Pac 12 Preview: Arizona

Pac 12 Preview: Arizona

Last Season: Arizona was 6-24 overall and 2-16 in Pac 12 play, under Head Coach Adia Barnes.

The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is in her 3nd year 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.

Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a 3rd year assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience and several years in the US.

Morgan Valley is in her 3nd year after coming from the U of Washington. Morgan played at UConn and before Washington was an assistant at Virginia Tech.

April Phillips has joined the staff coming from LMU where she was Associate Head Coach. Of course Stanford fans will remember her playing vs Jeanette’s 4.4 vs Xavier.



Losses:
Starting with a huge loss incoming recruit Valeria Trucco, 6-4 Post from Italy # 3 European player, however a 5 star on another recruiting site. She signed a Pro Contract to play in Europe. A last minute loss, and due to her father being very ill.

Sunny Smallwood spent two years as the Associate Head Coach. She is now an Assistant at Montana State. Smallwood was the Associate Head Coach the 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.

Sammy Fatkin who scored 2 points per game as a Frosh transferred to Montana.
Bria Rice who played only 6 games is gone.

Kat Wright graduated after averaging 7 points and started all games as a Forward spot

Jalea Bennett graduated after starting every game and was the leading score at 14 points and also averaged 4 rebounds.



Additions:
Aarion McDonald is 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard who transferred from Washington where she started and was the teams’ 3rd leading scorer. In Washington’s post season run Aarion averaged 14 points per game. She sat out this past season. Ranked # 42 out of HS.

Tee Tee Starks is a 5-9 Guard who transferred from Iowa State where she started about half their games last season. Starks is a redshirt Soph who sat out last season. Ranked # 38 out of HS.

Dominique McBryde is a 6-2 Redshirt Jr Forward who transferred from Purdue where she averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds this past season. McBryde sat out last season as a transfer. Ranked # 45 out of HS.

That’s three transfers who sat out last season but practiced with the team and will contribute, even start from Day 1. All were ranked top 50 out of HS.
Catherine Reese, 6-3 PF a Frosh from Texas ranked # 31

Semaj Smith 6-5 Post from So Cal ranked # 48

Shelyse Smith, Wing from Washington ranked # 102

Bryce Nixon a 5-10 Point Guard from Arizona ranked # 128.
Now that’s’ four newcomers to the team all ranked in the top 50 out of HS. What a change in talent from past years.



The Schedule:
The non conference schedule is going to be pretty easy, maybe ending with a solid winning record entering conference play depending on health and the Frosh paying well early. I’m sure the schedule is because so many new players.
The Wildcats play USC and UCLA only at home and Washington and Washington State only on the road.



The Team:
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Sr Post from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.

Lucia Alonso is a 5-7 Jr Guard who started every game last season averaging 8 points and 3 assists. She also hit 43 threes at 39%.

Marlee Kyles is a 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 8 points last season

Sam Thomas is a 6-0 Soph Forward who averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Kiana Berkhoff (formally Chew) is a 6-3 Soph post. Chew is from Germany but played HS basketball in Florida. She barely played last season



Predictions:
Seven new players, five of whom should contribute quite a bit immediately. Add the four returnees who played a lot last season and it appears that Branes will be turning this program around. Not first division maybe but I think vastly improved.


2019 Recruiting:
Birna Benonysdottir is a 4 star 6-5 Post from Iceland.