Last Season:
UCLA had a great 26-8 record advancing to the Pac 12 final game. The Bruins were 14-4 in Pac 12 play. They ended the season losing to Oklahoma after beating Stetson in the NCAA tournament.
The Coaches:
Cori Close is back for her 3rd season at UCLA. Close is from Milpitas and was a longtime assistant at UCSB in their heyday and then Florida State.
Jenny Huth is back for her 3rd season as an assistant. Jenny Roulier then, was a standout player for Colorado 1998-2002.
Tony Newnan is also in his 3rd year as an assistant. He was an assistant at Westmont College in Santa Barbara before coming to UCLA and was an assistant at Oregon State before that.
Shannon Perry is back for her 3rd year as an assistant and was an assistant at Duke for 5 seasons.
Losses:
Here’s a stat: UCLA played 34 games and their leading scorer in 27 of those games has graduated or is hurt and out for the year.
First the really sad news that UCLA has already lost two players to ACLs. Kori Korver averaged 5 points a game as a frosh. The 5-9 guard would have seen considerable playing time this season. Korver hit a team high 38 threes at 35%.
6-3 Jr Kacy Swain also tore her ACL and like Korver out for this season. Swain averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Alyssia Brewer, Markel Walker, Jasmine Dixon and Mariah Williams all graduated. Six players started 24 or more games and the graduated Srs were four of the six.
Brewer was the starting post and averaged 11 points, 2nd on the team and a team leading 8 rebounds per game.
Walker averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds and lead the team with 5.5 assists per game, more than double the next player.
Dixon averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game while recovering from missing the previous season with an injury.
Williams averaged 4 points and was 2nd on the team in assists.
Six big losses for the Bruins to overcome.
Additions:
Savanna Trapp is a 6-9, yes 6-9, frosh center and the plan is to redshirt her. Trapp was ranked as high as 41 but most had her about 150-200. The plan seems to remand to redshirt her despite the two injuries.
Dominique Williams is a 5-9 point guard from Arizona, ranked 94 and 111 by two Sites. She played HS with Courtney Ekmark who is committed to UConn in the 2014 class.
Paulina Hersler is a 6-2 frosh power forward, a year older than most, from Sweden. Paulina played on the Swedish National 16U and 18U teams and led all Europeans in scoring at the 18U with 21 points per game. She shots threes very well, making 52 at 47% for her team a year ago, and is a strong rebounder. Sadly Paulina had a knee operation several months ago and is predicted to be back in January in time for conference play.
Luiana Livolo is a 6-3 Center from Portugal by way of Northwest Florida JC. Livolo is a redshirt Jr with 2 years to play. She played on Portugal’s 16U, 18U and 20U teams. She is a fine rebounder but not yet a solid offensive player.
The Schedule:
UCLA plays the Arizona and the Washington schools once each. The non-conference schedule is a killer:
At Nebraska, North Carolina and Oklahoma at Home, at Notre Dame. They do play in a fairly weak tournament in Florida but even the games not mentioned here will not be easy.
The Team:
Thea Lemberger is a 5-7 Sr and will start at the point guard position. Last season Thea averaged almost 9 points per game, starting 24 games. Thea made 27 threes at 31%.
The other guard should be Nirra Fields a 5-9 soph who averaged 8 point in just 19 minutes per game, and made 21 threes at 36%. Fields was a top 10 player out of High School.
At Center will be 6-4 redshirt Jr Corrine Costa who sat out most of last season with an head injury, after playing 5 games. Costa already is on the top 10 UCLA list for career blocks, and her 50 2 seasons ago ranks 2nd for a single UCLA season.
Atonye Nyingifa is a 6th year 5-11 forward who was the Bruins leading scorer last season at 11.6points per game. Atonye was 3rd in rebounding with 7.1 per game, high was 7.7. She is an outstanding offensive player in the paint.
Lauren Holiday is the probable 5th starter, she’s a 5-9 redshirt frosh who played 3 games then had a head injury last season.
That’s a three guard line up with only one player 6’ or taller.
Rhema Gardner is a 6-1 redshirt Jr wing who missed last season with a knee, not ACL, injury. She started 20 games 2 seasons ago.
Then we have the four newcomers, one will be redshirted and one will be out until January.
Predictions:
The injury bug, giant bug, has really hit UCLA the past two years. Three didn’t play last year, Dixon and Nyingifa missed all season two years ago and two are out for this year. A 500 season, especially with their non-conference schedule might be good. But wait until next season.
2014 Recruiting:
Jordin Canada 5-6 point guard ranked # 4 in the country
Recee’ Caldwell 5-8 point guard ranked # 6
Lajahna Drummer 6-2 power forward # 10
Monique Billings, 6-2 post # 17
Kelli Hayes 6-0 wing # 42
The # 1 Class in the Nation by far.
October 15, 2013
October 1, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Oregon
Last Season:
4-27 and 2-16 in Pac 12 play. Attendance is down to an average of 1575 for the school that had great attendance once.
The Coaches:
Paul Westhead begins his 6th season as the Oregon Head Coach. The Ducks record gets worse and worse.
Dan Muscatell returns for his 5th straight season and 11th overall as an Oregon Assistant. He was Head Coach before his 2nd tour with Oregon at Sacramento State.
Shandrika Lee is back for her 3rd season after being at Army and before that Cal Poly.
Bianca Ziemann is back for her 2nd season after a year at Loyola Marymount.
Losses:
Only Devyn Galland who isn’t on the roster although wasn’t a Sr last season. She averaged 7 points in just 18 minutes per game.
Additions:
Oregon got what could be a very good transfer last year in 5-11 Katelyn Loper who is now eligible after sitting out a year. Loper is a guard who played 2 years at Hofstra. In those two years she averaged 12 points per game and 71 threes at 35%. Her high was 29 and that was against St John’s.
Shae Rowe is a 5-10 frosh guard ranked from 67 to 156 out of HS. Rowe averaged 20 points per game in each of her last two HS seasons with two games in the 40’s. Played on the # 7 team, Santiago of Corona, CA.
Drea Tolar is a 5-5 frosh guard from SoCal. Tolar is a Point Guard and played for the IV Stare Champs last season.
The Schedule:
UConn in Hartford, Princeton the next toughest, then lower conferences. The Beavers play Cal, Stanford, Colorado and Utah once each.
The Team:
Leading the way is the Media’s choice for Pac 12 Frosh of the Year Jillian Alleyne. Jillian is a 6-3 soph and averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds a game to lead the Ducks in both categories. She’s a force in the paint.
At the other forward will be 6-2 Sr Danielle Love. Love averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game.
The guards will be Ariel Thomas a 5-6 Sr who has averaged 8, 9 then 11 points per game her last three seasons. Thomas is very quick. The other guard is 5-9 Jr Jordan Loaera who averaged 7 points and third on the team 5 rebounds per game. Jordan’s Mom played at Oregon and Thomas played Travel with Sara James.
The Post will be 6-4 Jr Megan Carpenter and after volleyball 6-1 Jr Liz Brenner. Carpenter averaged 4 points and 5 rebounds per game but when Brenner arrived for conference play Carpenter’s playing time decreased. Brenner averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds and 30 minutes per game. Brenner is an outstanding Volleyball player and her brother is a lineman on the Oregon Football team.
If three guards, and that’s possible, Amanda Delgado is a 5-7 Jr who lead the team with 59 threes almost double over the # 2 shooter and averaged 9 points per game.
Two others should get lots of playing time as should the transfer Loper profiled above. Laura Stanulis was a starter for the first 5 games last season then suffered a season ending injury. The 5-9 5th year guard averaged 8 points per game when she did play. Lexi Peterson is a 5-11 soph guard who missed last season except for the first game. Again, a season ending injury. Lexi scored 11 points in her one game.
Predictions:
The Ducks really had injury problems last season and if all healthy they may improve quite a bit. However right now it looks like and 11th or 12th place team in the Pac 12.
2014 Recruiting:
MacKynzie Fort 5-9 guard # 203, Mariah Williams 5-10 guard # 241 and Tatum Nuebert 6-2 forward # 328
4-27 and 2-16 in Pac 12 play. Attendance is down to an average of 1575 for the school that had great attendance once.
The Coaches:
Paul Westhead begins his 6th season as the Oregon Head Coach. The Ducks record gets worse and worse.
Dan Muscatell returns for his 5th straight season and 11th overall as an Oregon Assistant. He was Head Coach before his 2nd tour with Oregon at Sacramento State.
Shandrika Lee is back for her 3rd season after being at Army and before that Cal Poly.
Bianca Ziemann is back for her 2nd season after a year at Loyola Marymount.
Losses:
Only Devyn Galland who isn’t on the roster although wasn’t a Sr last season. She averaged 7 points in just 18 minutes per game.
Additions:
Oregon got what could be a very good transfer last year in 5-11 Katelyn Loper who is now eligible after sitting out a year. Loper is a guard who played 2 years at Hofstra. In those two years she averaged 12 points per game and 71 threes at 35%. Her high was 29 and that was against St John’s.
Shae Rowe is a 5-10 frosh guard ranked from 67 to 156 out of HS. Rowe averaged 20 points per game in each of her last two HS seasons with two games in the 40’s. Played on the # 7 team, Santiago of Corona, CA.
Drea Tolar is a 5-5 frosh guard from SoCal. Tolar is a Point Guard and played for the IV Stare Champs last season.
The Schedule:
UConn in Hartford, Princeton the next toughest, then lower conferences. The Beavers play Cal, Stanford, Colorado and Utah once each.
The Team:
Leading the way is the Media’s choice for Pac 12 Frosh of the Year Jillian Alleyne. Jillian is a 6-3 soph and averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds a game to lead the Ducks in both categories. She’s a force in the paint.
At the other forward will be 6-2 Sr Danielle Love. Love averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game.
The guards will be Ariel Thomas a 5-6 Sr who has averaged 8, 9 then 11 points per game her last three seasons. Thomas is very quick. The other guard is 5-9 Jr Jordan Loaera who averaged 7 points and third on the team 5 rebounds per game. Jordan’s Mom played at Oregon and Thomas played Travel with Sara James.
The Post will be 6-4 Jr Megan Carpenter and after volleyball 6-1 Jr Liz Brenner. Carpenter averaged 4 points and 5 rebounds per game but when Brenner arrived for conference play Carpenter’s playing time decreased. Brenner averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds and 30 minutes per game. Brenner is an outstanding Volleyball player and her brother is a lineman on the Oregon Football team.
If three guards, and that’s possible, Amanda Delgado is a 5-7 Jr who lead the team with 59 threes almost double over the # 2 shooter and averaged 9 points per game.
Two others should get lots of playing time as should the transfer Loper profiled above. Laura Stanulis was a starter for the first 5 games last season then suffered a season ending injury. The 5-9 5th year guard averaged 8 points per game when she did play. Lexi Peterson is a 5-11 soph guard who missed last season except for the first game. Again, a season ending injury. Lexi scored 11 points in her one game.
Predictions:
The Ducks really had injury problems last season and if all healthy they may improve quite a bit. However right now it looks like and 11th or 12th place team in the Pac 12.
2014 Recruiting:
MacKynzie Fort 5-9 guard # 203, Mariah Williams 5-10 guard # 241 and Tatum Nuebert 6-2 forward # 328
September 24, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Oregon State
Last Season:
A very disappointing season, 10-21 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Scott Rueck returns for his 4th season as Head Coach. Scott was Coach of the Year in the Pac 12 two years ago with a 20 win season and 5th in the league.
Mark Campbell returns for his 4th season and he is the Associate Head Coach.
Eric Ely returns for his 4th season.
Many of you will remember the newest addition to the staff, former Oregon State great Mandy Close. Mandy has been at Montana State as an assistant. She was an Oregon State great 2003-06.
The Losses:
The Beavers lose 3 players who averaged 18-20 minutes per game. Patricia Bright was the Center and averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Mollie Schwegler averaged 6 points per game.
ShaKiana Edwards-Teasley averaged 2 points and nearly 5 rebounds per game.
Sage Indendi who missed last season with an injury used her redshirt year sitting out after transferring to Oregon State.
The Additions:
Breanna Brown is a 6-3 post player from the East Bay ranked 49 and 73 in the nation by two Sites. Brown played on the outstanding Bishop O’Dowd team of Oakland. Brown is a strong defensive player, but not yet a strong offensive threat. But post defense is just what Oregon State needs.
Gabriella Hanson is a 5-11 frosh guard from SoCal who is also able to play on the Swedish Junior teams which she has done the last 3 summers with the past 2 at the 18U level. Hanson averaged 6 points and led the team in rebounding (7), steals and assists. The year before she averaged 9 points per game and in 2011 for the 16U team she averaged 11 points per game. She was the # 28 wing out of HS and played 4 years with Stanford Frosh Brianna Roberson.
Kolbie Orum is a 6-3 frosh forward from Canada. A two time member of Canadian Jr teams. In HS Orum scored 1900 points and had over 800 rebounds in her last two seasons.
Sydney Wiese is a 6-0 frosh guard from Phoenix who was ranked 56, 66 and 80 by three sites out of HS. Wiese is an outstanding three point shooter hitting 114 as a Jr and as a SR was the Arizona large school Player of the Year.
The Schedule:
Penn State, Creighton, Clemson and then Notre Dame highlight their non-conference schedule. In the Pac 12 Oregon State plays Stanford, Cal, Utah and Colorado just once each.
The Team:
The Beavers return their top 3 scorers and 4 others who averaged 11-22 minutes per game.
Jamie Weisner is a 5-10 soph who was just outstanding as a frosh last season. Weisner averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game leading the team in scoring and barely 2nd in rebounding. Jamie also led the team with 48 threes at 37%. Weisner played for the Canadian World Championships in the 19U tournament and averaged 17 points per game. Her father is from Canada. Jamie was one of the nation’s top javelin throwers in HS. It would not be surprising if Jamie averaged close to 20 points per game this season. She is outstanding.
Ali Gibson is a 5-11 Jr guard who averaged 9 points per game and made 40 threes. Gibson scored 12 points per game with 54 threes as a frosh. Ali is a fine all around player.
Alyssa Martin is a 6-0 Sr guard who averaged 7 points per game last season with 32 threes. Martin has started just about every game since arriving at Oregon State. As a frosh she averaged 12 points per game and as a soph she averaged 8 points.
Deven Hunter is a 6-3 soph forward who started almost every game as a frosh averaging 5 points and 6 rebounds per game. Hunter was ranked # 100 out of HS.
Ruth Hamlin is a 6-6 soph center who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game playing behind Bright. Hamlin comes from a small town way north in British Columbia. She rides show horses. Hamlin also made the Canadian National team this past summer. She had games of 16 points and another with 12 rebounds. Hamlin is a key for the Beavers.
Samantha Siegner is a 6-3 soph forward ranked # 94 out of HS. Last season Siegner averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. Siegner’s improvement will be a key.
Khadidja Toure is a 5-9 soph guard who averaged 3 points per game in 11 minutes per game last season. Toure was the state of Oregon hurdle champion in HS. She scored 48 in one HS game.
The frosh will really help.
Predictions:
The Beavers can be a first place team. They are young but have talent and are pretty deep.
2014 Recruiting:
None so far that I could find.
A very disappointing season, 10-21 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Scott Rueck returns for his 4th season as Head Coach. Scott was Coach of the Year in the Pac 12 two years ago with a 20 win season and 5th in the league.
Mark Campbell returns for his 4th season and he is the Associate Head Coach.
Eric Ely returns for his 4th season.
Many of you will remember the newest addition to the staff, former Oregon State great Mandy Close. Mandy has been at Montana State as an assistant. She was an Oregon State great 2003-06.
The Losses:
The Beavers lose 3 players who averaged 18-20 minutes per game. Patricia Bright was the Center and averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Mollie Schwegler averaged 6 points per game.
ShaKiana Edwards-Teasley averaged 2 points and nearly 5 rebounds per game.
Sage Indendi who missed last season with an injury used her redshirt year sitting out after transferring to Oregon State.
The Additions:
Breanna Brown is a 6-3 post player from the East Bay ranked 49 and 73 in the nation by two Sites. Brown played on the outstanding Bishop O’Dowd team of Oakland. Brown is a strong defensive player, but not yet a strong offensive threat. But post defense is just what Oregon State needs.
Gabriella Hanson is a 5-11 frosh guard from SoCal who is also able to play on the Swedish Junior teams which she has done the last 3 summers with the past 2 at the 18U level. Hanson averaged 6 points and led the team in rebounding (7), steals and assists. The year before she averaged 9 points per game and in 2011 for the 16U team she averaged 11 points per game. She was the # 28 wing out of HS and played 4 years with Stanford Frosh Brianna Roberson.
Kolbie Orum is a 6-3 frosh forward from Canada. A two time member of Canadian Jr teams. In HS Orum scored 1900 points and had over 800 rebounds in her last two seasons.
Sydney Wiese is a 6-0 frosh guard from Phoenix who was ranked 56, 66 and 80 by three sites out of HS. Wiese is an outstanding three point shooter hitting 114 as a Jr and as a SR was the Arizona large school Player of the Year.
The Schedule:
Penn State, Creighton, Clemson and then Notre Dame highlight their non-conference schedule. In the Pac 12 Oregon State plays Stanford, Cal, Utah and Colorado just once each.
The Team:
The Beavers return their top 3 scorers and 4 others who averaged 11-22 minutes per game.
Jamie Weisner is a 5-10 soph who was just outstanding as a frosh last season. Weisner averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game leading the team in scoring and barely 2nd in rebounding. Jamie also led the team with 48 threes at 37%. Weisner played for the Canadian World Championships in the 19U tournament and averaged 17 points per game. Her father is from Canada. Jamie was one of the nation’s top javelin throwers in HS. It would not be surprising if Jamie averaged close to 20 points per game this season. She is outstanding.
Ali Gibson is a 5-11 Jr guard who averaged 9 points per game and made 40 threes. Gibson scored 12 points per game with 54 threes as a frosh. Ali is a fine all around player.
Alyssa Martin is a 6-0 Sr guard who averaged 7 points per game last season with 32 threes. Martin has started just about every game since arriving at Oregon State. As a frosh she averaged 12 points per game and as a soph she averaged 8 points.
Deven Hunter is a 6-3 soph forward who started almost every game as a frosh averaging 5 points and 6 rebounds per game. Hunter was ranked # 100 out of HS.
Ruth Hamlin is a 6-6 soph center who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game playing behind Bright. Hamlin comes from a small town way north in British Columbia. She rides show horses. Hamlin also made the Canadian National team this past summer. She had games of 16 points and another with 12 rebounds. Hamlin is a key for the Beavers.
Samantha Siegner is a 6-3 soph forward ranked # 94 out of HS. Last season Siegner averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. Siegner’s improvement will be a key.
Khadidja Toure is a 5-9 soph guard who averaged 3 points per game in 11 minutes per game last season. Toure was the state of Oregon hurdle champion in HS. She scored 48 in one HS game.
The frosh will really help.
Predictions:
The Beavers can be a first place team. They are young but have talent and are pretty deep.
2014 Recruiting:
None so far that I could find.
September 16, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Utah
First a bit about Colorado’s schedule, info I didn’t have for their preview story. Colorado plays the Oregon schools and Cal and Stanford once. They do play Final two team Louisville but other than that not real challenging. The Buffalos play New Mexico and Illinois as the toughest teams after Louisville.
Last Season, back to Utah: The Utes were 23-14 and made it to the Finals of the WNIT. The Utes were 8-10 in Pac 12 play.
Coaches:
Anthony Levrets returns for his 4th season as Head Coach after 3 seasons as an assistant at Utah.
Velaida Harris is in her 4th season as an assistant at Utah. She was Jillian Harmon’s Sr year High School coach.
Matt Legerski has been an assistant at Utah since 2003. His uncle is the Women’s Coach at Wyoming.
Willette White is in her 3rd season at Utah but has been an Assistant coach at Oregon, Washington and associate head coach at UCLA. White has 20 years as a Pac 10/12 assistant and received her Master’s degree from Ohio State the same year Amy Tucker received hers.
Losses:
Iwalani Rodriques and Rachel Messer were the starting guards for Utah and have graduated. Rodriques averaged 11 points per game and Messer 4. But Messer made 37 threes at 44% ( and made on 9 two pointers for the season), and Rodriques made 43 threes at 34%. Rodriques also led the team in assists and was 3rd in rebounding.
Chelsea Bridgewater averaged 1 point and 9 minutes per game.
Additions:
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Frosh unranked forward from San Diego. She is a cousin to the Nawahine sisters.
Malia Nawahine is 5-10 frosh wing from Utah who like her sister and cousin grew up in California. Malia is unranked but scored 18 points per game last season in HS and shot 40% from three.
Valarie Nawahine is a 5-9 soph guard who transferred from BYU. I believe she sat out this past season so can play this year.
Devri Owens is a 5-8 frosh guard from Texas. Like the others above, she was not ranked out of HS.
Emily Potter is a 6-5 post from Canada with starting experience for the Canadian 17U and 19U teams. She was the 3rd leading scorer for the 19U team in the World Championships this past summer.
Schedule: The Utes play the Oregon schools and Cal and Stanford once. Nebraska and BYU are their toughest non-conference teams. They also play Utah State and UCSB.
Team:
Utah has two of the Pac 12’s best players but many unknowns after 6-3 Post Taryn Wicijowki, and Michelle Plouffe a 6-4 Sr Forward. Both women are Canadians and both are Srs. Plouffe averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game last season. Plus she hit 58 threes at 35% and led the team in steals, more than twice the next player. Plouffe has 1,566 career points and 865 career rebounds, huge totals going into her Sr season. Plouffe had sisters play at Washington and Marquette.
Wicijowski averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. Taryn has 1,455 career points and 774 career rebounds.
Danielle Rodruquez started all but one game last season averaging 3 points and 3 rebounds. Rodriquez is a 5-10 soph guard.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 soph wing who is also Canadian. Paige started 10 games last season averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds. Like all Utah returnees Paige can make threes.
Cheyenne Wilson is a 5-11 Jr guard who averaged 4 points per game.
The returning players who will provide support include Nakia Arquette a 6-1 redshirt frosh forward who hurt her knee in the 4th game last season. Ciera Dunbar is a 5-10 redshirt Jr guard with 3 knee injuries but did play in all the games last season averaging one point per game. Awa Kalmstrom is a 5-7 soph guard who just played a few minutes and the same for 6-2 Sr forward Ariel Reynolds.
There is certainly room for the frosh to play especially Potter although it’s not a highly rated class at all.
Prediction: Two very good post players and the frosh Potter should help up front. But the Guard/Wing play is pretty much unknown. If several guards and or wings step up it’s a solid team. If not then Utah falls to the 2nd division.
2014 Recruiting:
Joesetti Fatuesi, 6-2 Post, # 123, Tanaeye Boclair, 6-0, 3 star.
Last Season, back to Utah: The Utes were 23-14 and made it to the Finals of the WNIT. The Utes were 8-10 in Pac 12 play.
Coaches:
Anthony Levrets returns for his 4th season as Head Coach after 3 seasons as an assistant at Utah.
Velaida Harris is in her 4th season as an assistant at Utah. She was Jillian Harmon’s Sr year High School coach.
Matt Legerski has been an assistant at Utah since 2003. His uncle is the Women’s Coach at Wyoming.
Willette White is in her 3rd season at Utah but has been an Assistant coach at Oregon, Washington and associate head coach at UCLA. White has 20 years as a Pac 10/12 assistant and received her Master’s degree from Ohio State the same year Amy Tucker received hers.
Losses:
Iwalani Rodriques and Rachel Messer were the starting guards for Utah and have graduated. Rodriques averaged 11 points per game and Messer 4. But Messer made 37 threes at 44% ( and made on 9 two pointers for the season), and Rodriques made 43 threes at 34%. Rodriques also led the team in assists and was 3rd in rebounding.
Chelsea Bridgewater averaged 1 point and 9 minutes per game.
Additions:
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Frosh unranked forward from San Diego. She is a cousin to the Nawahine sisters.
Malia Nawahine is 5-10 frosh wing from Utah who like her sister and cousin grew up in California. Malia is unranked but scored 18 points per game last season in HS and shot 40% from three.
Valarie Nawahine is a 5-9 soph guard who transferred from BYU. I believe she sat out this past season so can play this year.
Devri Owens is a 5-8 frosh guard from Texas. Like the others above, she was not ranked out of HS.
Emily Potter is a 6-5 post from Canada with starting experience for the Canadian 17U and 19U teams. She was the 3rd leading scorer for the 19U team in the World Championships this past summer.
Schedule: The Utes play the Oregon schools and Cal and Stanford once. Nebraska and BYU are their toughest non-conference teams. They also play Utah State and UCSB.
Team:
Utah has two of the Pac 12’s best players but many unknowns after 6-3 Post Taryn Wicijowki, and Michelle Plouffe a 6-4 Sr Forward. Both women are Canadians and both are Srs. Plouffe averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game last season. Plus she hit 58 threes at 35% and led the team in steals, more than twice the next player. Plouffe has 1,566 career points and 865 career rebounds, huge totals going into her Sr season. Plouffe had sisters play at Washington and Marquette.
Wicijowski averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. Taryn has 1,455 career points and 774 career rebounds.
Danielle Rodruquez started all but one game last season averaging 3 points and 3 rebounds. Rodriquez is a 5-10 soph guard.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 soph wing who is also Canadian. Paige started 10 games last season averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds. Like all Utah returnees Paige can make threes.
Cheyenne Wilson is a 5-11 Jr guard who averaged 4 points per game.
The returning players who will provide support include Nakia Arquette a 6-1 redshirt frosh forward who hurt her knee in the 4th game last season. Ciera Dunbar is a 5-10 redshirt Jr guard with 3 knee injuries but did play in all the games last season averaging one point per game. Awa Kalmstrom is a 5-7 soph guard who just played a few minutes and the same for 6-2 Sr forward Ariel Reynolds.
There is certainly room for the frosh to play especially Potter although it’s not a highly rated class at all.
Prediction: Two very good post players and the frosh Potter should help up front. But the Guard/Wing play is pretty much unknown. If several guards and or wings step up it’s a solid team. If not then Utah falls to the 2nd division.
2014 Recruiting:
Joesetti Fatuesi, 6-2 Post, # 123, Tanaeye Boclair, 6-0, 3 star.
September 12, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Last Season:
The Washington Huskies were 21-12 last season and 11-7 in Pac 12 play. This was after losing outstanding frosh Katie Collier to a knee injury.
The Coaches:
Kevin McGuff did a great job in his 2 years as Head Coach coming from Xavier but he left for the Ohio State position. His assistant Mike Neighbors has replaced McGuff. Neighbors was with McGuff for 4 years at Xavier and is a longtime assistant at age 44.
Kevin Morrison is in his 3rd year at Washington and was named by Neighbors as the Associate Head Coach. Morrison spent 4 years at Cal and before that was a well known travel coach in Northern California.
Adia Barnes returns for her 3rd season. Barnes is the U of Arizona’s all time leading scorer, being all Pac 10 three times in the late 90’s.
Fred Castro joins the staff from Tulsa where he was an assistant for the past 2 seasons.
Losses:
While the Huskies lost 5 from last season 3 didn’t play because of injuries. Kristi Kingma is a big loss as those of us who remember her rain of threes at Maples several years ago can attest. Kingma averaged 13 points per game and hit 86 threes at 31% while returning from missing the previous season with an ACL. Jeneva Anderson played every game but scored less than a point per game.
Additions:
Having 6-3 Redshirt Frosh Center Katie Collier healthy is huge. She can be outstanding. Collier was sidelined some in her Sr season being treated for cancer, and then tore her ACL before the first game last season. Collier was a McD All American and ranked # 20 in the country out of HS. She is due all the good luck possible, and with it you’ll see a very good offensive post player.
Kelsey Plum is a 5-9 guard, who will play and maybe start right away. Plum was ranked # 26 out of HS and is an outstanding three point shooter.
Chantel Oshahor is a 6-2 post ranked # 71. She is the best passing post player I have ever seen at the HS level. She and Collier will be outstanding together at some point.
Brianna Ruiz is a 5-10 guard ranked # 51. She may have gotten hurt in the off season a re-occurrence of her first ACL.
Marcy Keen is a 6-5 post transfer from Miami of Florida who will sit out this season and then have three years to play. Keen was ranked # 37 out of High School but struggled at Miami.
The Schedule:
Washington plays the LA schools and the Arizona schools just once each. Non-conference games include Texas A&M, St Mary’s and Pitt and then some teams that should be quite beatable.
The Team:
6 of the top 7 scorers and the top 2 rebounders return, although rebounding was a big weakness last season. The Huskies have 4 players back who started all but 6 total games last season.
At the guards will be 5-7 Jr Jazmine Davis and 5-8 Sr Mercedes Wetmore. Davis was a huge surprise once she got to Washington going from under recruited to the Pac 12 Frosh of the Year, and now a two time all Pac 12 player. Davis averaged 19 points per game last season hitting 71 threes at 36%, and 3 assists per game. Wetmore averaged 7 points and 3.5 assists per game as she and Davis started side by side for all but 3 games.
Collier at the Post.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 soph and Aminah Williams a 6-0 Jr and they will be the forwards. Walton averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game and added 57 threes at 31%. Williams averaged 9 points and 11 rebounds per game, and led the team in steals.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 soph wing who averaged 4.5 points per game in 19 minutes. Mathilde Gilling is a 6-3 soph from Denmark who played 8 minutes per game.
Add the frosh Plum and Osahor and you have 5 very good starters and good depth.
Predictions: This is a first division team and young with only one Sr. The Huskies are back.
2014 Recruiting:
Kelli Kingma, sister of Kristi is a 5-9 guard, # 86. Hannah Johnson is a 6-2 forward ranked about 170. Toree Thompson is a 5-9 guard ranked
# 123. Then there is the transfer Macy Keen.
The Washington Huskies were 21-12 last season and 11-7 in Pac 12 play. This was after losing outstanding frosh Katie Collier to a knee injury.
The Coaches:
Kevin McGuff did a great job in his 2 years as Head Coach coming from Xavier but he left for the Ohio State position. His assistant Mike Neighbors has replaced McGuff. Neighbors was with McGuff for 4 years at Xavier and is a longtime assistant at age 44.
Kevin Morrison is in his 3rd year at Washington and was named by Neighbors as the Associate Head Coach. Morrison spent 4 years at Cal and before that was a well known travel coach in Northern California.
Adia Barnes returns for her 3rd season. Barnes is the U of Arizona’s all time leading scorer, being all Pac 10 three times in the late 90’s.
Fred Castro joins the staff from Tulsa where he was an assistant for the past 2 seasons.
Losses:
While the Huskies lost 5 from last season 3 didn’t play because of injuries. Kristi Kingma is a big loss as those of us who remember her rain of threes at Maples several years ago can attest. Kingma averaged 13 points per game and hit 86 threes at 31% while returning from missing the previous season with an ACL. Jeneva Anderson played every game but scored less than a point per game.
Additions:
Having 6-3 Redshirt Frosh Center Katie Collier healthy is huge. She can be outstanding. Collier was sidelined some in her Sr season being treated for cancer, and then tore her ACL before the first game last season. Collier was a McD All American and ranked # 20 in the country out of HS. She is due all the good luck possible, and with it you’ll see a very good offensive post player.
Kelsey Plum is a 5-9 guard, who will play and maybe start right away. Plum was ranked # 26 out of HS and is an outstanding three point shooter.
Chantel Oshahor is a 6-2 post ranked # 71. She is the best passing post player I have ever seen at the HS level. She and Collier will be outstanding together at some point.
Brianna Ruiz is a 5-10 guard ranked # 51. She may have gotten hurt in the off season a re-occurrence of her first ACL.
Marcy Keen is a 6-5 post transfer from Miami of Florida who will sit out this season and then have three years to play. Keen was ranked # 37 out of High School but struggled at Miami.
The Schedule:
Washington plays the LA schools and the Arizona schools just once each. Non-conference games include Texas A&M, St Mary’s and Pitt and then some teams that should be quite beatable.
The Team:
6 of the top 7 scorers and the top 2 rebounders return, although rebounding was a big weakness last season. The Huskies have 4 players back who started all but 6 total games last season.
At the guards will be 5-7 Jr Jazmine Davis and 5-8 Sr Mercedes Wetmore. Davis was a huge surprise once she got to Washington going from under recruited to the Pac 12 Frosh of the Year, and now a two time all Pac 12 player. Davis averaged 19 points per game last season hitting 71 threes at 36%, and 3 assists per game. Wetmore averaged 7 points and 3.5 assists per game as she and Davis started side by side for all but 3 games.
Collier at the Post.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 soph and Aminah Williams a 6-0 Jr and they will be the forwards. Walton averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game and added 57 threes at 31%. Williams averaged 9 points and 11 rebounds per game, and led the team in steals.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 soph wing who averaged 4.5 points per game in 19 minutes. Mathilde Gilling is a 6-3 soph from Denmark who played 8 minutes per game.
Add the frosh Plum and Osahor and you have 5 very good starters and good depth.
Predictions: This is a first division team and young with only one Sr. The Huskies are back.
2014 Recruiting:
Kelli Kingma, sister of Kristi is a 5-9 guard, # 86. Hannah Johnson is a 6-2 forward ranked about 170. Toree Thompson is a 5-9 guard ranked
# 123. Then there is the transfer Macy Keen.
September 5, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Colorado
Last Season:
The Buffalos were 25-7 this past season, 13-5 in Pac 12 play and into the NCAAs where they lost in the first round to # 12 Kansas.
The Coaches:
Linda Lappe is back for her 4th season and she has proven to be one of the nation’s best coaches as the Buffalos keep improving with Colorado ranked 19th at the end of the season.
James Chatterton is the Associate Head Coach back for his 4th season.
LaTonya Watson is in her 3rd season under Lappe but also coached 9 years under previous coach Ceal Berry.
Kelly Rae Finley is in her 2nd year after 4 years at Harvard. She played for Lappe when they were at Colorado State.
Losses:
The Malcolm-Peck twins graduated and Kyleesha Weston transferred out. But together the three averaged less than 4 points and 4 rebounds per game. The huge loss is their great guard Chucky Jeffery. Jeffery averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Chucky also averaged 4 assists per game and led the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. She is a big loss.
Additions:
Zoe Beard-Fails is a 6-2 forward ranked # 152. As a HS soph she averaged 27 points and 18 rebounds, but tore her ACL just into her Jr season. Last year she averaged 17 points per game.
Desiree Harris is a 5-8 guard from Oakland who averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds as a HS Jr. She was not ranked in the top 300.
Haley Smith is 6-1 wing from the state of Washington ranked # 302
Brianna Watts is a 6-2 Center from Fresno ranked # 163.
The Schedule:
I don’t have their non-conference schedule so will include that later. Colorado plays Stanford and Cal once and the Oregon schools once.
The Team:
Colorado returns 9 of their top 10 scorers and 8 of their top 9 rebounders. No shortage of experience for a team coming off # 19 nationally. Jen Reese will be the Center, she is a 6-2 Jr. Last season Reese averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game splitting time with 6-4 Sr Rachel Hargis. Reese was a Parade All American in HS. Hargis averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
At forward will be 6-1 soph Arielle Roberson and probably 6-2 soph Jamie Swan. Roberson’s parents and two older sisters all played college volleyball or basketball. Roberson averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds a game last season. Roberson also hit 21 threes at 41%. She will be a star this season. While Roberson started all but one game Swan only started one but averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in just 14 minutes per game. Swan was ranked # 38 out of HS.
Brittany Wilson and Lexy Kresl started 52 of the 64 games last season. Wilson is a 5-7 Sr guard and Kresl is a 5-11 Jr guard. Wilson averaged 8 points per game hitting 32 threes at 29%. Kresl averaged 6 points per game leading the team with 34 threes at 31%.
Jasmine Sborov is a 6-0 Jr guard who started 10 games averaging 3 points per game. Sborov was a good HS High Jumper. Ashley Wilson, twin of Brittany is a 5-7 Sr guard who averaged 3 points per game. Lauren Higgins is a 6-1 redshirt frosh forward who got hurt after just 5 games last season. Higgins was the # 64 player out of HS and an excellent three point shooter.
The frosh are for the future, with so many experienced and skilled players returning for the Buffalos.
Predictions:
This is a very good line up with 4 solid reserves and then they have the 4 frosh. Colorado could well be a team that finishes in the top three in league play.
2014 Recruiting:
Becca Thomas is their lone commit thus far, a 5-4 four star Point Guard from Texas. However a number of good players will be visiting the Buffalos.
The Buffalos were 25-7 this past season, 13-5 in Pac 12 play and into the NCAAs where they lost in the first round to # 12 Kansas.
The Coaches:
Linda Lappe is back for her 4th season and she has proven to be one of the nation’s best coaches as the Buffalos keep improving with Colorado ranked 19th at the end of the season.
James Chatterton is the Associate Head Coach back for his 4th season.
LaTonya Watson is in her 3rd season under Lappe but also coached 9 years under previous coach Ceal Berry.
Kelly Rae Finley is in her 2nd year after 4 years at Harvard. She played for Lappe when they were at Colorado State.
Losses:
The Malcolm-Peck twins graduated and Kyleesha Weston transferred out. But together the three averaged less than 4 points and 4 rebounds per game. The huge loss is their great guard Chucky Jeffery. Jeffery averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Chucky also averaged 4 assists per game and led the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. She is a big loss.
Additions:
Zoe Beard-Fails is a 6-2 forward ranked # 152. As a HS soph she averaged 27 points and 18 rebounds, but tore her ACL just into her Jr season. Last year she averaged 17 points per game.
Desiree Harris is a 5-8 guard from Oakland who averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds as a HS Jr. She was not ranked in the top 300.
Haley Smith is 6-1 wing from the state of Washington ranked # 302
Brianna Watts is a 6-2 Center from Fresno ranked # 163.
The Schedule:
I don’t have their non-conference schedule so will include that later. Colorado plays Stanford and Cal once and the Oregon schools once.
The Team:
Colorado returns 9 of their top 10 scorers and 8 of their top 9 rebounders. No shortage of experience for a team coming off # 19 nationally. Jen Reese will be the Center, she is a 6-2 Jr. Last season Reese averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game splitting time with 6-4 Sr Rachel Hargis. Reese was a Parade All American in HS. Hargis averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
At forward will be 6-1 soph Arielle Roberson and probably 6-2 soph Jamie Swan. Roberson’s parents and two older sisters all played college volleyball or basketball. Roberson averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds a game last season. Roberson also hit 21 threes at 41%. She will be a star this season. While Roberson started all but one game Swan only started one but averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in just 14 minutes per game. Swan was ranked # 38 out of HS.
Brittany Wilson and Lexy Kresl started 52 of the 64 games last season. Wilson is a 5-7 Sr guard and Kresl is a 5-11 Jr guard. Wilson averaged 8 points per game hitting 32 threes at 29%. Kresl averaged 6 points per game leading the team with 34 threes at 31%.
Jasmine Sborov is a 6-0 Jr guard who started 10 games averaging 3 points per game. Sborov was a good HS High Jumper. Ashley Wilson, twin of Brittany is a 5-7 Sr guard who averaged 3 points per game. Lauren Higgins is a 6-1 redshirt frosh forward who got hurt after just 5 games last season. Higgins was the # 64 player out of HS and an excellent three point shooter.
The frosh are for the future, with so many experienced and skilled players returning for the Buffalos.
Predictions:
This is a very good line up with 4 solid reserves and then they have the 4 frosh. Colorado could well be a team that finishes in the top three in league play.
2014 Recruiting:
Becca Thomas is their lone commit thus far, a 5-4 four star Point Guard from Texas. However a number of good players will be visiting the Buffalos.
August 28, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Last Season:
Washington State was 11-20 last season and 6-12 in Pac 12 play
The Coaching Staff:
June Daugherty returns for her 7th season with the Cougars after 10 seasons as Head Coach at the University of Washington.
Husband Mike Daugherty is the Associate Head Coach and is also in his 7th season at WSU. Mike also coached 11 years with June at Washington, and both are Ohio State grads.
Brian Holsinger returns for his 7th year.
Ashley Grover is in her 2nd year as an assistant but 6th year on the staff.
Losses:
Carly Noyes has graduated. The 6-5 Post averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game last season. She was the 5th leading scoring and only loss among the top 9 scorers.
Katie Grad averaged 2 points per game and Ireti Amojo also averaged 2 points per game and both graduated.
Additions:
Frosh forward Ivana Kmetovska from Macedonia is the only newcomer. Ivana is 6-3 and has been on her country’s 16U, 18U and 20U national teams.
The Schedule:
Syracuse and Nebraska had RPIs of 17 and 15 last season. West VA, Dayton and Gonzaga from 28-35. Add BYU and Fresno State and this is a tough schedule. June does this but hope it pays off at some point. WSU plays the Arizona schools and the LA schools only once, so that’s probably a wash.
The Team:
The Cougars return their top 4 scorers from this past season and their top 5 rebounders. Lia Galdeira is 5-11 soph guard who lead the team in scoring at 15 points per game and rebounding at 5 per game. Lia also lead in steals with double the next player. She was the Hawaii State Player of the Year 3 times, but pretty much unheralded when she arrived at WSU.
Tia Pressley is a 5-9 Jr guard who started the first 18 games averaging 13 points before being injured. She was a starter as a frosh but ended that season with a late injury.
Sage Romberg is a 6-1 Sr forward who was 3rd in scoring at 6 points per game and 2nd in rebounding with 4 ½ per game. Sage was ranked as high as # 73 out of High School.
Mariah Cooks is a 6-0 soph forward who only averaged 12 minutes per game but scored 6 points and 3 ½ rebounds per game.
Shalie Dheensaw is a 6-4 Jr Center who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes per game.
Hana Potter is a 6-2 Sr post player who will play both forward and center. Last season she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Brandi Thomas is a 6-1 Sr forward who started 16 games although just 13 minutes per game. She averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game. Thomas averaged almost 6 points per game 2 seasons ago.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 soph guard who averaged 4 points per game.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 soph guard who led the team in assists.
Ivana Kmetovska is a 6-3 frosh post.
Alexas Williamson is a 5-8 soph guard who scored 2 points per game. Alexas was a 3 year starter for Mater Dei High School.
Whitney Tinjum is a 6-1 frosh forward who played just 26 minutes last season. Whitney was her High School league Player of the Year all 4 years.
Predictions: The Cougars have two really good guards, but lack rebounding. If their three point shooting improves they could make a run for the first division. June now likes the hockey style rotations, does that help or hinder?
2014 Recruiting:
Nike McClure from Washington is a solid 6-2 post and Ashley Bolton is a 6-0 wing from Oregon.
Washington State was 11-20 last season and 6-12 in Pac 12 play
The Coaching Staff:
June Daugherty returns for her 7th season with the Cougars after 10 seasons as Head Coach at the University of Washington.
Husband Mike Daugherty is the Associate Head Coach and is also in his 7th season at WSU. Mike also coached 11 years with June at Washington, and both are Ohio State grads.
Brian Holsinger returns for his 7th year.
Ashley Grover is in her 2nd year as an assistant but 6th year on the staff.
Losses:
Carly Noyes has graduated. The 6-5 Post averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game last season. She was the 5th leading scoring and only loss among the top 9 scorers.
Katie Grad averaged 2 points per game and Ireti Amojo also averaged 2 points per game and both graduated.
Additions:
Frosh forward Ivana Kmetovska from Macedonia is the only newcomer. Ivana is 6-3 and has been on her country’s 16U, 18U and 20U national teams.
The Schedule:
Syracuse and Nebraska had RPIs of 17 and 15 last season. West VA, Dayton and Gonzaga from 28-35. Add BYU and Fresno State and this is a tough schedule. June does this but hope it pays off at some point. WSU plays the Arizona schools and the LA schools only once, so that’s probably a wash.
The Team:
The Cougars return their top 4 scorers from this past season and their top 5 rebounders. Lia Galdeira is 5-11 soph guard who lead the team in scoring at 15 points per game and rebounding at 5 per game. Lia also lead in steals with double the next player. She was the Hawaii State Player of the Year 3 times, but pretty much unheralded when she arrived at WSU.
Tia Pressley is a 5-9 Jr guard who started the first 18 games averaging 13 points before being injured. She was a starter as a frosh but ended that season with a late injury.
Sage Romberg is a 6-1 Sr forward who was 3rd in scoring at 6 points per game and 2nd in rebounding with 4 ½ per game. Sage was ranked as high as # 73 out of High School.
Mariah Cooks is a 6-0 soph forward who only averaged 12 minutes per game but scored 6 points and 3 ½ rebounds per game.
Shalie Dheensaw is a 6-4 Jr Center who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes per game.
Hana Potter is a 6-2 Sr post player who will play both forward and center. Last season she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Brandi Thomas is a 6-1 Sr forward who started 16 games although just 13 minutes per game. She averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game. Thomas averaged almost 6 points per game 2 seasons ago.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 soph guard who averaged 4 points per game.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 soph guard who led the team in assists.
Ivana Kmetovska is a 6-3 frosh post.
Alexas Williamson is a 5-8 soph guard who scored 2 points per game. Alexas was a 3 year starter for Mater Dei High School.
Whitney Tinjum is a 6-1 frosh forward who played just 26 minutes last season. Whitney was her High School league Player of the Year all 4 years.
Predictions: The Cougars have two really good guards, but lack rebounding. If their three point shooting improves they could make a run for the first division. June now likes the hockey style rotations, does that help or hinder?
2014 Recruiting:
Nike McClure from Washington is a solid 6-2 post and Ashley Bolton is a 6-0 wing from Oregon.
August 19, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona State
Last Season:
This past season ASU was 13-18 and only 5-13 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaching Staff:
After making the NCAAs in 2010-11, Stanford grad Charli Turner Thorne took a year off. Returning last season didn’t go well as the record above indicates. However Charli has made the NCAAs 6 times in her 16 years at ASU and to the post season every year but last season.
Meg Sanders returns for her 10th season and is one of two Associate Head Coaches. Sanders was the Head Coach at Northern Arizona, succeeding Charli, before coming to ASU.
Amanda Levens is the other Associate Head Coach, returning for her 2nd season. Levens was all Pac 10 in the early 2000s at ASU.
Jackie Moore is back for her 2nd season, and 18th as a college women’s basketball coach.
Losses:
Janae Fulcher started every game and the 6-3 post player graduated. Fulcher was ASU’s leading scorer at 11.5 and added 5 rebounds per game.
Micaela Pickens started all but two games at a guard position last year averaging 6.5 points per game and has graduated.
Haley Videckis averaged 21 minutes and almost 7 points per game but did not return.
Jada Blackwell averaged 7 points per game in 16 minutes, playing in 18 games and did not return.
Additions:
Sophie Brunner is a 6-1 forward from Illinois ranked # 285. However she led her school to the State title as a Jr averaging 32 points per game. After her last HS game her jersey was retired.
Kelsey Moos (no relation that I could find), is a 6-0 foot forward from the state of Washington. Moos is the # 39 wing and small school Player of the year her last 3 seasons.
Breanna Burton is a 5-7 point guard and JC transfer from Texas after HS in Los Angeles. Burton averaged 12 points and 1.7 assists, low for a Point.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 frosh center from Canada. Quinn played on the Canadian 17U team that was 3rd a year ago in the world championships. She was 4th in the tournament in rebounding.
Katie Hempen is a 5-9 guard who transferred from Southern Illinois a year ago and sat out this past season. She has 3 years remaining. Hempen averaged almost 10 points per game and was the frosh player of the year in Southern Illinois league.
Deja Mann is a 5-7 Sr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury after starting 46 start games for the Sun Devils. More on Mann below.
The Schedule:
ASU had an RPI of about 100 last season so playing a team with an RPI of 50 or better makes for a tough game and ASU plays 5 of those types of teams. Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse, Texas Tech and Illinois are the tough games on the schedule. The average PRI of non- conference opponents is 105, about the same as USC. Again thanks to a UCLA fan for this.
The Team:
The return of Deja Mann will help quite a bit as the starting point guard. Two years ago she averaged 9 points and almost 4 assists per game. Mann is a cousin of 1968 400m Olympic Champ Lee Evans.
The other guard should be Promise Amukamara, a 5-8 Jr. Promise averaged 8 points per game last season, 2nd on the season. That’s not many but ASU averaged only 59 points per game as a team. Promise was a Parade All American in High School.
Joy Burke returns as the starting Center. The 6-5 Sr averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per game.
At forward will be, well my guess, redshirt Soph, 6-0 Eliza Normen. Normen hurt her knee in the Sr season in High School and redshirted as a frosh. Last season she only scored a point per game in 13 minutes average. However she was highly ranked out of High School and I saw her play several games in High School and loved her great vision and athletic ability. She actually re-injured her knee as a frosh, so if completely healthy Normen will be a solid contributor.
I think the 5th starter could be 5-9 redshirt soph transfer Katie Hempen, discussed above.
Behind the first five, or maybe in the first 5 are four returnees and the frosh center 6-4 Quinn Dornstauder.
Arnecia Hawkins is a 5-10 soph guard who averaged 5 points per game and the top returning three point shooter with 26 at 26%.
Adrianne Thomas is a 5-9 Sr who started every game last season and at worse will be the 6th player. Thomas averaged 5 points per game and led the team in assists at 3 per game.
Isidora Pukovic is a 5-11 soph guard who played in almost every game averaging 1 point.
Nisha Barrett is a 6-1 Sr forward who didn’t play much this past season, after transferring from an Arizona JC.
Elisha Davis is a 5-3 soph guard who played every game last season averaging 2.5 points per game. Davis is from Berkeley High School and was the D1 Northern California Player of the Year as a Sr.
Transfer Burton and frosh Moos and Brunner, profiled above, will vie for playing time.
Predictions:
This is not a strong team and playing a strong pre- season. A winning record would be quite an achievement.
2014 Recruiting:
Nicole Iademarco is a 4 star guard, not ranked in the top 100, from Texas.
August 12, 2013
Pac 12 Preview: USC Trojans
Last Season:
USC was 11-20 and 7-11 in Pac 12 play. It was a very disappointing season which caused Head Coach Michael Cooper to resign.
The Coaching Staff:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke starts her first season for the Trojans as Head Coach. Cooper-Dyke, no relation to the former Head Coach, was an outstanding USC player and played in Europe until age 34 when she played in the WNBA. She has coached 8 years at lower D 1 schools with a record of 150-106. The past 7 years her teams have played post season, 2 NCAAs and 5 WNITs.
Former Stanford staffer Evan Unrau is the lone holdover coach or staffer, returning for her 2nd season at USC.
Brandy Manning was the Associate Head Coach at Arizona and begins his first season at USC. He was at Arizona for 5 seasons.
Jualeah Woods joins the staff from San Diego State. Woods was a 4 year starter at USC and spent 6 seasons at San Diego State. Woods has also coached at Cal and Oregon State.
Losses:
Christina Marinacci is the only loss. In an injury riddled season in which she missed 8 games Marinacci averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds per game. She is now in the Bay Area working for the Pac 12.
Additions:
This past weekend Kaneisha Horn transferred from Alabama to USC. She is a 6-2 forward who just graduated from Alabama, in 3 plus years, so is able to play right away. Horn averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She missed a season with an ACL so will have two years at USC. Horn was a top 5 player out of High School but has had two knee injuries. If healthy she is a huge addition.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Post from Menlo High School. She was ranked # 218. However she has played for John Paye. Drew is a big strong post and some of you saw her play in the Kezar ProAm.
Courtney Jaco is a 5-8 guard from Southern California. She was ranked # 210. Jaco is a good three point shooter. The addition of Horn turns this lackluster class into far more.
Alexis Lloyd is a transfer from Virginia Tech. Lloyd is a 5-9 guard averaged 3 points in 13 minutes per game. She was ranked as the # 81 player out of High School. She will sit out this year as a transfer.
The Schedule:
In a change from the past season when Mr. Cooper had tough schedules, this one isn’t with just 3 of last’s years top 45 in RPI. The Trojans play Oklahoma State (14), South Carolina (21) and Iowa (33). They also play Fresno State and Boston College. Average RPI of their opponents is 107. Thanks to a UCLA fan for this information. USC plays the Arizona and Washington schools once each.
The Team:
Cassie Harberts is back for her final year and once again will be one of the top players in the Pac 12. Harberts is a 6-2 4/5 who averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, leading the Trojans in both categories. She is tough inside and a great shooter from 15’
Back after her knee injury is 6-1 Point Guard Jordan Adams. Adams averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds per game in her shortened season. Adams is a 6-1 Soph and was a top 10 player out of High School. She is listed as a Soph on the roster and seems to have missed a redshirt by one game.
Kate Oliver is a 6-4 Sr 4/5 who started 15 games last season averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Oliver transferred from Marist where she averaged 8 points as a Soph. Oliver is from Australia.
Ariya Crook is a 5-7 Jr guard who averaged 13 points last season hitting 55 threes at 33%. Her 55 threes were more than twice anyone else on the team. Her goal post college is to become a detective.
These three will challenge for a lot of playing time and one or two will start:
Kiki Alofaituli is a 6-1 Jr wing who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes last season. Kiki was ranked # 26 out of High School.
Alexyz Vaioletama is a 6-1 Jr wing who could play the 4. Alexyz averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes last season. She was a McDonalds All American in High School.
Kaneisha Horn is a 6-1 Jr transfer from Alabama was both a McD All American and a top 5 player out of High School. She already graduated from Alabama but has 2 years to play and will play immediately.
To back up the guards is 5-7 soph Brianna Barrett averaging 4 points and 3 assists while starting 21 games last season.
Deanna Calhoun is a 6-3 redshirt soph post who missed her frosh season with a knee injury and played just 11 games last season. But she’s a big strong presence in the post.
Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 Sr forward who averaged 3points per game last season but did hit 25 threes.
Destinie Gibbs is a 5-11 soph guard who started the first 9 games of the season last year.
Thaddesia Southhall is in her 4th season at USC. She is a 6-4 post who has played only 6 games due to knee injuries.
The two frosh, 6-4 post Drew Edelman and 5-8 guard Courtney Jaco appear to be backups at this point.
Predictions:
This is a very deep team with very good starters. They could well start the season with only 2 losses or less and be ranked. I see USC as a top three team with Stanford and Cal, just ahead of Washington and UCLA.
2014 Recruiting:
Chyanne Butler is a 5-4 or so guard ranked # 56. But The Trojans are in play for a number of top recruits.
USC was 11-20 and 7-11 in Pac 12 play. It was a very disappointing season which caused Head Coach Michael Cooper to resign.
The Coaching Staff:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke starts her first season for the Trojans as Head Coach. Cooper-Dyke, no relation to the former Head Coach, was an outstanding USC player and played in Europe until age 34 when she played in the WNBA. She has coached 8 years at lower D 1 schools with a record of 150-106. The past 7 years her teams have played post season, 2 NCAAs and 5 WNITs.
Former Stanford staffer Evan Unrau is the lone holdover coach or staffer, returning for her 2nd season at USC.
Brandy Manning was the Associate Head Coach at Arizona and begins his first season at USC. He was at Arizona for 5 seasons.
Jualeah Woods joins the staff from San Diego State. Woods was a 4 year starter at USC and spent 6 seasons at San Diego State. Woods has also coached at Cal and Oregon State.
Losses:
Christina Marinacci is the only loss. In an injury riddled season in which she missed 8 games Marinacci averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds per game. She is now in the Bay Area working for the Pac 12.
Additions:
This past weekend Kaneisha Horn transferred from Alabama to USC. She is a 6-2 forward who just graduated from Alabama, in 3 plus years, so is able to play right away. Horn averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She missed a season with an ACL so will have two years at USC. Horn was a top 5 player out of High School but has had two knee injuries. If healthy she is a huge addition.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Post from Menlo High School. She was ranked # 218. However she has played for John Paye. Drew is a big strong post and some of you saw her play in the Kezar ProAm.
Courtney Jaco is a 5-8 guard from Southern California. She was ranked # 210. Jaco is a good three point shooter. The addition of Horn turns this lackluster class into far more.
Alexis Lloyd is a transfer from Virginia Tech. Lloyd is a 5-9 guard averaged 3 points in 13 minutes per game. She was ranked as the # 81 player out of High School. She will sit out this year as a transfer.
The Schedule:
In a change from the past season when Mr. Cooper had tough schedules, this one isn’t with just 3 of last’s years top 45 in RPI. The Trojans play Oklahoma State (14), South Carolina (21) and Iowa (33). They also play Fresno State and Boston College. Average RPI of their opponents is 107. Thanks to a UCLA fan for this information. USC plays the Arizona and Washington schools once each.
The Team:
Cassie Harberts is back for her final year and once again will be one of the top players in the Pac 12. Harberts is a 6-2 4/5 who averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, leading the Trojans in both categories. She is tough inside and a great shooter from 15’
Back after her knee injury is 6-1 Point Guard Jordan Adams. Adams averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds per game in her shortened season. Adams is a 6-1 Soph and was a top 10 player out of High School. She is listed as a Soph on the roster and seems to have missed a redshirt by one game.
Kate Oliver is a 6-4 Sr 4/5 who started 15 games last season averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Oliver transferred from Marist where she averaged 8 points as a Soph. Oliver is from Australia.
Ariya Crook is a 5-7 Jr guard who averaged 13 points last season hitting 55 threes at 33%. Her 55 threes were more than twice anyone else on the team. Her goal post college is to become a detective.
These three will challenge for a lot of playing time and one or two will start:
Kiki Alofaituli is a 6-1 Jr wing who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes last season. Kiki was ranked # 26 out of High School.
Alexyz Vaioletama is a 6-1 Jr wing who could play the 4. Alexyz averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes last season. She was a McDonalds All American in High School.
Kaneisha Horn is a 6-1 Jr transfer from Alabama was both a McD All American and a top 5 player out of High School. She already graduated from Alabama but has 2 years to play and will play immediately.
To back up the guards is 5-7 soph Brianna Barrett averaging 4 points and 3 assists while starting 21 games last season.
Deanna Calhoun is a 6-3 redshirt soph post who missed her frosh season with a knee injury and played just 11 games last season. But she’s a big strong presence in the post.
Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 Sr forward who averaged 3points per game last season but did hit 25 threes.
Destinie Gibbs is a 5-11 soph guard who started the first 9 games of the season last year.
Thaddesia Southhall is in her 4th season at USC. She is a 6-4 post who has played only 6 games due to knee injuries.
The two frosh, 6-4 post Drew Edelman and 5-8 guard Courtney Jaco appear to be backups at this point.
Predictions:
This is a very deep team with very good starters. They could well start the season with only 2 losses or less and be ranked. I see USC as a top three team with Stanford and Cal, just ahead of Washington and UCLA.
2014 Recruiting:
Chyanne Butler is a 5-4 or so guard ranked # 56. But The Trojans are in play for a number of top recruits.
August 2, 2013
Pac 12 Previews: the University of Arizona
Last Season:
The Arizona Wildcats were 12-18 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play. Quite a fall from 21 wins just two seasons before. The Wildcats are 7-29 in league play the past two years. Lack of Pac 12 type players would be the reason. I will note that they have two commits for 2014 who are quite good, so a start.
The Coaching Staff:
Niya Butts returns for her 6th season. Brady Manning left to be the Associate Head Coach at USC replaced by Sean LeBeauf who was a JC Head Coach and Athletic Director. E.C. Hill returns for her 3rd season and Calamity McIntire for her 2nd season.
The Losses:
Davelynn Whyte may be the best player in Arizona history and she has graduated. Last season she led the team in scoring at 17 per game and led the team in assists, double the next player. Whyte led the team in rebounding at 6 per game had 70 threes. Only two players had more than 15 threes.
Cheshi Poston who scored 5 per game and averaged 4 rebounds also graduated. Three others players are also gone.
Lynette Holmes transferred from Xavier but played only one game. At Xavier she averaged 12 pointed per game in two seasons. Cheylene Harper didn’t play last season and I believe graduated. The mystery departure is Simone Westbrook, who I can’t find in last year’s media guide. Westbrook was on the team at the start of last season and was one of the best HS players in Arizona.
The Schedule: Not yet released.
The Additions:
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 frosh from Texas, ranked # 87.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas ranked # 136.
Dejza James is a 6-1 forward from Elk Grove, CA ranked # 181.
Ashley Merrill is, a yes another, 6-1 guard from Southern California.
Arizona also added Farrin Bell a 6-0 guard transfer from SMU. Bell averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game for SMU last season as a frosh. She started 9 games and played in 30. I will assume she must sit out this coming season.
The Team:
The Wildcats had 3 players averaged 9-11 points per game returning and three who averaged 5-6 rebounds per game.
For the 2nd straight year the Wildcats do not have a true Center. Erica Barnes is a 6-2 Sr who was 5th on the team in average minutes and scored 9 points per game, 3rd on the team and had 5 rebounds per game, also 3rd. Barnes played more as a Soph averaging 11 and 7.
At the forwards should be 6-1 Sr Alli Gloyd. Gloyd averged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game. Gloyd was the Arizona JC player of the year 2 seasons ago.
Frosh LaBrittany Jones has an excellent chance to start at the 4. She is the highest ranked player out of HS on the roster and Butts describes her as a great rebounder who can really finish around the hoop and plays like she is 6-3 or 6-4.
At the 2 guard will be Kama Griffitts a 6-0 Sr and returning starter. Kama scored 11 points per game last season and hauled in 5 rebounds per. She is the only returning player with more than 15 threes having hit 60 at 31%. As a Soph at JC she hit threes at 58% scoring 22 points per game.
Carissa Crutchfield like Gloyd started every game, and should be the point guard. Last season the 5-8 Sr averaged 6 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists. Crutchfield transferred from Oklahoma State two years ago.
Candice Warthen is a 5-5 Jr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury. Warthen averaged 12 points per game as a Soph but hurt her foot after starting the first 8 games. She missed 6 weeks then came back as a non starter. However before her injury she scored 36 in a game. She will get many minutes and probably start when healthy.
Three frosh stand out and have a great chance for early playing time.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas described as a good rebounder and excellent passer. She looks to be a 4 for the Wildcats.
Dejaza James is a 6-1 forward from the Sacramento area. James is described as a 3 or 4 and a very good rebounder.
Ashley Merrill is a 6-1 guard from Southern California. She is described as a very good passer who can shot from outside. Merrill’s cousin is former Stanford Tight End Derek Hubbard and another cousin is former UCLA WBB player Janae Hubbard.
Layana White is a 5-8 Jr guard who started 12 games averaging 3 points last season. White has a career high of 16 points.
Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Soph guard who played in all the games last season averaging 4 points per game. Cannon was her team captain all 4 of her High School years.
Nyre Harris is a 5-8 Soph guard who played a bit last season.
Shereen Sutherland is a 6-1 Soph guard who played only 83 minutes last season. Sutherland’s older sister played at Kansas.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Soph and transfer from SMU. Last season as a Frosh at SMU she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game with 9 starts. She probably must sit out this season.
Predictions:
Sadly the Wildcats will probably battle with Oregon to stay out of the Pac 12 cellar.
2014 Recruiting:
Off to a great start with 3 commits. Taryn Griffey is the daughter of baseball great Ken Jr, and granddaughter of baseball All Star Ken Sr. Griffey is a 5-6 guard, ranked # 56. Jalea Bennet is a 5-11 wing ranked # 65. Cherice Harris is a 5-8 three star guard.
The Arizona Wildcats were 12-18 and 4-14 in Pac 12 play. Quite a fall from 21 wins just two seasons before. The Wildcats are 7-29 in league play the past two years. Lack of Pac 12 type players would be the reason. I will note that they have two commits for 2014 who are quite good, so a start.
The Coaching Staff:
Niya Butts returns for her 6th season. Brady Manning left to be the Associate Head Coach at USC replaced by Sean LeBeauf who was a JC Head Coach and Athletic Director. E.C. Hill returns for her 3rd season and Calamity McIntire for her 2nd season.
The Losses:
Davelynn Whyte may be the best player in Arizona history and she has graduated. Last season she led the team in scoring at 17 per game and led the team in assists, double the next player. Whyte led the team in rebounding at 6 per game had 70 threes. Only two players had more than 15 threes.
Cheshi Poston who scored 5 per game and averaged 4 rebounds also graduated. Three others players are also gone.
Lynette Holmes transferred from Xavier but played only one game. At Xavier she averaged 12 pointed per game in two seasons. Cheylene Harper didn’t play last season and I believe graduated. The mystery departure is Simone Westbrook, who I can’t find in last year’s media guide. Westbrook was on the team at the start of last season and was one of the best HS players in Arizona.
The Schedule: Not yet released.
The Additions:
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 frosh from Texas, ranked # 87.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas ranked # 136.
Dejza James is a 6-1 forward from Elk Grove, CA ranked # 181.
Ashley Merrill is, a yes another, 6-1 guard from Southern California.
Arizona also added Farrin Bell a 6-0 guard transfer from SMU. Bell averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game for SMU last season as a frosh. She started 9 games and played in 30. I will assume she must sit out this coming season.
The Team:
The Wildcats had 3 players averaged 9-11 points per game returning and three who averaged 5-6 rebounds per game.
For the 2nd straight year the Wildcats do not have a true Center. Erica Barnes is a 6-2 Sr who was 5th on the team in average minutes and scored 9 points per game, 3rd on the team and had 5 rebounds per game, also 3rd. Barnes played more as a Soph averaging 11 and 7.
At the forwards should be 6-1 Sr Alli Gloyd. Gloyd averged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game. Gloyd was the Arizona JC player of the year 2 seasons ago.
Frosh LaBrittany Jones has an excellent chance to start at the 4. She is the highest ranked player out of HS on the roster and Butts describes her as a great rebounder who can really finish around the hoop and plays like she is 6-3 or 6-4.
At the 2 guard will be Kama Griffitts a 6-0 Sr and returning starter. Kama scored 11 points per game last season and hauled in 5 rebounds per. She is the only returning player with more than 15 threes having hit 60 at 31%. As a Soph at JC she hit threes at 58% scoring 22 points per game.
Carissa Crutchfield like Gloyd started every game, and should be the point guard. Last season the 5-8 Sr averaged 6 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists. Crutchfield transferred from Oklahoma State two years ago.
Candice Warthen is a 5-5 Jr guard who sat out last season with a knee injury. Warthen averaged 12 points per game as a Soph but hurt her foot after starting the first 8 games. She missed 6 weeks then came back as a non starter. However before her injury she scored 36 in a game. She will get many minutes and probably start when healthy.
Three frosh stand out and have a great chance for early playing time.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 forward from Las Vegas described as a good rebounder and excellent passer. She looks to be a 4 for the Wildcats.
Dejaza James is a 6-1 forward from the Sacramento area. James is described as a 3 or 4 and a very good rebounder.
Ashley Merrill is a 6-1 guard from Southern California. She is described as a very good passer who can shot from outside. Merrill’s cousin is former Stanford Tight End Derek Hubbard and another cousin is former UCLA WBB player Janae Hubbard.
Layana White is a 5-8 Jr guard who started 12 games averaging 3 points last season. White has a career high of 16 points.
Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Soph guard who played in all the games last season averaging 4 points per game. Cannon was her team captain all 4 of her High School years.
Nyre Harris is a 5-8 Soph guard who played a bit last season.
Shereen Sutherland is a 6-1 Soph guard who played only 83 minutes last season. Sutherland’s older sister played at Kansas.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 Soph and transfer from SMU. Last season as a Frosh at SMU she averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game with 9 starts. She probably must sit out this season.
Predictions:
Sadly the Wildcats will probably battle with Oregon to stay out of the Pac 12 cellar.
2014 Recruiting:
Off to a great start with 3 commits. Taryn Griffey is the daughter of baseball great Ken Jr, and granddaughter of baseball All Star Ken Sr. Griffey is a 5-6 guard, ranked # 56. Jalea Bennet is a 5-11 wing ranked # 65. Cherice Harris is a 5-8 three star guard.
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