Big 12 Foes Re-Stock For 2014-15

Unknown — Bill Fennelly landed a Top 40 recruiting class at Iowa State, and Mike Carey (top) made the Top 20 at West Virginia.

Every team is focused on their next game right now, but its easy to start thinking about next year following the early signing period. Two Big 12 teams, West Virginia and Iowa State, will head into the 2014-15 campaign with optimism after they signed Top 40 recruiting classes.

The All Star Girls Report recently released its national Top 150 for the Class of 2014, and we are taking that opportunity to look down the road and profile a number of programs.

West Virginia signed the nation’s No. 19 recruiting class according to ASGR. The new Mountaineers will include a pair of highly regarded junior college signees — power forward Abigail Asoro (No. 7) and center Kayla Montgomery (No. 11). WVU’s class also included Georgia Tech transfer Breana McDonald, plus Top 150 prep signees Krista King (No. 73), Tyara Warren-Cox (No. 121) and Dominique Simpson (No. 137).

At Iowa State, the Cyclones five players class included four Top 200 signees. On the perimeter, Coach Bill Fennelly added Emily Durr (No. 118) and Nakiah Bell (No. 152), while Claire Ricketts (No. 169) and Bryanna Fernstrom (No. 181) are front line players.

“West Virginia will have to deal with the loss of Aysa Bussie next year, that will be tough,” noted ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “They will lose five seniors, and three starters, but Bussie will be the problem. They have returning players who will fill the perimeter spots, but inside someone will need to step up. Sophomores Lanay Montgomery and Lubirdia Gordon are candidates, and Abigail Asoro could contribute. I know that Mike Carey is one of the best practice coaches in the country, and he will get the most out of those players.

“Iowa State is in a similar situation because they lose their top scorer, Hallie Christofferson, but overall they have a pretty young team. I think their two incoming post players — Ricketts and Fernstrom — could have an immediate impact. On the perimeter, Emily Durr is a shooter who really fits their system. I think Iowa State will have a stronger team next year.”

Now in its 18th year, the All Star Girls Report is the leader in women’s basketball scouting. ASGR’s rankings are compiled by veteran analyst McCormick, who rated over 1,800 athletes in the class. ASGR members can log in and view the complete updated rankings at www.ASGR.info.

Here is a quick look at the ASGR Super Six for 2014 along with a quick comment from McCormick:

1- A’ja Wilson (Uncommitted): “She is a long, athletic lefty who could play all five positions. She has those types of skills. A’ja is just special. They have some top schools, but they are going to keep looking and talking to schools. ”

2- Gabby Williams (UConn): “Gabby is another very versatile player. She has tremendous athletic ability, and she can do it all on the court. It only takes you a couple of minutes to recognize Gabby’s talent level. She is recovering from an ACL injury so she didn’t play over the summer, but hopefully she will be back at full speed.”

3- Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State): “Kelsey is a quick, strong, left-handed guard. She is a great passer, but it is her scoring that makes her special. She can hit the long three or the pull-up jumper, and she can attack the rim. She also loves to have the ball at the end of a tight game.”

4- Brianna Turner (Notre Dame): “She is athletic and long, and she could probably play the three, four or five. She can compete in the paint, she can hit the three, and she can take the ball coast-to-coast. She will make an immediate impact in South Bend.”

5- Gabby Green (California): “Gabby is another great athlete with a long, strong body. She has a great basketball IQ, and she can act like a point forward. She is also a great defender. She just has an all-around game.”

6- Sadie Edwards (UConn): “Sadie is an athletic combo guard who is just great off the bounce. She can handle the ball and attack the rim, or she can use her pull-up jumper. She has worked hard to refine her skills, and she has become a complete player.”

THE SUPER SIX	HT	P	High School	Hometown	College
1- A’ja Wilson	6-5	WF	Heathwood Hall	Hopkins, SC	Undecided
2- Gabby Williams	5-11	PG	Reed	Sparks, NV	UConn
3- Kelsey Mitchell	5-8	PG	Princeton	Cincinnati, OH	Ohio State
4- Brianna Turner	6-4	PF	Manvel	Pearland, TX	Notre Dame
5- Gabby Green	6-2	SG	St. Mary’s College	Oakland, CA	California
6- Sadie Edwards	5-10	G	Blair Academy	Meriden, CT	UConn
THE NEXT NINE
7- Recee’ Caldwell	5-7	PG	Feast Home School	San Antonio, TX	UCLA
8- Courtney Ekmark	6-0	SG	St. Mary’s	Phoenix, AZ	UConn
9- Jordin Canada	5-7	PG	Winward	Los Angeles, CA	UCLA
10- Lajahna Drummer	6-3	PF	Long Beach Poly	Los Angeles, CA	UCLA
11- Ariel Atkins	5-11	SG	Duncanville	Duncanville, TX	Texas
12- Jatarie White	6-3	C	Providence Day	Charlotte, NC	South Carolina
13- Sierra Calhoun	6-1	SG	Christ the King	Brooklyn, NY	Duke
14- Kia Nurse	6-0	PG	St. Thomas More	Hamilton, Ontario	Connecticut
15- Shakayla Thomas	5-11	WF	Sylacauga	Sylacauga, AL	Florida State
THE NEXT TEN
16- Myisha Hines-Allen	6-2	WF	Montclair	Montclair, NJ	Louisville
17- Monique Billings	6-3	C	Santiago	Corona, CA	UCLA
18- Brooke McCarty	5-5	PG	Clear Springs	League City, TX	Texas
19- Katelynn Flaherty	5-7	PG	Manasquan	Point Pleasant, NJ	Michigan
20- Khaalia Hillman	6-4	C	Whitney Young	Chicago, IL	Texas A&M
21- Katherine Westbeld	6-1	PF	Fairmont	Kettering, OH	Notre Dame
22- Mariya Moore	6-0	WF	Salesian	Pleasant Hill, CA	Louisville
23- Jasmine Lumpkin	6-0	WF	Joliet Catholic	Bollingbrook, IL	Michigan St.
24- Taylor Rooks	6-0	WF	Gil St. Bernard	Bridgewater, NJ	Stanford
25- Jamie Nared	6-0	WF	Westview	Portland, OR	Tennessee

THE NEXT TEN
26- Mikayla Venson	5-7	PG	Yorktown	Arlington, VA	Virginia
27- Azura Stevens	6-4	PF	Cary	Raleigh, NC	Duke
28- Chatrice White	6-3	PF	Shelby	Shelby, NE	Illinois
29- Gabrielle Ortiz	5-6	PG	Prairie School	Racine, WI	Oklahoma
30- Mikayla Cowling	5-11	WF	St. Mary’s Berkeley	Benecia, CA	California
31- Lynee Belton	6-3	PF	The Bullis School	Clinton, MD	Duke
32- Zaire O’Neil	6-0	PF	Malcolm Schabazz	Newark, NJ	Ga. Tech
33- Allyah Huland-El	6-1	WF	Randolph	Randolph, NJ	Virginia
34- Nasheema Oliver	6-3	C	Crisp County	Cordele, GA	Georgia
35- Alexis Jennings	6-2	PF	Sparkman	Pelham, AL	Kentucky

THE NEXT TEN
36- Mackenzie Engram	6-2	PF	Hillgrove	Powder Springs, GA	Georgia
37- McKenzie Calvert	5-9	PG	Steele	Schertz, TX	USC
38- Paris Kea	5-8	PG	Page	Greensboro, NC	Vanderbilt
39- Sydney Brackemyre	6-1	WF	Clinton Massie	Harveysburg, OH	Louisville
40- Victoria Vivians	6-1	WF	Scott Central	Forest, MS	Miss. State
41- Ariana Freeman	5-11	SG	Paul VI	Manassas, VA	Louisville
42- Christa Reed	5-11	SG	Bay	Bay St. Louis, MS	Vanderbilt
43- Kelli Hayes	6-1	SG	Archbishop Mitty	San Jose, CA	UCLA
44- Alyssa Rice	6-3	C	Reynoldsburg	Reynoldsburg, OH	Kentucky
45- Aja Ellison	6-3	C	Life Center Acad.	Vorhees, NJ	Maryland

THE NEXT TEN
46- Alexa Middleton	5-9	PG	Riverdale	Murfreesboro, TN	Tennessee
47- Brittany McPhee	6-0	SG	Mt. Ranier	Normandy Park, WA	Stanford
48- Bianca Cuevas	5-6	PG	Nazareth Reg.	Bronx, NY	South Carolina
49- Dekeiya Cohen	6-1	WF	West Ashley	Charleston, SC	Baylor
50- Mychal Johnson	5-8	PG	St. Joseph	Proctorville, OH	Notre Dame
51- Kaydra Duckett	5-10	SG	Dreher	Columbia, SC	South Carolina
52- Jamie Cherry	5-5	PG	West Craven	West Cove City, NC	North Carolina
53- Kristen Simon	6-2	PF	Winward	Gardena, CA	USC
54- Rachel Bell	5-10	PG	Creekwood	Dickson, TN	Vanderbilt
55- Kristen Confroy	5-9	SG	Solon	Solon, OH	Maryland

THE NEXT TEN
56- K. Cardon-Goudreau	6-3	WF	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL	Vanderbilt
57- Carlie Wagner	5-9	PG	NRHEG	New Richland, MN	Minnesota
58- Kiara Leslie	5-11	WF	Holly Springs	Holly Springs, NC	Maryland
59- Imani Tilford	5-7	PG	Woodlands	White Plains, NY	Ga. Tech
60- Alexis Gussert	6-0	WF	Forest Park	Crystal Falls, MI	Michigan St.
61- Kenisha Bell	6-1	PF	Kennedy	Bloomington, MN	Marquette
62- Brielle Blaire	6-1	PF	Salisbury	Salisbury, NC	Va. Tech
63- Asia Doss	5-6	PG	Country Day	Detroit, MI	Ohio State
64- Makayla Waterman	6-2	PF	Kettering Fairmount	Centerville, OH	Ohio State
65- Kortney Dunbar	6-2	PF	Edwardsville	Edwardsville, IL	Tennessee

THE NEXT TEN
66- Arica Carter	5-9	SG	Long Beach Poly	Los Angeles, CA	Louisville
67- Amber Campbell	5-8	PG	Northwood Acad.	Charleston, SC	Wake Forest
68- Kelli Kingma	5-9	PG	Jackson	Mill Creek, WA	Washington
69- Terriell Bradley	5-9	PG	Mansfield Timberview	Grand Prairie, TX	Kansas
70- Lauren Moses	6-1	PF	Rancossi Valley	Mt. Holly, NJ	Virginia
71- Michelle Nwokedi	6-2	PF	St. Agnes	Missouri City, TX	Penn
72- Jasmine Carter	5-8	SG	Mill Creek	Dacula, GA	Georgia
73- Kristina King	6-3	PF	Thomasville Prep	Thomasville, NC	West Virginia
74- Alexa Hart	6-3	C	Africentric	Columbus, OH	Ohio State
75- Imani Littleton	6-3	PF	Bishop’s School	Lemon Grove, CA	St. John’s

THE NEXT TEN
76- Yacine Diop	5-9	SG	Seton LaSalle	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh
77- Stasha Carey	6-3	PF	Midpark	Brookpark, OH	Pittsburgh
78- Erica Moore	6-1	PF	Mt. Vernon	Fishers, IN	Purdue
79- Nicole Floyd	6-2	PF	Stonewall Jackson	Manasas, VA	Wake Forest
80- Ivy Brown	6-2	WF	LaRue County	Hodgenville, KY	Western Ky.
81- Erin Mathias	6-3	PF	Fox Chapel	Pittsburgh, PA	Duke
82- AA Cardon-Goudreau	6-3	WF	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL	Vanderbilt
83- Hannah Johnson	6-1	WF	Bishop Alemany	Stevenson Ranch, CA	Washington
84- Natalie Romeo	5-9	PG	Carondelet	Martinez, CA	Nebraska
85- Emoni Jackson	6-1	PF	Long Beach Poly	Pasadena, CA	Michigan

THE NEXT TEN
86- Shrita Parker	5-7	PG	Ocean Lakes	Virginia Beach, VA	Rutgers
87- Erykah Davenport	6-3	C	Tucker	Decatur, GA	Miami FL
88- Ayanna Edwards	6-4	C	Sacramento	Sacramento, CA	Arizona St
89- Cayla McMorris	6-0	WF	Park Center	Minneapolis, MN	Wisconsin
90- Mikayla Reese	5-8	PG	Sand Creek	Colorado Springs, CO	SMU
91- Tamesha Alexander	5-6	PG	Shipley	Philadelphia, PA	St. John’s
92- Micayla Buckner	6-3	C	Naaman Forest	Garland, TX	Baylor
93- Keyanna Harris	5-11	WF	Dwyer	Riveria Beach, FL	Miami
94- Chyanne Butler	5-5	PG	Junipero Serra	Corona, CA	USC
95- Chania Ray	5-8	SG	Riverdale Baptist	Alexandria, VA	Fla. State

THE NEXT TEN
96- Ashunae Durant	5-11	WF	Bloomfield Tech	Newark, NJ	Hofstra
97- Taryn Griffey	5-6	PG	Dr. Phillips	Orlando, FL	Arizona
98- Jillian Dunston	6-1	SG	Holy Cross	Silver Spring, MD	Michigan
99- Asia Robeson	6-4	PF	Central	Kalamazoo, MI	Auburn
100- La’karis Salter	6-0	PF	FAMU	Tallahassee, FL	Miss. State
101- Laura Ferreira	5-11	G	Portugal	Portugal	South Florida
102- Taylor Gordon	5-11	WF	Mceachern	Powder Springs, GA	Wake Forest
103- Amy Okonkwo	6-1	PF	Etiwanda	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	USC
104- Morgan Green	5-8	PG	Pacific Collegiate	Rocklin, CA	Northwestern
105- Aisha Edwards	5-8	SG	Coral Sp. Charter	Boca Raton, FL	Miami (FL)

THE NEXT TEN
106- Brea Stratton	5-11	SG	Leadership	Albany, NY	Providence
107- Kaylee Johnson	6-2	PF	Natrona County	Casper, WY	Stanford
108- Abrianna Porter	6-2	PF	Rock Bridge	Columbia, MO	Missouri
109- Marte Grays	6-3	PF	M.L. King	Detroit, MI	DePaul
110- Marquia Turner	5-7	PG	McKinley	North Canton, OH	Xavier
111- Tyra Buss	5-7	PG	Mt. Carmel	Mt. Carmel, IL	Indiana
112- Isis Young	5-7	PG	Trenton Catholic	Berlin, NJ	Florida
113- Alexandra Louin	6-0	SG	Mt. St. Joseph’s	Doylestown, PA	Villanova
114- Auteaonna Gilmore	5-6	PG	Capitol Christian	Ft. Washington, MD	Old Dominion
115- Kaylee Page	6-2	PF	Wamego	Alma, KS	Nebraska

THE NEXT TEN
116- DeAshia Jones	6-0	PF	Malcolm Shabazz	Newark, NJ	Undecided
117- Maria Backman	6-2	SG	Cardinal Spellman	Bronx, NY	Michigan
118- Emily Durr	6-0	WF	Notre Dame	Barneveld, NY	Iowa State
119- Anastacia Owens	5-7	PG	Lawrence North	Indianapolis, IN	Cincinnati
120- Haley Lorenzen	6-2	C	Iowa City	Iowa City, IA	Florida
121- Tyara Warren-Cox	5-8	SG	Plano West	Melissa, TX	West Virginia
122- Dorothy Adomako	6-0	WF	Cosby	Moseley, VA	Georgetown
123- Naje Gibson	6-0	PF	Seton LaSalle	McKees Rock, PA	Pittsburgh
124- Justine Hall	5-10	SG	Regis Jesuit	Aurora, CO	Purdue
125- Makayla Johnson	6-4	C	Dreher	Columbia, SC	Clemson

THE NEXT TEN
126- Briana Horrocks	6-4	C	Buford	Buford, GA	Purdue
127- Jill Barta	6-3	F	Fairfield	Fairfield, MT	Gonzaga
128- Doniyah Cliney	5-8	SG	Malcolm Shabazz	Newark, NJ	South Carolina
129- Danielle Minott	5-9	SG	Country Day	Miami, FL	Syracuse
130- Vionise Pierre-Louis	6-4	C	Grandview Prep	Lake Worth, FL	Oklahoma
131- Charise Holloway	5-9	SG	St. Mary’s	Tracy, CA	Arizona
132- Whitney Jennings	5-5	PG	Logansport	Logansport, IN	Iowa
133- Tonoia Wade	6-2	SG	Kennedy	St. Paul, MN	St. John’s
134- JaLea Bennett	5-10	SG	Timberview	Grand Prairie, TX	Arizona
135- Bria Johnson	5-9	SG	Episcopal	Baton Rouge, LA	Auburn

THE NEXT TEN
136- Brooke Copeland	6-2	WF	Bradley Cent.	Cleveland, TN	Florida
137- Dominique Simpson	5-9	SG	Jones	Orlando, FL	West Virginia
138- Haley Clark	5-9	PG	Edgewater	Orlando, FL	Georgia
139- Atallah McKinney	5-6	PG	Home School	College Station, TX	UTEP
140- Toree Thompson	5-8	SG	Broken Arrow	Broken Arrow, OK	Washington
141- Khadedra Croker	6-3	C	Kings Fork	Suffolk, VA	Va. Tech
142- Shantelle Valentine	6-3	PF	St. Roch	Ontario, Canada	Marquette
143- Jenna Deemer	5-7	PG	Ursuline Acad.	New Orleans, LA	LSU
144- Chloe Jackson	5-8	SG	Riverdale Baptist	Waldorf, MD	NC State
145- Dani Akigbogun	6-0	PF	Regis Jesuit	Aurora, CO	Texas

THE NEXT FIVE
146- Amarah Coleman	5-9	PG	Homewood Flossmoor	Bolingbrook, IL	Illinois
147- Rolanda Hayes	5-6	PG	Viera	Melbourne, FL	Fla. Atlantic
148- Jenna Burdette	5-8	PG	Eastern	Coolville, OH	Dayton
149- Erin Garner	6-4	PF	Trenton Catholic	Philadelphia, PA	Ga. Tech
150- Khalia Prather	6-2	PF	North Point	Waldorf, MD	Miami FL