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