points against Stanford. Last season Adams averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Sr Guard who started every game last season averaging 10 points but shooting just 36% and made only 8 threes. She did average 4 assists per game. Like Adams Brianna has already graduated and in a Masters program.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Jr Guard who started all but six games last season. Jaco averaged 7 points and made 48 threes, tops on the team, at 37%.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Soph Post who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 redshirt Jr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out a year ago after transferring to USC then last season averaged 2 points for the Trojans.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Jr Center from Menlo School and Sunnyvale. She hasn’t played much thus far.
Predictions:
So hard to tell with just 6 players back and 2 didn’t play much last season. New players look very good on paper but outside of Edwards and Fagbenle, can they contribute in their first year?
2016 Recruiting:
Valarie Higgins, 6-0 Wing # 31 from So Cal
Minyon Moore, 5-9 Point Guard, # 97 from Nor Cal
Asiah Jones, 6-2 Post from South Carolina, unranked
15-15 overall and 7-11 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 3rd season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 2nd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once.
Jualeah Woods is in her 3rd year as an assistant. Ironically she replaced Burns briefly at San Diego State and was a Burns assistant for 6 years.
Taja Edwards is in her 2nd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Two graduated, two transferred and one was dismissed mid last season, and another transferred right after the season started.
The top three scorers graduated (2) or transferred (1). Alexyz Vaioletama was the leading scorer at 12 points per game and tied as the leading rebounder at 7 per game.
Kaneisha Horn was tied as the leading rebounder at 7 and was the # 2 scorer at 10 points per game.
McKenzie Calvert averaged 10 points as a highly recruited Frosh and transferred to Kansas.
Amy Okonkwo averaged just 7 minutes but 3 points per game and transferred to TCU.
Kiki Alofaituki averaged 7 points in 12 games before leaving the team. Kiki was a Sr last year.
Additions:
Khaedin Taito is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from New Zealand although she went to HS in Australia. Taito has played for the 16U, 17U and 18U National Junior teams for the New Zealand Tall Ferns.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Frosh Forward who is in her final semester of HS and will join the Trojans in December. Milsic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Spain. Abejon has a year of college in Spain, not playing basketball and still has 4 years as a Trojan. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds this past season for her Club team in Spain.
Temi Fagbenle is a 6-4 Grad student who played at Harvard for 3 seasons, injured her fourth. Temi averaged 13 points during her Harvard career and last season 14 points and 10 rebounds. She was twice All Ivy League and in HS was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey and ranked # 13 out of HS. Temi averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in the 2012 Olympics for her native England.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from North Carolina. Probably a Point Guard at USC ranked # 58 .
Marguerite Effa is a 6-3 Post from Los Angeles. Effa is a two time LA City Player of the Year, averaging 23 points per game in her HS career. She was born in Cameroon.
Those are the six new players, however there is another who has been practicing with the USC team. Sadie Edwards is 5-10 Soph Guard who transferred from UConn last December. Edwards played 6 games with UConn and will be eligible in December. She was the # 8 player out of HS in the country.
The Schedule:
West Virginia and Gonzaga are the only challenges on the non conference schedule, ranked the 11th toughest, or 2nd easiest in the Pac 12. USC doesn’t play at either Stanford or Cal nor do Utah or Colorado travel to USC.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Point Guard, thus starting her 4th year at USC and is already a graduate and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Injuries, she missed most of her Frosh year, have contributed to her career 39% shooting and 21% from three. However we remember she scored 21 points against Stanford. Last season Adams averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Sr Guard who started every game last season averaging 10 points but shooting just 36% and made only 8 threes. She did average 4 assists per game. Like Adams Brianna has already graduated and in a Masters program.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Jr Guard who started all but six games last season. Jaco averaged 7 points and made 48 threes, tops on the team, at 37%.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Soph Post who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 redshirt Jr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out a year ago after transferring to USC then last season averaged 2 points for the Trojans.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Jr Center from Menlo School and Sunnyvale. She hasn’t played much thus far.
Predictions:
So hard to tell with just 6 players back and 2 didn’t play much last season. New players look very good on paper but outside of Edwards and Fagbenle, can they contribute in their first year?
2016 Recruiting:
Valarie Higgins, 6-0 Wing # 31 from So Cal
Minyon Moore, 5-9 Point Guard, # 97 from Nor Cal
Asiah Jones, 6-2 Post from South Carolina, unranked
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