Pac 12 Preview: Oregon State
Last Season: 26-8, 14-4. The Beavers beat Tennessee and Baylor on their way to the Elite 8 before losing to Louisville.
The Coaches:
Scott Rueck is in his 9th year and has been an outstanding coach, turning the then lowly Beavers into a Final 4 team.
James Chatterton is in his 5th year.
Katie Baker is in her 3nd year, and she works with the post players. Baker is a 2013 Graduate of the University of Montanan.
Brian Holsinger is in his 3nd season after 8 seasons at Washington State. Brian coaches guards.
Losses:
Marie Gulich, a great player who averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 65%.
Taylor Kalmer transferred to San Diego State after averaged 6 points.
Additions:
Andrea Aquino, 6-8 Post from SoCal by way of SoCal and Paraguay ranked # 33
Patricia Morris, 6-5 Post from SoCal ranked # 147.
Jasmine Simmons, 5-9 Guard from Australia, ranked as the # 4 International recruit.
Destiny Slocum is a 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard from Idaho who played as a Frosh at Maryland and sat out this past season after
transferring to Oregon State. Slocum was a McD All American in HS and continued that by being the Big Ten Frosh of the year this past season
The Schedule:
Cal Poly, St Mary's and Duke at home, Texas A&M in Hawaii. Plus a tournament in Vancouver.
The Beavers play Stanford and Cal only on the road and play Colorado and Utah only at home. .
The Team:
Mikayla Pivec is a 5-10 Jr Guard who averaged 11 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds per game.
Katie McWilliams is a 6-2 Sr Guard who averaged 8 points last season Katie made 53 threes at 41%.
Kat Tudor is a 6-0 Jr Guard and might the best three point shooter in the Pac 12. Tudor averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds making 89 threes at 41%
Destiny Slocum is a 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard from Idaho who will start right away at the Point. Two years ago at Maryland Destiny averaged 11 points and 6 assists as their starting Point Guard.
Aleah Goodman is a 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 6 points and made 49 threes at 46%.
Tara Corosdale is a 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds
Joanna Grymek is a 6-8 Sr Center from Poland. Last season she averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds in 9 minutes.
Madison Washington is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds
Janessa Thropay is a 6-2 Jr Forward who saw little action.
Predictions:
Excellent Guards and Wings and adding Slocum at the Point is huge. How far they go will depend on their three very, very tall post players
2019 Recruiting:
Taylor Jones a 6-3 Post from Texas ranked # 15.
October 22, 2018
October 15, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: CAL
Utah Sophomore Maurane Corbin, expected to be the team's starting center, recently suffered a torn ACL and is out for the 2018-19
Pac 12 Preview: Cal
Last Season: 21-11 overall and 11-7 in conference play.
The Coaches:
Lindsay Gottlieb is in her 8th 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 12th season at Cal and is now the Associate Head Coach.
Kai Felton is back for her 8th year at Cal. Kai has been an Assistant at Oregon, 2 years, and at USC, 5 years.
Wendale Farrow is in his 3nd season.
Losses:
Mikayla Cowling graduated after averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds.
Penina Davidson also graduated. She averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds.
Additions:
Mackenzie Forbes is a 6-0 Wing from Folsom ranked # 22. Her Dad played for the Globetrotters. Her brother will be a Freshman basketball player at Harvard.
Recee Caldwell is a Grad transfer from Texas Tech and originally at UCLA. Last season Caldwell averaged 11 points and 6 assists in 13 games, a season shortened by injury. Two years ago Caldwell averaged 14 points including a game against Texas A&M where she scored 38.
Both Forbes and Caldwell were McD All Americans.
The Schedule:
Houston and UConn at home, Penn State and BYU at their places and a Tournament in San Diego. Cal plays the Oregon Schools only at home and Utah and Colorado only on the road.
The Team:
Kristine Anigwe is a 6-4 Sr Center. Last season she averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds. Anigwe was ranked as high as 13 out of HS and was a McD All American.
Asha Thomas is a 5-4 Sr Guard. Thomas averaged 13 points and also led the team with 62 threes at 35%.
Alaysia Styles is a 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds.
Mi’Cole Clayton is a 5-9 Redshirt Soph Guard who averaged 6 points per game as a frosh and was injuried and out for the year after just one game last season.
CJ West is a 6-4 Jr Post who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Jaeyln Brown is a 6-1 Jr Wing, who averaged 6 points and 2 rebounds.
Kianna Smith is a 6-0 Soph Guard who averaged 9 points and 5 assists. She was a McD All American, ranked # 17. Her Dad coaches at Cal State Fullerton where her brother plays.
Sara Anastasieska is a 5-10 Redshirt Jr Guard from Australia. Sara played in just 10 games.
MaAne Mosley is a 5-11 Sr Wing who played 6 minutes per game.
Chen Yue is a 6-7 Sr Center from China who played just 40 minutes this past season.
Predictions:
Six strong Guards and Wings but only three at the 4/5. Cal will ride as far as Anigwe can take them.
2019 Recruiting:
Lauren Fields a 5-9 Guard from Oklahoma ranked # 116 (PN) and
Caylin Crocker a 5-8 Guard from SoCal ranked # 66
Pac 12 Preview: Cal
Last Season: 21-11 overall and 11-7 in conference play.
The Coaches:
Lindsay Gottlieb is in her 8th 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 12th season at Cal and is now the Associate Head Coach.
Kai Felton is back for her 8th year at Cal. Kai has been an Assistant at Oregon, 2 years, and at USC, 5 years.
Wendale Farrow is in his 3nd season.
Losses:
Mikayla Cowling graduated after averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds.
Penina Davidson also graduated. She averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds.
Additions:
Mackenzie Forbes is a 6-0 Wing from Folsom ranked # 22. Her Dad played for the Globetrotters. Her brother will be a Freshman basketball player at Harvard.
Recee Caldwell is a Grad transfer from Texas Tech and originally at UCLA. Last season Caldwell averaged 11 points and 6 assists in 13 games, a season shortened by injury. Two years ago Caldwell averaged 14 points including a game against Texas A&M where she scored 38.
Both Forbes and Caldwell were McD All Americans.
The Schedule:
Houston and UConn at home, Penn State and BYU at their places and a Tournament in San Diego. Cal plays the Oregon Schools only at home and Utah and Colorado only on the road.
The Team:
Kristine Anigwe is a 6-4 Sr Center. Last season she averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds. Anigwe was ranked as high as 13 out of HS and was a McD All American.
Asha Thomas is a 5-4 Sr Guard. Thomas averaged 13 points and also led the team with 62 threes at 35%.
Alaysia Styles is a 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds.
Mi’Cole Clayton is a 5-9 Redshirt Soph Guard who averaged 6 points per game as a frosh and was injuried and out for the year after just one game last season.
CJ West is a 6-4 Jr Post who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Jaeyln Brown is a 6-1 Jr Wing, who averaged 6 points and 2 rebounds.
Kianna Smith is a 6-0 Soph Guard who averaged 9 points and 5 assists. She was a McD All American, ranked # 17. Her Dad coaches at Cal State Fullerton where her brother plays.
Sara Anastasieska is a 5-10 Redshirt Jr Guard from Australia. Sara played in just 10 games.
MaAne Mosley is a 5-11 Sr Wing who played 6 minutes per game.
Chen Yue is a 6-7 Sr Center from China who played just 40 minutes this past season.
Predictions:
Six strong Guards and Wings but only three at the 4/5. Cal will ride as far as Anigwe can take them.
2019 Recruiting:
Lauren Fields a 5-9 Guard from Oklahoma ranked # 116 (PN) and
Caylin Crocker a 5-8 Guard from SoCal ranked # 66
October 9, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: UCLA
Pac 12 Preview: UCLA
Last Season: UCLA was 27-8 last season and 14-4 in conference play. The Bruins won their first three NCAA games before losing in the Elite 8 to Mississippi State.
The Coaches: Cori Close is in her 8th season as the Head Coach. Close is averaging 21 wins per year. She went to HS in the San Jose area.
Shannon Perry is in her 8th year and she coached at Duke for 5 seasons.
Tony Newnan like the others is in his 8th season.
Tasha Brown is in her first season at UCLA. Brown coached at Rice last season and the previous five seasons at Cincinnati.
Losses:
Jenny Huth was an assistant through the entire Close era and is now the Head Coach at Northern Colorado.
Jordin Canada is an all time great at UCLA this past season averaging 17 points and 17 assists. Canada made 51 threes at 38%.
Monique Billings also had a fantastic career and last season averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Kelli Hayes started most games averaging 6 points.
Ashley Hearn didn’t play last season and is not on the current roster.
UCLA lost half their points per game.
Additions:
Lindsey Corsaro is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Wing ranked # 15 out of HS. Lindsey originally committed to Kentucky, then de committed when players transferred from Kentucky. Corsaro didn’t play this past season with injuries and played just 4 games two seasons ago before redshirting.
Kayla Owens is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Guard, ranked # 45. Owens is from Texas.
Ahlana Smith is a 5-9 Guard from North Carolina ranked # 34.
Shayley Harris is a 6-6 Post from NorCal ranked just outside the top 100.
Kiara Jefferson is a 5-9 Guard from NorCal ranked # 65.
Natalie Chou is a JR who will redshirt this season after transferring from Baylor. Chou is a 6-1 Guard. At Baylor she averaged 7 points while starting the first 21 games before an injury. Chou was the 8th ranked recruit in her class.
The Schedule:
The Bruins play Georgia and Oklahoma State at home, and in a tournament Kentucky and North Carolina.
UCLA plays the Washington schools only at home and the Arizona schools only on the road.
The Team:
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 5th year Sr Forward who 6 points and 5 rebounds last season
Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Sr Wing. Last season Burke averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds. Burke was ranked as high as # 16 out of HS.
Chantel Horvat is a 6-1 Soph Guard from Australia. Chantel was ranked # 15 in the class. Her father was a famous Australian soccer player. She averaged 4 points last season.
Michaela Onyenwere is a 5-11 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds. She is from Colorado ranked # 10. Her father ran in the Olympics for Nigeria. Michela could also run track if desired with excellent marks for the 100, 11.99 and 200, 24.55.
Japreece Dean is a 5-6 Sr Guard who averaged 8 points and made 46 threes at 35%.
Lauren Miller is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points. She was ranked # 16. Although ranked about 70 on other services.
Ally Rosenblum is a 6-4 Jr Post who averaged one point and one rebound. She was ranked # 47 out of HS. Ally is from the great Mater Dei program in Southern California
Chrissy Baird is a 6-1 Sr Guard.
Predictions:
The losses of Canada and Billings are huge. Both went on to play in the WNBA. The Bruins need to be injury free and their role players from last season to step into starting roles to challenge the top three.
2019 Recruiting:
Charisma Osborne, 5-10 Guard from SoCal ranked # 10
Jaden Owens, 5-9 Guard ranked # 23.
Camryn Brown, 5-10 Guard ranked # 90.
Brynn Masikewich, 6-3 Forward from Canada
Last Season: UCLA was 27-8 last season and 14-4 in conference play. The Bruins won their first three NCAA games before losing in the Elite 8 to Mississippi State.
The Coaches: Cori Close is in her 8th season as the Head Coach. Close is averaging 21 wins per year. She went to HS in the San Jose area.
Shannon Perry is in her 8th year and she coached at Duke for 5 seasons.
Tony Newnan like the others is in his 8th season.
Tasha Brown is in her first season at UCLA. Brown coached at Rice last season and the previous five seasons at Cincinnati.
Losses:
Jenny Huth was an assistant through the entire Close era and is now the Head Coach at Northern Colorado.
Jordin Canada is an all time great at UCLA this past season averaging 17 points and 17 assists. Canada made 51 threes at 38%.
Monique Billings also had a fantastic career and last season averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Kelli Hayes started most games averaging 6 points.
Ashley Hearn didn’t play last season and is not on the current roster.
UCLA lost half their points per game.
Additions:
Lindsey Corsaro is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Wing ranked # 15 out of HS. Lindsey originally committed to Kentucky, then de committed when players transferred from Kentucky. Corsaro didn’t play this past season with injuries and played just 4 games two seasons ago before redshirting.
Kayla Owens is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Guard, ranked # 45. Owens is from Texas.
Ahlana Smith is a 5-9 Guard from North Carolina ranked # 34.
Shayley Harris is a 6-6 Post from NorCal ranked just outside the top 100.
Kiara Jefferson is a 5-9 Guard from NorCal ranked # 65.
Natalie Chou is a JR who will redshirt this season after transferring from Baylor. Chou is a 6-1 Guard. At Baylor she averaged 7 points while starting the first 21 games before an injury. Chou was the 8th ranked recruit in her class.
The Schedule:
The Bruins play Georgia and Oklahoma State at home, and in a tournament Kentucky and North Carolina.
UCLA plays the Washington schools only at home and the Arizona schools only on the road.
The Team:
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 5th year Sr Forward who 6 points and 5 rebounds last season
Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Sr Wing. Last season Burke averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds. Burke was ranked as high as # 16 out of HS.
Chantel Horvat is a 6-1 Soph Guard from Australia. Chantel was ranked # 15 in the class. Her father was a famous Australian soccer player. She averaged 4 points last season.
Michaela Onyenwere is a 5-11 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds. She is from Colorado ranked # 10. Her father ran in the Olympics for Nigeria. Michela could also run track if desired with excellent marks for the 100, 11.99 and 200, 24.55.
Japreece Dean is a 5-6 Sr Guard who averaged 8 points and made 46 threes at 35%.
Lauren Miller is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points. She was ranked # 16. Although ranked about 70 on other services.
Ally Rosenblum is a 6-4 Jr Post who averaged one point and one rebound. She was ranked # 47 out of HS. Ally is from the great Mater Dei program in Southern California
Chrissy Baird is a 6-1 Sr Guard.
Predictions:
The losses of Canada and Billings are huge. Both went on to play in the WNBA. The Bruins need to be injury free and their role players from last season to step into starting roles to challenge the top three.
2019 Recruiting:
Charisma Osborne, 5-10 Guard from SoCal ranked # 10
Jaden Owens, 5-9 Guard ranked # 23.
Camryn Brown, 5-10 Guard ranked # 90.
Brynn Masikewich, 6-3 Forward from Canada
October 4, 2018
Pac 12 Oreview: Colorado
PAC 12 Preview: Colorado
Last Season: Colorado went 15-16 overall, and 5-13 in the conference.
The Coaches: Head Coach JR Payne will be in her 3nd year at Colorado after two seasons at Santa Clara. Two years Payne led Santa Clara to its first winning season in 8 seasons and finished 23-9. JR, no periods, and real name Ali-Marie, is a graduate of St Mary’s where she played for now Oregon coach Kelly Graves. Her first coaching job was at age 23 for Graves when he started at Gonzaga.
Shandrika Lee is in her 3nd season as an assistant at Colorado after coaching for Payne at Santa Clara. Lee is a graduate of Pepperdine and has coached at Oregon.
Toriano Towns is also in his 3nd and also coached with Payne at Santa Clara. Towns coached at Gonzaga with Payne and later at Arizona where he was the Post coach for the great, late Polk.
Alex Earl is in her 3nd year on the staff. Alex was an assistant with Payne three seasons ago at Santa Clara and played for years at ASU graduating in 2013. Alex was a HS teammate of JJ Hones on a team where all five starters player Division 1 basketball.
Losses:
Janea Bunn is not on the roster, she had another year. Last season she averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Becca Thomas graduated after scoring 5 points per game.
Zoe Correal graduated after she scored 6 points and had 4 rebounds per game.
Sara Castro played little and went back to Spain.
Jamie Curtis played little and is no longer on the team.
Additions:
Cameron Swartz is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from Georgia. Cameron was honored in 4 different sports and scored over 2,000 points in HS. She was ranked # 53.
Sirena Tuitele is 6-1 Frosh Froward from Chico, CA. She was ranked # 98. I saw her play this past season when she outplayed a top 30 recruit.
Kai Volcy is a 6-4 Frosh post from New Jersey. Kai was a 5th year grad of the Hun school averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds. Her father played basketball at Seton Hall and her grandfather played with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Emma Clarke is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Australia. Clarke has stood out on their youth 16 and 17 teams, scoring 42 in one game for them.
Lesila Finau is 5-10 Frosh Guard from the Bay Area. Finau averaged 21 points for her very good HS team and had an offer from Washington.
The Schedule:
It’s highlighted by games against Miami of Florida, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and North Carolina. They play the Oregon schools on the road and Stanford and Cal at home.
The Team:
Kennedy Leonard is a 5-8 Sr Guard who averaged 15 points and over 6 assists per game last season.
Alexis Robinson is a 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 12 points per game, and made 55 threes at 32%.
Annika Jank is a 6-3 Soph Post who averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Mya Hollingshed is a 6-4 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Mya made 35 threes at 43%.
Quinessa Caylao-Do is a 5-8 Jr Guard who averaged 6 points.
Mathilde Diop is a 6-2 Jr Forward who is from France. Last season she averaged just 9 minutes per game.
Aubrey Knight is a 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 4 points in 17 minutes.
Peyton Carter is a 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 3 points in 8 minutes.
Predictions:
Robinson, Leonard and Jank are good to very good Pac 12 players. Clarke could shine as she did on their foreign tour this summer. Hard to get into the top 6 but Colorado looks to be improved.
2019 Recruiting:
Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-8 Point Guard All State Alabama
Maura Singer 6-4 Post from CO, ranked # 123
Last Season: Colorado went 15-16 overall, and 5-13 in the conference.
The Coaches: Head Coach JR Payne will be in her 3nd year at Colorado after two seasons at Santa Clara. Two years Payne led Santa Clara to its first winning season in 8 seasons and finished 23-9. JR, no periods, and real name Ali-Marie, is a graduate of St Mary’s where she played for now Oregon coach Kelly Graves. Her first coaching job was at age 23 for Graves when he started at Gonzaga.
Shandrika Lee is in her 3nd season as an assistant at Colorado after coaching for Payne at Santa Clara. Lee is a graduate of Pepperdine and has coached at Oregon.
Toriano Towns is also in his 3nd and also coached with Payne at Santa Clara. Towns coached at Gonzaga with Payne and later at Arizona where he was the Post coach for the great, late Polk.
Alex Earl is in her 3nd year on the staff. Alex was an assistant with Payne three seasons ago at Santa Clara and played for years at ASU graduating in 2013. Alex was a HS teammate of JJ Hones on a team where all five starters player Division 1 basketball.
Losses:
Janea Bunn is not on the roster, she had another year. Last season she averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Becca Thomas graduated after scoring 5 points per game.
Zoe Correal graduated after she scored 6 points and had 4 rebounds per game.
Sara Castro played little and went back to Spain.
Jamie Curtis played little and is no longer on the team.
Additions:
Cameron Swartz is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from Georgia. Cameron was honored in 4 different sports and scored over 2,000 points in HS. She was ranked # 53.
Sirena Tuitele is 6-1 Frosh Froward from Chico, CA. She was ranked # 98. I saw her play this past season when she outplayed a top 30 recruit.
Kai Volcy is a 6-4 Frosh post from New Jersey. Kai was a 5th year grad of the Hun school averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds. Her father played basketball at Seton Hall and her grandfather played with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Emma Clarke is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Australia. Clarke has stood out on their youth 16 and 17 teams, scoring 42 in one game for them.
Lesila Finau is 5-10 Frosh Guard from the Bay Area. Finau averaged 21 points for her very good HS team and had an offer from Washington.
The Schedule:
It’s highlighted by games against Miami of Florida, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and North Carolina. They play the Oregon schools on the road and Stanford and Cal at home.
The Team:
Kennedy Leonard is a 5-8 Sr Guard who averaged 15 points and over 6 assists per game last season.
Alexis Robinson is a 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 12 points per game, and made 55 threes at 32%.
Annika Jank is a 6-3 Soph Post who averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Mya Hollingshed is a 6-4 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Mya made 35 threes at 43%.
Quinessa Caylao-Do is a 5-8 Jr Guard who averaged 6 points.
Mathilde Diop is a 6-2 Jr Forward who is from France. Last season she averaged just 9 minutes per game.
Aubrey Knight is a 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 4 points in 17 minutes.
Peyton Carter is a 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 3 points in 8 minutes.
Predictions:
Robinson, Leonard and Jank are good to very good Pac 12 players. Clarke could shine as she did on their foreign tour this summer. Hard to get into the top 6 but Colorado looks to be improved.
2019 Recruiting:
Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-8 Point Guard All State Alabama
Maura Singer 6-4 Post from CO, ranked # 123
September 25, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Pac 12 Preview: Washington State
Last Year:
10-20 for the year and 3-14 in conference play. June and staff are relieved of duty and a new staff is hired.
Coaches:
Kamie Ethridge is the new Head Coach. Ethridge was the Head Coach at Northern Colorado the past 4 seasons averaging 21 wins and making the NCAAs this past season. She was an Assistant for 18 years at Kansas State. Kamie won a Gold Medal for USA Basketball at the 1988 Olympics then won an NCAA Championship as a Player at Texas.
Jackie Nared is a new assistant having been the Vidoe Director at Oregon for a year and before that 2 years as Director of Player Development at Washington. Jackie lead the league in scoring twice while at St Mary’s.
Laurie Koehn came from Northern Colorado after three years with Ethridge. She played professionally for 11 years.
Losses:
Seven losses all together. Louise Brown transferred to Tennessee after scoring 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Caila Hailey graduated after scoring 5 points per game.
Krystle McKenzie graduated after playing 8 minutes per game.
Kayla Washington transferred to UCSB. She averaged 5 points.
Cameron Fernadez graduated. She only played 9 games and averaged 5 points.
Nike McClure transferred to New Mexico after averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Pinelopi Pavlopoulou graduated after scored 6 per game.
Additions:
Celena Molina a 5-9 redshirt Frosh Guard from Hawaii whose sister is the starting Point Guard for the Cougars, and younger sister joins the team.
Cherilyn Molina is a 5-6 Frosh Guard and two time Hawaii Player of the Year.
Michaela Jones is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Nebraska.
Shir Levy is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from Isreal.
Ula Motuga is a 6-1 FroshForward from Australia.
None are ranked.
Schedule:
Utah State, St Mary’s, Boise State and Nebraska at home, Kansas at a tournament in Las Vegas. USC and UCLA are only on the road, with the Arizona schools only at home.
The Team:
Borislava Hristova is 6-0 Redshirt Jr Forward from Bulgaria, one of the 6 non Americans on the team. Borislava averaged 18 points and 4 rebounds. She started all but one game as a Frosh averaging 16 points per game, then missed most of her Soph year.
Alexys Swedlund is a 5-11 Sr Guard from North Dakota who averaged 10 points and made 50 threes at 36%.
Maria Kostourkova is a 6-4 Sr Center from Portugal who averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds.
Chanelle Molina is a 5-9 Jr Guard who averaged 8 points and 3 assists.
Joanna Muzet is a 6-0 Jr Wing from France who played just 9 minutes per game.
Jovana Subasic is a 6-4 Redshirt Soph Post from Serbia who Jovana has been From Serbia. Jovana just played 49 total minutes last season.
Predictions:
Hristova is an outstanding scorer and the older Molina is very good, but what else?
Recruiting 2019:
Grace Sarver, 5-8 Guard from Washington, # 108
Last Year:
10-20 for the year and 3-14 in conference play. June and staff are relieved of duty and a new staff is hired.
Coaches:
Kamie Ethridge is the new Head Coach. Ethridge was the Head Coach at Northern Colorado the past 4 seasons averaging 21 wins and making the NCAAs this past season. She was an Assistant for 18 years at Kansas State. Kamie won a Gold Medal for USA Basketball at the 1988 Olympics then won an NCAA Championship as a Player at Texas.
Jackie Nared is a new assistant having been the Vidoe Director at Oregon for a year and before that 2 years as Director of Player Development at Washington. Jackie lead the league in scoring twice while at St Mary’s.
Laurie Koehn came from Northern Colorado after three years with Ethridge. She played professionally for 11 years.
Losses:
Seven losses all together. Louise Brown transferred to Tennessee after scoring 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Caila Hailey graduated after scoring 5 points per game.
Krystle McKenzie graduated after playing 8 minutes per game.
Kayla Washington transferred to UCSB. She averaged 5 points.
Cameron Fernadez graduated. She only played 9 games and averaged 5 points.
Nike McClure transferred to New Mexico after averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Pinelopi Pavlopoulou graduated after scored 6 per game.
Additions:
Celena Molina a 5-9 redshirt Frosh Guard from Hawaii whose sister is the starting Point Guard for the Cougars, and younger sister joins the team.
Cherilyn Molina is a 5-6 Frosh Guard and two time Hawaii Player of the Year.
Michaela Jones is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Nebraska.
Shir Levy is a 5-11 Frosh Guard from Isreal.
Ula Motuga is a 6-1 FroshForward from Australia.
None are ranked.
Schedule:
Utah State, St Mary’s, Boise State and Nebraska at home, Kansas at a tournament in Las Vegas. USC and UCLA are only on the road, with the Arizona schools only at home.
The Team:
Borislava Hristova is 6-0 Redshirt Jr Forward from Bulgaria, one of the 6 non Americans on the team. Borislava averaged 18 points and 4 rebounds. She started all but one game as a Frosh averaging 16 points per game, then missed most of her Soph year.
Alexys Swedlund is a 5-11 Sr Guard from North Dakota who averaged 10 points and made 50 threes at 36%.
Maria Kostourkova is a 6-4 Sr Center from Portugal who averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds.
Chanelle Molina is a 5-9 Jr Guard who averaged 8 points and 3 assists.
Joanna Muzet is a 6-0 Jr Wing from France who played just 9 minutes per game.
Jovana Subasic is a 6-4 Redshirt Soph Post from Serbia who Jovana has been From Serbia. Jovana just played 49 total minutes last season.
Predictions:
Hristova is an outstanding scorer and the older Molina is very good, but what else?
Recruiting 2019:
Grace Sarver, 5-8 Guard from Washington, # 108
September 19, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: USC
Pac 12 Preview: Southern Cal
First an recruiting update. Arizona has landed 6-0 2019 Guard Tara Manumaleuga from Australia.
Now USC
Last Season: 20-11 overall and just 9-9 in Pac 12 play. Quite an improvement over the previous season in this staff’s first season.
The Coaches: Mark Trakh has returned to USC for his 2nd season after six seasons as the Head Coach at New Mexico State. Mark coach for 5 seasons at USC before New Mexico. New Mexico State lost just 2 league games in the past 3 seasons. Mark started as a Head Coach at Pepperdine in 1994.
Jason Glover is in his 2nd season as the Associate Head Coach. Glover joined Mark at New Mexico State two seasons after several years coaching in both the NBA and the WNBA.
Aarika Hughes returns for her 2nd season to USC where she played. Hughes coached for 5 years at New Mexico State. She was a HS teammate of JJ Hones and Colorado assistant Alex Earl.
Blanche Alverson is like the other assistants in their second year at USC after 2 seasons at New Mexico State.
Losses:
Kristen Simon is a major loss after averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Sadie Edwards like Simon graduated. Last season she averaged 13 points.
Jordan Adams I believe now has her Masters after 6 years at USC out two with major injuries. Adams averaged 5 points.
USC lost 52% of their points from last season.
Additions:
Shalexxus Aaron is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Guard from SoCal who played her first three years of HS in Washington. Aaron was ranked # 57. Her brother is on the USC Men’s Basketball team.
Mariya Moore is a transfer from Louisville. She is a 6-0 Wing and must sat out this past season. Her sister Minyon is a starter on this team. Mariya averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for Louisville last season and is their # 13 all time leading scorer. She is a huge addition.
Desiree Caldwell is a 5-8 Frosh Point Guard from Texas ranked # 14.
Cheyanne Wallace is a 6-0 Forward and a Grad transfer from Loyola Marymount. Last season Wallace averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Kayla Overbeck is a 6-1 Jr Froward originally from SoCal who transferred after 2 seasons at Vanderbilt. Kayla averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds last season. She was just declared eligible for this coming season. A huge break for the Trojans.
Jill Archer is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from SoCal, ranked # 54.
The Schedule:
Playing Texas A&M on the road there is maybe by far USC’s toughest game. Routine type schedule.
They play the Arizona schools only on the road and Washington schools only at home.
The Team:
Minyon Moore is a 5-8 Jr guard who has started at Point Guard the past two seasons. Minyon led the team in assists with 5.5 per game and scored 13 points per game.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Sr Guard who averaged 16 points per game. She also made 86 threes however at 32%.
Ja’Vavia Tapley is a 6-3 Jr Forward who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Asiah Jones is a 6-3 Redshirt Soph Forwards who averaged 2 points and 3 rebounds two years ago, sitting out this past season. .
Marquerite Effa is a 6-3 Sr Post who has played very little at USC.
Dani Milisic is a 6-4 Redshirt Jr Post from Australia. Last season she played just a total of 90 minutes.
Predictions:
Only two returnees who saw much action, however both Minyon Moore and Mazyck should be All League along with transfer Mariya Moore, Minyon’s sister. Aaron, Caldwell, Overbeck and Wallace will be in the top 7 with two starting. Not a deep team and five of the seven haven’t played for USC before, but the talent is there for a solid team.
2019 Recruiting Commits:
Madison Campbell is a 5-11 Guard from Central California ranked # 9
First an recruiting update. Arizona has landed 6-0 2019 Guard Tara Manumaleuga from Australia.
Now USC
Last Season: 20-11 overall and just 9-9 in Pac 12 play. Quite an improvement over the previous season in this staff’s first season.
The Coaches: Mark Trakh has returned to USC for his 2nd season after six seasons as the Head Coach at New Mexico State. Mark coach for 5 seasons at USC before New Mexico. New Mexico State lost just 2 league games in the past 3 seasons. Mark started as a Head Coach at Pepperdine in 1994.
Jason Glover is in his 2nd season as the Associate Head Coach. Glover joined Mark at New Mexico State two seasons after several years coaching in both the NBA and the WNBA.
Aarika Hughes returns for her 2nd season to USC where she played. Hughes coached for 5 years at New Mexico State. She was a HS teammate of JJ Hones and Colorado assistant Alex Earl.
Blanche Alverson is like the other assistants in their second year at USC after 2 seasons at New Mexico State.
Losses:
Kristen Simon is a major loss after averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Sadie Edwards like Simon graduated. Last season she averaged 13 points.
Jordan Adams I believe now has her Masters after 6 years at USC out two with major injuries. Adams averaged 5 points.
USC lost 52% of their points from last season.
Additions:
Shalexxus Aaron is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Guard from SoCal who played her first three years of HS in Washington. Aaron was ranked # 57. Her brother is on the USC Men’s Basketball team.
Mariya Moore is a transfer from Louisville. She is a 6-0 Wing and must sat out this past season. Her sister Minyon is a starter on this team. Mariya averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for Louisville last season and is their # 13 all time leading scorer. She is a huge addition.
Desiree Caldwell is a 5-8 Frosh Point Guard from Texas ranked # 14.
Cheyanne Wallace is a 6-0 Forward and a Grad transfer from Loyola Marymount. Last season Wallace averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Kayla Overbeck is a 6-1 Jr Froward originally from SoCal who transferred after 2 seasons at Vanderbilt. Kayla averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds last season. She was just declared eligible for this coming season. A huge break for the Trojans.
Jill Archer is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from SoCal, ranked # 54.
The Schedule:
Playing Texas A&M on the road there is maybe by far USC’s toughest game. Routine type schedule.
They play the Arizona schools only on the road and Washington schools only at home.
The Team:
Minyon Moore is a 5-8 Jr guard who has started at Point Guard the past two seasons. Minyon led the team in assists with 5.5 per game and scored 13 points per game.
Aliyah Mazyck is a 5-9 Sr Guard who averaged 16 points per game. She also made 86 threes however at 32%.
Ja’Vavia Tapley is a 6-3 Jr Forward who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Asiah Jones is a 6-3 Redshirt Soph Forwards who averaged 2 points and 3 rebounds two years ago, sitting out this past season. .
Marquerite Effa is a 6-3 Sr Post who has played very little at USC.
Dani Milisic is a 6-4 Redshirt Jr Post from Australia. Last season she played just a total of 90 minutes.
Predictions:
Only two returnees who saw much action, however both Minyon Moore and Mazyck should be All League along with transfer Mariya Moore, Minyon’s sister. Aaron, Caldwell, Overbeck and Wallace will be in the top 7 with two starting. Not a deep team and five of the seven haven’t played for USC before, but the talent is there for a solid team.
2019 Recruiting Commits:
Madison Campbell is a 5-11 Guard from Central California ranked # 9
September 11, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Pac 12 Preview: Washington
Last Year: 7-23 overall and 1-17 in league play. The Huskies lost so many top players from their great 2017 and 2018 teams.
Coaches:
Jody Wynn is now in her 2nd year Head Coach after moving from Long Beach State where she was Head Coach for 8 seasons and last year took Long Beach State to their first NCAA tournament in 25 years. Jody was a starting Guard at USC and also for 5 years an assistant at USC.
Derek Wynn is the Associate Head Coach, and her husband. Like Jody he was at Long Beach State and USC.
Michelle Augustavo is in her 2nd year having returned to Washington where she was a player for two years transferring from San Diego where she set the single game scoring record of 42. Michelle coached with the Wynn’s this past season and before that 4 years at UC Irvine.
Paul Reed completed the move of the Long Beach State staff to Washington. He coached for three years at Long Beach State. Paul was a Small College All American Defensive back.
Losses:
Kierra Collier averaged 7 points but has transferred to Drake.
Mackenzie Wieburg graduated after scoring 3 points per game.
Additions:
Gigi Garcia is a 6-2 Forward ranked # 89 out of HS. Gigi has missed the past two seasons with injuries so is a redshirt Soph.
Montana Hagstrom is a 5-7 Guard and a redshirt Soph who transferred from a JC last year then sat out the season with an injury. She averaged 12 points at the JC as a Frosh.
Haley Van Dyke is a 6-1 Frosh Forward ranked # 82. Haley had an outstanding HS career in the Bay Area averaging 30 points and 17 rebounds as a Sr and 20 points for her 4 year HS career.
Tyiona Watkins is a 6-0 Frosh Guard from SoCal ranked # 125. Watkins averaged 17 points as a HS Sr. Grandmother was an outstanding Track athlete.
Darcy Rees is a 6-4 Frosh Post from Australia. She has played and started for their youth National teams the past 4 years.
Schedule: Washington plays Mississippi State and Ohio State and in two tournaments with yet to be announced teams. Washington plays at USC and UCLA only and only at home to Arizona and ASU.
The Team:
Natalie Romeo is a 5-7 Sr Guard who transferred from Nebraska then had to sit out this past season for medical reasons. She averaged 9 points making 94 threes at 39% in her first season with the Huskies now two years ago.
Mai-Loni Henson is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points and 4 rebound Henson was ranked # 69 in HS.
Amber Melgoza is a 5-10 Jr Shooting Guard who averaged 19 points and 4 rebounds in a huge breakout season . Amber was second in the league in scoring and first in conference only games.
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Redshirt Jr Post who averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds two seasons ago and sat out last season with a major injury.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 Grad student Forward who averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Jenna Moser a 5-6 Grad Student Guard who averaged 9 points last season making 54 threes at 39%. Jenna is an all time favorite. She played just 31 minutes total in her first three years then had a great season last year. Congrats to her.
Khayla Rooks is a 6-1 Forward from SoCal. Rooks brother plays at Cal and Dad was a longtime NBA player and a standout at Arizona. Last season Rooks averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds.
Alexis Griggsby is a 5-9 Soph Guard from SoCal who averaged 5 points last season.
Missy Peterson is a 5-11 Soph Guard from Washington. Last season Missy averaged 3 points but in 18 games and averaging 16 minutes she made 51% from three.
Predictions:
Washington has to improve over one win in league play but they will have to depend on Romeo’s health and the frosh and injured Bigs really stepping up.
2019 Recruiting:
No Commits yet.
Last Year: 7-23 overall and 1-17 in league play. The Huskies lost so many top players from their great 2017 and 2018 teams.
Coaches:
Jody Wynn is now in her 2nd year Head Coach after moving from Long Beach State where she was Head Coach for 8 seasons and last year took Long Beach State to their first NCAA tournament in 25 years. Jody was a starting Guard at USC and also for 5 years an assistant at USC.
Derek Wynn is the Associate Head Coach, and her husband. Like Jody he was at Long Beach State and USC.
Michelle Augustavo is in her 2nd year having returned to Washington where she was a player for two years transferring from San Diego where she set the single game scoring record of 42. Michelle coached with the Wynn’s this past season and before that 4 years at UC Irvine.
Paul Reed completed the move of the Long Beach State staff to Washington. He coached for three years at Long Beach State. Paul was a Small College All American Defensive back.
Losses:
Kierra Collier averaged 7 points but has transferred to Drake.
Mackenzie Wieburg graduated after scoring 3 points per game.
Additions:
Gigi Garcia is a 6-2 Forward ranked # 89 out of HS. Gigi has missed the past two seasons with injuries so is a redshirt Soph.
Montana Hagstrom is a 5-7 Guard and a redshirt Soph who transferred from a JC last year then sat out the season with an injury. She averaged 12 points at the JC as a Frosh.
Haley Van Dyke is a 6-1 Frosh Forward ranked # 82. Haley had an outstanding HS career in the Bay Area averaging 30 points and 17 rebounds as a Sr and 20 points for her 4 year HS career.
Tyiona Watkins is a 6-0 Frosh Guard from SoCal ranked # 125. Watkins averaged 17 points as a HS Sr. Grandmother was an outstanding Track athlete.
Darcy Rees is a 6-4 Frosh Post from Australia. She has played and started for their youth National teams the past 4 years.
Schedule: Washington plays Mississippi State and Ohio State and in two tournaments with yet to be announced teams. Washington plays at USC and UCLA only and only at home to Arizona and ASU.
The Team:
Natalie Romeo is a 5-7 Sr Guard who transferred from Nebraska then had to sit out this past season for medical reasons. She averaged 9 points making 94 threes at 39% in her first season with the Huskies now two years ago.
Mai-Loni Henson is a 6-1 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points and 4 rebound Henson was ranked # 69 in HS.
Amber Melgoza is a 5-10 Jr Shooting Guard who averaged 19 points and 4 rebounds in a huge breakout season . Amber was second in the league in scoring and first in conference only games.
Deja Strother is a 6-5 Redshirt Jr Post who averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds two seasons ago and sat out last season with a major injury.
Hannah Johnson is a 6-1 Grad student Forward who averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Jenna Moser a 5-6 Grad Student Guard who averaged 9 points last season making 54 threes at 39%. Jenna is an all time favorite. She played just 31 minutes total in her first three years then had a great season last year. Congrats to her.
Khayla Rooks is a 6-1 Forward from SoCal. Rooks brother plays at Cal and Dad was a longtime NBA player and a standout at Arizona. Last season Rooks averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds.
Alexis Griggsby is a 5-9 Soph Guard from SoCal who averaged 5 points last season.
Missy Peterson is a 5-11 Soph Guard from Washington. Last season Missy averaged 3 points but in 18 games and averaging 16 minutes she made 51% from three.
Predictions:
Washington has to improve over one win in league play but they will have to depend on Romeo’s health and the frosh and injured Bigs really stepping up.
2019 Recruiting:
No Commits yet.
September 5, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: Utah
Pac 12 Preview: UTAH
Last Season:
18-14 overall and 8-10 in Pac 12 play finishing with a three game improvement over the previous season in conference play.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is in her 4th year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP. Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years. Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons. Utah improved quite a bit last season.
Gavin Peterson is in his 4th 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 4th year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Joanna Reitz is in her 2nd season as a coach at Utah. Reitz has coached for 7 years mostly D2.
Losses:
Emily Potter graduated after averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Tanaeya Boclair graduated after averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Tori Williams averaged 9 points and hit 64 threes at 34% as a Frosh but transferred to Colorado State.
Megan Jacobs also transferred to Colorado State. She averaged 4 points.
Actually there are three others who were on last year’s roster but didn’t play and are gone.
Additions:
Jordan Cruz is a 5-11 Redshirt Frosh Guard from Sacramento who had to sit out last season with injuries. She made 13 threes in one of her HS games and averaged 20 points as a Sr. Jordan was ranked # 111.
Dru Gylten is a 5-11 Redshirt Frosh Guard from South Dakota who sat out last season. Dru led her team to 4 straight State Championships and was All State her last 2 seasons.
Niyah Becker is a 6-2 Frosh Wing from Canada. She has played on Canadian Youth National teams. She is ranked # 10 International Recruit.
Lola Pendande is a 6-3 Frosh Post from Spain. Lola played at an LA HS school last season averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds. Ranked as the # 16 International recruit.
Andrea Torres is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from Canada. Torres has played on Canada’s youth national teams.
Sarah Porter is a 5-10 Grad student Guard who graduated from UCSB. Last season she 9 points a game and the year before 10 points per game.
Dre’Una Edwards is a 6-2 Frosh Wing from Las Vegas. Ranked # 56.
Julie Brosseau is a 5-9 Jr Guard who will sit out this season after transferring from Maine. Julie averaged 11 points last season with 7 threes and 29 points vs Ohio State. She is Canadian.
Ola Makurat is a 6-3 Jr Forward who transferred from Liberty and will sit out this season. At Liberty last season she averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Seven new players, plus two will sit out.
The Schedule:
They play Alabama and BYU at home and Florida on the road. The Utes play Stanford and Cal once each at home and they also play the Oregon schools once each, however on the road.
The Team:
There are only five returning players.
Megan Huff is a 6-3 5th year Sr Forward who transferred from Hawaii two years ago. In her first year at Utah she averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds, leading the team in both.
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Sr Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 5 points and 5 assists
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 5th year Sr Guard. Provo transferred from Clemson two years ago and is playing on the Canadian National Team. In her first year at Utah she averaged 12 points and made 44 threes at 40%.
Kiana Moore is a 5-7 Jr Guard from Vacaville who averaged 7 minutes per game.
Maurane Corbin is a 6-5 Soph Post from Quebec, who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 9 minutes.
Predictions:
The Utes return only three players who played much and two solid transfers in have to sit out. It will be all up to the foreign players who are now at Utah and some good HS recruits who will be frosh. Hard to see much above 10th place for this year but like Arizona the future looks bright.
2019 Recruiting:
Kemery Martin, 5-11 Guard from Utah ranked # 33.
Brynna Maxwell 6-0 Guard from Washington ranked # 79
Last Season:
18-14 overall and 8-10 in Pac 12 play finishing with a three game improvement over the previous season in conference play.
The Coaches:
Lynne Roberts is in her 4th year after moving from the University of Pacific, UOP. Roberts was Head Coach at UOP for 9 seasons, being named Conference Coach of the Year twice in the last three years. Before UOP Roberts was Head Coach at Chico State for 4 seasons. Utah improved quite a bit last season.
Gavin Peterson is in his 4th 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 4th year after a season at TCU and 2 seasons at Fresno State. She played at Utah State.
Joanna Reitz is in her 2nd season as a coach at Utah. Reitz has coached for 7 years mostly D2.
Losses:
Emily Potter graduated after averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Tanaeya Boclair graduated after averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Tori Williams averaged 9 points and hit 64 threes at 34% as a Frosh but transferred to Colorado State.
Megan Jacobs also transferred to Colorado State. She averaged 4 points.
Actually there are three others who were on last year’s roster but didn’t play and are gone.
Additions:
Jordan Cruz is a 5-11 Redshirt Frosh Guard from Sacramento who had to sit out last season with injuries. She made 13 threes in one of her HS games and averaged 20 points as a Sr. Jordan was ranked # 111.
Dru Gylten is a 5-11 Redshirt Frosh Guard from South Dakota who sat out last season. Dru led her team to 4 straight State Championships and was All State her last 2 seasons.
Niyah Becker is a 6-2 Frosh Wing from Canada. She has played on Canadian Youth National teams. She is ranked # 10 International Recruit.
Lola Pendande is a 6-3 Frosh Post from Spain. Lola played at an LA HS school last season averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds. Ranked as the # 16 International recruit.
Andrea Torres is a 6-2 Frosh Forward from Canada. Torres has played on Canada’s youth national teams.
Sarah Porter is a 5-10 Grad student Guard who graduated from UCSB. Last season she 9 points a game and the year before 10 points per game.
Dre’Una Edwards is a 6-2 Frosh Wing from Las Vegas. Ranked # 56.
Julie Brosseau is a 5-9 Jr Guard who will sit out this season after transferring from Maine. Julie averaged 11 points last season with 7 threes and 29 points vs Ohio State. She is Canadian.
Ola Makurat is a 6-3 Jr Forward who transferred from Liberty and will sit out this season. At Liberty last season she averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Seven new players, plus two will sit out.
The Schedule:
They play Alabama and BYU at home and Florida on the road. The Utes play Stanford and Cal once each at home and they also play the Oregon schools once each, however on the road.
The Team:
There are only five returning players.
Megan Huff is a 6-3 5th year Sr Forward who transferred from Hawaii two years ago. In her first year at Utah she averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds, leading the team in both.
Erika Bean is a 5-8 Sr Guard. Bean is from the Sacramento area and averaged 5 points and 5 assists
Daneesha Provo is a 6-0 5th year Sr Guard. Provo transferred from Clemson two years ago and is playing on the Canadian National Team. In her first year at Utah she averaged 12 points and made 44 threes at 40%.
Kiana Moore is a 5-7 Jr Guard from Vacaville who averaged 7 minutes per game.
Maurane Corbin is a 6-5 Soph Post from Quebec, who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 9 minutes.
Predictions:
The Utes return only three players who played much and two solid transfers in have to sit out. It will be all up to the foreign players who are now at Utah and some good HS recruits who will be frosh. Hard to see much above 10th place for this year but like Arizona the future looks bright.
2019 Recruiting:
Kemery Martin, 5-11 Guard from Utah ranked # 33.
Brynna Maxwell 6-0 Guard from Washington ranked # 79
August 29, 2018
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona
Pac 12 Preview: Arizona
Last Season: Arizona was 6-24 overall and 2-16 in Pac 12 play, under Head Coach Adia Barnes.
The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is in her 3nd year the Head Coach. Barnes had been at Washington as an assistant the past four years as the Huskies came from the 2nd division of the Pac 12 to the NCAA Final Four. Barnes played professionally for 12 years including for 4 WNBA Teams.
Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a 3rd year assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience and several years in the US.
Morgan Valley is in her 3nd year after coming from the U of Washington. Morgan played at UConn and before Washington was an assistant at Virginia Tech.
April Phillips has joined the staff coming from LMU where she was Associate Head Coach. Of course Stanford fans will remember her playing vs Jeanette’s 4.4 vs Xavier.
Losses:
Starting with a huge loss incoming recruit Valeria Trucco, 6-4 Post from Italy # 3 European player, however a 5 star on another recruiting site. She signed a Pro Contract to play in Europe. A last minute loss, and due to her father being very ill.
Sunny Smallwood spent two years as the Associate Head Coach. She is now an Assistant at Montana State. Smallwood was the Associate Head Coach the two seasons at Boise State. She has coached at Cal, one year but the recruiting year of Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson. She also coached 9 years at Nebraska and another 11 years at Washington.
Sammy Fatkin who scored 2 points per game as a Frosh transferred to Montana.
Bria Rice who played only 6 games is gone.
Kat Wright graduated after averaging 7 points and started all games as a Forward spot
Jalea Bennett graduated after starting every game and was the leading score at 14 points and also averaged 4 rebounds.
Additions:
Aarion McDonald is 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard who transferred from Washington where she started and was the teams’ 3rd leading scorer. In Washington’s post season run Aarion averaged 14 points per game. She sat out this past season. Ranked # 42 out of HS.
Tee Tee Starks is a 5-9 Guard who transferred from Iowa State where she started about half their games last season. Starks is a redshirt Soph who sat out last season. Ranked # 38 out of HS.
Dominique McBryde is a 6-2 Redshirt Jr Forward who transferred from Purdue where she averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds this past season. McBryde sat out last season as a transfer. Ranked # 45 out of HS.
That’s three transfers who sat out last season but practiced with the team and will contribute, even start from Day 1. All were ranked top 50 out of HS.
Catherine Reese, 6-3 PF a Frosh from Texas ranked # 31
Semaj Smith 6-5 Post from So Cal ranked # 48
Shelyse Smith, Wing from Washington ranked # 102
Bryce Nixon a 5-10 Point Guard from Arizona ranked # 128.
Now that’s’ four newcomers to the team all ranked in the top 50 out of HS. What a change in talent from past years.
The Schedule:
The non conference schedule is going to be pretty easy, maybe ending with a solid winning record entering conference play depending on health and the Frosh paying well early. I’m sure the schedule is because so many new players.
The Wildcats play USC and UCLA only at home and Washington and Washington State only on the road.
The Team:
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Sr Post from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.
Lucia Alonso is a 5-7 Jr Guard who started every game last season averaging 8 points and 3 assists. She also hit 43 threes at 39%.
Marlee Kyles is a 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 8 points last season
Sam Thomas is a 6-0 Soph Forward who averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Kiana Berkhoff (formally Chew) is a 6-3 Soph post. Chew is from Germany but played HS basketball in Florida. She barely played last season
Predictions:
Seven new players, five of whom should contribute quite a bit immediately. Add the four returnees who played a lot last season and it appears that Branes will be turning this program around. Not first division maybe but I think vastly improved.
2019 Recruiting:
Birna Benonysdottir is a 4 star 6-5 Post from Iceland.
Last Season: Arizona was 6-24 overall and 2-16 in Pac 12 play, under Head Coach Adia Barnes.
The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is in her 3nd year the Head Coach. Barnes had been at Washington as an assistant the past four years as the Huskies came from the 2nd division of the Pac 12 to the NCAA Final Four. Barnes played professionally for 12 years including for 4 WNBA Teams.
Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a 3rd year assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience and several years in the US.
Morgan Valley is in her 3nd year after coming from the U of Washington. Morgan played at UConn and before Washington was an assistant at Virginia Tech.
April Phillips has joined the staff coming from LMU where she was Associate Head Coach. Of course Stanford fans will remember her playing vs Jeanette’s 4.4 vs Xavier.
Losses:
Starting with a huge loss incoming recruit Valeria Trucco, 6-4 Post from Italy # 3 European player, however a 5 star on another recruiting site. She signed a Pro Contract to play in Europe. A last minute loss, and due to her father being very ill.
Sunny Smallwood spent two years as the Associate Head Coach. She is now an Assistant at Montana State. Smallwood was the Associate Head Coach the two seasons at Boise State. She has coached at Cal, one year but the recruiting year of Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson. She also coached 9 years at Nebraska and another 11 years at Washington.
Sammy Fatkin who scored 2 points per game as a Frosh transferred to Montana.
Bria Rice who played only 6 games is gone.
Kat Wright graduated after averaging 7 points and started all games as a Forward spot
Jalea Bennett graduated after starting every game and was the leading score at 14 points and also averaged 4 rebounds.
Additions:
Aarion McDonald is 5-7 Redshirt Soph Guard who transferred from Washington where she started and was the teams’ 3rd leading scorer. In Washington’s post season run Aarion averaged 14 points per game. She sat out this past season. Ranked # 42 out of HS.
Tee Tee Starks is a 5-9 Guard who transferred from Iowa State where she started about half their games last season. Starks is a redshirt Soph who sat out last season. Ranked # 38 out of HS.
Dominique McBryde is a 6-2 Redshirt Jr Forward who transferred from Purdue where she averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds this past season. McBryde sat out last season as a transfer. Ranked # 45 out of HS.
That’s three transfers who sat out last season but practiced with the team and will contribute, even start from Day 1. All were ranked top 50 out of HS.
Catherine Reese, 6-3 PF a Frosh from Texas ranked # 31
Semaj Smith 6-5 Post from So Cal ranked # 48
Shelyse Smith, Wing from Washington ranked # 102
Bryce Nixon a 5-10 Point Guard from Arizona ranked # 128.
Now that’s’ four newcomers to the team all ranked in the top 50 out of HS. What a change in talent from past years.
The Schedule:
The non conference schedule is going to be pretty easy, maybe ending with a solid winning record entering conference play depending on health and the Frosh paying well early. I’m sure the schedule is because so many new players.
The Wildcats play USC and UCLA only at home and Washington and Washington State only on the road.
The Team:
Destiny Graham is a 6-3 Sr Post from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Graham averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.
Lucia Alonso is a 5-7 Jr Guard who started every game last season averaging 8 points and 3 assists. She also hit 43 threes at 39%.
Marlee Kyles is a 5-7 Soph Guard who averaged 8 points last season
Sam Thomas is a 6-0 Soph Forward who averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Kiana Berkhoff (formally Chew) is a 6-3 Soph post. Chew is from Germany but played HS basketball in Florida. She barely played last season
Predictions:
Seven new players, five of whom should contribute quite a bit immediately. Add the four returnees who played a lot last season and it appears that Branes will be turning this program around. Not first division maybe but I think vastly improved.
2019 Recruiting:
Birna Benonysdottir is a 4 star 6-5 Post from Iceland.
August 22, 2018
Pac 12 Previews: Arizona State University
Last Season: The Sun Devils were 22-13 and 10-8 in Pac 12 Play.
The Coaching Staff:
Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 21th season as the Head Coach, and has taken the Sun Devils to the NCAAs 9 of her last 11 years of coaching. Charli sat out the 2012 season on a sabbatical.
Jackie Moore is in her 6th year as an Assistant at ASU and is now the Associate Head Coach. She has been an assistant at Miami of Florida, Boston College and Nevada.
Former ASU great and current WNBA All Star Briann January joined the Staff last season.
Angie Nelp is in her 2nd year coming from Rice.
Meg Saunders is back as special assistant to Charli. This is Saunders 15th year on the staff after taking last season off.
The Losses:
Sabrina Haines only played 9 games before being injured last season but averaged 10 points per game. Sabrina has transferred to Kentucky.
The Additions:
Taya Hanson is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Canada. Hanson is ranked as the # 18 foreign player. She has been on Canadian National Youth teams the past 4 years.
Jamie Loera is a 5-9 Frosh Point Guard from Washington. Both sisters played D 1 basketball and did her Mom. Jamie was the Point Guard on the Stanford Hull twins Travel team.
Iris Mbulito is a 6-1 Frosh Wing from Spain, ranked as the # 2 foreign player. ASU recruited her with the competition being Pro ball in Europe. Iris was a recent star of the World 20U tournament.
Jayde Van Hyfte is a 6-1 Frosh Forward from Illinois.
The Schedule:
ASU plays Baylor in Ft Defiance AZ. This location is on a Native American Reservation. ASU plays Louisville in a tournament. These are the only tough non- conference games. ASU plays at Washington and Washington State and hosts USC and UCLA. They play home and away the other Pac 12 teams.
The Team:
Courtney Ekmark is a 6-0, 5th year Sr Guard who transferred from UConn and in her first season at ASU averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds. Courtney made 58 threes at 37%. However and this is unheard of, Courtney is in her 2nd year in ASU’s Law School.
Robbi Ryan is a 5-9 Jr Guard who averaged 10 points last season.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds last year.
Reili Richardson is a 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 6 points and 5 assists last season.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-4 Sr Post who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds last season.
Jamie Ruden is a 6-2 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points per game.
Kiara Russell is a 5-8 Jr Guard who averaged 5 points.
Sophia Elenga is a 6-1 Sr Forward/ Post from France. Sophia averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game.
That’s 8 players who played a solid role including five who started either all or almost all games last season. Add Frosh Hanson and Mbulito and ten deep, the way CTT likes to rotate.
Bre’yanna Sanders is a 6-0 Forward who played 8 minutes per games.
Eva Rubin is a 6-5 Jr Post who played just 56 minutes in 13 games.
Predictions:
This is a very good making the NCAA team who will battle for a 4-6 position in the Pac 12. The Sun Devils lost only one player and she played just 9 games. They played tough defense last year allowing just 58 points per game.
2019 Recruiting:
Sydnei Caldwell, 5-9 Guard from New Jersey ranked 109
Eboni Walker, 5-11 Wing from Nevada, ranked # 110
Last Season: The Sun Devils were 22-13 and 10-8 in Pac 12 Play.
The Coaching Staff:
Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 21th season as the Head Coach, and has taken the Sun Devils to the NCAAs 9 of her last 11 years of coaching. Charli sat out the 2012 season on a sabbatical.
Jackie Moore is in her 6th year as an Assistant at ASU and is now the Associate Head Coach. She has been an assistant at Miami of Florida, Boston College and Nevada.
Former ASU great and current WNBA All Star Briann January joined the Staff last season.
Angie Nelp is in her 2nd year coming from Rice.
Meg Saunders is back as special assistant to Charli. This is Saunders 15th year on the staff after taking last season off.
The Losses:
Sabrina Haines only played 9 games before being injured last season but averaged 10 points per game. Sabrina has transferred to Kentucky.
The Additions:
Taya Hanson is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Canada. Hanson is ranked as the # 18 foreign player. She has been on Canadian National Youth teams the past 4 years.
Jamie Loera is a 5-9 Frosh Point Guard from Washington. Both sisters played D 1 basketball and did her Mom. Jamie was the Point Guard on the Stanford Hull twins Travel team.
Iris Mbulito is a 6-1 Frosh Wing from Spain, ranked as the # 2 foreign player. ASU recruited her with the competition being Pro ball in Europe. Iris was a recent star of the World 20U tournament.
Jayde Van Hyfte is a 6-1 Frosh Forward from Illinois.
The Schedule:
ASU plays Baylor in Ft Defiance AZ. This location is on a Native American Reservation. ASU plays Louisville in a tournament. These are the only tough non- conference games. ASU plays at Washington and Washington State and hosts USC and UCLA. They play home and away the other Pac 12 teams.
The Team:
Courtney Ekmark is a 6-0, 5th year Sr Guard who transferred from UConn and in her first season at ASU averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds. Courtney made 58 threes at 37%. However and this is unheard of, Courtney is in her 2nd year in ASU’s Law School.
Robbi Ryan is a 5-9 Jr Guard who averaged 10 points last season.
Kianna Ibis is a 6-1 Sr Forward who averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds last year.
Reili Richardson is a 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 6 points and 5 assists last season.
Charnea Johnson-Chapman is a 6-4 Sr Post who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds last season.
Jamie Ruden is a 6-2 Jr Forward who averaged 9 points per game.
Kiara Russell is a 5-8 Jr Guard who averaged 5 points.
Sophia Elenga is a 6-1 Sr Forward/ Post from France. Sophia averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game.
That’s 8 players who played a solid role including five who started either all or almost all games last season. Add Frosh Hanson and Mbulito and ten deep, the way CTT likes to rotate.
Bre’yanna Sanders is a 6-0 Forward who played 8 minutes per games.
Eva Rubin is a 6-5 Jr Post who played just 56 minutes in 13 games.
Predictions:
This is a very good making the NCAA team who will battle for a 4-6 position in the Pac 12. The Sun Devils lost only one player and she played just 9 games. They played tough defense last year allowing just 58 points per game.
2019 Recruiting:
Sydnei Caldwell, 5-9 Guard from New Jersey ranked 109
Eboni Walker, 5-11 Wing from Nevada, ranked # 110
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)