ASGR Announces 2014 All-Americans



Geno Auriemma of Connecticut and Muffet McGraw of Notre Dame (top, photo by Matt Cashore) will both have 2014 ASGR All-Americans on their rosters next year.

The All Star Girls Report has announced its All-Americans from the Class of 2014. The unit, which includes six teams named by position, includes a strong presence from California and Texas natives. The big winners from the collegiate side will be Connecticut and UCLA.

The 30-player list has five prep stars from California, and four from Texas. Both the Connecticut Huskies and the UCLA Bruins signed four of the elite prospects.

“The teams at the top did very well for themselves,” said ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “Overall, this class was actually somewhat weak, but their was talent at the top, and a few programs did very, very well.

“I also thought is was interesting that a number of the mid-majors did very well. It seems like a lot of kids with the talent to play in a BCS program made the decision to go with mid-majors this year.”

Here is a quick look at the 2014 ASGR All-America First Team from McCormick:

Kelsey Mitchell, Point Guard: “Kelsey is a lefty who can do it all. She can score in a number of ways, she is great with the ball, and she is a tremendous passer. Kelsey is the type of point guard who can set up teammates and she can hit big shots.”

Gabby Williams, Shooting Guard: “Gabby is an unbelievable player, but just hurt her knee. Hopefully she will make a 100 percent recovery, but she is a tremendous talent who should have a great career at Connecticut.”

A’Ja Wilson, Wing Forward: “A’Ja is the No. 1 player in the class. I have her at the wing on this list, but she could seriously play all five positions. I don’t think I’ve seen a 6-5 player who could do it all like A’Ja. She says that her final list, in no special order, is UConn, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina. Wherever she goes, she will have an immediate, major impact.”

Brianna Turner, Power Forward: “Brianna is an inside-outside player who is a great athlete. I think she can start as freshman at Notre Dame, and that’s saying a lot.”

JaTarie White, Center: “She is a strong, athletic lefty who is the best post player in the class. JaTarie will be joining a strong South Carolina front court, but she will earn playing time.”

In addition to the high-profile first team members, McCormick also noted two All-American centers who have flown under the radar nationally. Monique Billings from Corona, Calif., is the second team post, and Khaalia Hillsman from Chicago is on the third team.

“Monique Billings and Khaalia Hillsman are two top-flight centers,” McCormick said. “I was really surprsied that they weren’t included on the McDonald’s All-America team. Obviously there are a lot of great players on those lists, but I thought Monique and Khaalia were also deserving.”

 2014 ASGR All America Team

First Team Ht Pos High School Hometown College
Kelsey Mitchell 5-8 PG Princeton Cincinnati, OH Ohio State
Gabby Williams 5-11 SG Reed Sparks, NV Connecticut
A’Ja Wilson 6-5 WF Heathwood Hall Hopkins, SC Undecided
Brianna Turner 6-4 PF Manvel Pearland, TX Notre Dame
JaTarie White 6-3 C Providence Day Charlotte, NC South Carolina
Second Team
Recee’ Caldwell 5-7 PG Feast Home School San Antonio, TX UCLA
Gabby Green 6-2 SG St. Mary’s Oakland, CA California
Courtney Ekmark 6-0 WF Home School Phoenix, AZ Connecticut
LaJahna Drummer 6-3 PF Long Beach Poly Los Angeles, CA UCLA
Monique Billings 6-3 C Santiago Corona, CA UCLA
Third Team
Jordin Canada 5-7 PG Winward Los Angeles, CA UCLA
Sadie Edwards 5-10 SG Blair Academy Meriden, CT Connecticut
Ariel Atkins 5-11 WF Duncanville Duncanville, TX Texas
Shakayla Thomas 6-0 PF Sylacauga Sylacauga, AL Florida State
Khaalia Hillsman 6-4 C Whitney Young Chicago, IL Texas A&M
Fourth Team
Kia Nurse 6-0 PG St. Thomas More Ontario, Canada Connecticut
Sierra Calhoun 6-1 SG Christ The King Brooklyn, NY Duke
Myisha Hines-Allen 6-0 WF Montclair  Montclair, NJ Louisville
Katherine Westbeld 6-1 PF Fairmont Kettering, OH Notre Dame
Nasheema Oliver 6-3 C Crisp County Cordele, GA Georgia
Fifth Team
Brooke McCarty 5-5 PG Clear Springs League City, TX Texas
Mariya Moore 6-0 SG Salesian Pleasant Hill, CA Louisville
Taylor Rooks 6-0 WF Gil St. Bernard Bridgewater, NJ Stanford
Chatrice White 6-3 PF Shelby Shelby, NE Illinois
Alyssa Rice 6-3 C Reynoldsburg Reynoldsburg, OH Kentucky
Sixth Team
Kaitlynn Flaherty 5-7 PG Manasquan Point Pleasant, NJ Michigan
Mikala Venson 5-7 SG Yorktown Arlington, VA Virginia
Jamie Nared 6-0 WF Westview Portland, OR Tennessee
Azura Stevens 6-4 PF Cary Cary, NC Duke
Lynee Belton 6-3 C Bullis School Clinton, MD Duke