Pac 12 Preview: Cal
Last Season:
24-10 overall and 13-5 in Pac 12 play. In the NCAAs Cal beat Wichita State 78-66 then lost to Texas 73-70.
The Coaches:
Lindsay Gottlieb is in her 5th year as Head Coach at Cal after 3 years as Head Coach at UCSB and two years before that as the lead Assistant at Cal.
Charmin Smith with 2 degrees from Stanford returns for her 9th season at Cal and is now the Associate Head Coach.
Kai Felton is back for her 5th year at Cal. Kai has been an Assistant at Oregon, 2 years, and at USC, 5 years.
Jeff Cannon is in his 2nd year at Cal, coming from five years as an assistant at Long Beach State.
Losses:
Brittany Boyd was an outstanding player and a high draft choice into the WNBA, currently with New York. Boyd averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists as the starting point guard for the past 4 seasons.
Reshanda Gray was the starting Center for the Bears averaging 17 points, high on the team with Boyd 2nd and 7 rebounds, second to Boyd. Gray was a high draft choice and plays for Atlanta.
Mercedes Jefflo was dismissed from the team. Jefflo averaged 10 points and started every game.
Justine Hartman was the back-up Center averaging 9 minutes and 2 points.
Brittany Shine averaged 8 minutes and 2 points.
The Bears lost their top three scorers, and three players who started all but the one game Boyd missed.
Additions:
Kristine Anigwe is a 6-4 Frosh Center. Anigwe was ranked as high as 13 out of HS and was a McD All American. She is from Arizona.
Breanna Cavanaugh is a 5-8 Frosh Guard. Cavanaugh was ranked from 66 to 100 by the four services. She is from New Jersey.
MaAne Mosley is a 5-11 Frosh Forward. Mosley is from Oakland and ranked as high as 69 and in the 100-150 range by the other services.
Asha Thomas is a 5-4 Frosh Guard. Thomas is from Oakland and ranked as high as 87 and in the 100-115 by the other services. Thomas tore her ACL but may be ready to play if not right away by the conference opener.
Chen Yue is a 6-7 Frosh Center from China. Yue is pretty much an unknown to the scouting sites, ranked just outside the top 100 by ESPN.
The Schedule:
Cal plays at Louisville, Texas A&M in Las Vegas and three homes games that could be tough, St Mary’s, Nebraska and in a neat scheduling arrangement, UCLA. The UCLA game is non-conference as the Bruins won’t visit Cal during the Pac 12 season.
The Team:
Cal lost a total of 101 starts and return a total of 69 starts, or close to half their minutes played. In points scored Cal lost 45 of 70 per game. So a new team in many respects.
Mikayla Cowling is a 6-2 Soph Forward who scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds per game. Cowling shot a great 49% from the field. She will be very good.
Gabby Green is a 6-2 Guard who scored 7 points and pulled down 6 rebounds per game. Green shot just 34% from the field and 29% from three while making 37 threes. Green’s shooting must improve. Green was 2nd on the team in assists and could be the Point Guard or a Wing.
Courtney Range is a 6-3 Jr who scored 9 points and had 5 rebounds per game. With Green, Range and Cowling the Bears return three outstanding players.
Penina Davidson is a 6-3 Soph Post or Wing who can shoot the three. Last season she averaged 3 points and 1 rebound in 12 minutes per game.
KC Waters is a 6-2 Jr pst who hasn’t played much.
Cal has 5 Frosh, 3 Sophs and no Srs so a very young team, maybe the youngest in the Pac 12. Anigwe will start and almost certainly three other frosh will be in the rotation.
Predictions:
So young so very hard to predict. I think they will battle several teams for 4th-6th place.
2016 Recruiting:
Celeste West, 6-3 Post from CA, ranked 48 by Prospects Nation
Jaelyn Brown, 6-1 Wing from CA ranked 39 by Prospect Nation
November 1, 2015
October 29, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: UCLA
Last Season:
19-18, 8-10 in Pac 12 play. However UCLA was 13-18 until they won 6 straight to win the WNIT.
The Coaches:
Cori Close is in her 5th season with the Bruins, winning at a 54% rate.
Jenny Huth is also in her 5th season as are Tony Newnan and Shannon Perry. The Bruin staff has had no turnover under Close.
Losses:
Biggest loss is Recee Caldwell who transferred to Texas Tech. Caldwell was just a Frosh and played only half the season, missing the 2nd half with an injury. Caldwell averaged 7 points in 25 minutes. She was a top, top recruit.
Luiana Livulo started half the games but played only 10 minutes and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Corinne Costa started most games averaging 22 minutes, 5 points and 5 rebounds but also set UCLA shot blocking records.
Madeline Poteet, formally Brooks, averaged 2 points.
Savanna Trapp the 6-9 recruit has never played and not on the roster.
Additions:
Ashley Hearn is a 6-4 Frosh Post. Hearn was ranked 12, 15, 30 and 34 out of HS and a McD All American. A top recruit who will play a lot as a Frosh.
Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Frosh Wing. Burke was All State in California and ranked 16, 19, 33 and 41 out of HS. Two top recruits.
With just two players this Class was ranked # 17 overall.
Nicole Kornet is a 6-1 Guard who transferred from Oklahoma. Nicole was a top HS recruit ranked from 19 to 68. She will redshirt this year and have her final season next year. At Oklahoma Nicole averaged about 5 points per game in her three seasons, but had games of 26 and 21 points.
The Schedule:
South Carolina, probably Notre Dame, Michigan and St John’s. They also play Cal in a non- league December game and very interestingly are not playing UConn. The Bruins don’t travel to Cal or Stanford and don’t play Utah or Colorado at home.
The Team:
The Bruins top three returning scorers are guards so I’ll present a three guard line up, which they used last season. Nirra Fields is a 5-9 Sr Guard who led the team in scoring with 15 points per game. However she shot just 39% and 27% from three. Her improved shot selection is the key.
Jordin Canada is the Point Guard, a 5-6 Soph. Last season Canada averaged 12 points over 4 assists per game with a 1.2 ratio of assists to turnovers. However Canada shot just 38% and 17% from three.
Kori Korver is a 5-9 Jr who averaged 10 points per game, while shooting 41% from three. Korver made 74 threes twice the number as Fields who was 2nd on the team.
Monique Billings is 6-4 Soph Post who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The Frosh Hearn and Burke should see many minutes in the rotation.
Kacy Swain is a 6-3 Sr Forward who averaged 4 points and over 4 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Kelli Hayes is a 6-0 Soph Guard who went to Mitty HS. Hayes averaged 2 points in 12 minutes.
Paulina Hersler is a 6-3 Soph who played 5 minutes per game and Dominque Williams is 5-8 Jr Guard who also averaged 5 minutes per game.
Predictions:
If the Bruins shoot better than last season’s just under 40%, they will challenge for the Title. They have the players with great skill. Or they shot 40% and fight for 4th place.
2015 Recruiting:
Ally Rosenblum from SoCal, 6-3 Post ranked # 77.
19-18, 8-10 in Pac 12 play. However UCLA was 13-18 until they won 6 straight to win the WNIT.
The Coaches:
Cori Close is in her 5th season with the Bruins, winning at a 54% rate.
Jenny Huth is also in her 5th season as are Tony Newnan and Shannon Perry. The Bruin staff has had no turnover under Close.
Losses:
Biggest loss is Recee Caldwell who transferred to Texas Tech. Caldwell was just a Frosh and played only half the season, missing the 2nd half with an injury. Caldwell averaged 7 points in 25 minutes. She was a top, top recruit.
Luiana Livulo started half the games but played only 10 minutes and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Corinne Costa started most games averaging 22 minutes, 5 points and 5 rebounds but also set UCLA shot blocking records.
Madeline Poteet, formally Brooks, averaged 2 points.
Savanna Trapp the 6-9 recruit has never played and not on the roster.
Additions:
Ashley Hearn is a 6-4 Frosh Post. Hearn was ranked 12, 15, 30 and 34 out of HS and a McD All American. A top recruit who will play a lot as a Frosh.
Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Frosh Wing. Burke was All State in California and ranked 16, 19, 33 and 41 out of HS. Two top recruits.
With just two players this Class was ranked # 17 overall.
Nicole Kornet is a 6-1 Guard who transferred from Oklahoma. Nicole was a top HS recruit ranked from 19 to 68. She will redshirt this year and have her final season next year. At Oklahoma Nicole averaged about 5 points per game in her three seasons, but had games of 26 and 21 points.
The Schedule:
South Carolina, probably Notre Dame, Michigan and St John’s. They also play Cal in a non- league December game and very interestingly are not playing UConn. The Bruins don’t travel to Cal or Stanford and don’t play Utah or Colorado at home.
The Team:
The Bruins top three returning scorers are guards so I’ll present a three guard line up, which they used last season. Nirra Fields is a 5-9 Sr Guard who led the team in scoring with 15 points per game. However she shot just 39% and 27% from three. Her improved shot selection is the key.
Jordin Canada is the Point Guard, a 5-6 Soph. Last season Canada averaged 12 points over 4 assists per game with a 1.2 ratio of assists to turnovers. However Canada shot just 38% and 17% from three.
Kori Korver is a 5-9 Jr who averaged 10 points per game, while shooting 41% from three. Korver made 74 threes twice the number as Fields who was 2nd on the team.
Monique Billings is 6-4 Soph Post who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The Frosh Hearn and Burke should see many minutes in the rotation.
Kacy Swain is a 6-3 Sr Forward who averaged 4 points and over 4 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Kelli Hayes is a 6-0 Soph Guard who went to Mitty HS. Hayes averaged 2 points in 12 minutes.
Paulina Hersler is a 6-3 Soph who played 5 minutes per game and Dominque Williams is 5-8 Jr Guard who also averaged 5 minutes per game.
Predictions:
If the Bruins shoot better than last season’s just under 40%, they will challenge for the Title. They have the players with great skill. Or they shot 40% and fight for 4th place.
2015 Recruiting:
Ally Rosenblum from SoCal, 6-3 Post ranked # 77.
October 13, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Last Year:
23-10, 11-7 in Pac 12 play. Lost 86-80 to Miami in the first round of the NCAA.
Coaches:
Mike Neighbors is in his 3rd season as Head Coach after 2 seasons as an Assistant at Washington.
Adia Barnes is in her 4th season as an assistant. Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona.
Morgan Valley is in her first year as an assistant, coming from Virginia Tech. She played at UConn.
Fred Castro is in his 3rd season at Washington as an assistant coaching the Guards.
Jackie Nared is in her 2nd season as the Director Player Development. That’s a non coaching position. Jackie scored 22 points per game 2 years ago at St Mary’s.
Losses:
Washington lost two top starters in Jazmine Davis and Aminah Williams. Davis was the 2nd leading scorer at 16 points per game and led the team in assists at over4 per game.
Williams led the team in rebounding at 9 per game and scored 9 points per game.
Additions:
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Frosh Center who was ranked # 35 out of HS.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 redshirt Frosh Froward who had to sit out last season with an injury. She was ranked # 83 out of HS and the Southern Section of California Player of the Year two years ago. Johnson is a strong rebounder.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 redshirt Jr Wing who sat out last season with an injury. Corral is the sister of former USC great Ashley and was the Washington HS Player of the Year. Heather played just 7 games as a Soph so has missed almost two full seasons.
Schedule:
Not strong, Texas Tech, Syracuse and Oklahoma are the toughest non-conference games. The Huskies non-conference schedule is ranked # 8 in the Pac 12. The Huskies don’t play Stanford or Cal at home or travel to the Oregon schools. So they get a big break there.
The Team:
There are three potential post players, one of whom is the Frosh Strother.
Another is 6-3 redshirt Jr Katie Collier. 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. Last season she averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds so maybe she will never be the same but I’m rooting for her.
6-2 Jr Chantel Osahor averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds can shoot the three and is a great passer, although lacks quickness.
The Great Kelsey Plum now a Jr returns at Guard. Plum is 5-8 and averaged 22.6 points last season and hit 69 threes at 40%.
Brianna Ruiz returns at Guard as Washington played three Guards last season. Ruiz is a 5-10 redshirt Soph who averaged 5 points.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season. Walton made 59 threes at 39%.
Johnson and Corral previewed above will certainly contribute.
Kelli Kingma is a 5-8 Soph Guard. She will be much improved over last season when she averaged just 9 minutes a game. She is the sister of Kristi a former great Husky.
Khalia Lark is a 6-0 So Wing. Lark averaged 2.4 points in 9 minutes of play.
Mathlide Gilling is a 6-3 Sr Post, who hasn’t played much at Washington.
Predictions:
As far as Plum can take them, but probably middle of the pack.
2016 Recruiting:
Aarion McDonald, 5-6 PG from CA, # 51.
Mai Loni Hensen , 5-11 Wing from CA
Amber Melgoza, 5-10 Guard from CA # 147
23-10, 11-7 in Pac 12 play. Lost 86-80 to Miami in the first round of the NCAA.
Coaches:
Mike Neighbors is in his 3rd season as Head Coach after 2 seasons as an Assistant at Washington.
Adia Barnes is in her 4th season as an assistant. Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona.
Morgan Valley is in her first year as an assistant, coming from Virginia Tech. She played at UConn.
Fred Castro is in his 3rd season at Washington as an assistant coaching the Guards.
Jackie Nared is in her 2nd season as the Director Player Development. That’s a non coaching position. Jackie scored 22 points per game 2 years ago at St Mary’s.
Losses:
Washington lost two top starters in Jazmine Davis and Aminah Williams. Davis was the 2nd leading scorer at 16 points per game and led the team in assists at over4 per game.
Williams led the team in rebounding at 9 per game and scored 9 points per game.
Additions:
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Frosh Center who was ranked # 35 out of HS.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 redshirt Frosh Froward who had to sit out last season with an injury. She was ranked # 83 out of HS and the Southern Section of California Player of the Year two years ago. Johnson is a strong rebounder.
Heather Corral is a 6-1 redshirt Jr Wing who sat out last season with an injury. Corral is the sister of former USC great Ashley and was the Washington HS Player of the Year. Heather played just 7 games as a Soph so has missed almost two full seasons.
Schedule:
Not strong, Texas Tech, Syracuse and Oklahoma are the toughest non-conference games. The Huskies non-conference schedule is ranked # 8 in the Pac 12. The Huskies don’t play Stanford or Cal at home or travel to the Oregon schools. So they get a big break there.
The Team:
There are three potential post players, one of whom is the Frosh Strother.
Another is 6-3 redshirt Jr Katie Collier. 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. Last season she averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds so maybe she will never be the same but I’m rooting for her.
6-2 Jr Chantel Osahor averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds can shoot the three and is a great passer, although lacks quickness.
The Great Kelsey Plum now a Jr returns at Guard. Plum is 5-8 and averaged 22.6 points last season and hit 69 threes at 40%.
Brianna Ruiz returns at Guard as Washington played three Guards last season. Ruiz is a 5-10 redshirt Soph who averaged 5 points.
Talia Walton is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season. Walton made 59 threes at 39%.
Johnson and Corral previewed above will certainly contribute.
Kelli Kingma is a 5-8 Soph Guard. She will be much improved over last season when she averaged just 9 minutes a game. She is the sister of Kristi a former great Husky.
Khalia Lark is a 6-0 So Wing. Lark averaged 2.4 points in 9 minutes of play.
Mathlide Gilling is a 6-3 Sr Post, who hasn’t played much at Washington.
Predictions:
As far as Plum can take them, but probably middle of the pack.
2016 Recruiting:
Aarion McDonald, 5-6 PG from CA, # 51.
Mai Loni Hensen , 5-11 Wing from CA
Amber Melgoza, 5-10 Guard from CA # 147
October 7, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: USC
Last Season:
15-15 overall and 7-11 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 3rd season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 2nd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once.
Jualeah Woods is in her 3rd 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 2nd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Two graduated, two transferred and one was dismissed mid last season, and another transferred right after the season started.
The top three scorers graduated (2) or transferred (1). Alexyz Vaioletama was the leading scorer at 12 points per game and tied as the leading rebounder at 7 per game.
Kaneisha Horn was tied as the leading rebounder at 7 and was the # 2 scorer at 10 points per game.
McKenzie Calvert averaged 10 points as a highly recruited Frosh and transferred to Kansas.
Amy Okonkwo averaged just 7 minutes but 3 points per game and transferred to TCU.
Kiki Alofaituki averaged 7 points in 12 games before leaving the team. Kiki was a Sr last year.
Additions:
Khaedin Taito is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from New Zealand although she went to HS in Australia. Taito has played for the 16U, 17U and 18U National Junior teams for the New Zealand Tall Ferns.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Frosh Forward who is in her final semester of HS and will join the Trojans in December. Milsic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Spain. Abejon has a year of college in Spain, not playing basketball and still has 4 years as a Trojan. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds this past season for her Club team in Spain.
Temi Fagbenle is a 6-4 Grad student who played at Harvard for 3 seasons, injured her fourth. Temi averaged 13 points during her Harvard career and last season 14 points and 10 rebounds. She was twice All Ivy League and in HS was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey and ranked # 13 out of HS. Temi averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in the 2012 Olympics for her native England.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from North Carolina. Probably a Point Guard at USC ranked # 58 .
Marguerite Effa is a 6-3 Post from Los Angeles. Effa is a two time LA City Player of the Year, averaging 23 points per game in her HS career. She was born in Cameroon.
Those are the six new players, however there is another who has been practicing with the USC team. Sadie Edwards is 5-10 Soph Guard who transferred from UConn last December. Edwards played 6 games with UConn and will be eligible in December. She was the # 8 player out of HS in the country.
The Schedule:
West Virginia and Gonzaga are the only challenges on the non conference schedule, ranked the 11th toughest, or 2nd easiest in the Pac 12. USC doesn’t play at either Stanford or Cal nor do Utah or Colorado travel to USC.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Point Guard, thus starting her 4th year at USC and is already a graduate and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Injuries, she missed most of her Frosh year, have contributed to her career 39% shooting and 21% from three. However we remember she scored 21 points against Stanford. Last season Adams averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Sr Guard who started every game last season averaging 10 points but shooting just 36% and made only 8 threes. She did average 4 assists per game. Like Adams Brianna has already graduated and in a Masters program.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Jr Guard who started all but six games last season. Jaco averaged 7 points and made 48 threes, tops on the team, at 37%.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Soph Post who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 redshirt Jr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out a year ago after transferring to USC then last season averaged 2 points for the Trojans.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Jr Center from Menlo School and Sunnyvale. She hasn’t played much thus far.
Predictions:
So hard to tell with just 6 players back and 2 didn’t play much last season. New players look very good on paper but outside of Edwards and Fagbenle, can they contribute in their first year?
2016 Recruiting:
Valarie Higgins, 6-0 Wing # 31 from So Cal
Minyon Moore, 5-9 Point Guard, # 97 from Nor Cal
Asiah Jones, 6-2 Post from South Carolina, unranked
15-15 overall and 7-11 in Conference play.
The Coaches:
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is a former All American at USC and was great pro player and now in her 3rd season as Head Coach.
Beth Burns is in her 2nd season as an assistant. Beth has been a Head Coach for many years and worked at Stanford once.
Jualeah Woods is in her 3rd 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 2nd year as an assistant.
Losses:
Two graduated, two transferred and one was dismissed mid last season, and another transferred right after the season started.
The top three scorers graduated (2) or transferred (1). Alexyz Vaioletama was the leading scorer at 12 points per game and tied as the leading rebounder at 7 per game.
Kaneisha Horn was tied as the leading rebounder at 7 and was the # 2 scorer at 10 points per game.
McKenzie Calvert averaged 10 points as a highly recruited Frosh and transferred to Kansas.
Amy Okonkwo averaged just 7 minutes but 3 points per game and transferred to TCU.
Kiki Alofaituki averaged 7 points in 12 games before leaving the team. Kiki was a Sr last year.
Additions:
Khaedin Taito is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from New Zealand although she went to HS in Australia. Taito has played for the 16U, 17U and 18U National Junior teams for the New Zealand Tall Ferns.
Dani Milisic is a 6-3 Frosh Forward who is in her final semester of HS and will join the Trojans in December. Milsic is from Australia and has played for their National 16U, 17U and 18U teams.
Candela Abejon is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Spain. Abejon has a year of college in Spain, not playing basketball and still has 4 years as a Trojan. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds this past season for her Club team in Spain.
Temi Fagbenle is a 6-4 Grad student who played at Harvard for 3 seasons, injured her fourth. Temi averaged 13 points during her Harvard career and last season 14 points and 10 rebounds. She was twice All Ivy League and in HS was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey and ranked # 13 out of HS. Temi averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in the 2012 Olympics for her native England.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Frosh Guard from North Carolina. Probably a Point Guard at USC ranked # 58 .
Marguerite Effa is a 6-3 Post from Los Angeles. Effa is a two time LA City Player of the Year, averaging 23 points per game in her HS career. She was born in Cameroon.
Those are the six new players, however there is another who has been practicing with the USC team. Sadie Edwards is 5-10 Soph Guard who transferred from UConn last December. Edwards played 6 games with UConn and will be eligible in December. She was the # 8 player out of HS in the country.
The Schedule:
West Virginia and Gonzaga are the only challenges on the non conference schedule, ranked the 11th toughest, or 2nd easiest in the Pac 12. USC doesn’t play at either Stanford or Cal nor do Utah or Colorado travel to USC.
The Team:
Jordan Adams is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Point Guard, thus starting her 4th year at USC and is already a graduate and working on her Masters. Adams was a McD All American and a top 10 player out of HS. Injuries, she missed most of her Frosh year, have contributed to her career 39% shooting and 21% from three. However we remember she scored 21 points against Stanford. Last season Adams averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
Brianna Barrett is a 5-7 Sr Guard who started every game last season averaging 10 points but shooting just 36% and made only 8 threes. She did average 4 assists per game. Like Adams Brianna has already graduated and in a Masters program.
Courtney Jaco is 5-8 Jr Guard who started all but six games last season. Jaco averaged 7 points and made 48 threes, tops on the team, at 37%.
Kristen Simon is a 6-1 Soph Post who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes last season. Simon was the # 47 recruit out of HS.
Alexis Lloyd is a 5-10 redshirt Jr Guard. Lloyd was ranked # 81 out of HS and played at Virginia Tech as a Frosh averaging 3 points. She sat out a year ago after transferring to USC then last season averaged 2 points for the Trojans.
Drew Edelman is a 6-4 Jr Center from Menlo School and Sunnyvale. She hasn’t played much thus far.
Predictions:
So hard to tell with just 6 players back and 2 didn’t play much last season. New players look very good on paper but outside of Edwards and Fagbenle, can they contribute in their first year?
2016 Recruiting:
Valarie Higgins, 6-0 Wing # 31 from So Cal
Minyon Moore, 5-9 Point Guard, # 97 from Nor Cal
Asiah Jones, 6-2 Post from South Carolina, unranked
September 29, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Last Season:
17-15 overall and 7-11 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
June Daugherty is in her 9th season at Washington State, after a number of seasons as Head Coach at Washington
Mike Daugherty, June’s husband, is also in his 9th season.
Ashley Gill (Glover) is in her 4th season at Washington State.
Rod Jensen is new to the staff. He didn’t coach last year but coached the Cougar Men 2 years ago. Jenson has 30 years of experience and is known as a fine defensive coach.
Losses:
The Cougars lost their top three scorers so huge losses.
Lia Gladeira led the team in scoring with 20 points per game. Lia also averaged 6 rebounds and with Pressley had over half the team’s steals. Lia had another year but left early to play professional overseas.
Tia Pressley was 2nd on the team in scoring with 16 points per game.
Shalie Dheenshaw was 3rd on the team in scoring, 9 points and 1st in rebounding with 7 per game.
Additions:
Maria Kostourkova is a 6-4 Frosh Center who played on the 18U team for her native, Portugal. She averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds in the World 18U tournament, in 2014. Last year in the 20U she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds. Named the 3rd and 4th best international college player by two sites.
Borislava Hristova is a 6-0 Wing from Bulgaria. Hristova averaged 27 and 24 points per game in the last two European tournaments, 18U then recently 20U. She was called the top international recruit by one site.
Alexya Swedlund is a 5-11 Guard from South Dakota. Alexya was Ms Basketball for South Dakota. She scored 2,002 points in her HS career and averaged 25 points as a Sr.
Nike McClure is a 6-3 Redshirt Frosh from Washington who sat out last season. Close to a top 100 player out of HS.
Krystle McKenzie is another redshirt Frosh and a 5-8 Point Guard from Australia.
The Schedule:
Some good teams are on their pre-season schedule including Oklahoma State, Kansas, U of San Diego, Gonzaga and St Mary’s. Big break as the Cougars play the Oregon schools, Stanford and Cal just once each.
The Team:
Mariah Cooks is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds. Cooks is the top returning scorer and the number 2 returning rebounder.
Louise Brown is a 6-2 Soph Forward who averaged 4 points and 6.5 rebounds last year. Brown is an Aussie.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 Sr Point Guard who started every game last season averaging 5 points and had a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio.
These three are the only returnees to starts a game last season, Awa and Cooks started all their games and Brown started half of the games.
I believe these three will start along with the international Frosh, Kostourkova and Hristova.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 Sr Guard who averaged 5 points in 18 points.
McClure, profiled above is a strong rebounder.
Pinelopi Payopoulou is a 5-8 Soph Guard from Greece who averaged 12 minutes and 2 points last season. There are five other players on the roster who averaged 4 to 7 minutes last season.
Predictions:
The Cougars lost two outstanding players and a third good player so the need to rebuild. They will be depending on several international recruits to do so. If they jell, they could be good, but a big if. The Cougars have seven international players.
2016 Recruiting:
Chanelle Molina 5-6 PG from Hawaii # 39.
Last Season:
17-15 overall and 7-11 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
June Daugherty is in her 9th season at Washington State, after a number of seasons as Head Coach at Washington
Mike Daugherty, June’s husband, is also in his 9th season.
Ashley Gill (Glover) is in her 4th season at Washington State.
Rod Jensen is new to the staff. He didn’t coach last year but coached the Cougar Men 2 years ago. Jenson has 30 years of experience and is known as a fine defensive coach.
Losses:
The Cougars lost their top three scorers so huge losses.
Lia Gladeira led the team in scoring with 20 points per game. Lia also averaged 6 rebounds and with Pressley had over half the team’s steals. Lia had another year but left early to play professional overseas.
Tia Pressley was 2nd on the team in scoring with 16 points per game.
Shalie Dheenshaw was 3rd on the team in scoring, 9 points and 1st in rebounding with 7 per game.
Additions:
Maria Kostourkova is a 6-4 Frosh Center who played on the 18U team for her native, Portugal. She averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds in the World 18U tournament, in 2014. Last year in the 20U she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds. Named the 3rd and 4th best international college player by two sites.
Borislava Hristova is a 6-0 Wing from Bulgaria. Hristova averaged 27 and 24 points per game in the last two European tournaments, 18U then recently 20U. She was called the top international recruit by one site.
Alexya Swedlund is a 5-11 Guard from South Dakota. Alexya was Ms Basketball for South Dakota. She scored 2,002 points in her HS career and averaged 25 points as a Sr.
Nike McClure is a 6-3 Redshirt Frosh from Washington who sat out last season. Close to a top 100 player out of HS.
Krystle McKenzie is another redshirt Frosh and a 5-8 Point Guard from Australia.
The Schedule:
Some good teams are on their pre-season schedule including Oklahoma State, Kansas, U of San Diego, Gonzaga and St Mary’s. Big break as the Cougars play the Oregon schools, Stanford and Cal just once each.
The Team:
Mariah Cooks is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds. Cooks is the top returning scorer and the number 2 returning rebounder.
Louise Brown is a 6-2 Soph Forward who averaged 4 points and 6.5 rebounds last year. Brown is an Aussie.
Dawnyelle Awa is a 5-9 Sr Point Guard who started every game last season averaging 5 points and had a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio.
These three are the only returnees to starts a game last season, Awa and Cooks started all their games and Brown started half of the games.
I believe these three will start along with the international Frosh, Kostourkova and Hristova.
Taylor Edmondson is a 5-11 Sr Guard who averaged 5 points in 18 points.
McClure, profiled above is a strong rebounder.
Pinelopi Payopoulou is a 5-8 Soph Guard from Greece who averaged 12 minutes and 2 points last season. There are five other players on the roster who averaged 4 to 7 minutes last season.
Predictions:
The Cougars lost two outstanding players and a third good player so the need to rebuild. They will be depending on several international recruits to do so. If they jell, they could be good, but a big if. The Cougars have seven international players.
2016 Recruiting:
Chanelle Molina 5-6 PG from Hawaii # 39.
September 23, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: Oregon
Last Season:
13-17 overall and 6-12 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Kelley Graves starts season two with the Ducks. Graves coached in the WCC first at St Mary’s then Gonzaga winning 67% of his game over 17 seasons. He started at Gonzaga going 5-23 then three years later won his first of 10 straight WCC Championships.
Jodie Berry is in her 2nd season at Oregon as an assistant after coaching with Graves at Gonzaga for 11 years.
Stanford Hall of Famer Nicole Powell is in her 2nd year as an assistant and her 3rd year coaching with Graves. Powell played Pro Basketball for 11 years.
Mark Campbell is in his 2nd year at Oregon after 4 seasons as an assistant at Oregon State.
Losses:
Drea Tolar a 5-5 Guard who transferred to Long Beach State. Tolar averaged 20 minutes a game and 4 points. Tolar started 12 games.
Marie Berthuel a 5-3 Guard who played just 7 games.
Amando Delgado a 5-7 Guard who started 18 games averaging 5 points.
Chloe Stiles a 5-8 Guard who played just 4 games.
Katelyn Loper a 5-11 Guard who was the # 4 scorer on the team at 9 points per game. Loper was 2nd on the team making 50 threes.
Janitah Iamaleava a 6-2 Center left the team in mid -January after playing in just 3 games
Megan Carpenter a 6-4 Center who started 20 games but averaged just 13 minutes, 3 points and 2 rebounds.
Tatum Neubert a 6-2 Forward received her release from Oregon in April, but I don’t know where she transferred to. Tatum played 23 games, starting 3 and averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game.
Additions:
Liz Brenner is a 6-1 Sr Post player. Brenner is an All American in Volleyball and in T&F throwing the javelin. She played basketball as a Frosh and Soph joining the team after Volleyball. As a Frosh she started 8 games averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds. As a Soph she started 18 games averaging 8 points and 7 rebounds.
Matie Cazorla is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Spain who played on 4 of her country’s youth National Teams. A year ago for her 17U team she averaged 11 points in the 17U World Championships. Graves calls her the best point guard in her class in all of Europe.
Kat Cooper is a 6-0 5th year Sr Guard. Cooper is from Tacoma but just graduated from Boston College and will be in an Oregon Grad school playing her 5th year. This past season Cooper 4 points in 13 minutes, however as a Jr she averaged 9 points with 21 against Duke with 5 threes.
Oti Gildon is a 6-1 Frosh Forward. Gildon is from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane and was the # 38 recruit in the US per ESPN.
Mar’Shay Moore is a 5-8 Jr Guard. Moore played HS basketball in Vancouver Washington and had a game where she scored 47 points. She has played the past two seasons at Blue Mountain JC in Vancouver. As a JC Frosh she averaged 18 points per game and as a JC Soph she averaged 24 points and 8 rebounds.
Megan Trinder is a 5-7 Jr Guard. Trinder is from Australia but comes to Oregon from Northeast JC in Norfork Nebraska. As a JC Frosh she averaged 10 points and 6 assists per game with a high of 16 assists. As a JC Soph she averaged 12 points and 7 assists and was 3rd team JC All American.
Jacinta Vandenberg is a 6-5 Redshirt Jr Center who transferred a year ago from Fresno State. Jacinta is from Australia. As a Frosh at Fresno State she averaged just 4 points and 3 rebounds in her 10 starts but had highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds. As a Soph she started every game averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Lauren Yearwood is a 6-3 Frosh Post from British Columbia. Yearwood has played on 4 Canadian National teams and had a fine summer on this year’s 19U team in the World Tournament averaging 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Yes 8 newcomers although Brenner has played two years and Vandenberg has practiced a year with the Ducks. The Ducks have just 5 returning players.
The Schedule:
Preseason games start at North Carolina then the other 10 all at home. Toughest might be Clemson, then North Dakota. The Ducks will have an excellent preseason record. They play the Washington and Arizona schools just once each. This is the easiest Pac 12 Non conference schedule
The Team:
One has to start with All Pac 12 and 3rd Team All American 6-3 Post Jillian Alleyne. Jillian averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds per game this past season.
Lexi Bando is a 5-9 Sr Guard who was 3rd on the team in scoring at 10 points and also hit 55 threes at 44%.
Lexi Peterson is a 5-11 Sr Guard who led the team in assists at almost 4 per game and was 2nd on the team in scoring at 11 points per game.
Jordan Loera is a 5-9 5th year Sr Guard who averaged 4 points last season. She also hit 44% of her threes.
Katie Gruys is a 6-0 Sr Forward who saw little action.
So 4 returnees really but Oregon’s top 3 scorers and three of the four.
No question the new Big Posts Vandenberg and Yearwood will see a lot of action along with Grad transfer Cooper and the two top frosh Gildon and Cazorla.
A deep team despite their returning just 4 from last season.
Predictions:
Right now fighting for a top 4 in the conference position, but more likely to be in the middle 4.
2016 Recruiting:
Just a great class and they may not be done.
Ruby Hebard is a 6-3 Post player from Alaska ranked # 39
Mallory McGwire is a 6-4 post from Reno ranked # 49
Jade Woods is a 6-0 Wing from Californiaranked # 70
Sierra Campisano is a 6-3 Power Forward-Wing ranked # 86
Morgan Yeager is a 5-9 Guard from Australia
Lydia Giomi is a 6-5 post from Oregon
13-17 overall and 6-12 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Kelley Graves starts season two with the Ducks. Graves coached in the WCC first at St Mary’s then Gonzaga winning 67% of his game over 17 seasons. He started at Gonzaga going 5-23 then three years later won his first of 10 straight WCC Championships.
Jodie Berry is in her 2nd season at Oregon as an assistant after coaching with Graves at Gonzaga for 11 years.
Stanford Hall of Famer Nicole Powell is in her 2nd year as an assistant and her 3rd year coaching with Graves. Powell played Pro Basketball for 11 years.
Mark Campbell is in his 2nd year at Oregon after 4 seasons as an assistant at Oregon State.
Losses:
Drea Tolar a 5-5 Guard who transferred to Long Beach State. Tolar averaged 20 minutes a game and 4 points. Tolar started 12 games.
Marie Berthuel a 5-3 Guard who played just 7 games.
Amando Delgado a 5-7 Guard who started 18 games averaging 5 points.
Chloe Stiles a 5-8 Guard who played just 4 games.
Katelyn Loper a 5-11 Guard who was the # 4 scorer on the team at 9 points per game. Loper was 2nd on the team making 50 threes.
Janitah Iamaleava a 6-2 Center left the team in mid -January after playing in just 3 games
Megan Carpenter a 6-4 Center who started 20 games but averaged just 13 minutes, 3 points and 2 rebounds.
Tatum Neubert a 6-2 Forward received her release from Oregon in April, but I don’t know where she transferred to. Tatum played 23 games, starting 3 and averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game.
Additions:
Liz Brenner is a 6-1 Sr Post player. Brenner is an All American in Volleyball and in T&F throwing the javelin. She played basketball as a Frosh and Soph joining the team after Volleyball. As a Frosh she started 8 games averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds. As a Soph she started 18 games averaging 8 points and 7 rebounds.
Matie Cazorla is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Spain who played on 4 of her country’s youth National Teams. A year ago for her 17U team she averaged 11 points in the 17U World Championships. Graves calls her the best point guard in her class in all of Europe.
Kat Cooper is a 6-0 5th year Sr Guard. Cooper is from Tacoma but just graduated from Boston College and will be in an Oregon Grad school playing her 5th year. This past season Cooper 4 points in 13 minutes, however as a Jr she averaged 9 points with 21 against Duke with 5 threes.
Oti Gildon is a 6-1 Frosh Forward. Gildon is from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane and was the # 38 recruit in the US per ESPN.
Mar’Shay Moore is a 5-8 Jr Guard. Moore played HS basketball in Vancouver Washington and had a game where she scored 47 points. She has played the past two seasons at Blue Mountain JC in Vancouver. As a JC Frosh she averaged 18 points per game and as a JC Soph she averaged 24 points and 8 rebounds.
Megan Trinder is a 5-7 Jr Guard. Trinder is from Australia but comes to Oregon from Northeast JC in Norfork Nebraska. As a JC Frosh she averaged 10 points and 6 assists per game with a high of 16 assists. As a JC Soph she averaged 12 points and 7 assists and was 3rd team JC All American.
Jacinta Vandenberg is a 6-5 Redshirt Jr Center who transferred a year ago from Fresno State. Jacinta is from Australia. As a Frosh at Fresno State she averaged just 4 points and 3 rebounds in her 10 starts but had highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds. As a Soph she started every game averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Lauren Yearwood is a 6-3 Frosh Post from British Columbia. Yearwood has played on 4 Canadian National teams and had a fine summer on this year’s 19U team in the World Tournament averaging 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Yes 8 newcomers although Brenner has played two years and Vandenberg has practiced a year with the Ducks. The Ducks have just 5 returning players.
The Schedule:
Preseason games start at North Carolina then the other 10 all at home. Toughest might be Clemson, then North Dakota. The Ducks will have an excellent preseason record. They play the Washington and Arizona schools just once each. This is the easiest Pac 12 Non conference schedule
The Team:
One has to start with All Pac 12 and 3rd Team All American 6-3 Post Jillian Alleyne. Jillian averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds per game this past season.
Lexi Bando is a 5-9 Sr Guard who was 3rd on the team in scoring at 10 points and also hit 55 threes at 44%.
Lexi Peterson is a 5-11 Sr Guard who led the team in assists at almost 4 per game and was 2nd on the team in scoring at 11 points per game.
Jordan Loera is a 5-9 5th year Sr Guard who averaged 4 points last season. She also hit 44% of her threes.
Katie Gruys is a 6-0 Sr Forward who saw little action.
So 4 returnees really but Oregon’s top 3 scorers and three of the four.
No question the new Big Posts Vandenberg and Yearwood will see a lot of action along with Grad transfer Cooper and the two top frosh Gildon and Cazorla.
A deep team despite their returning just 4 from last season.
Predictions:
Right now fighting for a top 4 in the conference position, but more likely to be in the middle 4.
2016 Recruiting:
Just a great class and they may not be done.
Ruby Hebard is a 6-3 Post player from Alaska ranked # 39
Mallory McGwire is a 6-4 post from Reno ranked # 49
Jade Woods is a 6-0 Wing from Californiaranked # 70
Sierra Campisano is a 6-3 Power Forward-Wing ranked # 86
Morgan Yeager is a 5-9 Guard from Australia
Lydia Giomi is a 6-5 post from Oregon
September 14, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: ASU
Last Season:
29-6 overall and 15-3 in Pac 12 play, quite a season. The Sun Devils won two NCAA games to advance to the Sweet 16 before losing to Florida State by one point. Attendance was just over 3,000 per game an increase of close to 50%.
The Coaching Staff:
Charlie Turner Thorne is in her 19 year at ASU and has taken the Sun Devils to the post season 15 of the last 16 years while averaging just shy of 20 wins in her 18 seasons.
Meg Sanders is one of two Associate Head Coaches and in her 13th year with the Sun Devils.
Amanda Levens is the other Associate Head Coach and in her 4th season at ASU.
Jackie Moore is in her 4th year also at ASU.
The Schedule:
Kentucky and Florida State and in the Hawaii tournament, the Sun Devils play South Carolina. In Pac 12 Play the Sun Devils play Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Oregon State once each.
The Losses:
Nicole Iademarco is a 6-1 Forward who played briefly last season and did not return.
Promise Amukamara a starting Guard and at 11 points per game their 3rd leading scorer.
Isidora Purkovic a Guard who played briefly last season.
So really just one loss for the Sun Devils.
The Additions:
Sabrina Haines is a 5-10 Frosh Guard who was ranked # 62. Haines should see early action for ASU.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-3 Frosh Center. She averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds as a HS Jr and 16 points per game as a Sr.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Frosh Forward. Ibis averaged 19 points and 15 rebounds as a HS Jr, and 21 points, 11 rebounds as a Sr. Ibis was ranked just outside the top 100 by ESPN.
Armani Hawkins a 5-10 Frosh Guard who was ranked # 142. Hawkins, whose older sister is on the Sun Devil team, is a very good offensive player.
The Team:
The Sun Devils return really all players except starting Guard Promise Amukamara.
Katie Hempen is a 5-9, 5th year Sr Guard who averaged 12 points per game, leading the team by a couple of points, and hit 76 threes at 38%.
Elisha Davis is 5-3 Sr and the Point Guard. Davis had a 3:2 assist to turnover ratio and averaged 4.4 assists per game. Davis was 2nd on the team with 38 threes at 36% and averaged 7.5 points per game.
Sophie Brunner is a 6-1 Jr Post player playing both the 4 and the 5. Brunner averaged 12 points and almost 8 rebounds per game. Brunner shot 54%.
Kelsey Moos is a 6-0 Jr Froward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds last season. Moos shot 52%.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 Jr Center who started just 5 games but averaged 17 minutes, 7 points and 5 rebounds.
The above could be the starting line-up but the next three saw significant action this past season.
Arnecia Hawkins is 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 4 points in 14 minutes. While she made just 17 three’s they were at 41%.
Peace Amukamara is a 5-7 Sr Guard who averaged 3 points in 16 minutes.
Eliza Normen is a 6-0 5th year Sr Wing who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes. Normen is the Sun Devils only top 60 recruit but has been bothered by knee injuries at ASU.
Also 6-4 Soph Ayanna Edwards is a back up Center.
Predictions:
A top three in the conference team and certainly a favorite to win the conference with Stanford and Oregon State
2016 Recruiting:
Robbie Ryan from Wyoming is a 5-9 Guard ranked # 62
Reili Richardson is a 5-10 Guard from SoCal ranked # 66
Jamie Ruden is a 6-2 Forward from Minnesota ranked # 66
Sydney Goodson is a 5-7 PG from Texas, played Travel for Cy Fair.
Kiara Russell is a 5-7 PG from Minnesota.
A very good class.
29-6 overall and 15-3 in Pac 12 play, quite a season. The Sun Devils won two NCAA games to advance to the Sweet 16 before losing to Florida State by one point. Attendance was just over 3,000 per game an increase of close to 50%.
The Coaching Staff:
Charlie Turner Thorne is in her 19 year at ASU and has taken the Sun Devils to the post season 15 of the last 16 years while averaging just shy of 20 wins in her 18 seasons.
Meg Sanders is one of two Associate Head Coaches and in her 13th year with the Sun Devils.
Amanda Levens is the other Associate Head Coach and in her 4th season at ASU.
Jackie Moore is in her 4th year also at ASU.
The Schedule:
Kentucky and Florida State and in the Hawaii tournament, the Sun Devils play South Carolina. In Pac 12 Play the Sun Devils play Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Oregon State once each.
The Losses:
Nicole Iademarco is a 6-1 Forward who played briefly last season and did not return.
Promise Amukamara a starting Guard and at 11 points per game their 3rd leading scorer.
Isidora Purkovic a Guard who played briefly last season.
So really just one loss for the Sun Devils.
The Additions:
Sabrina Haines is a 5-10 Frosh Guard who was ranked # 62. Haines should see early action for ASU.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-3 Frosh Center. She averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds as a HS Jr and 16 points per game as a Sr.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Frosh Forward. Ibis averaged 19 points and 15 rebounds as a HS Jr, and 21 points, 11 rebounds as a Sr. Ibis was ranked just outside the top 100 by ESPN.
Armani Hawkins a 5-10 Frosh Guard who was ranked # 142. Hawkins, whose older sister is on the Sun Devil team, is a very good offensive player.
The Team:
The Sun Devils return really all players except starting Guard Promise Amukamara.
Katie Hempen is a 5-9, 5th year Sr Guard who averaged 12 points per game, leading the team by a couple of points, and hit 76 threes at 38%.
Elisha Davis is 5-3 Sr and the Point Guard. Davis had a 3:2 assist to turnover ratio and averaged 4.4 assists per game. Davis was 2nd on the team with 38 threes at 36% and averaged 7.5 points per game.
Sophie Brunner is a 6-1 Jr Post player playing both the 4 and the 5. Brunner averaged 12 points and almost 8 rebounds per game. Brunner shot 54%.
Kelsey Moos is a 6-0 Jr Froward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds last season. Moos shot 52%.
Quinn Dornstauder is a 6-4 Jr Center who started just 5 games but averaged 17 minutes, 7 points and 5 rebounds.
The above could be the starting line-up but the next three saw significant action this past season.
Arnecia Hawkins is 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 4 points in 14 minutes. While she made just 17 three’s they were at 41%.
Peace Amukamara is a 5-7 Sr Guard who averaged 3 points in 16 minutes.
Eliza Normen is a 6-0 5th year Sr Wing who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes. Normen is the Sun Devils only top 60 recruit but has been bothered by knee injuries at ASU.
Also 6-4 Soph Ayanna Edwards is a back up Center.
Predictions:
A top three in the conference team and certainly a favorite to win the conference with Stanford and Oregon State
2016 Recruiting:
Robbie Ryan from Wyoming is a 5-9 Guard ranked # 62
Reili Richardson is a 5-10 Guard from SoCal ranked # 66
Jamie Ruden is a 6-2 Forward from Minnesota ranked # 66
Sydney Goodson is a 5-7 PG from Texas, played Travel for Cy Fair.
Kiara Russell is a 5-7 PG from Minnesota.
A very good class.
September 1, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: UTAH
Last Season:
9-21 overall and just 3-15 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is the new Coach 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.
Gavin Peterson is in his first 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 first year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Wesley Brooks is in his first year after 4 seasons at North Texas State and before than at Texas Southern.
Losses:
Taryn Wicijowski is a big loss after averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Cheyenne Wilson started 12 games but averaged 28 minutes and 7 points.
Additions:
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Frosh Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for her HS career.
Jordanna Potter is a 5-11 Frosh Wing from Texas.
Emily Potter is a 6-5 Redshirt Soph who missed all of last season with an injury. As a Frosh Emily averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds and was 4th in the Pac 12 in blocked shots.
Katie Kuklok is a 5-10 5th year Guard who was injured last season after transferring from Utah Valley. Kuklok averaged 16 points per game at Utah Valley including racking up 34 against her current Utah team. She shot 43% from three making 72. Katie is in Grad School.
Malia Nawahine is a 5-10 Redshirt Soph Wing. Malia was averaging 13 points in her first three games then injured and out for the season.
Devri Owens is a 5-8 Redshirt Soph Guard. Owens averaged 3 points and 15 minutes as a Frosh, including 9 points against Stanford. Last season she went out early with an injury and redshirted. Before she got hurt she had 8 assists in one game.
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 Soph Guard. Provo will sit out this season after transferring from Clemson where she scored 5 points per game as a Frosh. She was on the Canadian National Jr team.
The Schedule:
The Utes play in a tournament against Oklahoma and Boston College. They play at home against a good Cal State Northridge team and Fresno State and at BYU.
The Team:
Tanaeya Boclair is a 6-0 Soph Forward who was 2nd on the team in scoring, 9 points per game. She will start.
Danielle Rodriquez is a 5-10 Sr Guard who also averaged 9 points plus lead the team in assists with 4 per game.
Emily Potter should return healthy and be the Center.
Malia Nawahine should also return healthy and start.
Joeseta Fatuesi is a 6-4 Soph who started most games last season and could again. Fatuesi averaged 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Guard who started more than half Utah’s games averaging 6 points.
Nakia Arquette is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Forward who played 16 minutes per game but averaged just under 3 points.
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Jr Post who hasn’t played much.
Predictions: New coach and some big losses so looks like a bottom four finish in the Pac 12.
2016 Recruiting:
No recruits yet
Last Season:
9-21 overall and just 3-15 in Pac 12 play.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is the new Coach 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.
Gavin Peterson is in his first 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 first year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Wesley Brooks is in his first year after 4 seasons at North Texas State and before than at Texas Southern.
Losses:
Taryn Wicijowski is a big loss after averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Cheyenne Wilson started 12 games but averaged 28 minutes and 7 points.
Additions:
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Frosh Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for her HS career.
Jordanna Potter is a 5-11 Frosh Wing from Texas.
Emily Potter is a 6-5 Redshirt Soph who missed all of last season with an injury. As a Frosh Emily averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds and was 4th in the Pac 12 in blocked shots.
Katie Kuklok is a 5-10 5th year Guard who was injured last season after transferring from Utah Valley. Kuklok averaged 16 points per game at Utah Valley including racking up 34 against her current Utah team. She shot 43% from three making 72. Katie is in Grad School.
Malia Nawahine is a 5-10 Redshirt Soph Wing. Malia was averaging 13 points in her first three games then injured and out for the season.
Devri Owens is a 5-8 Redshirt Soph Guard. Owens averaged 3 points and 15 minutes as a Frosh, including 9 points against Stanford. Last season she went out early with an injury and redshirted. Before she got hurt she had 8 assists in one game.
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 Soph Guard. Provo will sit out this season after transferring from Clemson where she scored 5 points per game as a Frosh. She was on the Canadian National Jr team.
The Schedule:
The Utes play in a tournament against Oklahoma and Boston College. They play at home against a good Cal State Northridge team and Fresno State and at BYU.
The Team:
Tanaeya Boclair is a 6-0 Soph Forward who was 2nd on the team in scoring, 9 points per game. She will start.
Danielle Rodriquez is a 5-10 Sr Guard who also averaged 9 points plus lead the team in assists with 4 per game.
Emily Potter should return healthy and be the Center.
Malia Nawahine should also return healthy and start.
Joeseta Fatuesi is a 6-4 Soph who started most games last season and could again. Fatuesi averaged 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Paige Crozon is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Guard who started more than half Utah’s games averaging 6 points.
Nakia Arquette is a 6-1 Redshirt Jr Forward who played 16 minutes per game but averaged just under 3 points.
Wendy Anae is a 6-3 Jr Post who hasn’t played much.
Predictions: New coach and some big losses so looks like a bottom four finish in the Pac 12.
2016 Recruiting:
No recruits yet
August 27, 2015
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona
Last Season:
The Arizona Wildcats went 10-20 overall and 3-15 in Pac 12 play. Of course they did beat Stanford.
The Coaches:
Niya Butts returns for her 8th season as the Head Coach. She is averaging 11 wins a season.
EC Hill returns for her 5th season. Calamity McEntire returns for her 4th season. Sean LaBeauf returns for his 3nd season.
Losses:
Only two loses although leading scorer Candice Warthen is one of them. Candice led the team in scoring, steals and assists, averaging 13 points per game. She was close to being the leading rebounder also.
Alli Gloyd started every game and averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Additions:
A’Shanti Coleman is a 6-2 Post player from San Francisco. Coleman averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds for a very good Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep team.
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Post player from East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds for another good Bay Area team, Eastside Prep.
Eugenie Simonet-Keller is a 6-8 Post player from France. Yes 6-8 and the tallest French woman of her generation. She has played on three French National teams at various ages. She actually attended High School in Florida.
Michal Miller is a 5-7 Guard from Michigan City, Indiana. Miller averaged 25 points and 4 assists last year.
The four High School recruits could be the best class Butts has recruited.
But there are more:
Lauren Evans is a 5-11 Sr Guard who transferred from VA Tech and sat out last season. As a Soph at Va Tech Evans started all but two games averaging 5 points. As a Jr at Va Tech Lauren was reduced to no starts and 2 points per game.
Taryn Griffey is a 5-7 redshirt Frosh who missed not just last year but her Jr and Sr years in HS with injuries. Still a highly recruited player for the Butts era at Arizona.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 RS Jr Guard who transferred from SMU two years ago but sat out again last year except for 2 games. As a Frosh at SMU she started 9 games and averaged 3.4 points.
So while this incoming frosh class is ranked # 46 the additions of Evans, Griffey and Bell make the newcomers class very good.
The Schedule:
The Wildcats will play 12 non league games with the toughest being Kansas and University of San Diego. Thus not a tough schedule. Last year the Wildcats were 7-5 in non- league games.
The Team:
The Wildcats return after Warthen their top four scorers, however they averaged a total of just 27 points per game. The Wildcats scored only 58 points per game so scoring improvement is a must.
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Malena Washington is a 5-6 Jr Guard who averaged 7 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists, but just 2 per game.
Charise Holloway is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 7 points per game and is their top returning three point shooter, but she made only 26 at 25%.
Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Sr Guard who averaged 5 points per game.
JaLea Bennett is a 6-0 Soph wing who averaged 4 points per game.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Dejza James is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Cherice Harris is a 5-8 Soph Guard who played just a few games last season.
It’s very possible much of the playing time will go to newcomers. Butts has a full squad of 15 and no one transferred out, a rarity recently.
Predictions:
With so many newcomers it’s hard to predict but the incoming players could be good right off the bat. Still it looks look the Wildcats will remain a last four in the Pac 12 team.
2016 Recruiting:
No commits yet but 15 on the team and only 2 SRs therefore only 2 openings.
Last Season:
The Arizona Wildcats went 10-20 overall and 3-15 in Pac 12 play. Of course they did beat Stanford.
The Coaches:
Niya Butts returns for her 8th season as the Head Coach. She is averaging 11 wins a season.
EC Hill returns for her 5th season. Calamity McEntire returns for her 4th season. Sean LaBeauf returns for his 3nd season.
Losses:
Only two loses although leading scorer Candice Warthen is one of them. Candice led the team in scoring, steals and assists, averaging 13 points per game. She was close to being the leading rebounder also.
Alli Gloyd started every game and averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Additions:
A’Shanti Coleman is a 6-2 Post player from San Francisco. Coleman averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds for a very good Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep team.
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Post player from East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds for another good Bay Area team, Eastside Prep.
Eugenie Simonet-Keller is a 6-8 Post player from France. Yes 6-8 and the tallest French woman of her generation. She has played on three French National teams at various ages. She actually attended High School in Florida.
Michal Miller is a 5-7 Guard from Michigan City, Indiana. Miller averaged 25 points and 4 assists last year.
The four High School recruits could be the best class Butts has recruited.
But there are more:
Lauren Evans is a 5-11 Sr Guard who transferred from VA Tech and sat out last season. As a Soph at Va Tech Evans started all but two games averaging 5 points. As a Jr at Va Tech Lauren was reduced to no starts and 2 points per game.
Taryn Griffey is a 5-7 redshirt Frosh who missed not just last year but her Jr and Sr years in HS with injuries. Still a highly recruited player for the Butts era at Arizona.
Ferrin Bell is a 6-0 RS Jr Guard who transferred from SMU two years ago but sat out again last year except for 2 games. As a Frosh at SMU she started 9 games and averaged 3.4 points.
So while this incoming frosh class is ranked # 46 the additions of Evans, Griffey and Bell make the newcomers class very good.
The Schedule:
The Wildcats will play 12 non league games with the toughest being Kansas and University of San Diego. Thus not a tough schedule. Last year the Wildcats were 7-5 in non- league games.
The Team:
The Wildcats return after Warthen their top four scorers, however they averaged a total of just 27 points per game. The Wildcats scored only 58 points per game so scoring improvement is a must.
LaBrittany Jones is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Malena Washington is a 5-6 Jr Guard who averaged 7 points per game and was 2nd on the team in assists, but just 2 per game.
Charise Holloway is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 7 points per game and is their top returning three point shooter, but she made only 26 at 25%.
Keyahndra Cannon is a 5-9 Sr Guard who averaged 5 points per game.
JaLea Bennett is a 6-0 Soph wing who averaged 4 points per game.
Breanna Workman is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Dejza James is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Cherice Harris is a 5-8 Soph Guard who played just a few games last season.
It’s very possible much of the playing time will go to newcomers. Butts has a full squad of 15 and no one transferred out, a rarity recently.
Predictions:
With so many newcomers it’s hard to predict but the incoming players could be good right off the bat. Still it looks look the Wildcats will remain a last four in the Pac 12 team.
2016 Recruiting:
No commits yet but 15 on the team and only 2 SRs therefore only 2 openings.
August 20, 2015
Well it’s getting closer to the season. School has started at several Pac 12 schools and with 11 teams to preview it’s time to start.
Pac 12 Preview: Colorado
Last Season:
15-17 overall and 6-12 in Pac 12 Play
The Coaches:
Linda Lappe is in her 6th season as the Head Coach and last year was her first to miss post season. Colorado went to 3 WNITs and one NCAA in her first 4 years. Lappe is a former Colorado Team Captain.
Julian Assibey is in his first year as an assistant, but 2nd year on the staff.
Former Stanford and Texas great Jamie Carey is in her 2nd year as an assistant.
Kelly Rae Finley is in her 4th year as an assistant after 4 years at Harvard.
Losses:
Arielle Roberson missed last season with a knee injury but decided not to play her 5th year at Colorado and instead will play her Grad year at West Virginia. Two years ago Roberson averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Lexy Kresl was the # 3 scorer at 12 points per game and led the team in assists. Lexy also led the team in three pointers.
Jen Reese averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds both 2nd on the team. A big loss.
Jasmine Sborov started every game and averaged 6 points.
The loss of 3 starters plus a presumed 4th if healthy is huge.
Additions:
Monica Burich is a 6-2 Frosh Forward who averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds last season for her HS. Burich was ranked # 117 in HS.
Makenzie Ellis is a 6-2 Frosh Forward who averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds as a HS Jr but missed last season with a knee injury. Ellis was born in San Mateo.
Ariana Freeman is 5-9 Soph transfer from Louisville, who will redshirt this season. Freeman scored 18 points per game her last two years in HS and saw minimal play at Louisville. She was ranked # 15 in the US as a HS Soph.
Kennedy Leonard is a 5-8 Frosh Guard, ranked 42th in the US last year in HS.
Alexis Robinson is a 5-10 Frosh Guard who averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists last season in HS. Robinson was ranked # 91 in the US.
The Schedule:
The Buffs play at Kentucky and play Missouri at home. In a tournament at home they could play Florida. The other games are more mid majors. Colorado plays the LA schools at home and the Arizona schools in Arizona
The Team:
Zoe Correal is a 6-4 Soph Post who played 9 minutes a game averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds. She will get a lot more action this season.
Jamee Swan is a 6-2 Sr Post who will start and my guess with Correal. Swan averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds and led the team in both those categories. Swan was Honorable Mention All Pac 12 last season.
Haley Smith is a 6-1 Jr Wing who started every game last season averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Lauren Huggins is a 6-2 Jr Wing who played every game averaging 19 minutes and 5 points per game. Huggins had 43 threes, 2nd on the team and shot 38 % from three.
Becca Thomas is a 5-5 Soph Point Guard who played in every game averaging 3 points.
Zoe Beard-Falls is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 3.5 points and 3 rebounds last season.
Alina Hartmann is a 6-0 Soph Wing who averaged 2.5 points last season. Hartmann is from Germany
Bri Watts is a 6-2 Jr Post who didn’t play much last season and sat out her Frosh year.
With only three players returning with much playing time in their careers look for the four frosh to contribute early and often.
Predictions:
It will be hard to duplicate last year’s Pac 12 record. I see Colorado as a last four team in the league. But if the Frosh and young players develop, the team will improve and with Swan the only Sr the outlook is better.
2016 Recruiting:
Bria Rice a 5-8 Guard from Washington, not top 100
Anika Jank a 6-3 Post from Minnesota also not top 100.
Pac 12 Preview: Colorado
Last Season:
15-17 overall and 6-12 in Pac 12 Play
The Coaches:
Linda Lappe is in her 6th season as the Head Coach and last year was her first to miss post season. Colorado went to 3 WNITs and one NCAA in her first 4 years. Lappe is a former Colorado Team Captain.
Julian Assibey is in his first year as an assistant, but 2nd year on the staff.
Former Stanford and Texas great Jamie Carey is in her 2nd year as an assistant.
Kelly Rae Finley is in her 4th year as an assistant after 4 years at Harvard.
Losses:
Arielle Roberson missed last season with a knee injury but decided not to play her 5th year at Colorado and instead will play her Grad year at West Virginia. Two years ago Roberson averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Lexy Kresl was the # 3 scorer at 12 points per game and led the team in assists. Lexy also led the team in three pointers.
Jen Reese averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds both 2nd on the team. A big loss.
Jasmine Sborov started every game and averaged 6 points.
The loss of 3 starters plus a presumed 4th if healthy is huge.
Additions:
Monica Burich is a 6-2 Frosh Forward who averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds last season for her HS. Burich was ranked # 117 in HS.
Makenzie Ellis is a 6-2 Frosh Forward who averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds as a HS Jr but missed last season with a knee injury. Ellis was born in San Mateo.
Ariana Freeman is 5-9 Soph transfer from Louisville, who will redshirt this season. Freeman scored 18 points per game her last two years in HS and saw minimal play at Louisville. She was ranked # 15 in the US as a HS Soph.
Kennedy Leonard is a 5-8 Frosh Guard, ranked 42th in the US last year in HS.
Alexis Robinson is a 5-10 Frosh Guard who averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists last season in HS. Robinson was ranked # 91 in the US.
The Schedule:
The Buffs play at Kentucky and play Missouri at home. In a tournament at home they could play Florida. The other games are more mid majors. Colorado plays the LA schools at home and the Arizona schools in Arizona
The Team:
Zoe Correal is a 6-4 Soph Post who played 9 minutes a game averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds. She will get a lot more action this season.
Jamee Swan is a 6-2 Sr Post who will start and my guess with Correal. Swan averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds and led the team in both those categories. Swan was Honorable Mention All Pac 12 last season.
Haley Smith is a 6-1 Jr Wing who started every game last season averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Lauren Huggins is a 6-2 Jr Wing who played every game averaging 19 minutes and 5 points per game. Huggins had 43 threes, 2nd on the team and shot 38 % from three.
Becca Thomas is a 5-5 Soph Point Guard who played in every game averaging 3 points.
Zoe Beard-Falls is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 3.5 points and 3 rebounds last season.
Alina Hartmann is a 6-0 Soph Wing who averaged 2.5 points last season. Hartmann is from Germany
Bri Watts is a 6-2 Jr Post who didn’t play much last season and sat out her Frosh year.
With only three players returning with much playing time in their careers look for the four frosh to contribute early and often.
Predictions:
It will be hard to duplicate last year’s Pac 12 record. I see Colorado as a last four team in the league. But if the Frosh and young players develop, the team will improve and with Swan the only Sr the outlook is better.
2016 Recruiting:
Bria Rice a 5-8 Guard from Washington, not top 100
Anika Jank a 6-3 Post from Minnesota also not top 100.
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