Pac-12 Programs Look Ahead



Cori Close of UCLA and Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (top) of USC both landed Top 15 recruiting classes.

The 2013-14 season is in full swing, but its easy to start thinking about next year following the early signing period. 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. In this edition, we look at Pac-12 rivals UCLA and USC.

UCLA came out of the early signing period with the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in the country according to ASGR. The unit included five Top 50 signees — Recee’ Caldwell (No. 7), Jordin Canada (No. 9), LaJahna Drummer (No. 10), Monique Billings (No. 17) and Kelli Hayes (No. 43). USC had the No. 21 ranked class. The new Trojans will be Virginia Tech transfer Alexis Lloyd, plus prep recruits McKenzie Calvert (No. 37), Kristen Simon (No. 53), Chyanne Butler (No. 94) and Amy Okonkow (No. 103).

“UCLA is going to be turning the page next year, but I don’t think they will skip a beat in terms of success,” said ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “They have had to deal with some painful injuries this year, and they are going to lose 65 points worth of production to graduation at the end of the year, but they have a great group of recruits coming next year. Rising junior guard Nirra Fields will be back to provide leadership, and I think all five of the recruits will play a major role for UCLA next year.

“USC is also going to lose some pop to graduation, including Cassie Harberts, but they will have three senior leaders on their roster next year with Ariya Crook, Alexyz Vaioletama and Kiki Alofaituli. When you add in the incoming recruits, I think USC will take a step forward next year. McKenzie Calvert should help at the point, and both Kristen Simon and Amy Okonkow should help on the baseline.”

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 Wilson6-5WFHeathwood HallHopkins, SCUndecided
2- Gabby Williams5-11PGReedSparks, NVUConn
3- Kelsey Mitchell5-8PGPrincetonCincinnati, OHOhio State
4- Brianna Turner6-4PFManvelPearland, TXNotre Dame
5- Gabby Green6-2SGSt. Mary’s CollegeOakland, CACalifornia
6- Sadie Edwards5-10GBlair AcademyMeriden, CTUConn
THE NEXT NINE
7- Recee’ Caldwell5-7PGFeast Home SchoolSan Antonio, TXUCLA
8- Courtney Ekmark6-0SGSt. Mary’sPhoenix, AZUConn
9- Jordin Canada5-7PGWinwardLos Angeles, CAUCLA
10- Lajahna Drummer6-3PFLong Beach PolyLos Angeles, CAUCLA
11- Ariel Atkins5-11SGDuncanvilleDuncanville, TXTexas
12- Jatarie White6-3CProvidence DayCharlotte, NCSouth Carolina
13- Sierra Calhoun6-1SGChrist the KingBrooklyn, NYDuke
14- Kia Nurse6-0PGSt. Thomas MoreHamilton, OntarioConnecticut
15- Shakayla Thomas5-11WFSylacaugaSylacauga, ALFlorida State
THE NEXT TEN
16- Myisha Hines-Allen6-2WFMontclairMontclair, NJLouisville
17- Monique Billings6-3CSantiagoCorona, CAUCLA
18- Brooke McCarty5-5PGClear SpringsLeague City, TXTexas
19- Katelynn Flaherty5-7PGManasquanPoint Pleasant, NJMichigan
20- Khaalia Hillman6-4CWhitney YoungChicago, ILTexas A&M
21- Katherine Westbeld6-1PFFairmontKettering, OHNotre Dame
22- Mariya Moore6-0WFSalesianPleasant Hill, CALouisville
23- Jasmine Lumpkin6-0WFJoliet CatholicBollingbrook, ILMichigan St.
24- Taylor Rooks6-0WFGil St. BernardBridgewater, NJStanford
25- Jamie Nared6-0WFWestviewPortland, ORTennessee
THE NEXT TEN
26- Mikayla Venson5-7PGYorktownArlington, VAVirginia
27- Azura Stevens6-4PFCaryRaleigh, NCDuke
28- Chatrice White6-3PFShelbyShelby, NEIllinois
29- Gabrielle Ortiz5-6PGPrairie SchoolRacine, WIOklahoma
30- Mikayla Cowling5-11WFSt. Mary’s BerkeleyBenecia, CACalifornia
31- Lynee Belton6-3PFThe Bullis SchoolClinton, MDDuke
32- Zaire O’Neil6-0PFMalcolm SchabazzNewark, NJGa. Tech
33- Allyah Huland-El6-1WFRandolphRandolph, NJVirginia
34- Nasheema Oliver6-3CCrisp CountyCordele, GAGeorgia
35- Alexis Jennings6-2PFSparkmanPelham, ALKentucky
THE NEXT TEN
36- Mackenzie Engram6-2PFHillgrovePowder Springs, GAGeorgia
37- McKenzie Calvert5-9PGSteeleSchertz, TXUSC
38- Paris Kea5-8PGPageGreensboro, NCVanderbilt
39- Sydney Brackemyre6-1WFClinton MassieHarveysburg, OHLouisville
40- Victoria Vivians6-1WFScott CentralForest, MSMiss. State
41- Bianca Cuevas5-6PGNazareth Reg.Bronx, NYSouth Carolina
42- Christa Reed5-11SGBayBay St. Louis, MSVanderbilt
43- Kelli Hayes6-1SGArchbishop MittySan Jose, CAUCLA
44- Alyssa Rice6-3CReynoldsburgReynoldsburg, OHKentucky
45- Aja Ellison6-3CLife Center Acad.Vorhees, NJMaryland
THE NEXT TEN
46- Alexa Middleton5-9PGRiverdaleMurfreesboro, TNTennessee
47- Brittany McPhee6-0SGMt. RanierNormandy Park, WAStanford
48- Ariana Freeman5-11SGPaul VIManassas, VALouisville
49- Dekeiya Cohen6-1WFWest AshleyCharleston, SCBaylor
50- Mychal Johnson5-8PGSt. JosephProctorville, OHNotre Dame
51- Kaydra Duckett5-10SGDreherColumbia, SCSouth Carolina
52- Jamie Cherry5-5PGWest CravenWest Cove City, NCNorth Carolina
53- Kristen Simon6-2PFWinwardGardena, CAUSC
54- Rachel Bell5-10PGCreekwoodDickson, TNVanderbilt
55- Kristen Confroy5-9SGSolonSolon, OHMaryland
THE NEXT TEN
56- K. Cardon-Goudreau6-3WFIMG AcademyBradenton, FLVanderbilt
57- Carlie Wagner5-9PGNRHEGNew Richland, MNMinnesota
58- Kiara Leslie5-11WFHolly SpringsHolly Springs, NCMaryland
59- Imani Tilford5-7PGWoodlandsWhite Plains, NYGa. Tech
60- Alexis Gussert6-0WFForest ParkCrystal Falls, MIMichigan St.
61- Kenisha Bell6-1PFKennedyBloomington, MNMarquette
62- Brielle Blaire6-1PFSalisburySalisbury, NCVa. Tech
63- Asia Doss5-6PGCountry DayDetroit, MIOhio State
64- Makayla Waterman6-2PFKettering FairmountCenterville, OHOhio State
65- Kortney Dunbar6-2PFEdwardsvilleEdwardsville, ILTennessee
THE NEXT TEN
66- Arica Carter5-9SGLong Beach PolyLos Angeles, CALouisville
67- Amber Campbell5-8PGNorthwood Acad.Charleston, SCWake Forest
68- Kelli Kingma5-9PGJacksonMill Creek, WAWashington
69- Terriell Bradley5-9PGMansfield TimberviewGrand Prairie, TXKansas
70- Lauren Moses6-1PFRancossi ValleyMt. Holly, NJVirginia
71- Michelle Nwokedi6-2PFSt. AgnesMissouri City, TXPenn
72- Jasmine Carter5-8SGMill CreekDacula, GAGeorgia
73- Kristina King6-3PFThomasville PrepThomasville, NCWest Virginia
74- Alexa Hart6-3CAfricentricColumbus, OHOhio State
75- Imani Littleton6-3PFBishop’s SchoolLemon Grove, CASt. John’s
THE NEXT TEN
76- Yacine Diop5-9SGSeton LaSallePittsburgh, PAPittsburgh
77- Stasha Carey6-3PFMidparkBrookpark, OHPittsburgh
78- Erica Moore6-1PFMt. VernonFishers, INPurdue
79- Nicole Floyd6-2PFStonewall JacksonManasas, VAWake Forest
80- Ivy Brown6-2WFLaRue CountyHodgenville, KYWestern Ky.
81- Erin Mathias6-3PFFox ChapelPittsburgh, PADuke
82- AA Cardon-Goudreau6-3WFIMG AcademyBradenton, FLVanderbilt
83- Hannah Johnson6-1WFBishop AlemanyStevenson Ranch, CAWashington
84- Natalie Romeo5-9PGCarondeletMartinez, CANebraska
85- Emoni Jackson6-1PFLong Beach PolyPasadena, CAMichigan
THE NEXT TEN
86- Shrita Parker5-7PGOcean LakesVirginia Beach, VARutgers
87- Erykah Davenport6-3CTuckerDecatur, GAMiami FL
88- Ayanna Edwards6-4CSacramentoSacramento, CAArizona St
89- Cayla McMorris6-0WFPark CenterMinneapolis, MNWisconsin
90- Mikayla Reese5-8PGSand CreekColorado Springs, COSMU
91- Tamesha Alexander5-6PGShipleyPhiladelphia, PASt. John’s
92- Micayla Buckner6-3CNaaman ForestGarland, TXBaylor
93- Keyanna Harris5-11WFDwyerRiveria Beach, FLMiami
94- Chyanne Butler5-5PGJunipero SerraCorona, CAUSC
95- Chania Ray5-8SGRiverdale BaptistAlexandria, VAFla. State
THE NEXT TEN
96- Ashunae Durant5-11WFBloomfield TechNewark, NJHofstra
97- Taryn Griffey5-6PGDr. PhillipsOrlando, FLArizona
98- Jillian Dunston6-1SGHoly CrossSilver Spring, MDMichigan
99- Asia Robeson6-4PFCentralKalamazoo, MIAuburn
100- La’karis Salter6-0PFFAMUTallahassee, FLMiss. State
101- Laura Ferreira5-11GPortugalPortugalSouth Florida
102- Taylor Gordon5-11WFMceachernPowder Springs, GAWake Forest
103- Amy Okonkwo6-1PFEtiwandaRancho Cucamonga, CAUSC
104- Morgan Green5-8PGPacific CollegiateRocklin, CANorthwestern
105- Aisha Edwards5-8SGCoral Sp. CharterBoca Raton, FLMiami (FL)
THE NEXT TEN
106-  Brea Stratton5-11SGLeadershipAlbany, NYProvidence
107- Kaylee Johnson6-2PFNatrona CountyCasper, WYStanford
108- Abrianna Porter6-2PFRock BridgeColumbia, MOMissouri
109- Marte Grays6-3PFM.L. KingDetroit, MIDePaul
110- Marquia Turner5-7PGMcKinleyNorth Canton, OHXavier
111- Tyra Buss5-7PGMt. CarmelMt. Carmel, ILIndiana
112- Isis Young5-7PGTrenton CatholicBerlin, NJFlorida
113- Alexandra Louin6-0SGMt. St. Joseph’sDoylestown, PAVillanova
114- Auteaonna Gilmore5-6PGCapitol ChristianFt. Washington, MDOld Dominion
115- Kaylee Page6-2PFWamegoAlma, KSNebraska
THE NEXT TEN
116- DeAshia Jones6-0PFMalcolm ShabazzNewark, NJUndecided
117- Maria Backman6-2SGCardinal SpellmanBronx, NYMichigan
118- Emily Durr6-0WFNotre DameBarneveld, NYIowa State
119- Anastacia Owens5-7PGLawrence NorthIndianapolis, INCincinnati
120- Haley Lorenzen6-2CIowa CityIowa City, IAFlorida
121- Tyara Warren-Cox5-8SGPlano WestMelissa, TXWest Virginia
122- Dorothy Adomako6-0WFCosbyMoseley, VAGeorgetown
123- Naje Gibson6-0PFSeton LaSalleMcKees Rock, PAPittsburgh
124- Justine Hall5-10SGRegis JesuitAurora, COPurdue
125- Makayla Johnson6-4CDreherColumbia, SCClemson
THE NEXT TEN
126- Briana Horrocks6-4CBufordBuford, GAPurdue
127- Jill Barta6-3FFairfieldFairfield, MTGonzaga
128- Doniyah Cliney5-8SGMalcolm ShabazzNewark, NJSouth Carolina
129- Danielle Minott5-9SGCountry DayMiami, FLSyracuse
130- Vionise Pierre-Louis6-4CGrandview PrepLake Worth, FLOklahoma
131- Charise Holloway5-9SGSt. Mary’sTracy, CAArizona
132- Whitney Jennings5-5PGLogansportLogansport, INIowa
133- Tonoia Wade6-2SGKennedySt. Paul, MNSt. John’s
134- JaLea Bennett5-10SGTimberviewGrand Prairie, TXArizona
135- Bria Johnson5-9SGEpiscopalBaton Rouge, LAAuburn
THE NEXT TEN
136- Brooke Copeland6-2WFBradley Cent.Cleveland, TNFlorida
137- Dominique Simpson5-9SGJonesOrlando, FLWest Virginia
138- Haley Clark5-9PGEdgewaterOrlando, FLGeorgia
139- Atallah McKinney5-6PGHome SchoolCollege Station, TXUTEP
140- Toree Thompson5-8SGBroken ArrowBroken Arrow, OKWashington
141- Khadedra Croker6-3CKings ForkSuffolk, VAVa. Tech
142- Shantelle Valentine6-3PFSt. RochOntario, CanadaMarquette
143- Jenna Deemer5-7PGUrsuline Acad.New Orleans, LALSU
144- Chloe Jackson5-8SGRiverdale BaptistWaldorf, MDNC State
145- Dani Akigbogun6-0PFRegis JesuitAurora, COTexas
THE NEXT FIVE
146- Amarah Coleman5-9PGHomewood FlossmoorBolingbrook, ILIllinois
147- Rolanda Hayes5-6PGVieraMelbourne, FLFla. Atlantic
148- Jenna Burdette5-8PGEasternCoolville, OHDayton
149- Erin Garner6-4PFTrenton CatholicPhiladelphia, PAGa. Tech
150- Khalia Prather6-2PFNorth PointWaldorf, MDMiami FL