Arizona Class of 2013 Collegiate Commitments

Division 1
Dominique Williams (St. Mary's) - UCLA **PAC12
Chantel Osahor (St. Mary's) - University of Washington **PAC12
Sydney Wiese (Pinnacle) - Oregon State **PAC12
Jordan Jensen (Mountain View) - Iowa State **BIG12
Lindsey Leikem (Flowing Wells) - Indiana University **BIG10
Danielle Williams (St. Mary's) - Michigan **BIG10
Katie Werner (Xavier) - Yale **Ivy League
Chloe Johnson (St. Mary's) - San Diego State **Mt. West
Kenna McDavis (Pinnacle) - Boise State **Mt. West
Jazmyn Bartee (Chandler) - UNLV **Mt. West
Sam Young (Boulder Creek) - Cal State Northridge **Big West
Jasmine Hotchkins (Pinnacle) - East Tennessee State University **ASun
Kylie Butler (Desert Vista) - University of Vermont **America East
Kathrine Hamilton (Dobson) - USD **WCC
Olivia Lucero (Highland) - Loyola Marymont **WCC
Kyndall Adams (Hamilton) - Idaho State **Big Sky
Rene Coggins (Mountain View) - NAU **Big Sky
Brandee Walton (St. Mary's) - New Mexico State **WAC
Makaily Worthington (Queen Creek) - Utah Valley **WAC

Division 2
Sydney Lengyuel (Marcos de Niza) - Western Colorado State **RMAC
Savannah Bix (Flagstaff) - New Mexico Highlands **RMAC
Megan Brown (Highland) - California Baptist **PACWest
Alexa Jacobs (Mountain Ridge) - University of Hawaii - Hilo **PACWestKiara Clark (Centennial) - Biola University
Alexa Hogberg (Hamilton) - University of Nebraska - Kearney *MIAA

Division 3
Britta Nordstrom (Pinnacle) - University of Chicago
Maddie Rinehart (Pinnacle) - Cornell College (Iowa)

NAIA
Liz Rudd (Highland) - Concordia College
Rebecca Rudd (Highland) - Concordia College

JUCO D2
Jayla Brown (Desert Vista) - Pima Community
Shaylin Heredia (Tolleson) - Scottsdale Community College
Caitlyn Hetrick (Mountain Pointe) - Glendale Community 
Corii Ramos (Campo Verde) - Glendale Community College

Arizona Elite 14th Annual Spring Classic

•  Khadidja Toure (WA12): 5'8 guard, Kamiakin high, Richland, WA.  Probably the fastest, most athletic guard in the whole tournament. Explosive off the dribble. Not only does she have blazing speed, she does it with the ball in hand.  This girl can get up the court in neck-breaking pace while dribbling, control her dribble, change directions, slice through defenses and elevate at the rim. She is so quick with so much control, all she needs is the smallest of cracks to get inside the paint to get to the cup.  She is explosive to the rim and finishes strong.  With the kind of speed I'm raving about you can only imagine what kind of defender she is.  Opponents have to be wary of the passes they are making and be crisp because Khadidja will appear out of no where and pick them off if she gets but half a read on them.  I didn't see her connect very often from outside but didn't see her take a lot of outside shots either and I can't fault her.  If I was able to attack the basket at will and finish over players the way she can I would be doing the same thing.  She is a player that will get to the line 7-8 times a game minimum. Her ability to attack off the dribble really puts a lot of stress on opposing defenses.
•  Brooke Reilly (WA13):  Another 6ft+ wing player that really knows how to get it done in a variety of ways.  Provides the team with a lot of energy, can rebound, use the dribble, shoot outside, defend inside/outside.
•  Jaime Nared (OR14): 6'2 small forward/wing, Westview hs, Portland, OR.  The most developed 2014 player I've seen this year.  Plays like a well seasoned veteran in a division consisting of mostly 2012 players.  A very versatile small forward who can extend the floor with her range.  She can mix it up a little inside.  Most players this size that have an outside game tend to play too upright but Jaime probably does the best of any 6ft + player receiving the ball outside to attack or shoot.  Jaime is a scoring guard and a long athletic defender that can give shooters complications.  Jaime is still very young and might be the reason she tends to disappear from the game at moments. I'm looking for her to be a more steady force for a full 32 minutes for an entire weekend and not slip into a passive lull. Her growth physically and mentally will no doubt suit her to be an impact player for any team.
• Tess Picknell (OR12): 6'5 Center, South Medford high, Medford, OR.  Huge upside, Tess is an undeniable presence under the basket. Got off to somewhat of a slow start and was defended well in her first match-up.  Throughout the weekend she seemed to be getting more and more comfortable.  Tess draws a lot of attention inside and is capable of finding open teammates out on the perimeter when doubled. She seems to be under a lot of pressure to play up to her stature.  Her team and her self seem pressured to force things at times rather than just play the game a little looser, have fun and let the game come to her. She has got to learn how to be more instinctive, have a better feel and get all the "I have to's" out of her head. 
• Jordan Reynolds (OR13): 6'1 guard, Jefferson hs, Portland,OR. Jordan can run both the point guard and shooting guard positions with efficiency. She reminds me a lot of another guard with a similar build and athleticism who goes by the name of Chelsey Gray, who just had a very successful freshman campaign  for Duke University. I watched Chelsey as a junior & senior. Those are big shoes to fill but no doubt Jordan has the right make up.  With continual improvement and improved ability to create her own shot, Jordan has a lot to look forward to, or we have a lot to look forward to in her game.
• Elleson Tinkle (MT12): 6'2 forward, Big Sky hs, Missoula, MT. A fierce competitor.  A player that looks to step up her play, rises to challenges and will try and carry a team on her back. Solid from 15ft.on the shot and possesses the ability to lead the break with the dribble, sees the floor very well. Can learn to play not so erect and extend her range to beyond the arc but a solid forward that can help out on the boards and will fight. 
• Kailee Johnson (OR13): 6'4 forward, Central Catholic, Portland, OR. Another colleague referred to her as "the truth". You have to see for yourself. The detail in which she defines her position at such a young age is remarkable. Probably the most college ready player I viewed this weekend. She can stop on a dime, catch and pull up from beyond the arc like a shooting guard, attack the basket, post big, block shots.  Despite her array of offensive repertoire what most impressed me was the energy she plays with despite such talent and to guard out on the perimeter.  I watched her close out on perimeter players, use her length and keep guards at bay.  She stays low defensively, moves her feet and takes up so much width, makes for a difficult pass on a drive.  She can also defend the paint and rebound.  Did get muscled a little on the boards by very strong older post players last game on last day.  She still has over 2 1/2 years before she steps on a college campus.  I have a feeling she will be ready. 
• Rachel Mendelsohn (OR12): 5'8 G, Jesuit high school, Portland, OR. Don't let this soft spoken young lady lead you to believe she is as meek on the court as she might be off the court.  Very cunning ability to make plays happen for her and her teammates.  Makes reads very well and demonstrates good basketball IQ. Can hit the outside shot and run a team.  I saw Rachel during last summer and was pleased with her game but in a year I have seen more confidence, more assertiveness and growth.  It's always a good sign when kids have good, steady continual growth.  
• Taelor Ross(OR12): 6'2 F, St. Mary's Academy, Portland, OR. A kid who can bang inside, very broad strong shoulders, she is the player who is going to do all the dirty work, defend the paint, rebound, set screens, get the ball inside and suck in the defense.  Can be a little more aggressive at times. I like to see her attack off the bounce more from hp area, has the strength to take to the basket hard and finish. 
• Ivonne Cook Taylor (CA12): 5'10 wing, Terra Nova hs, Daly City, CA. Extreme athleticism. Notes say "speed that kills with a SWEET J!" Ivonne has great open court speed, quickness in the half court and awesome elevation. She has a sweet mid-range jumper she gets great elevation on.  She possesses undeniable athleticism, seems to glide along the court effortless. She has great length, good reaction and is a great perimeter defender.  Ivonne is a game changer, a hard to guard player but  tends to have lulls in her game.  I did watch her in late night game, late in the tourney but she was at times performing a disappearing act.  I would have liked to see her be more assertive and demand the ball more at times when her team needed that spark because her speed rendered opponents indefensible.  She has the ability to make thinks happen.  She is more of a driver than shooter, often dismissing the open outside shot. Never saw her shoot the three which makes me wonder about her ability to connect from outside.  She shows good mechanics, release and follow through on her pull-up, so I know the base is there. Confidence, comfort ability and recognition might be all she needs. 
• Sharise Portia (ID13): 5'6 PG, Centennial high school, Boise, ID. Good build, athletic, quick, fast guard who really knows how to control a game.  One of the truer point guards viewed this weekend. Didn't see a lot of true pg's at AZ Elite Classic, combo guards filling roles between point and shooting guard.  Does a great job of setting up her teammates.  Very good at dealing with pressure defenses. Is a pass first PG.  Doesn't look to get much of her own.  Not much of an outside shooter is more wrapped up in getting ball up the court and allowing teammates to make plays. 
• Jasmine Hotchkins (AZ13): 5'4 PG, Xavier College Prep, Phoenix, AZ. This tournament was deep in talent with 6ft + players, dynamic wing players and versatile post players, but Jasmine was one of the rare point guards that stood out at the AZ Elite Classic.  She Possesses fantastic quick dribble that she can use to set up defenders for the take, jump shot, or break pressure.  We saw on several occasions where she mounted her young team on her back and put them in contention against much more talented squads.  She never seemed troubled by any defender or defense & attempted to run her team with efficiency. Jasmine is a guard that in the past largely relied on her ability to connect from downtown to be effective but recently has been taking charge, controlling game tempo with aggressive offensive and defensive play, impacting games.  She is a bully with her ball pressure on other guards and very disruptive. I have seen a lot of growth from this young player who brings a lot of energy to the court. 
• Jamee Swan (AZ12): 6'2 forward, Marana high, Tucson, AZ. Very energetic small forward that provides huge rebounding detail for her team.  Jamee has a nose for the ball, goes after it hard and pulls it in strong.  This is not a girl you should have to remind to rebound.  It is what she does.  She has a much improved outside shot.  She can be safe with the dribble, not going to make a bunch of plays with it but can handle it in a straight line, enough to help in the back court if needed. Pretty good shot blocker. Great leadership. Good talker on the floor, instructs, motivates, rallies team.  Plays a little tight offensively, can learn to be a more effective driver, create own shot. Not real offensive minded. 
• Jaime Weisner(WA12): 5'10 guard, Clarkston high, Clarkston, WA.  A fierce competitor,very tough scoring guard.  She plays a big game, very active, effective and makes huge impact on games.  Moves great without the ball. Can catch and shoot as well as put the ball on the ground.  Jaime can take contact at the rim and still finish.  She has a very strong build physically.  Seems like a very dedicated player with not just her basketball skill but conditioning and strength training as well.  She was making the same shots deep into the tournament as she was making on the first day. Has a great touch on her shot.  Everything she put up that caught any part of the rim fell in.  I never witnessed her game taper off in any of her games I watched.  She possesses a lot of heart and tenacity.
• Chelsea Waters(ID12): 6'1 forward out of Lewiston Idaho, is a 5 tool player.  She can handle the rock like a guard, shoot from outside, post hi & lo, pass like a pg, defend multiple positions & rebound. I can't say enough about how much this young lady impressed. She left my jaw on the ground more than any player in the tournament. I did my best to keep my composure but can't say how many times I wanted to say out loud "OMG, this girl is incredible". She can do it all folks. I saw her cut up a press on her own displaying every change of direction move in the book and finish with a PG like pass at the end.  She has great hands, court awareness, vision and moxy.  She really seams to enjoy the sport and playing.  She has an array of moves from the perimeter, low post, high post, and several ways she can finish.  She is a solid HM prospect that can be an impact player.  Needs to develop more strength (but I say that about just about every player), and consistency with her outside shot.

This is the first eval on my blog from the Elite Classic. I will be posting more over the week. I will be posting evals @ SCP where you can find more prospects and evaluations on your favorite players.

AZ's Top Performers 4/8-10

Pictured kneeling L-R: Kenna McDavis, Shilpa Tummala, Alexa Jacobs; standing L-R: Jasmine Hotchkins, Cortnee Walton.

Leading into the springs evaluation period many teams and players like to get in some game time in local tournaments to work out kinks, shake off rust, and sharpen timing in preparation.  This weekend was no different in that many players showed why they are highly regarded prospects, new faces arose out of the bunch and budding stars continued to separate themselves.
Here is a briefing on some of the Arizona players to be seen next weekend starting with the 2012 class on through some 2015 players in no particular order.

2012's

• Cortnee Walton, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  Plays hard is her modus operandi.  She doesn't take a play off.  She plays for the team and bigger good, setting screens, blocking shots, rebounding, rotating off help-side defense.  She covers on-ball screens with the best of them, showing well and recovering.  She can hit the 15ft shot consistently. She has vastly improved her ability to put the ball on the ground and attack the basket from the pinch/high post area.  She is relatively proficient with her back to the basket.  Doesn't necessarily possess a variety of moves but knows how to use her body, protect the ball and finish. At 6'2 she possesses a solid build, fit with good shoulders, solid legs, a very durable body.  I've not known her to be injury prone.  Cortnee can greatly improve her game by getting more range on her jump shot, improving on perimeter skills and finishes.  She has been spending the past month running the 300 hurdles for school track team.  She will be traveling with her club team AZ Warriors to Boo Williams 4/15-17. They have not had practice together since high school ended and will be missing play-maker Shilpa Tummala.  Not sure what they will bring to the table this year at Boo.
• Shilpa Tummala, 5'11 G, (AZ12):  Shilpa is a game changer, simply put.  She is very capable of having big games and has had many of them, none bigger than her first half 18pts. before leaving the game with an injury to help lead her high school team, St. Mary's, to a state title this year. Also scored 30pts against Boo in last year's Boo William's event to only come up a possession short of taking the host team down in the first round.  Shilpa scores in a variety of ways, with the three ball, off the dribble, cutting/slashing, running the floor.  Shilpa will get better the better she takes care of her body.  It's very important she work on her defensive footwork, agility, conditioning and speed.  Strength training is going to improve her game drastically and help her to stay better injury free. She has been rehabbing a shoulder injury she sustained in the Arizona state championship game.  She was a last second scratch from Boo and will not be traveling with her club team to Virginia to better take care of her injury and not having the opportunity to prepare for competition.
• Jamee Swan, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  A very energetic small forward that plays with a lot of energy and emotion.  She rebounds with a viciousness and every time I have seen her she has improved more on her outside shot.  She possesses length and athleticism in a solid build. She is a fierce competitor and worker.  She seems to be headed in the right direction with her training, can maybe attack the basket better, add second moves to beat help and counters. Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17
• Shealyn Brown, 6'4 P, (AZ12): The best 6'4 body in Arizona. She has strong legs, good build for a post.  She is still looking to define her game in more detail but more and more I see her she is getting comfortable and making plays.  Shea runs the floor very well.  She is a presence inside and alters a lot of shots. She pulls down rebounds and is strong with the ball.  She has a nice stroke that she can connect on from 15ft.  The physical tools she brings to her game are undeniable but what would take her game to the next level is a deeper low post game.  She stills looks uncomfortable playing with her back to the basket and doesn't show a variety of moves.  I also think she can be great on the bounce but I need to see her attack the basket more.  Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17.
• Emily Wahlberg, 6'3 F, (AZ12): Not as strongly built as the other forwards and posts listed but has the best range on her shot.  Emily can shoot the three, the mid-range and pull-up off the dribble.  Not enormously quick but with work and strength training she can be a solid small forward because she has solid fundamentals and skills. Emily is probably also the best passer out of the bunch.  Both her high school and club team have good perimeter shooters and she has learned to find them.  Emily's biggest turnaround is going to be her getting stronger, faster and quicker.  She can probably use some tightening up on her dribbling since she is going to be a player that can play out on the perimeter as well as inside.  She doesn't seem to be very physical inside yet and is maybe more apt to place a face up game so possessing those skills are going to be key. Will be playing with AZ Rhythm at Boo.
• JeZhe Newton, 6'4 P, (AZ12): JeZheJeZhe doesn't particularly like to bang inside and struggles against feistier smaller posts that will get physical and hustle more. She tends to lose her legs and struggle finishing in hard battled games. So what I think is really important for her preparation to play at the next level is to learn to be more physical, work on her conditioning and work on her drive to attack the basket. Will be playing with GSB at Boo 4/15-17.
• Simone Westbrook, 5'9 G, (AZ12): Verbal commit to ASU is a crafty guard, very physical with good size. Shows some athleticism on takes and finishes at the basket. Likes to get out in the open court and is a great 1/1 player in those confines. She gets a lot of steels, knows how to anticipate in the passing lanes and when playing ball.  Can be a good rebounding guard. Doesn't have the most orthodox or pretty shot but will connect if left too wide open.  She prefers to drive and get to the rim.  Doesn't really possess a shot off the dribble. Might be too late but does need some work on her jump shot. She anticipates well but does seem a little slow at times.  Maybe doesn't always give all her effort on every possession.  She will be playing for GSB at Boo 4/15-17. **This just in- Simone will not be traveling to Boo, per personal reasons.**
• Arnecia Hawkins, 5'8 G,(AZ12): Early Verbal commit to ASU, very smooth poised player, very sound, disciplined.  Arnecia is very good at getting to the line, knows how to get to the rim and draw contact. She has a great mid-range game. Arnecia's game is getting that first step and pulling up for short jumper.  She is very good and consistent from the 10-17ft area. She is very light on her feet and get down the floor in a hurry.  Her shot can tend to be a little flat which is a bigger factor for her shooting beyond the arc. She is good with the dribble but not exceptionally quick or strong which seems to be a factor against ball pressure.  She looks more comfortable in the off guard roll as opposed to a point guard position.  I would like to see Arnecia getting stronger physically and make her dribble stronger and quicker.
• Cassidy Ranger, 5'10 SG, (AZ12): Cassidy is AZ's most improved player over all.  She didn't even make her varsity squad last year.  She has put in a lot of work with a great shooting coach her in AZ. and continues to make strides in her game.  She has solid shooting mechanics and is getting more and more consistent every time I see her. She has a solid 5'10 frame.  Her biggest adjustments have been catching up with the speed of games, defense, experience and she has made huge leaps since the first time i watched her.  She is still a subpar defender but I have notice improvements in this area and I believe she is committed to the end to continue her growth.
• Lauren Evans, 5'11 SG, (AZ12): Lauren is an athletic long lock down defender. She is highly competitive and brings it every night. Known for her defense, but Lauren is going to give you 15pts & 5-7 rebounds, 5stls a night on top of locking down opponents best perimeter player. Lauren does a great job of getting inside an opponents defense, whether off the drive or cut to knock down that 10-15ft jumper.  She can handle the ball in the back court.  Not a great 3 point shooter but still needs to be guarded outside the arc.  She does tend to over gamble on the defensive side and will have to learn to play more straight up against better ball handlers that will make her pay.  She can learn to become a stronger dribbler and more consistent shooter beyond the arc.

2013's

• Lindsay Leikem, 6'2 F, (AZ13): A very sound fundamental forward.  Lindsay has the best shooting mechanics of any AZ big.  She is solid with her mid-range game.  She has decent ball handling ability, not extremely athletic or quick.  She is a safe player, not very dynamic but doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She plays within her self and fill it up if you can get her open in the right spots.
• Sydney Wiese, 5'6 G, (AZ13): Syd's M.O. is she has massive range, a lefty that is a deadly 3 point shooter. Syd is not afraid to launch it from anywhere on the court in any situation.  She is very offensively minded.  Syd is a great free throw shooter.  In the past year she has learned to set her feet better, quicker and quickened her release.  She seems to demonstrate moxy and poise in big games.  Syd has a very lean frame and is bumped off her dribble to easy. She struggles against stronger, quicker guards and is a sub-par defender.  She just doesn't have the strength or speed to stop elite guards.  She easily gets coerced into dribbling too much and into traps. Problem she has playing good guards is she dribbles with her head down, too much and doesn't have good economy of motion.  Just as her positive M.O. is she has range, her negative M.O. is whe turns the ball over too much and takes too many of her own shots. She is much better off the ball but is primary point guard for high school.  She does also tend to take ill-advised shots in the course of a game but that can be interpreted as what she is being asked to do.  Will be present at Boo with her club team GSB.
• Jasmine Hotchkins, 5'4 PG, (AZ13):  Super quick guard with superb ball skills. Jas is a great defender that can pressure the ball the length of the floor, she is very disruptive defensively and pesky.  She is getting much better off the ball anticipating passing lanes and coming up with steals.  Jas is a great shooting point guard that can score as well as distribute.  She has range, a very quick step and super quick pull-up off the dribble. Although she is becoming more proficient getting to and finishing around the basket amongst the bigs she can probably look to penetrate more with her skills and create for her team.  She can tend to put her head down on the take and miss open teammates.  Needs to learn to be more assertive, better communicator and leader on the floor.  Jas has played with many good players and still tends to pass and hide when she can help her team by being more assertive. Jas will be in Tempe at the AZ Elite Classic with her new club team AZ Rebels
• Britta Nordstrom, 5'11 F, (AZ13): Very athletic, powerful and strong on the take.  possesses good speed in the open court, can finish strong around the basket.  Britta has improved her outside shot but maybe not real consistent yet, much better driver and slasher right now.  She can work on her first step and developing a more consistent shot outside will drastically help that.  Is just an average defender and learn to improve her defensive game.  Will be at Boo playing for GSB.
• Kenna McDavis, 6'1 W,(AZ13): Kenna has good size at the wing and is long.  She has one of the smoothest strokes and can flat out shoot it from outside in transition.  She is athletic.  She can block shots and even play some offense down low or from the pinch/high post. Her size and length helps her on the take but she still tends to drive to upright, doesn't necessarily beat her defender, gets them low and makes a move on them.  Kenna is a great shot blocker but can sometimes be over anxious and find her self in foul trouble. She loves to play the game but sometimes might show too much frustration on the court. Although it is something she has gotten better with. Kenna will be playing with AZ Rebels at the AZ Elite Classic in Tempe, AZ.
• Kyndall Adams, 5'10 G, (AZ13): Athletic, great rebounding guard who knows how to get to the line.  Kyndall has played out of position a lot for her teams, truly a guard that has played a lot of forward.  That is the reason why she probably plays so strong when she drives or goes back up on offensive boards. She has learned to play bigger than she really is.  She has an outside game and the more she gets to exercise it, the more proficient she will become.  Tends to drive a lot when I would like to see her pull-up or shoot the open outside shot more when it presents it self. Confidence to shoot from outside and extending her range will be key to her success. Continually improving her ball skills is a must as I see her as a combo guard at the next level. She will be playing with her club AZ Rhythm in Virginia at Boo.
• Katie Werner, 6'1 W, (AZ13): Great size out on the wing.  She hustles, plays hard, rebounds and knocks down outside shots.  She does a sound job containing her opponent and keeping players off the boards.  She still tends to drive up-right.  Her ball skills have improved much over the past year and can possibly even help bring the ball up against pressure. I see strength training playing a key role in her development, learning how to get low on her drive. I would like to see her set her feet a little quicker and quicken her shot and realease. She will be playing for her club team GSB at Boo.
• Olivia Lucero, 5'9 PG, (AZ13): Is a great system point.  She has shown her ability to set her team up and consistantly run a teams offense.  She is not necessarily a scorer but possesses tools to score if she has the opportunity.  She takes care of the ball and is heading in the right direction. Has good size at the pg position but can possibly be a more prolific ball handler and stronger. Plays for AZ Elite. They will be competing in their own tournament in Tempe this weekend.
• Alexa Jacobs, 5'8 G, (AZ13): Solid defender, fierce competitor, plays with a lot of energy.  She is pesky and can make plays on the defensive end.  She can knock down the open shot. Shot tends to be a little flat and can improve consistency with a little better arc. Decision making, making reads, and floor leadership are going to be key in her development. Playing for AZ Rebels in Tempe, Az this weekend.
• Chantel Osahor, 6'3 P, (AZ13): Great hands, vision and passing ability.  Probably the best passing post in the nation.  Chantel is very deceptive in everything she does, looks off defenders and can make no-look passes.  She sets up her drive well and can take to the basket.  She blocks shots and rebounds very well.  She can also help bring the ball up against pressure.  She also has to be guarded out on the perimeter because she can hit the three.  Key for Chantel is going to be her commitment to getting in shape.  She tends to get winded easily and she has had issues with injuries that can be drastically reduced with better conditioning. Her durability is a big question.  She will be playing with her club AZ Warriors in Boo Williams.
• Lyndsey Leikam, 6'2 F, (AZ13): Solid fundamentals, great shooting mechanics, solid frame and size for her position.  Lyndsey is a hard match-up because of her versatility with her size.  She can handle the ball, shoot, post, rebound, defend. I would like to see her work on her speed and extend her range.  If she can play more on the perimeter she will truly be a gem. Playing for AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Dominique Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Solid build, strong, tenacious defender. Dom is a bully on ball handlers.  With her build and energy she expends on the defensive end is frightening to other guards. She sees the floor well and knows how to push the ball and create tempo for her team.  Offensive perimeter skills are a little lacking and she might have trouble scoring if she needs to.  She will make her self better with better change of direction moves and working on her ability to shoot from outside. Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo.
• Danielle Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Maybe not as strong as her twin sister but quicker. She also is tenacious on the ball, really knows how to play defense. She has great court vision and makes great reads with the ball. A little better offensively than her sister but can also vastly improve her ability to change directions off the dribble and develop a more consistent shot. Both sisters struggle to find their own offense or create their own shot.  Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Chloe Johnson 5'6 G, (AZ13): Extremely athletic, fast and strong. She makes strong moves to the basket.  She is very vocal and shows leadership schools.  Not exceptionally quick handles but powerful explosiveness.  Needs some fundamental work on her shot.  Doesn't have great finger tip action, small hands. Ball comes off the side of the hand too much, tends to miss east/west more than north/south. Doesn't know quite how to get her legs in her shot yet. Doesn't have a mid-range game either.  Game is mostly predicated on athleticism and getting to the rim. Traveling with GSB to Boo.
• Aliyah Dickson 5'9 F, (AZ13): Strong, powerful athlete in the small forward/guard position.  Aliyah caries a strong wide frame with guard like athleticism.  She really knows how to use her body and is best at finishing against contact.  Game can be similar to a Bri Smith if she dedicated her self to the game, her team, and conditioning.  Aliyah is not a strong outside shooter.  She can learn to become more consistent outside and improve perimeter skills.  She relies on cutting slashing right now. Traveling with GSB to Boo



2014's coming





• Courtney Ekmark, 6' G, (AZ14): Displays arguably the best shooting mechanics of guards in Arizona.  She knows how to set her feet, spot up in teams offense.  As good as a shooter Ekmark is she also possesses great patience withing her teams offense.  She will keep working the ball within her teams offense until they get a lay-up or well open, uncontested shot. She is a pure shooter but also has the ability to handle the ball in the full court and has great court vision.  Courtney is not overly quick or strong and can struggle against quicker more athletic guards both on the defensive and offensive end. Courtney has a very lean frame and her lack of strength might be the biggest factor in her inability to explode off the dribble, get open or stay low and move her feet on defense. Having said that her opportunity to gain more mass is important.  She has the basketball tools tot do things maybe her body can't allow her to do right now.  Her 1st step can see improvement, her ability to create her own shot, get open, and play better defense can all improve. She has a superb shot but can possibly quicken her release a little as long as it doesn't take away from her efficiency. Traveling to Boo with her club team AZ Warriors coached by her dad Curtis, who also coaches her high school team.
• Casey Rarrick, 5'9 G, (AZ14): Fearless shooting guard who can attack the basket and connect from outside.  Casey has a certain moxy about her and caries her self with lots of confidence.  She plays big minutes for her high school and club team. Her club team possesses a lot of shooters that help spread the floor and have great ball movement.  My concern with Casey will be how she can handle pressure and how she will be effective against teams that play tighter defense. Her dribble isn't real quick and strong and she plays up-right, as do many young players. Needs to improve her point guard skills. Plays for AZ Rhythm who will be at Boo.
• Emily Wolph, 5'4 PG, (AZ14) Small quick guard, good handles that can shoot from outside. Great game at mid level.  Not sure she has the frame to get that much stronger to be an impact player at the next level.  She will definitely need to get stronger, especially in the legs and clean up her shot mechanics. AZ Rhythm will be at Boo.
• Ceclily Wilson, 5'9 G, (AZ14) Has displayed a lot of athleticism in attacking the basket. Elite athleticism right now.  Needs to continue to work on game and develop an outside shot.
2015's
• Armani Hawkins, 5'6, (AZ15): Showing the beginnings of a budding star.  She possesses strong fundamentals and has a great feel for the game. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Sabrina Haines 5'8, (AZ15): Very good rebounding guard, strong with major game experience for her age. She is a hard worker on the floor and seems to find ways to impact the game, mostly through her hustle and work. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Kendall Perry 5'7 G, (AZ15): Kendall is shaping up into a nice leader, capable of running a team. She has sound skills and looks to keep on flourishing.
• 

THE SHILPA FACTOR

pictured L-R: Shilpa Tummala, Kenna McDavis

In a highly anticipated rematch between #1 (5AII) Pinnacle and #1 (5AI) St.Marys  much was at stake.  For Pinnacle it would be their right to a claim to fame, solidify themselves as not just a top notch AZ program but a chance at national recognition, recognition for their players and bragging rights.  For St. Mary's it was about pride, tradition, a standard and not slipping another spot in ESPN/Powerade FAB 50.  St.Mary's entered the season ranked as high as #7 nationally but has dropped down to #17 after their recent loss to Pinnacle.  In that first match-up Shilpa un-characteristically fouled out in the first half of play, only putting up three points for the entire game.  Being forced to sit most of the first half and eventually fouling out nullified her ability to be the impact player she is for her team and the factor her opponents have to reckon with throughout the course of the show.  That allowed Pinnacle to stifle St. Mary's offensive prowess with their popular box/diamond and one on sharp shooter Courtney Ekmark. The final score was St. Mary's 58, Pinnacle 68.

Since that first showdown, the rematch has been the talk of AZ's womens' hoops community.  St. Mary's used the forum for breast cancer awareness, calling for a "Pink Out", sported their pink warm-ups and high-glossy pink Nike 2010 Hyper Dunks.  OK, enough with the fashion status, on to the game.  Again like in the first game ShilpaTummala started the game on the bench.  This allowed Pinnacle an effective leverage on SM's. By imploring their diamond/1 and box/1 defensive set, Pinnacle was able to cut down the opportunities of Courtney Ekmark, SM's biggest scoring threat on the floor at the time.  SM's showed patience with the offense but still bewildered on how to score they took many shots that were off the mark.  Just what Pinnacle wanted to get into their transition offense.  Pinnacle quickly went up 8-2, mostly on break away lay-ups.  SM's looked a step slow, matched up in transition poorly and were getting out hustled, out rebounded.  Then entered ShilpaTummala into the game.  Within a minute she made her presence felt with consecutive 3's that tied the game.  Kenna McDavis came down on the other end and connected from long range herself, keeping Pinnacle in the game.  Then Shilpa hit her third straight 3 and quickly the fans caught fire and momentum starting swinging in SM's favor.  SM's found their offense which was allowing their press defense to become affective. When Ekmark started connecting from outside, SM's went on a scoring binge to close out the quarter 20-12.  During the 3rd quarter, SM's started to pick apart the Pinnacle defense with their passing game.  I have yet to see a high school team as patient and score off the pass as well as SM's.  SM's was finding back door cuts off pass feeds by Osahor and the Williams sisters.  SM's suffocating jump defense allowed Pinnacle to score only 7 points in the 2nd.  Numerous Pinnacle turnovers and SM's efficiency gave SM's the upper hand in terms of possession and they converted for 20 points of their own in the 2nd.  SM's took a dominant 40-19 lead into intermission.  

SM's continued their torrid pace into the the 3rd.  Walton's presence inside was keeping drivers at bay and limited Pinnacles second chances.  Pinnacle's only highlight in the half was Weise's relentless attack of the basket that got her to the charity stripe a few times and to the basket on an un-characteristic SM's lack of help defense.  Kenna McDavis was an efficient 2-3 from 3 and showed ability to pull up off the dribble but Pinnacle's in-ability to take care of the ball at times hand-cuffed their offensive weapons.

By the first minute of the 4thQ SM's had gained a 29 point advantage 66-37 and Pinnacle's reserves were entering the game to finish it off.  SM's would eventually coast to a 69-49 victory.  The turning point can be isolated way back in the first quarter when Shilpa entered the game and knocked down 3 consecutive 3's in just three minutes of her being on the floor.  She finished the first half with 16 points and 25 points for the game, always a hard item for opponents to account for when she is doing it like she so often does.  The difference in the game, the X factor, equals the "THE SHILPA FACTOR".  Many girls stepped up and showed their worth and on any given night a dozen or so of the players that played this night can have big games but the night belonged to St. Mary's and the MVP was Shilpa Tummala.

Pinnacle Upsets #11 St. Mary's

L-R: Britta Nordstrom, Kenna McDavis, Sydney Wiese

In a highly anticipated game with lots of local news coverage and college coaches in attendance, Pinnacle did the unthinkable. They took down highly touted, #11 (ESPN/Powerade) ranked St. Mary's Knights. Pinnacle packs a powerful punch behind 6'5 UofA commit Aley Rohde. Behind Aley are three young budding superstars, 5'6(G) Sydney Wiese AZ-13, 6'1(W) Kenna McDavis AZ-13, and 6'(W)Britta Nordstrom AZ-13, who are all garnering lots of DI attention. That's quite a lineup but Pinnacle has shown some inconsistencies and lack of defensive presence at times this year. Add that to how wonderful a team St. Mary's is, with 10 potential DI prospects, a #11 ESPN ranking and not a lot of people were giving Pinnacle a chance. St. Mary's has faced similar challenges against a talented Chandler and Hamilton and beat them both by a combined 50+ points. St. Mary's only close game against another AZ team was a couple weeks ago when Xavier had them within 4pts with three minutes to go. St. Mary's would end up winning that game by 9.

St. Mary's looked flustered early and Shilpa Tummala was in foul trouble. Pinnacle was throwing multiple defensive looks at St.Mary's trying to keep them off balance. After Tummala fouled out early in the game Pinnacle was really able to put the pressure on St. Mary's by taking away their best scoring threat left on the floor, Courtney Ekmark. Pinnacle would implore their smothering box & one and stifle SM's offense. Only up by 4 with less than 4 minutes to go St. Mary's would make some costly turnovers and with Wiese scoring 10 of her 27 points in the 4th quarter, SM's would find themselves behind with time running out. Down the stretch Pinnacle would take control and St. Mary's finding themselves in uncharted territory looked very uncharacteristic faltering to Pinnacle 68-58.

Pinnacle: Wiese 27pts, Rohde 17pts, McDavis 13pts
SM's: Dickson 14pts, Ekmark 10pts

HIGHLAND THANKSGIVING BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Final Four All-Tournament Selection

First Team:

• Alyssa Heeman (pg) 5'4, Highland (2011) At 5'4 and not necessarily fastest or quickest with sick handles, Alyssa will not wow anyone out of the gym but simply put she gets the job done. She gets by her defender cutting off the their angle and getting them off balance using a stop&go again dribble. She has the capability of lighting it up from outside. She plays with a lot of poise and discipline. She makes the right, simple pass. She makes the right reads and controls the games tempo. Even without flashy handles she knows how to get into the paint and create for her teammates, always with her eyes up making smart plays. Alyssa is already a senior and doesn't have the luxury of years to work on a whole lot. She is better suited for smaller colleges.
• Kenna McDavis (sf) 6'1, Pinnacle (2013) Kenna is probably the most pure shooter on the court this weekend. She possesses a silky smooth stroke and with her size can get it over most guards. She is extremely athletic and plays with a lot of moxy. Love to watch her play because she just has that 'it'. One never knows when she will catch fire and start dropping bombs from beyond the arc every trip down the court. Kenna possesses all the natural qualities to become great but will become even more versatile and dynamic as she gets a better economy of motion on her drive. Her first step tends to be too wide of an angle. Shorten that angle and she will get to the basket quicker and in better position to finish or create for others. She is just coming into her game at the perimeter having mostly played a post on her club teams at a younger age. Kenna is going to continually grow as she learns to become a more versatile wing & develops more perimeter skill set. Right now she sometimes falls into a rut and becomes too one dimensional as a shooter but with her athleticism and height she can be much more.
• Syerra Davis (g) 5'8, Tolleson (2011) Already signed with UTEP this fall. Had an offer from ASU but ASU rescinded. Syerra has a smooth game, a great mid-range pull-up where she rises high above defenders to get off. She is very gifted athletically and can be a great defender. Syerra's problem is she doesn't always show how good she is or can be. She often feels too content to play in the shadows even when she should be the one shining and taking over for her team. It seems she has to hit some big shots to get going and turn it on rather than just pouring it on from the get go till it gets right. I hope Syerra finds that swagger and confidence. Tolleson is going to need it this year from her and she will need it in college.
• Kaile Magazzeni (f) 6'1, Highland (2011) When the ball touches Kaile's hands good things happen. She is a fierce competitor. She is Highland's director and leader on the court. At only 6'1 she doesn't back down from bigger centers and will post aggressively herself. She is very difficult to guard in the low post because she gets great position. She goes at her defenders quick and early on the low block, gets opponents in foul trouble by getting great position and going up strong to the basket. She doesn't have an array of moves with her back to the basket, mostly relies on good positioning. She does however have a great turnaround jumper that she hits with precision. It is her go to move. She has range at about 15ft but definitely needs to increase her range out to the arc. She is a great defender against multiple positions and anticipates off the ball well, reading passing lanes. Oh, by the way, she is a fierce rebounder and slick passer. To be a strong DI prospect she is just going to have find a better perimeter game and face up more.
• Aley Rohde (c) 6'5, Pinnacle (2011) Already committed to UofA Aley has a lot of upside. She is a south paw 6'5 post and has always conjured up a lot of interest from college recruits. She does show a lot of capability when her team finds her. She likes to get the ball on the low left block and go to her left hand baby hook shot. Sometimes shots come to easy to Aley whether she is on or off and I rarely see her go to an array of counters that might get her a higher percentage shot. She does have a nice release on her jumper which she is capable of hitting from 10-15ft and occasionally might knock down a 3 but does have somewhat of a hitch to her shot. Confidence is key for Aley and possibly with maturity and in the right environment she will flourish. My advice to Aley to have a successful college career would be to forget she is 6'5, train like a under 6'3 post, get stronger, get the advantage by playing for position before she gets the ball and demand the ball, make good things happen.

Second Team:

• Anne Marie Holter (pg) 5'8, Seton Catholic (2013) Anne shows high basketball IQ and is an exceptional passer. She finds open players and gets them the ball where they can score. She does a great job of controlling the tempo of the game and displays a lot of poise. Is not going to wow anyone with her skill set but knows how to use what she has to get the job done. Really does a good job of getting the ball up the court, dribbles N-S and doesn't over dribble.
• Kayla Bustos (g) 5'4, Seton Catholic (2011) Kayla heated up from outside this weekend and scored 27pts against a very tall athletic Pinnacle high school. She gets her shot off quick but defenses might be able to control her ability to get open looks by putting taller defenders on her. Not sure she has the ability to create her own shot.
• Sydney Wiese (g) 5'8, Pinnacle (2013) Sydney can be one of Arizona's deadliest shooters from outside. She has unbelievable range but Pinnacle has to use her as their primary point guard limiting their chances to get her open looks in transition in open court. She has a little razzle dazzle to her ball-handling abilities but tends to over dribble, dribbles with her head down and her lack of strength allows her to get bumped farther out of the driving lane forcing her to take much more difficult lay-ins. She often fails to see traps coming and forces turnovers because her head is down and she tries to engage the defender with too much dribbling. She is also very predictable which is why she probably gets picked off so much. Over the three games I have watched her play this fall she is averaging near 10 to's a game. Not a good stat to have. As advanced as her offensive game is her ability to lock down other guards is hazardous and led to many open looks on the perimeter for the opposition because of the penetration allowed. Also Pinnacle's bigs tend to get in foul trouble a lot which can somewhat be attributed to the lack of perimeter defense. Sydney no doubt has a lot of up-size and will go very far but definitely has some kinks to work out which have been exposed as of late. Sydney's offensive skill set easily has her on my 1st team but her turnovers lack of control of team's offense and defense puts her on the second team.
• LaQuese Garrett (f) 5'11, Tolleson (2011) LaQuese plays with great energy, plays bigger than she is and can still step out and put it on the floor for the take. She is extremely athletic and poises problems for bigger slower forwards guarding her on the perimeter. Her shot is in need of some desperate help. I say it like that because if she were a sophomore or maybe even junior, one can look at working on it but high school season has already started and this is her final season.
• Theresa Wirth (sf) 5'11, Seton Catholic (2011) Theresa is more suited for a perimeter game and as such is an exceptional shooter but for her high school she has to take the load of the work inside. She has a nice athletic build, is no doubt dedicated to being in shape and did a great job of rendering 6'5 Aley Rohde ineffective in their match-up. I was shocked to when I saw Theresa have to handle the ball in the open court. Her handles are very inferior of where they should be at her level and other abilities. She no doubt is an exceptional guard/sf but really needs to sharpen her ability to handle the ball even to play in the SunBelt conference which is where she will be next year for University of Denver.

All-Defensive Team:

• Anne Marie Holter (pg)
• Cassi Damyanovich (g)
• Britta Nordstrom (f)
• Theresa Wirth (f)
• Kaile Magazzeni (f)
• LaQuese Garrett (f)

Best of the rest:

Briana White

Susan Spinner

Madi Rinehart

Emily Wahlberg

Jordan Hagen