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UCONN, RUTGERS Land Big Recruiting Classes For 2008
09/01/2006 - Bret McCormick
Here is a quick look at ASGR's projection for the Top 25 classes for 2008. A new list of Top 150 classes will be published on Dec. 1. That list will include all of the official signees, and the order of teams could change slightly. Recruiting rankings are based on national rank, transfers and returning players.
(1) CONNECTICUT
No. 1 Elena Delle Donne, 6’5, WF
No. 10 Caroline Doty, 5’11, SG (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 11 Heather Buck, 6’5, C (2007 USA RED)
No. 15 Tiffany Hayes, 6’0, SG (2007 USA WHITE)
This outstanding class is highlighted by Delle Donne, who is the best shooter in the country although she is 6-5. Delle Donne has an all-around game, and she will have a major impact from Day One. Doty is working her way back from a knee injury, while Buck will bring important size to the Husky lineup.
(2) TENNESSEE
No. 4 Glory Johnson 6'3' PF (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 5 Shekinna Stricklen, 6’2, WF (2007 USA RED)
No. 9 Alicia Manning, 6’0, WF (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 13 Amber Gray, 6’1, WF (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 14 Alyssia Brewer, 6’3, C (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 67 Briana Bass, 5’3, PG
Johnson is a tremendous athlete and a true winner. She has the ability to control a game on both ends. Stricklen has deep shooting range, and the ability to play numerous positions. Manning is a big guard with wonderful skills, and she will fit the Lady Vols system well. Gray is a tremendous athlete, while Brewer is a more-skilled version of former UConn player Jessica Moore.
(3) RUTGERS
No. 3 April Sykes, 6'0 WF
No. 6 Jasmine Dixon 6'1 WF (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 8 Nikki Speed 5’9, PG (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 16 Brooklyn Pope 6'1 WF (2007) USA RED)
No. 23 Chelsey Lee 6'2 PF
The Scarlet Knights put together one of those magical classes, with three Top 10 players and 5 from the Top 25. Sykes is “Miss Do-Everything” – a great all-around player. Most of these athletes could play multiple positions, so Rutgers will be very, very difficult to handle in the coming years.
(4) LOUISIANA STATE
No. 18 Destini Hughes, 5'9, PG
No. 20 Taylor Turnbow, 6'3, C (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 21 Ayana Dunning, 6'3, C (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 41 LaSondra Barrett, 6'0, WF
No. 91 Crystal Riley, 5'6", PG
No. 103 Courtney Jones, 6'0, PF
LSU will be losing eight seniors, but the new staff has done a great job replacing that group. Hughes will eventually be a huge asset at the point, and she will likely start as a freshman as one of the backcourt spots. Turnbow is a great athlete who can score inside or out to 15 feet, while Dunning has size, strength and technique.
(5) DUKE
No. 31 Kathleen Scheer, 6'2, PF
No. 33 Shayann Selby, 5'9, PG (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 118 Chelsea Hopkins, 5'6, PG
Scheer is a skilled player who could fill a number of roles for the Blue Devils. Although she was underrated by some, look for her to have a big first year in Durham. Selby is more of a scoring point guard, and Hopkins is simply a terrific athlete. The Duke class will jump up if the Blue Devils land No. 2 prospect Nneka Ogwumike.
(6) STANFORD
No. 2 Nneka Ogwumike, 6'3 C (2007 USA RED)
No. 19 Sarah Boothe, 6’5, C (2007 USA RED)
No. 124 Lindy LaRocque, 5’9, PG
Boothe played for the same AAU program that produced current Northwestern play Amy Jaeske, and she has a similar game. Boothe’s signature move is a sweet inside hook, and she will be a great fit for Stanford. LaRocque is a big-time perimeter shooter who has a wonderful basketball IQ.
(7) GEORGIA TECH
No. 34 Mo Bennett, 5’10, WF
No. 46 Nisha Adams, 6’4, C
No. 58 Chelsea Reagins, 6’2, C
No. 64 Sasha Goodlett, 6’4, C
No. 71 Metra Walthour, 5’6, PG
The Yellow Jackets once again landed an outstanding recruiting class, with five players from the Top 75. The group is highlighted by three superior post players who all have athleticism and skill. When this unit combines with the 2007 class, Georgia Tech will have the talent to challenge for an ACC crown.
(8) NORTH CAROLINA
No. 7 Chay Shegog, 6’4, C (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 37 She’la White, 5’6, PG
No. 40 Laura Broomfield, 6’0 PF
No. 129 Candace Wood, 5’11, SG
Shegog is a true five player who should develop into a star for the Tar Heels. White gives UNC yet another quick guard who can score, while Broomfield is a great athlete with long arms who will excel in pressing situations. Candace Wood, who is the daughter of former Tar Heel men’s star Al Wood, shoots as well as her father.
(9) MARYLAND
No. 17 Lynetta Kizer, 6’3, C (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 1 JUCO Demauria Liles, 6'2, WF
Kizer is a big body who reminds many of Georgia’s Tasha Humphreys. Kizer can step outside, where she can handle the ball or shoot the jumper. She should provide immediate help in the post for the Terps. In addition, Liles is the nation’s top JUCO prospect. A true inside-outside player who will be an important contributor next year.
(10) OKLAHOMA
No. 65 Whitney Hand, 6’0, SG
No. 106 Jasmine Hartman, 5'9, PG
Hand is the type of player that Coach Sherri Coale loves – a perimeter shooter with size and an all-around game. Hartman is a very athletic point guard who should see considerable court time as a freshman.
(11) TEXAS
No. 29 Ashley Gayle, 6’4, C (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 51 Yvonne Anderson, 5'7, PG
No. 249 Ashleigh Fontenette, 5’7, PG
Gayle is an athletic post with solid skills and a bright future. Anderson is the daughter of Mike Anderson (the Missouri men's coach), and she has a scorer’s mentality. Fontenette is a fundamental floor leader.
(12) OHIO STATE
No. 12 Samantha Prahalis, 5’7, PG (2007 USA WHITE) - COMMACK HS
No. 47 Amber Stokes, 5'10, PG
The Buckeyes signed two athletes who will be ready to compete in the Big Ten. Prahalis is the best passer in the class, and she has a tremendous handle plus impressive savvy. Amber Stokes is following in the footsteps of her father, Ronnie. Amber is a lefty who is a great athlete.
(13) FLORIDA STATE
No. 30 Chasity Clayton 6'0, WF
No. 73 Ciara Bravard 6'5 C
No. 199 Alexa Deluzio, 5’9, SG
No. 270 Kayli Keough, 6'2, WF
The top two Seminole recruits should form a nice tandem. Clayton is an elite athlete who can score from anywhere on the floor, and Bravard is a big, strong post with good skills. In addition, FSU added the shooting skills of Deluzio and the perimeter size of Keough.
(14) LOUISVILLE
No. 36 Monique Reid, 6’1, WF
No. 61 Janae Howard, 6’2, PF
No. 86 Mary Jackson, 5’11, SG
No. 114 Tiera Stephen, 5’9, PG
No. 133 Gwendolyn Rucker, 6’3, C
This deep class features Reid, who has a fantastic inside-out game, and a body that is already prepared for the Big East. Howard is a big in-state recruit who has size and athleticism. Both players should provide immediate help.
(15) CALIFORNIA
No. 45 Casey Morris, 5’9, PG (2007 USA BLUE)
No. 52 Shawna-lei Kuehu, 5'10 WF
Morris should prove to be a nice complement to last year’s strong Golden Bear class. Morris is a good athlete who has excellent point guard instincts.
(16) UCLA
No. 28 Atonye Nyingifa, 5’11, WF
No. 95 Rebekah Gardner, 5’11, WF
Nyingifa is an explosive athlete who can attack the basket or post up. She is a great leaper who will bring size to the Bruin perimeter. Gardner is a wiry wing who is a good defender with solid skills.
(17) NOTRE DAME
No. 32 Natalie Novosel, 6’0, SG
No. 68 Erica Solomon, 6’2, WF
No. 119 Kellie Watson, 6’2, PF
Novosel is a big guard with great all-around skills, and she will be a good fit the Fighting Irish. Solomon has been on the national radar for a few years, but she is working her way back from a knee injury. Watson is a fundamentally sound player who is also overcoming an injury.
(18) USC
No. 22 Ashley Corral, 5’9, PG (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 35 Briana Gilbreath, 6'2, SG (2007 USA WHITE)
No. 87 Michelle Jenkins, 6’3, C
Corral is a big-time shooter who possess range and intelligence. She will be instant offense for the Women of Troy. Gilbreath, who has chosen to follow her sister Stephanie to USC, also has deep range on her shot.
(19) PURDUE
No. 26 Brittany Rayburn, 5’11, SG (2007 USA RED)
No. 60 Chelsea Jones, 6’4, C
No. 83 Alex Guyton, 6’2, C
No. 130 Chantel Posten, 5’11, PF
Rayburn is a marvelous athlete with a superb body and skills to match. In many ways, she is a stronger version of former Boilermaker standout Katie Gearlds. Jones and Guyton will both help in the post. Jones is more of a low post, while Guyton is more athletic. Posten is a big-time athlete who made a splash over the summer.
(20) TEXAS A&M
No. 44 Skylar Collins, 5’9, SG
N0. 49 Adaora Elonu, 6'0 PF
No. 54 Kelsey Assarian, 6’1, PF
No. 63 Sydney Carter, 5'7 PG
Collins will give the Aggies yet another very athletic guard, and she has good skills. Assarian is a true power forward who likes to bang in the paint. She will fill a void for A&M.
(21) BAYLOR
No. 122 Cherish Wallace, 6'7 PG
No. 139 Terran Condrey, 5'8, SG
No. 146 Ashley Field, 6’2, PF
(22) ARKANSAS
No. 81 Lyndsay Harris, 5’9, SG
nO. 82 Cierra Ricketts, 5'8 PG
No. 127 Julie Inman, 5’8, PG
No. 165 Jamesha Townsend, 6'3, PF
No. 204 Asley Daniels, 6’2, C
Harris is a combo guard with great shooting range and a solid understanding of the game. Inman is another athlete with wonderful shooting range. Townsend is long and wiry with good athleticism, while Daniels has good potential and great athleticism.
(23) CLEMSON
No. 90 Morgan McMinn, 5’11, WF
No. 166 Lindsey Mason, 6’4, C
No. 213 Shaniqua Pauldo, 6’4, C
No. 217 Lindsey Welker, 6’2, PF
Clemson got in early on McMinn, who is a big, strong athlete who can step out to the arc or post up. The Tigers also added solid size. Mason has long arms, runs the floor, and scores with her back to the basket. Pauldo is a better athlete, and she has a good upside.
(24) TEMPLE
No. 48 Miranda Tate, 5’11, SG
No. 53 Kristen McCarthy, 6'0, WF
Tate may prove to be a true diamond in the rough for the Owls. She has size, long arms and good skills. McCarthy is an explosive wing player who will be a good fit for Dawn Staley’s program – she is a tremendous defender and rebounder.
(25) SOUTH CAROLINA
No. 42 Charenee Stephens, 6’1, PF
No. 117 Parrisha Simmons, 5'11, WF
No. 163 Taylor Dalrymple, 6'1, PF
No. 174 Becky Burke, 5'10, SG
No. 292 Tonia Williams, 6'1, PF
Stephens is a strong athlete who will be a true power forward. She has the strength and skills to compete in the SEC. Simmons is a big guard who is also very athletic, and she can take you off the dribble or shoot the three. Dalrymple, who is the daughter of former Georgia Tech standout Bruce Dalrymple, also has size and skills. Burke is a shooter with a good basketball IQ.
*** Players with numbers highlighted praticipated in the 2007 USA Basketball Women's Youth Developmental Festival USA this past summer in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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