Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Last Season: The Cougars were 14-16 overall and 5-13 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
June Daugherty is in her 10th season at Washington State, after a number of seasons as Head Coach at Washington
Mike Daugherty, June’s husband, is also in his 10th season.
Ashley Gill (Glover) is in her 5th season at Washington State.
Rod Jensen is in his 2nd year and coached the Cougar Men three years ago. Jenson has 30 years of experience and is known as a fine defensive coach.
Losses: Dawnyelle Awa was the starting Point Guard for most of her career averaging 6 points and 3 assists last season.
Mariah Cooks was a player who saw a lot of time and was the Cougars 2nd leading scorer at 7 points per game and leading rebounder at just over 4 per game.
Taylor Edmondson also scored 7 points per game last season.
Biaanca Blanaru, a 6-5 Center, did not return for her Jr season. She played 8 minutes a game last season.
Additions: Kayla Washington is a 6-0 Frosh Forward from SoCal. She was unranked but still a 4 star on Prospects Nation. Kayla averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds as a HS Jr.
Johanna Muzet is a 6-0 From Guard from France.
Chanelle Molina is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from Hawaii. A 4 star on PN but # 36 overall on ESPN.
Cameron Fernandez is a 6-0 Frosh Guard from Hawaii.
Jovana Subasic is a 6-4 Frosh Post from Serbia. She has been a member of her youth national teams for the past 4 years.
The Schedule: The Cougars play Maryland, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga and Nebraska. Also other could be tough teams, U of San Diego, USF, Boise State and St Mary’s. In Pac 12 Play the Cougars host Stanford and Cal but don’t play then away and only play at the Oregon schools. June believes in tough schedules and this could be the toughest schedule for any Pac 12 team.
The Team: Washington State graduated 3 of their top 4 scorers however by far their top scorer returns, 6-0 Soph Borislava Hristova. She averaged 16 points and 3 rebounds per game. One Site had her as the top international recruit.
Louise Brown is a 6-2 Jr Forward who 5.5 points and 4 rebounds per game. Brown averaged 6.5 rebounds as a Frosh, 2nd highest for a Frosh in Washington State history. Brown played has played on a number of Aussie National teams.
Maria Kostourkova is a 6-4 Soph Post averaged 5.5 points and 4 rebounds per game. She was the 4th best international recruit.
Calia Hailey is a Jr Guard who started 26 games averaging 4 points in 16 minutes.
Alexys Swedlund is a 5-11 Soph Guard who averaged 5 points in just 15 minutes. Alexys attempted a team high 126 threes although making just 25%. Still that’s a lot of attempts and I suspect she will improve her % quite a bit this season.
Pinelopi Pavopoulou is a 5-8 Jr Guard who averaged 4 points in 17 minutes.
Nike McClure is a 6-3 redshirt Soph Post who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 9 minutes. Nike was a very good HS sprinter and Shot Putter. Quite a combination.
Ivana Kmetovska is a 6-3 Sr Forward and Krystle McKenzie is a 5-8 redshirts Soph Guard and both played little last season.
The Cougars have 9 foreign players. Four of them played on their National teams this past summer. Those were: Pavopoulou, Subasic, Hristova and Kostourkova
Predictions: With 5 Frosh and 5 Sophs and a tough pre season schedule just too hard to predict anything other than the bottom half of the Pac 12.
2016 Recruiting: Taryn Shelley , 6-3 Post, 3 star from the State of Washington
September 25, 2016
September 18, 2016
Pac 12 Preview ASU
Pac 12 Previews: Arizona State University
Last Season: The Sun Devils were 26-7 and 16-2 in Pac 12 Play. It was a great season for ASU who advanced to the NCAA tournament. However after losing the first game of the Pac 12 tournament ASU lost to Tennessee in the 2nd round of the NCAA.
The Coaching Staff:
Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 19th 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 4th 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 13th 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 4th year as an Assistant at ASU. She has been an assistant at Miami of Florida, Boston College and Nevada.
The Losses:
ASU lost 8 players although 3 of them played just 67 minutes total. However the other 5 losses include 3 of their top scorers and a total of 105 minutes per game or just over 52%.
Katie Hempen averaged 9 points and was their top three point shooter by a wide margin. Katie hit 65 three at 43%. Katie started every game.
Arnecia Hawkins started most games averaging 22 minutes and 9 points.
Elisha Davis started every game leading the team with 29 minutes per game and averaging 8 points. Davis also averaged 5 assists per game double the 2nd leading assist maker and had a very good 1.9 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.
Peace Amukamara averaged 3 points per game. Eliza Normen ended an injury filled career averaging 2 points per game.
The Additions:
Reili Richardson is a 5-11 Frosh Guard, ranked # 54. Maybe an under raked player, she could play a lot as a frosh.
Courtney Ekmark is a 6-0 Jr Guard who transferred from UConn and will redshirt this season. A top ranked player out of HS she averaged about 2 points in 9 minutes in her two seasons at UConn. Brother will be at Stanford this year and try to walk on to the Men’s Basketball team.
Kiara Russell is a 5-8 Frosh Guard, ranked as the # 23 Point Guard.
Robbi Ryan is a 5-9 Frosh Guard, ranked # 53.
Sydney Goodson is a 5-8 Frosh Guard.
Sara Hattis is a 6-4 Post a graduate of Texas. Sara played Basketball and Volley ball at Texas before graduating and coming to ASU. She didn’t see a lot of action at Texas but should add good depth. Her brother, Henry, is on the Stanford Football team.
Jamie Ruden is a 6-1 Frosh Forward, ranked # 22. While she is a power player she is also a good three point shooter.
The Schedule: Non-conference games include Maryland, St John’s, probably Florida, Boston U against Head Coach Katy Steding and Kentucky. Kentucky has only 7 players for this season plus a transfer who can practice but must sit out the season. For conference play the Sun Devils play Oregon and Oregon State at home and only play Colorado and Utah on the road.
The Team:
Three starters return lead by Sophie Brunner a 6-1 Sr Forward/Post who led the team in scoring and rebounding with 11 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 Sr Post who averaged 10 points and 4 and a half rebounds per game. Quinn is Canadian and has lived in France.
Kelsey Moos is a 6-0 Sr Forward who averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Sabrina Haines is a 5-10 Soph Guard who averaged 5 points per game and is the leading returning three point shooter, alas with just 15.
Armani Hawkins is a 5-10 Soph Guard who missed most of her frosh season.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points in just 8 minutes last season. Ibis was named All State in Nebraska for three years.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-3 Soph Post who played just 6 minutes per game last season.
I would expect newcomers Richardson, Hattis and Ruden to get solid minutes.
Predictions: While some very good players back the newcomers Hattis and the frosh must play right away. Of course with CTT you know the Sun Devils will be very good.
2017 Recruiting: None yet but with 7 coming in this season and all but Hattis returning it will be a small class.
Last Season: The Sun Devils were 26-7 and 16-2 in Pac 12 Play. It was a great season for ASU who advanced to the NCAA tournament. However after losing the first game of the Pac 12 tournament ASU lost to Tennessee in the 2nd round of the NCAA.
The Coaching Staff:
Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 19th 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 4th 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 13th 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 4th year as an Assistant at ASU. She has been an assistant at Miami of Florida, Boston College and Nevada.
The Losses:
ASU lost 8 players although 3 of them played just 67 minutes total. However the other 5 losses include 3 of their top scorers and a total of 105 minutes per game or just over 52%.
Katie Hempen averaged 9 points and was their top three point shooter by a wide margin. Katie hit 65 three at 43%. Katie started every game.
Arnecia Hawkins started most games averaging 22 minutes and 9 points.
Elisha Davis started every game leading the team with 29 minutes per game and averaging 8 points. Davis also averaged 5 assists per game double the 2nd leading assist maker and had a very good 1.9 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.
Peace Amukamara averaged 3 points per game. Eliza Normen ended an injury filled career averaging 2 points per game.
The Additions:
Reili Richardson is a 5-11 Frosh Guard, ranked # 54. Maybe an under raked player, she could play a lot as a frosh.
Courtney Ekmark is a 6-0 Jr Guard who transferred from UConn and will redshirt this season. A top ranked player out of HS she averaged about 2 points in 9 minutes in her two seasons at UConn. Brother will be at Stanford this year and try to walk on to the Men’s Basketball team.
Kiara Russell is a 5-8 Frosh Guard, ranked as the # 23 Point Guard.
Robbi Ryan is a 5-9 Frosh Guard, ranked # 53.
Sydney Goodson is a 5-8 Frosh Guard.
Sara Hattis is a 6-4 Post a graduate of Texas. Sara played Basketball and Volley ball at Texas before graduating and coming to ASU. She didn’t see a lot of action at Texas but should add good depth. Her brother, Henry, is on the Stanford Football team.
Jamie Ruden is a 6-1 Frosh Forward, ranked # 22. While she is a power player she is also a good three point shooter.
The Schedule: Non-conference games include Maryland, St John’s, probably Florida, Boston U against Head Coach Katy Steding and Kentucky. Kentucky has only 7 players for this season plus a transfer who can practice but must sit out the season. For conference play the Sun Devils play Oregon and Oregon State at home and only play Colorado and Utah on the road.
The Team:
Three starters return lead by Sophie Brunner a 6-1 Sr Forward/Post who led the team in scoring and rebounding with 11 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 Sr Post who averaged 10 points and 4 and a half rebounds per game. Quinn is Canadian and has lived in France.
Kelsey Moos is a 6-0 Sr Forward who averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Sabrina Haines is a 5-10 Soph Guard who averaged 5 points per game and is the leading returning three point shooter, alas with just 15.
Armani Hawkins is a 5-10 Soph Guard who missed most of her frosh season.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points in just 8 minutes last season. Ibis was named All State in Nebraska for three years.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-3 Soph Post who played just 6 minutes per game last season.
I would expect newcomers Richardson, Hattis and Ruden to get solid minutes.
Predictions: While some very good players back the newcomers Hattis and the frosh must play right away. Of course with CTT you know the Sun Devils will be very good.
2017 Recruiting: None yet but with 7 coming in this season and all but Hattis returning it will be a small class.
September 12, 2016
Pac 12 Preview: Oregon
Pac 12 Preview: Oregon
Last Season: Oregon was 24-11 last season and 9-9 in Pac 12 play. The Ducks won 4 games in the WNIT before losing in the semi-finals. Oregon averaged 8 threes per game at 42%.
The Coaches:
Kelly Graves returns for his 3rd season. Graves has had great success coaching with St Mary’s then Gonzaga where he won the WCC title in all ten of his seasons.
Mark Campbell returns for his 3rd season as an assistant and is the Associate Head Coach. Mark is a fine recruiter as evidenced by the great incoming frosh class.
Jodie Berry is in her 3rd season as an assistant having been with Graves his entire time at Gonzaga.
Former Stanford and WNBA great Nicole Powell is in her 3rd season as an assistant
Losses:
The Ducks lost six players to graduation, including three of their top five scorers. The six played 52% of all minutes.
Jillian Alleyne is one of the greatest players in Oregon history. Last season Alleyne averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game. Sadly she missed the last 7 games with a knee injury. Still she’s a huge loss.
Lexi Peterson averaged 13 points, making 63 threes at 45% and started all but one game.
Kat Cooper averaged 7 points in 17 minutes and made 73 threes at 43%.
Liz Brenner averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Jordan Loera averaged 2 points and Katie Gruys [played just 31 minutes.
Additions:
What an incoming class. Maybe the tops in the nation, it’s a class of 7 plus a transfer and many will have to contribute right away.
Sabrina Ionescu is a top 5 player and should start from Day 1 at the Shooting Guard. She was the Player of the Year in several publications, scored a record 25 points in the McD game and even had 10 rebounds to go with 7 threes in that game. Sabrina is 5-10
Guard.
Mallory McGuire is a 6-5 Post who is the daughter of former NFL QB Dan and the niece of Baseball great Mark McGuire. She is very aggressive and moves extremely well. Mallory will be a star.
Sierra Campisano is a 6-3 Wing or a 4. Sierra has a good three shot and is aggressive. Sierra is an excellent offensive played having averaged 30 points per game last season in HS.
Jayde Woods is a 6-1 Guard. She played HS for Vanessa Nygaard then travel for Cal Swish, home of the Samuelsons, Pohlen and Harmon. Jayde is an excellent defensive player.
Ruthy Hebard is a 6-4 Post or Power Forward from Alaska. Ruthy is still another top ranked player and played for the recent 18U National team.
Morgan Yeager is a 5-9 Guard from Australia. Morgan played on several Youth National teams for Australia and is very quick.
The final and 7th member of this great recruiting class is 6-6 Post Lydia Giomi. Lydia was also a fine Volleyball player in HS.
Another newcomer is 5-10 Jr Guard Justine Hall who has transferred from Purdue and will sit out this season. Justine was the # 74 player out of HS. Her father Darryl played Football for the 49ers.
The Schedule: The non-conference schedule includes Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Clemson, but overall, much lower teams not in Power 5 conferences.
The Ducks play only at ASU and Arizona and only at home vs Washington and Washington State
The Team:
The two top scorers back for the Ducks are both Guards. Maite Cazoria is a 5-10 Soph from Spain and Lex Bando is a 5-9 Jr. Cazoria averaged almost 12 points per game hitting 52 threes at 39%. Cazoria is the Point Guard and averaged 6 assists per game with a 1.6 assist to turnover ratio. She had an outstanding Frosh year.
Bando averaged 11 points per game hitting 72 threes at 45%.
Jacinta Vandenberg is a 6-5 Sr who averaged 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 22 minutes per game. Jacinta could play the 5 or the 4. She played her first two seasons at Fresno State, and is from Australia.
At least four Frosh, Ionescu, McGuire, Campisano and Hebard will play well and see a lot of action. Another Frosh or two could join them.
Oregon has four other players returning although none played as many as 10 minutes per game. Morgan Trinder is a 5-7 Jr Guard who missed last season with a knee injury after transferring from JC.
Mar’Shay Moore is a 5-8 Sr Guard who also played her first two seasons at a JC.
Lauren Yearwood is a 6-3 Post who is from British Columbia and has played on four Canadian National Jr Teams.
Oti Gildon is 6-1 Frosh Forward and while she didn’t play much last season ESPN had her ranked # 37 in the nation.
Prediction: Lots of talent and it’s mostly young. It’s probably a perfect non conference schedule for the Ducks. It’s a top 6 in the league team in my mind.
2017 Recruiting:
Aina Ayuso, 5-9 Guard from Spain
Last Season: Oregon was 24-11 last season and 9-9 in Pac 12 play. The Ducks won 4 games in the WNIT before losing in the semi-finals. Oregon averaged 8 threes per game at 42%.
The Coaches:
Kelly Graves returns for his 3rd season. Graves has had great success coaching with St Mary’s then Gonzaga where he won the WCC title in all ten of his seasons.
Mark Campbell returns for his 3rd season as an assistant and is the Associate Head Coach. Mark is a fine recruiter as evidenced by the great incoming frosh class.
Jodie Berry is in her 3rd season as an assistant having been with Graves his entire time at Gonzaga.
Former Stanford and WNBA great Nicole Powell is in her 3rd season as an assistant
Losses:
The Ducks lost six players to graduation, including three of their top five scorers. The six played 52% of all minutes.
Jillian Alleyne is one of the greatest players in Oregon history. Last season Alleyne averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game. Sadly she missed the last 7 games with a knee injury. Still she’s a huge loss.
Lexi Peterson averaged 13 points, making 63 threes at 45% and started all but one game.
Kat Cooper averaged 7 points in 17 minutes and made 73 threes at 43%.
Liz Brenner averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Jordan Loera averaged 2 points and Katie Gruys [played just 31 minutes.
Additions:
What an incoming class. Maybe the tops in the nation, it’s a class of 7 plus a transfer and many will have to contribute right away.
Sabrina Ionescu is a top 5 player and should start from Day 1 at the Shooting Guard. She was the Player of the Year in several publications, scored a record 25 points in the McD game and even had 10 rebounds to go with 7 threes in that game. Sabrina is 5-10
Guard.
Mallory McGuire is a 6-5 Post who is the daughter of former NFL QB Dan and the niece of Baseball great Mark McGuire. She is very aggressive and moves extremely well. Mallory will be a star.
Sierra Campisano is a 6-3 Wing or a 4. Sierra has a good three shot and is aggressive. Sierra is an excellent offensive played having averaged 30 points per game last season in HS.
Jayde Woods is a 6-1 Guard. She played HS for Vanessa Nygaard then travel for Cal Swish, home of the Samuelsons, Pohlen and Harmon. Jayde is an excellent defensive player.
Ruthy Hebard is a 6-4 Post or Power Forward from Alaska. Ruthy is still another top ranked player and played for the recent 18U National team.
Morgan Yeager is a 5-9 Guard from Australia. Morgan played on several Youth National teams for Australia and is very quick.
The final and 7th member of this great recruiting class is 6-6 Post Lydia Giomi. Lydia was also a fine Volleyball player in HS.
Another newcomer is 5-10 Jr Guard Justine Hall who has transferred from Purdue and will sit out this season. Justine was the # 74 player out of HS. Her father Darryl played Football for the 49ers.
The Schedule: The non-conference schedule includes Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Clemson, but overall, much lower teams not in Power 5 conferences.
The Ducks play only at ASU and Arizona and only at home vs Washington and Washington State
The Team:
The two top scorers back for the Ducks are both Guards. Maite Cazoria is a 5-10 Soph from Spain and Lex Bando is a 5-9 Jr. Cazoria averaged almost 12 points per game hitting 52 threes at 39%. Cazoria is the Point Guard and averaged 6 assists per game with a 1.6 assist to turnover ratio. She had an outstanding Frosh year.
Bando averaged 11 points per game hitting 72 threes at 45%.
Jacinta Vandenberg is a 6-5 Sr who averaged 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 22 minutes per game. Jacinta could play the 5 or the 4. She played her first two seasons at Fresno State, and is from Australia.
At least four Frosh, Ionescu, McGuire, Campisano and Hebard will play well and see a lot of action. Another Frosh or two could join them.
Oregon has four other players returning although none played as many as 10 minutes per game. Morgan Trinder is a 5-7 Jr Guard who missed last season with a knee injury after transferring from JC.
Mar’Shay Moore is a 5-8 Sr Guard who also played her first two seasons at a JC.
Lauren Yearwood is a 6-3 Post who is from British Columbia and has played on four Canadian National Jr Teams.
Oti Gildon is 6-1 Frosh Forward and while she didn’t play much last season ESPN had her ranked # 37 in the nation.
Prediction: Lots of talent and it’s mostly young. It’s probably a perfect non conference schedule for the Ducks. It’s a top 6 in the league team in my mind.
2017 Recruiting:
Aina Ayuso, 5-9 Guard from Spain
September 4, 2016
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona
Last Season: Arizona was 13-19 overall and 3-15 in Pac 12 play. This ended to reign of Niya Butts and the Wildcats now have a new coaching staff.
The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is now the Head Coach. Barnes had been at Washington as an assistant the past four years as the Huskies came from the 2nd division of the Pac 12 to the NCAA Final Four. Barnes played professionally for 12 years including for 4 WNBA Teams.
Sunny Smallwood is the new Associate Head Coach. Smallwood was the Associate Head Coach the past two seasons at Boise State. She has coached at Cal, one year but the recruiting year of Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson. She also coached 9 years at Nebraska and another 11 years at Washington.
Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a new assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience and several years in the US.
Kelly Rae Finley is the other new assistant, coming from Colorado. Finley spent the last four years with the Buffs and before that 4 years at Harvard.
Losses: Keyahndra Cannon played an average of 23 minutes and scored 4 points per game
A’Shanti Coleman played 11 minutes per game and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Additions: Eugenie Simonet-Keller is a Redshirt Frosh and a 6-8 Post. She is from France but went to HS at the IMG Academy in Florida. Eugenie has played on French National teams.
Bria Rice is a 5-8 Frosh Guard from the State of Washington. Rice was ranked as the # 30 Guard out of HS, and played for a fine travel team, The Tree of Hope.
The Schedule: The University of San Diego and Kansas rank as their toughest games. The Wildcats might be a bottom 1/3 of the Pac 12 but they should start league play with a fine record. The Wildcats play only at Colorado and Utah and only at home against Oregon and Oregon State
The Team: The Wildcats return their top six scorers, however the team averaged just 57 points per game, and shot 39%.
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 Sr Forward who led the team in scoring at 12 points per game and was 2nd in rebounding with 6 per game. Jones missed 8 games with an injury last season.
Malena Washington is a 5-6 Sr Point Guard who averaged 11 points and led the team in assists although less than 3 per game. Washington was a JC All American as a Frosh coming to Arizona as a Soph
Taryn Griffey is a 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard. Griffey, daughter of Ken Jr, averaged 7 points per game last season. She missed her last 2 years of HS and her Frosh season and 10 games last season with injuries.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds last season.
JaLea Bennett is a 6-0 Jr Wing who averaged 6 points last season.
Dejza James is a 6-1 Sr Forward who only played in 13 games due to injuries last season but averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.
While the above players could be the starting line-up there will be more players with 20 minutes or so.
Lauren Evans is a 5-11 5th year Sr who averaged 3 points per game. Lauren played her first 2 seasons at Virginia Tech.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Guard who hasn’t played much in her 2 seasons after playing at SMU as a Frosh.
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Soph Post from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game last season.
Michal Miller is a 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 3 points in just 9 minutes last season.
Charise Holloway is a 5-7 redshirt Soph Guard who was injured and didn’t play last season. As a Frosh Holloway averaged 7 points per game and lead the team in threes.
Predictions: A lot of pieces for Coach Barnes to fit together and if she can a possible winning record although a tough road to the top 6 in the Pac 12.
2017 Recruiting:
Kiana Chew 6-3 F from Tennessee
Samantha "Sam" Fatkin 5-10 PG, 4 star from Washington
Marlee Kyles 5-7 PG from Illinois
Mallory Vaughn 6-4 C Post/Forward from Texas
Last Season: Arizona was 13-19 overall and 3-15 in Pac 12 play. This ended to reign of Niya Butts and the Wildcats now have a new coaching staff.
The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is now the Head Coach. Barnes had been at Washington as an assistant the past four years as the Huskies came from the 2nd division of the Pac 12 to the NCAA Final Four. Barnes played professionally for 12 years including for 4 WNBA Teams.
Sunny Smallwood is the new Associate Head Coach. Smallwood was the Associate Head Coach the past two seasons at Boise State. She has coached at Cal, one year but the recruiting year of Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson. She also coached 9 years at Nebraska and another 11 years at Washington.
Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a new assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience and several years in the US.
Kelly Rae Finley is the other new assistant, coming from Colorado. Finley spent the last four years with the Buffs and before that 4 years at Harvard.
Losses: Keyahndra Cannon played an average of 23 minutes and scored 4 points per game
A’Shanti Coleman played 11 minutes per game and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Additions: Eugenie Simonet-Keller is a Redshirt Frosh and a 6-8 Post. She is from France but went to HS at the IMG Academy in Florida. Eugenie has played on French National teams.
Bria Rice is a 5-8 Frosh Guard from the State of Washington. Rice was ranked as the # 30 Guard out of HS, and played for a fine travel team, The Tree of Hope.
The Schedule: The University of San Diego and Kansas rank as their toughest games. The Wildcats might be a bottom 1/3 of the Pac 12 but they should start league play with a fine record. The Wildcats play only at Colorado and Utah and only at home against Oregon and Oregon State
The Team: The Wildcats return their top six scorers, however the team averaged just 57 points per game, and shot 39%.
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 Sr Forward who led the team in scoring at 12 points per game and was 2nd in rebounding with 6 per game. Jones missed 8 games with an injury last season.
Malena Washington is a 5-6 Sr Point Guard who averaged 11 points and led the team in assists although less than 3 per game. Washington was a JC All American as a Frosh coming to Arizona as a Soph
Taryn Griffey is a 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard. Griffey, daughter of Ken Jr, averaged 7 points per game last season. She missed her last 2 years of HS and her Frosh season and 10 games last season with injuries.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds last season.
JaLea Bennett is a 6-0 Jr Wing who averaged 6 points last season.
Dejza James is a 6-1 Sr Forward who only played in 13 games due to injuries last season but averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.
While the above players could be the starting line-up there will be more players with 20 minutes or so.
Lauren Evans is a 5-11 5th year Sr who averaged 3 points per game. Lauren played her first 2 seasons at Virginia Tech.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Guard who hasn’t played much in her 2 seasons after playing at SMU as a Frosh.
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Soph Post from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game last season.
Michal Miller is a 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 3 points in just 9 minutes last season.
Charise Holloway is a 5-7 redshirt Soph Guard who was injured and didn’t play last season. As a Frosh Holloway averaged 7 points per game and lead the team in threes.
Predictions: A lot of pieces for Coach Barnes to fit together and if she can a possible winning record although a tough road to the top 6 in the Pac 12.
2017 Recruiting:
Kiana Chew 6-3 F from Tennessee
Samantha "Sam" Fatkin 5-10 PG, 4 star from Washington
Marlee Kyles 5-7 PG from Illinois
Mallory Vaughn 6-4 C Post/Forward from Texas
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