Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Last Year: All the way to the Final 4. This was after going 26-11 overall and 11-7 in league play.
Coaches:
Mike Neighbors is in his 4th season as Head Coach after 3 seasons as an Assistant at Washington.
Morgan Valley is in her 2nd year as an assistant, coming from Virginia Tech. She played at UConn.
Jasmine Lister is in her first year as an assistant. Lister played at Vandy and spent the past two years as a Grad Assistant at UConn.
Todd Schaefer is in his first year as an assistant after 3 seasons at Mississippi.
The two assistants Washington lost are both now Head Coaches.
Losses: Talia Walton averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds both 2nd on the team. Walton led the team in threes with 86 at 36%.
Alexus Atchley averaged 5 points becoming a starter for the last 22 games after an injury to Ruiz. She hit 35 threes at 40%.
Mathilde Gilling averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 12 minutes.
Additions: Two big additions to the team are Heather Corral and Natalie Romeo.
Corral is a 6-1 5th year Sr Wing who has missed the past two years with injuries. Corral has had a number of knee injuries, 2 in HS and not only missed the past 2 years but played in only 7 games in the year before that.
However if she can play she is a fine shooter from three and a heady player. Great to see her back.
Natalie Romeo is a 5-7 Jr Guard who transferred from Nebraska and must sit out this season. Last season at Nebraska Romeo averaged 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists and hit 104 threes. A top player out of HS.
Arrion McDonald is a 5-7 Frosh Guard who can score and play the Point. She was ranked # 51.
Mai-Loni Henson is a 6-1 Frosh Forward ranked # 69. She is a very strong rebounder and can play inside or outside the paint.
Amber Melgoza is a 5-10 Shooting Guard ranked # 147 but in her last two years of HS she averaged about 30 points per game.
Gigi Garcia is a 6-2 Post or Forward ranked # 89. She had a knee operation as a HS Sr but played in a post season all-star game. Gigi is an outstanding athlete, and should play right away if health permits.
Schedule: Incredibly weak especially for a Final 4 team. BYU, Fresno State and Boise State being the highlights. However they are in the Pre Season NIT, and it’s possible they play Notre Dame. The Huskies play Stanford and Cal only at Home and the Oregon schools only in Oregon.
The Team:
Romeo has a chance of playing this season and should know yes or no any day. Her coach at Nebraska was fired so presume her application to play is based on that. She is from the East Bay.
Katie Collier is a 6-3 5th year Post who started every game last season averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds. . 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
6-2 Sr Chantel Osahor played mostly off the bench last season averaging averaging 5 points and 6 rebounds can shoot the three and is a GREAT passer, although lacks quickness. However we all remember her in the Elite 8 game against Stanford
The Great Kelsey Plum now a Sr returns at Guard. Plum is 5-8 and averaged 26 points last season along with 4 assists and 4
rebounds . Plum hit 78 threes at 33%, but hit at 40% her Jr year. Plum is a First team All American
Brianna Ruiz returns at Guard as Washington played three Guards last season. Ruiz is a 5-10 redshirt Jr who averaged 6 points. Ruiz missed the last half of the season with a knee injury.
Kelli Kingma is a 5-8 Jr Guard. Kelli averaged just 9 minutes and 2 points per game last season. She is the sister of Kristi a former great Husky.
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Soph Post who averaged 2 points, 2 rebounds in 5 minutes per game last season. Deja was ranked # 35 out of HS.
Mackenzie Wieburg is a 5-9 and former walk on now on scholarship who played just 37 minutes last season.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 Redshirt Soph who played just 41 minutes last season.
Predictions: Several of the Frosh must step up and play meaningful and valuable minutes. Also Corral and Ruiz are hopefully healthy. Any team with Plum will be very good.
2017 Recruiting: Kierra Collier is a 5-6 Point Guard from Missouri ranked # 55.
October 29, 2016
October 10, 2016
Pac 12 Preview: Utah
Pac 12 Preview: UTAH
Last Season:
18-15 overall and 8-10 in Pac 12 play, after being picked by the coaches for 11th place in the league.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is in her 2nd year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP. Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years. Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons. Utah improved quite a bit last season.
Gavin Peterson is in his 2nd year after 2 seasons with Roberts at UOP. Peterson has been an assistant in the West since 2002 and an Associate Head Coach for 6 of those seasons.
Danyelle Snelgro is in her 2nd year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Wesley Brooks is in his 2nd year after 4 seasons at North Texas State and before than at Texas Southern.
Losses:
Danielle Rodriquez averaged 9 points and 4 assists per game as a full time starter.
Katie Kuklok averaged 7 points per game.
Devri Owens and Gabrielle Bowie didn’t play much.
Additions:
Kiana Moore is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Vacaville who was the # 8 player In Northern California. Moore is very quick.
Megan Huff is a 6-3 Jr Forward who transferred from Hawaii and will redshirt this season. At Hawaii last season she averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds. She went to Hawaii to play Volleyball but switched to Basketball.
Megan Jacobs is a 6-1 Frosh Wing from Las Vegas. Her brother plays Pro Football with Carolina.
Tilar Clark is a 5-10 Jr Guard who transferred from Salt Lake JC. Clark played at Utah State as a Frosh and started 23 games averaging 7 points. As a Soph she played JC ball and was a first team JC All American averaging 16 points per game.
The Schedule: St Mary’s and BYU are the toughest games. Hosts the Arizona schools only and plays at USC and UCLA only.
The Team:
Emily Potter is a 6-6 Redshirt Jr who missed all of her soph season with an injury. Emily returned last seasonand averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds and was 2nd in the Pac 12 in blocked shots. Potter was a first team All Pac 12 choice.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 5th year Sr Wing and Like Potter a Canadian. Paige averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game last season and hit 56 threes at 37%.
Malia Nawahine is a 5-10 Redshirt Jr Wing. Malia averaged 9 points per game last season.
Tanaeya Boclair is a 6-0 Jr Wing who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds last season.
The four listed above started every game for the Utes last year.
Josseta Fatuesi is a 6-4 Jr Post from the Santa Clara area. Last season Jeseta averaged 13 minutes, 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Soph Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 2 points in 9 minutes last season.
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Redshirt Jr Forward. Wendy missed last season with injuries but could really help on the boards this season.
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 Redshirt Soph Guard. Provo sat out this past season after transferring from Clemson where she scored 5 points per game as a Frosh. She was on the Canadian National Jr team.
Predictions: Utah under their new coach Roberts did so much better than expected this past season but it’ll be hard to be top 6.
2017 Recruiting: Tori Williams is from Idaho and ranked # 65. She’s a 5-7 Point Guard
Jordan Cruz is a 5-10 Guard from Sacramento and a great there point shooter. She is ranked # 118.
Dru Gytlen is a 5-10 Guard from South Dakota ranked # 14
Last Season:
18-15 overall and 8-10 in Pac 12 play, after being picked by the coaches for 11th place in the league.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is in her 2nd year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP. Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years. Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons. Utah improved quite a bit last season.
Gavin Peterson is in his 2nd year after 2 seasons with Roberts at UOP. Peterson has been an assistant in the West since 2002 and an Associate Head Coach for 6 of those seasons.
Danyelle Snelgro is in her 2nd year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Wesley Brooks is in his 2nd year after 4 seasons at North Texas State and before than at Texas Southern.
Losses:
Danielle Rodriquez averaged 9 points and 4 assists per game as a full time starter.
Katie Kuklok averaged 7 points per game.
Devri Owens and Gabrielle Bowie didn’t play much.
Additions:
Kiana Moore is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Vacaville who was the # 8 player In Northern California. Moore is very quick.
Megan Huff is a 6-3 Jr Forward who transferred from Hawaii and will redshirt this season. At Hawaii last season she averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds. She went to Hawaii to play Volleyball but switched to Basketball.
Megan Jacobs is a 6-1 Frosh Wing from Las Vegas. Her brother plays Pro Football with Carolina.
Tilar Clark is a 5-10 Jr Guard who transferred from Salt Lake JC. Clark played at Utah State as a Frosh and started 23 games averaging 7 points. As a Soph she played JC ball and was a first team JC All American averaging 16 points per game.
The Schedule: St Mary’s and BYU are the toughest games. Hosts the Arizona schools only and plays at USC and UCLA only.
The Team:
Emily Potter is a 6-6 Redshirt Jr who missed all of her soph season with an injury. Emily returned last seasonand averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds and was 2nd in the Pac 12 in blocked shots. Potter was a first team All Pac 12 choice.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 5th year Sr Wing and Like Potter a Canadian. Paige averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game last season and hit 56 threes at 37%.
Malia Nawahine is a 5-10 Redshirt Jr Wing. Malia averaged 9 points per game last season.
Tanaeya Boclair is a 6-0 Jr Wing who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds last season.
The four listed above started every game for the Utes last year.
Josseta Fatuesi is a 6-4 Jr Post from the Santa Clara area. Last season Jeseta averaged 13 minutes, 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Soph Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 2 points in 9 minutes last season.
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Redshirt Jr Forward. Wendy missed last season with injuries but could really help on the boards this season.
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 Redshirt Soph Guard. Provo sat out this past season after transferring from Clemson where she scored 5 points per game as a Frosh. She was on the Canadian National Jr team.
Predictions: Utah under their new coach Roberts did so much better than expected this past season but it’ll be hard to be top 6.
2017 Recruiting: Tori Williams is from Idaho and ranked # 65. She’s a 5-7 Point Guard
Jordan Cruz is a 5-10 Guard from Sacramento and a great there point shooter. She is ranked # 118.
Dru Gytlen is a 5-10 Guard from South Dakota ranked # 14
October 2, 2016
Pac 12 Preview: USC
Pac 12 Preview: Southern Cal
Last Season: 19-13, 6-12 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 4th season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 3rd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once. Of course we all know Beth sued San Diego State and won.
Jualeah Woods is in her 4th 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 3rd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Tami Fagbenle led the team in scoring and rebounding with almost 14 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Khaedin Taito averaged 15 minutes but just 2 points per game and didn’t return for her Soph season.
Brianna Barrett missed the last half of last season after being ruled ineligible. She averaged 7 points and 6 assists per game.
Additions:
The big addition is 5th year Grad Student Jordan Adams, see more under The Team.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Redshirt Frosh Forward who joined the Trojans in December of last year. Milisic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Minyon Moore is a 5-8 Frosh Guard from Northern California and is the sister of Louisville’s Mariya. Moore was ranked # 98 but having watched her 5-6 times I love her game. Super quick, can drive and sees all on the floor.
Ivana Jakubcova is a 6-6 Sr Post and a transfer from Kentucky. Ivana is a grad student so eligible now and getting her Masters in Sports Psychology. At Kentucky she didn’t play much as a Sr and missed her Jr season. She played at a JC her first two seasons.
Ja’Tavia Tapley is a 6-2 Frosh forward from Florida. Tapley was ranked # 81 by PN however # 39 by another Site.
Valerie Higgins is a 6-0 Guard from Southern California. Higgins was ranked # 24 and played on our 18U national team. Just a super all around player. Her Dad played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Asiah Jones is a 6-3 Frosh Forward from South Carolina. Jones was a 3 star recruit and born in Sacramento.
The Schedule: The Trojans play at Texas A&M and at home maybe against Mississippi State and other than that very low key. USC plays only at Stanford and Cal and plays Washington and Washington State only at home.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 5th Sr Point Guard, and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Last season Adams averaged 13 points per game and 8 rebounds per game before being rules ineligible.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Sr Guard who played 29 minutes per game last season, starting when Adams and Barrett were ruled ineligible. Jaco averaged 10 points and made 72 threes, tops on the team, at 39%. The 72 made three’s were half the total for USC. Jaco has graduated and is working on her Masters.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Jr Post who averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds starting every game last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Sadie Edwards is a 5-10 Jr Guard who started her career at UConn. Sadie became eligible December 18 last year and averaged 30 minutes, and 11 points per game. She was a McD All American.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 5th year Sr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out 2 years ago after transferring to USC and last season averaged 4 points for the Trojans.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 8 points per game last season in only 18 minutes.
Marquerite Effa is a 6-3 Soph Post who averaged 2 point and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes per game this past season.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Soph Guard from Spain who played sparingly last season.
Predictions: Two or three Frosh will play a lot for USC and combined with a weak pre season schedule will open Conference play with a very good record. After that a struggle to be top 6 in the conference.
2017 Recruiting: Ayanna Clark is a 6-2 Post player ranked # 38. Interesting she committed long ago and was ranked in the top 10 at that time.
Shalexxus Aaron is a 6-1 wing ranked # 57.
Last Season: 19-13, 6-12 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 4th season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 3rd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once. Of course we all know Beth sued San Diego State and won.
Jualeah Woods is in her 4th 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 3rd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Tami Fagbenle led the team in scoring and rebounding with almost 14 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Khaedin Taito averaged 15 minutes but just 2 points per game and didn’t return for her Soph season.
Brianna Barrett missed the last half of last season after being ruled ineligible. She averaged 7 points and 6 assists per game.
Additions:
The big addition is 5th year Grad Student Jordan Adams, see more under The Team.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Redshirt Frosh Forward who joined the Trojans in December of last year. Milisic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Minyon Moore is a 5-8 Frosh Guard from Northern California and is the sister of Louisville’s Mariya. Moore was ranked # 98 but having watched her 5-6 times I love her game. Super quick, can drive and sees all on the floor.
Ivana Jakubcova is a 6-6 Sr Post and a transfer from Kentucky. Ivana is a grad student so eligible now and getting her Masters in Sports Psychology. At Kentucky she didn’t play much as a Sr and missed her Jr season. She played at a JC her first two seasons.
Ja’Tavia Tapley is a 6-2 Frosh forward from Florida. Tapley was ranked # 81 by PN however # 39 by another Site.
Valerie Higgins is a 6-0 Guard from Southern California. Higgins was ranked # 24 and played on our 18U national team. Just a super all around player. Her Dad played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Asiah Jones is a 6-3 Frosh Forward from South Carolina. Jones was a 3 star recruit and born in Sacramento.
The Schedule: The Trojans play at Texas A&M and at home maybe against Mississippi State and other than that very low key. USC plays only at Stanford and Cal and plays Washington and Washington State only at home.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 5th Sr Point Guard, and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Last season Adams averaged 13 points per game and 8 rebounds per game before being rules ineligible.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Sr Guard who played 29 minutes per game last season, starting when Adams and Barrett were ruled ineligible. Jaco averaged 10 points and made 72 threes, tops on the team, at 39%. The 72 made three’s were half the total for USC. Jaco has graduated and is working on her Masters.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Jr Post who averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds starting every game last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Sadie Edwards is a 5-10 Jr Guard who started her career at UConn. Sadie became eligible December 18 last year and averaged 30 minutes, and 11 points per game. She was a McD All American.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 5th year Sr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out 2 years ago after transferring to USC and last season averaged 4 points for the Trojans.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 8 points per game last season in only 18 minutes.
Marquerite Effa is a 6-3 Soph Post who averaged 2 point and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes per game this past season.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Soph Guard from Spain who played sparingly last season.
Predictions: Two or three Frosh will play a lot for USC and combined with a weak pre season schedule will open Conference play with a very good record. After that a struggle to be top 6 in the conference.
2017 Recruiting: Ayanna Clark is a 6-2 Post player ranked # 38. Interesting she committed long ago and was ranked in the top 10 at that time.
Shalexxus Aaron is a 6-1 wing ranked # 57.
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