Sunday, October 30, 2011

Christyn Hopper heading to Alabama A&M




Arlington High School's senior guard Christyn Hopper has verbally committed to play for Alabama A and M University in Huntsville, Alabama. She also played for the National AAU runner-up Team Memphis Elite-Little team. Christyn will pursue her education in biology and pre-med.

Congratulations, Christyn!!

Center Hill Jamboree Report

All I can say is "What a way to start basketball season off!!" There was some basketball being played at Center Hill on Saturday. When I left the gym from watching the competition, I was so HYPED UP! I was texting and calling everyone I could think of. I had to tell them what I just witnessed.

SOUTHAVEN!!!! is going to turn some heads in Mississippi this season. The starting 5 is so dangerous. They play so well together. They are athletic, aggressive and play with an attitude. AND NOT SENIORS!!!

6'2 Jasmine Joyner (2013) is extremely long and thin but she plays HUGE! I first saw her in my End of Summer Shoot Out tournament last summer and I must say I see the growth. She is much more than a shot blocker now. She is also a threat on the block --receiving lobs and finishing. Oh and did I mention...you might not want to leave her open behind the arch cause she can nail the 3 pointer!!

5'11 Aaliyah Miller (2013) is so agile and powerful..That's what I first noticed in my exposure league this summer. I just wish she could have played in more than one game because she is a great talent. Nice body size. Nice shooting stroke....Almost unstoppable.

5'8 JoAnna Smith (2013) is THE TRUTH..She is surrounded by so much talent at Southaven that you do not see what she is really capable of. She is an excellent off the dribble shooter. Excellent on the ball defender.And much much more..You have to see it to believe it.. That's why in a week or two, I will have a highlight video up on her...

Combo Guards 5'8 A'Queen Hayes and Olivia Cunningham (2014). I have been watching these 2 since they were 8th graders. There was always something about A'Queen. She has always been like the energizer bunny all over the place. Now she is starting to come into her own. More under control.. She can be your distributor or your scorer. From the outside and penetrating into the paint. Olivia was kind of a mystery. More of a laid back player..That was then.. NOW..She is on fire.. She was unstoppable to the basket. Getting by defenders gracefully into the paint.

Center Hill!!! This young lady is starting to realize her abilities. Another player that I have been watching since in 8th grade. 5'8 Combo Guard Kiarra Golden (2014). She held the point guard duties yesterday but it did not stop her from displaying her scoring abilities. A lefty with the sweetest stroke.. Here is her video as a rising 9th grader.




H. W. Byers!!! Started off last season struggling because of injuries and youth....and still won the STATE title for Mississippi Class 1A state championship.. This season they are healthy and much experienced..The younger players are ready and look out for coach to go deep on his bench. Senior Alexis Hardaway, an Austin Peay commit, will be leading this squad...To my surprise, there was a familiar face on the court with Byers. And she was surprising everyone else.. Getting by defenders and dropping it off...Point Guard Shadae Nolen (2013). A great addition to the squad... You may remember her to. She was the 8th grader highlighted in my Pre-Season Show Off Camp video.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

OMG! Southaven starting 5 is ridiculous! All d1 prospects
Center hill jamboree update: West memphis academy participating not west memphis high

Friday, October 28, 2011

Pre Season Show Off Camp 2012 Class Evaluations

The 3rd Annual Pre-Season Show Off Camp was full of talent. To kick off the evaluations is the senior class of 2012.

Jalyn Burkett (White Station) 6'1 Center. Agressive shot blocker and runs the floor very well.

LeMetria Dunn (Fairley) 5'5 PG. Super quick feet.. 3 point shooter and distributor.

Logan Hammonds (Arlington) - Has the best of both worlds, Height and Shot. Standing over 6'0 feet tall and with a shooting stroke to die for. She is a versatile player that can take her game to the paint and knock down some threes behind the arch.

Lorna Hudson (Peabody) 5'10 Shooting guard can play inside or out because of height and guard one-on-one on perimeter

Rachel Hughes (Bartlett) 6'0 Aggressive Post.. Can run the floor, defend and score..

Brandi Jefferson (Kirby) - 5'7 Hard working guard. Has a nice stroke and can handle the basketball.

Bethany Lyle (MHEA) 5'10 sharp shooting guard. Deadly behind the 3 point line

Leah Lyles (MHEA) 5'8 Shooting Guard

Briana Neal (Overton) 5'11 forward. Energetic forward that does not mind doing the little things. Rebound and stick backs, set screens and roll, knows how to initiate transition after a rebound by dribbling or advancing the ball. Short jumper range..

Samantha Reeves (Fayette Academy) - The first thing I noticed is her size. She stands over 6'1 feet tall and she has a thick body frame--and she knows how to use it to cause problems on defense and to create space and post up on offense. She is not limited in the post. She is capable of spotting up for the 3.

Jasmine Stafford (Overton) Extremely smart Combo Guard and quick off the dribble.

Chelsea Vaughn (Melrose) 5'7 Guard. Aggressive, energetic hustler.

Arkela Jones--Ware (Fairley) 5'5 Aggressive combo guard. Loves to shoot the three, can also get into the paint and operate as a distributor

Kyra Williams (Long Beach (MS))5'6 Very aggressive combo guard

Aaliyah Whiteside (Central) A high major prospect and plays like one. Already committed to Georgia Tech. Close to 6'0 with long arms and a smooth lefty stroke. Has height and handles and can post up.

To learn more about the Pre-Season Show Off Camp, visit www.GirlsBasketballExposure.com .

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

3rd Annual Pre Season Show Off Camp Recap



Over 50 players, participated in the 3rd Annual Pre-Season Show Off Camp. There was some unbelievable talent at this year's camp. The talent level in this event continues to get better each year. In the near future, this event will be one of the must-attend spots for college coaches around the country.

Because the event is held in an adjacent 2 court facility and the game schedule is staggered, it creates an unique advantage for all participating players to be seen by all attending college coaches.

3 Rivers Community College (MO, NJCAA), Arkansas (SEC), Arkansas State (Sun Belt), Christian Brothers (Gulf South), Murray State (KY, Ohio Valley), and UT Martin (Ohio Valley) took advantage of watching every participant perform.


Evaluations from the camp will be posted over the next couple of days. These evaluations are based on review of camp video footage - another advantage of being a participant at this event.

To learn more about the Pre-Season Show Off Camp, visit www.GirlsBasketballExposure.com .

Center Hill High School Basketball Jamboree Schedule 2011

This should be nice!!

Saturday, October 29, 2011
Center Hill
13250 Kirk Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654

Schools participating:
Lewisburg
West Memphis
Southaven (A'Queen Hayes, Olivia Cunningham, JoAnna Smith, Aaliyah Miller and more)
H W Byers (Alexis Hardaway, Kyra Gulledge and more)
Center Hill (Jasmine Golden, Kiarra Golden, Kaelin Kneeland)


CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE

Chris Dailey On Recruiting: Every Year Has Different Challenges For UConn

Here is an interesting article that gives you an inside look on how college coaches look at recruiting. This article is specific to UCONN and Tennessee.

....But the planning and effort that goes into recruiting for the seven-time national champion never ends. It just heads in new directions.

"Marissa [Moseley], Shea [Ralph] and I meet often; every day there is something we discuss about [recruiting]," said Chris Dailey, UConn's associate head coach. "I was told a long time ago you need to do something every day, and if you don't you will be behind. It could just be a casual conversation about someone [one of the coaches has seen]. We spend a lot of time trying to identify time on our schedules to go visit a player. It's a constant and it's fluid because it involves people, their schedules and families.

"We're either actually getting closer to a player every day or we're moving further apart."

UConn's recruiting speaks for itself — the who's who among the greatest players in women's college basketball history. But Dailey says past success does not guarantee the future and the game changes quickly.

"Everything varies with the process, and what you never hear about is that it doesn't matter what the depth chart says or what your needs are and who is coming in the following year as freshmen," Dailey said. "It can all change on the first day of practice.

"Kids get better, others don't. Kids get hurt. There are so many variables. Players you expect to develop at a certain level may not. Injuries may cause others to move back into a different class [medical redshirt]. It's just about constant change."

Dailey said the Huskies do not enter a recruiting season with a preconceived idea of how many players they might want. As a general rule, one [like Kelly Faris was in 2009] is not enough and five [as they Huskies had in 2010] might be too many.

"If we had the perfect scenario, we'd likely choose signing three players one year, then four the next, then another three and another four," Dailey said. "But it doesn't always work that way."

That philosophy seems uniform. Mickie DeMoss, Tennessee's recruiting coordinator, told the govolsextra.com last week the Lady Vols also surf whatever wave rolls out.

"You're going to have one year where your numbers are going to be low," DeMoss said. "So you just sacrifice, kind of hold your breath. Then you start balancing those classes back out.

"If there's a great player out there and we've already signed four, we're not going to turn them down,'' DeMoss said. "But we do want to keep it about four per year."

It's also not possible for UConn to predict when a player will decide. Maya Moore and freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis decided soon. Some wait until the end, as freshman Kiah Stokes did.

"Every kid is different," Dailey said. "Maya Moore had a plan in her head. She had five schools she wanted to visit unofficially in the fall of her junior season and she made her decision to play for us in March.

Click here to read the entire courant.com article

Sharwil Bell Named Pre-Season All-American

Image and story from Rhodes College Athletics site

Continuing the series on Memphis Girls Basketball players excelling on different levels of womens college basketball.

Rhodes College (Division III) - Senior Guard/Forward Sharwill Bell (Lausanne)



Lynx senior forward Sharwil Bell was named to the d3hoops.com pre-season All-American team this week. Bell who led the SCAC in scoring last season (19.2ppg), is a returning captain on the 2011-12 women's basketball team. "As good as a player as Sharwil is, she has become a better leader and this is a well deserved award," said Lynx Head Coach Matt Dean.

In 2010-11 Bell was named All-SCAC first team and was in the top ten of six statistical categories. "Without question she is one of the toughest players to guard in all of Division III basketball," said Dean. Bell was also named a Capital One Academic All-American in 2010-11 and was a Josten's Award nominee.

Rhodes opens the 2011-12 campaign against Westminster (MO) on November 18th in Conway, AR.

Source

I have also added Rhodes College as a link under the Schedules section.

Monday, October 24, 2011

8th Annual Braggin Rights Classic 2011 Schedule

Location: McGhee Courts 4 Sports
854 Reading Rd.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45040

December 28, 2011

GYM 1
10:00am Thurgood Marshall vs. Beaumont
11:45am Meadowdale vs. Norton
1:30 pm Landmark Christian vs. Glenville
3:15pm Walnut Hills vs. Vasj
5:00pm Bellbrook vs. White Station (TN)
6:45pm Southwest DeKalb (GA) vs. Elyria catholic
8:30pm The Rock School (FL) vs. Nyc Charter (NY)

GYM 2
10:15am Thomas Worthington vs. Dunbar
12:00pm Clyde c Miller (MO) vs. H.D. Woodson (DC)
1:45pm Winton woods vs. Faith Baptist (Fl)
3:30pm DuPont Manual (KY) vs. Nazareth Regional (NY)
5:15pm Stone Mountain (GA) vs. Kenton Ridge
7:00pm Chaminade –Julienne vs. Digital Harbor (MD)
8:45pm Potters house (FL) vs. St Mary’s Ontario (CANADA)



December 29, 2011

GYM 1
9:00am Butlersville vs. Norton
10:45am Beaumont vs. Thomas Worthington
12:30pm Carroll vs. The Rock School (FL)
2:15pm Stone Mountain (GA) vs. Newark
4:00pm Mt. Notre dame vs. NYC Charter (NY)
5:45pm Potters house (FL) vs. Chaminade –Julienne
7:30pm DuPont Manual (KY) vs. Clyde c Miller (MO)
9:15pm St. Anthony (NY) vs. HD Woodson (DC)


GYM 2
9:15am Reading vs. Glenville
11:00am Elyria catholic vs. White station (TN)
12:45pm Vasj vs. Thurgood Marshall
2:30 pm Bolingbrook (IL) vs. St. Mary’s Ontario (CANADA)
4:15pm Sycamore vs. Faith Baptist (FL)
6:00pm Nazareth Regional (NY) vs. Digital Harbor (MD)
7:45pm S.W. DeKalb (GA) vs. Winton Woods

December 30, 2011

GYM 1
10:30am Reading vs. Dunbar
12:15pm St. Anthony (Nyc) vs. White station (TN)
2:00pm Nyc charter (NY) vs. St Mary’s Ontario (CANADA)
3:45pm Chaminade –Julienne vs. Nazareth Regional (NY)
5:30pm Whithrow vs. Stone Mountain (GA)
7:15pm Newark vs. S.W. DeKalb (GA)
9:00pm Clyde c Miller (MO) vs. Walnut hills

GYM 2
10:15am Butlersville vs. Vasj
12:00pm Badin vs. Digital harbor (MD)
1:45pm Faith Baptist (FL) vs. Kenton ridge
3:30pm Lake Ridge Academy vs. DuPont Manual (KY)
5:15pm Hathaway Brown vs. Rock School (FL)
7:00 pm HD Woodson (DC) vs. Mt. Notre Dame
8:45 pm Bellbrook vs. Potters house (FL)

2nd Annual Magic Citi Showdown 2011 Schedule

Location: H.W. Byers High School
4178 Highway 72 East
Holly Springs, MS 38635

DECEMBER 22, 2011
10:30AM PEARL RIVER CENTRAL (MS) VS. BYHALIA (MS)
12:00PM WHITEHAVEN (TN) VS. ASHLAND (MS)
1:30PM STARKVILLE (MS) VS. MHEA
3:00PM HORNE LAKE (MS) VS. MARIAN CATHOLIC (IL)
4:30PM CAMPBELL (GA) VS MANASSAS (TN)
6:00PM FOREST PARK (GA) VS. SOUTHWIND (TN)
7:30PM NEWTON (MS) VS. MEMPHIS CENTRAL (TN)
9:00PM HW BYERS (MS) VS. WHITE STATION (TN)

DECEMBER 23, 2011
10:30AM PEARL RIVER CENTRAL (MS) VS. MHEA (TN)
12:00PM MANASSAS VS. BYHALIA (MS)
1:30PM MARIAN CATHOLIC (IL) VS. STARKVILLE (MS)
3:00PM CAMPBELL (GA) VS. ASHLAND (MS)
4:30PM FOREST PARK (GA) VS. WHITE STATION (TN)
6:00PM HORNE LAKE (MS) VS. WHITEHAVEN (TN)
7:30PM NEWTON (MS) VS. SOUTHWIND (TN)
9:00PM HW BYERS (MS) VS. MEMPHIS CENTRAL (TN)

Friday, October 21, 2011

Jasmine Settles, Durriya Shields, Alabama State University Practice Schedule

In middle school and high school, you are probably use to 1 and a half to 2 hour practices once a day. Can you imagine having to practice 1 and half to 2 hours, twice a day? Then throw in practicing from 5 to 7am then heading to class at 8. Getting out of class at 11:15am and back to practice from 12:00-2:00pm. Well, welcome to college basketball.

Freshmen Jasmine Settles and Durriya Shields from White Station are getting an introduction to the college basketball practice schedule. Alabama State released their first couple of weeks of practice times.

Date: Time
Monday, October 3: 5:15 – 7:15 a.m./2:15 – 3:15
Tuesday, October 4: 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m./2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 5: 5:15 – 7:15 a.m./2:15- 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, October 6: 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m./2:30 – 4 p.m.
Friday, October 7: 2:15 – 5:15 p.m./ or 5:15 -7:15 a.m.
Monday, October 10: 5:15 – 7:15 a.m./2:15 – 3:15
Tuesday, October 11: 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m./2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 12: 5:15 – 7:15 a.m./2:15- 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, October 13: 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m./2:30 – 4 p.m.
Friday, October 14: 5:15 -7:15 a.m.

Hasina Muhammad Adjusts To College Life

article & image from Auburn Athletics site
source


Hasina Muhammad (Ridgeway) may be the only freshman on the Auburn women's basketball team, but she heads into her first season with plenty of accomplishments on the court coming out of high school.

The Memphis native was the No. 19-ranked guard in the nation as well as the No. 2 prospect in Tennessee coming out of high school, and made what she says was a pretty easy decision to come play for the tigers.

"Auburn is in the SEC, it's not too far away from home, and I really enjoyed the coaching staff as well as my teammates", said Muhammad. "I love the atmosphere here. Everyone is friendly and I really haven't met one mean person since I've been here."

Since coming to Auburn, Muhammad has gotten her feel of the campus and begun the process of adjusting to college life as well as going to football games and enjoying some of Auburn's traditions.

"My first football game as a student was a lot of fun", said Hasina. "You have to stand the whole time or you won't be able to see the game! As far as adjusting, my teammates have really helped me with that and for the most part I think it's gone pretty smooth.

"Tyrese Tanner is my roommate and Parrisha Simmons and Morgan Jennings are like my big sisters. They've really helped me a lot."

Although Muhammad is adjusting well, she's still learning how to manage her time being a student athlete.

"Time management has been the toughest thing to figure out", said Muhammad. "In high school, you go from class to class, then practice, then you're done. In college, you go to practice, a few classes, then study hall, then another class. It was pretty overwhelming at first."

Since arriving on campus, Muhammad has done her best navigating the rough waters that come with adjusting to college life. She said that no matter what, she is going to keep on moving forward and improving every day.

"I just have to keep pushing, I tell myself that every day," said Muhammad. "Whether I'm in class or just getting through class, I just have to keep pushing myself."

As she continues to adjust to college life with help of her roommates and the rest of the team, she looks forward to proving herself on the court and achieving some of the goals that her and the rest of her teammates share.

"Individually, I want to be the top freshman in the SEC," said Muhammad. "As a team, I want us to win the SEC Championship and make it well into the NCAA tournament."

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Big 12 Women's basketball coaches answer realignment questions

At the Big 12 women’s basketball media day, coaches from around the league sat down behind the microphone and dodged the inevitable conference-realignment questions. Though the moves were based on football, women’s basketball was also affected by the changes.

Coaches such as Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale stressed the strength of the conference that sent seven of its 12 teams to the NCAA tournament last season.

“When you play in a league that has the strength that the women’s basketball conference or the Big 12 Conference and women’s basketball has, you don’t want to see that broken up for any reason,” Coale said. “And that’s not good for the game.”

When the conference shrank with the loss of Colorado and Nebraska, the schools changed their schedules to face the 10 remaining schools twice. Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said that the change would be exciting but difficult.

“From a competitive standpoint, it is even more challenging because of the strength that the southern part of the league has and how talented those teams are,” Henrickson said.

The Jayhawks feature seven players from Texas and one from Oklahoma. Henrickson said the additions of southern games would be more motivating for those athletes and would be a good opportunity for recruiting.

As the conference continues to change, the rivalries that have lasted through the existence of the conference will also be affected.

Read entire Kansan.com article

Deja Foster Awarded 2011 Charles T. Stoner Law Scholarship

I am a few months late on this announcement. However, it is worth posting. 1st- this article demonstrates that it is cool to take care of business in the classroom. 2nd - this article demonstrates that everyone does not have to go pro in basketball once your career is over. 3rd - this article is another demonstration that Memphis Girls Basketball players are all over the US excelling in basketball and academics.

Georgia Tech (ACC Conference) - Graduated - Guard/Small Forward Deja Foster (Wooddale)




Deja Foster of the Georgia Institute of Technology is the recipient of the 2011 Charles T. Stoner Law Scholarship Award, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.

The $1,000 Charles T. Stoner Law Scholarship Award, named for and presented by Stoner, a former legal consultant for the WBCA, is presented annually to one female collegiate basketball player who intends to pursue a career in law.

"What a pleasure to present to Deja Foster the Charles T. Stoner Law Scholarship Award," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "As the NCAA says, most student-athletes will go pro in something other than sports, and we hope Deja will have a great career in law."

Foster, a 6-foot senior guard, is the Yellow Jackets' second-leading rebounder with a 6.2 rebound- per-game average. Named to the 2010 ACC All-Academic Team for work on and off the court, she is a six-time Georgia Tech Dean's List honoree and is majoring in Management.

Foster, who is from Memphis, Tenn., is an active member of Georgia Tech's Student-Athlete Advisory Board.


Source

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

ESPN to televise more than 100 Womens College Basketball Games

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 will present a record-high 108 women's college basketball games during the 2011-12 season. The schedule includes 84 games during the regular season and 13 from the conference tournaments. ESPN3 will continue to simulcast all of the ESPN and ESPN2 games. ESPN networks will also air all 63 games of the women's NCAA tournament in March and April. ESPN 3D will air its first women's basketball game as part of the Big Mon. Play 4Kay telecast of SEC rivals Kentucky at Tennessee on Feb. 14.

Click here for 2011-12 TV Schedule

Memphis Girls Basketball Players in the SEC

Memphis is a hot bed for talented players. We have players playing all over the US in different divisions. Today I wanted to break down the players in the Southeastern Conference. Click the players name to see their athletic profile.

Alabama Sophomore Guard Jasmine "Tootie" Robinson (Overton)

Arkansas Junior Post Sarah Watkins (Houston)

Auburn Freshman Guard Hasina Muhammad (Ridgeway)

Geogia Junior Guard Jasmine James (Bartlett)

Kentucky Senior Guard Crystal Riley (Hillcrest)

LSU Committ Daniel Ballard (Central)

Mississippi State Redshirt Freshman Forward Carnecia Williams (White Station)

Ole Miss Senior Guard Latosha Laws (Northside)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

How to Prepare for Recruitment

Having a proactive mindset and asking these types of questions is a great start.

Never Too Early

First thing: it’s never too early to start the process – the earlier the better. Visits to colleges will not generally begin until your junior year, but if you are committed to playing in college, you should start preparing as soon as possible. Many college athletes began in 7th or 8th grade. Some players don’t begin until their Junior year or later, but by then their peers who started early already have a big advantage.

Any safety in football knows to tackle a ball carrier after he makes a catch, but the very best are reading quarterbacks’ eyes, anticipating the throw, and jumping on the route. The recruiting process is no different. The more you can anticipate what’s coming and be proactive, the more successful you will be. While a smart play by a defender on the football field can mean a pick-six and a win, a smart play in the recruiting game can bring you an education and a whole different future. With that much on the line, why wait until the last minute?

Learn the Rules

The first step to getting a leg up in the recruiting game is learning the rules of college sports recruiting and getting a sense for the best ways to prepare yourself.

Learn about the camps, clubs, and combines that are available for athletes in your sport, and attend as many as you can. These are great places to build both your skills and your relationships in your athletic community – what they are not so good for is getting discovered. While college coaches do sometimes attend camps and combines, even a standout player will be a needle in a haystack of dozens or hundreds of other athletes who are also playing at a high level. Smart players will reach out to prospective schools; although coaches can’t contact you until later in your high school career, you can contact them at any time. Writing letters to coaches ahead of events can be a great way to get some exposure.

Click here to read Complete GirlsBasketballRecruiting.com article

Rebounding Box Out Drill with Blake Griffin

Monday, October 17, 2011

Hasina Muhammad dunks during Auburn Madness Event

Check out Hasina Muhammad (Ridgeway) as she demonstrates her athleticism to the Tiger Hoops fans at Auburn's Madness event. Click here to access the video. She dunks around the 39 second mark.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Nikki Caldwell, Lady Tigers Speak at Media Day



First-year LSU women's basketball head coach Nikki Caldwell addressed members of the media on Thursday at the LSU Practice Facility as the Lady Tigers held their annual media day to preview the upcoming 2011-12 season.

LSU opened practice last week and will play an exhibition game against Xavier (New Orleans) on Nov. 2 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Caldwell era officially opens at Wichita State on Nov. 14 before the Lady Tigers return home to host Georgetown on Nov. 16.

LSU, ranked 24th in a Sporting News preseason poll, returns five seniors who are motivated to reach the NCAA Tournament after falling short last season. LSU plays host to the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds on March 18 and 20, respectively.

Caldwell begins her first season after compiling an impressive 72-26 record in three seasons at UCLA. Below is a transcript of Caldwell's press conference and quotes from LSU players:

LSU Women's Basketball Media Day Quotes

Head Coach Nikki Caldwell


Opening Statement...
"The way this team has embraced the change and the new staff, it is going to be an exciting year for us. I am very thrilled first off to be here as the women's basketball coach. I knew that when Joe Alleva and I talked back in April that coming here was going to be an unbelievable experience. It has been unbelievable, not just being the coach here but by the people that I have gotten to know and meet as well as those that have embraced this program and university."

"I have a great group of young ladies who worked extremely hard in the offseason and that have been here in the summer. We have a couple of freshmen that have come in the fall, and they have not missed a beat. I am excited that I do not have to condition them in practice or motivate them. They are self motivated right now. All I am doing is teaching and implementing. They are running with our game plan."

"I am looking forward to our senior class stepping up this year, obviously led by LaSondra Barrett. She is someone that we are going to depend on in a big way. Also Adrienne Webb in what she was able to do last year. We just want to make it a better year for her as a junior. We have a lot of talent in our young classes in the sophomores and freshmen. The first thing I told them on day one was everyone starts on an even playing field. Make no mistake about it. The game does not know your age. I am not concerned with you being a senior or a freshman. I am more concerenced if you can play the game the right way. They've all shown that they can. It is going to be a battle everyday in practice to compete for minutes and starting. It has helped the competition. This is a great start for our team in our first week of preparation."


On the difference in personal she inherited at UCLA to LSU...
"Every program is different when you step in as the new coach. When I took over the position at UCLA, there still were a lot of talented players that the former staff recruited and brought in. Just like here. Coach (Van) Chancellor did a great job of recruiting these young ladies. There are a lot of similarities in the newness of taking over a program. Being at UCLA, there roster was predominately California kids and West Coast. Here we have a lot of the Southern region covered in Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and obviously Louisiana. Having played in the SEC and having coached in it for six years prior to coming here, it is a different type of athlete. It is a different type of physicality that the SEC plays with. I am excited with this year's team on taking on the challenge of not selling themselves short. They all felt last year that they did not step up and do what they needed to do. It is another challenge because this is a very prominent program if you look at the history. If you look at what Sue Gunter has done for this program and women's basketball, there is a lot of tradition here and it is very rich. There is no exception to not getting to the Final Four. We definitely want to make that the destination for us every year that we take the floor. Taking over at UCLA was more of my staff and I building the program into national prominence. While here LSU has always been in the spotlight in that regard."


On the team's transition to the new staff ...
"The team has responded fairly well. We're really trying to get them to practice at an intensity that they are not accustomed to. The challenge for this team is for them to not only practice at this level of intensity of a team going after a national championship, but they need to improve every day. We need to get better everyday in all of our action. This was a good week. We're not there yet, but there is a lot of promise and upside to this team."

On Krystal Forthan and the freshmen ...
"She (Krystal) needs to contribute right away. Krystal is a very talented player, one of those players that can play multiple positions. We are running her on every spot on the floor, offensively and defensively. Her versatility is going to be a huge asset for our program. The sooner she understands all of the responsibilities of all the positions, the sooner she will understand the game. She's been doing a lot of extra on her own, meeting with coaches one-on-one, watching film one-on-one, writing up plays. She understands that she is here for a reason like they all are. Sheila has been a bright spot for this program. She brings an undersized play to the game. I am not totally concerned with the size of our players as I am the size of their hearts. She brings that to the table. To round out that freshmen class we have Anne Pedersen from Denmark. You leave her open, and she is going to knock it down. We have a very talented freshmen class."

Click here for complete Media Day Quotes

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Fall Exposure League Week 3 Recap

The Inaugural Fall Exposure League finished on a high note. We had our most exciting game of the league with a come from behind overtime thriller. Congratulations to all players that used the league as an opportunity to gain additional exposure and prepare for the Fall NCAA Evaluation weekend and upcoming fall basketball season.

Bianca Cage for 3
Break Out Bianca
The performances displayed during game 1 between Gonzaga and Baylor were intense and exciting. I enjoyed watching the 1-2 punch from both teams. Point guard Shunice Herron (Bolivar) and shooting guard Victoria Lewis (MHEA) put in work trying to keep their team undefeated for the league. But it was the 1-2 punch from shooting guard Bianca Cage (Southwind) and point guard Amber Holmes (Southwind) that pulled their team to an overtime victory. Gonzaga was down 23-11 at the half. Third quarter Bianca Cage caught fire going 6 for 8 from behind the 3 point line scoring 23 total for the quarter. Southwind should be very entertaining to watch this season.






Not in My House
Senior post Jalyn Burkett (White Station) made it known throughout the league not to come into the paint because she is going to block your shot. This week she showed her offensive side making strong face up moves getting by defenders off the dribble for layups.


Attitude is Everything
As high school athletes you are not only being evaluated by your performance on the court, but also by how you carry yourself off the court. Guard Phelicia Atkins (Overton) is such a joy to watch. She is extremely passionate about this game. If she is not currently playing a game and there is a half time break, you will see her on the court shooting the basketball. During the game, if she is not knocking down threes and distributing the ball, she is enjoying the game and expressing herself verbally.


Phelicia Atkins up the court with the ball


I noticed sophomore forward Alise Parker (Houston) before she touched the court. If she is not joking around, she is laughing very loudly across the court. On the court she is just as vibrant. She did not put up big numbers in the league until week 3 with 10 points but at over 6'1 tall, long and athletic, her presence is still felt.

Alise Parker in the air



Each week Victoria 'Torri' Lewis walked through the door with not 1 basketball but two basketballs using any opportunity to put up extra shots. She was not the only player that came with her own basketball. The twins, Elise and Brynn Holden, had their own basketball. Speaking of the twins.......

Brynn & Elise Holden


Seeing Double
 I had a few people ask me if they were seeing double. I even had to constantly ask "Which one are you?" When you have two sets of twins participating in an event, it really does help to have numbers on the back of the jerseys. Both set of twins are freshman. Elise and Brynn Holden will be suiting up at Briarcrest Christian and Breanna and Brittany Cowans are at Germantown High. Each set of twins can put up numbers also. They will be on my watch list to check out this basketball season.
Brittany & Breanna Cowans
Click here for Week 3 Statistics

Friday, October 7, 2011

Southwind High School Play Day Schedule

Southwind High School Play Day Schedule
November 5, 2011

Participating Teams: Southwind, Briarcrest, Fairley, Middleton, Brighton, Millington, Germantown, ST. Benedict, Bolton, Melrose, Arlington, Bartlett, Hamilton, Harding, Covington, Manassas

9:00 am ​​Arlington ​​vs. ​St. Benedict
9:30 am ​​Fairley ​​vs. ​Germantown
10:00 am ​​Fairley ​​vs. ​St. Benedict
10:30 am ​​Arlington ​​vs. ​Germantown
11:00 am ​​Arlington​​ vs.​Fairley
11:30 am​​ St. Benedict ​vs.​Germantown
12:00 pm ​​Millington vs. Middleton
12:30 pm ​​Briarcrest​​ vs.​ Manassas
1:00 pm ​​Brighton vs. Middleton
1:30 pm​​ Briarcrest​​ vs.​Bartlett
2:00 pm ​​Middleton​​ vs. ​Bartlett
2:30 pm​​ Melrose ​​vs.​ Manassas
3:00 pm​​ Bartlett vs. Brighton
3:30 pm​​ Millington ​​vs.​Briarcrest
4:00 pm​​ Southwind​​ vs. Melrose
4:30 pm​​ Melrose ​​vs. ​Brighton
5:00 pm ​​​​Southwind vs. Millington
5:30 pm​​ Harding ​​vs.​ Bolton
6:00 pm Southwind vs. Manassas
6:30 pm ​​Hamilton​​ vs.​Covington
7:00 pm ​​Hamilton​​ vs.​Bolton
7:30 pm​​ Covington ​​vs. ​Harding
8:00 pm​​ Hamilton ​​vs.​Harding
8:30 pm​​ Covington​​ vs. ​Bolton

Back to School Recruiting Check List

NCSA Athletic Recruiting provides a Recruiting Check List based on your class: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior.

CLICK HERE to access the Check List on GirlsBasketballRecruiting.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

University of Memphis women’s basketball team is preseason pick to win C-USA

from CommercialAppeal.com

Coming off a second straight 20-win season, the University of Memphis women’s basketball team was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Conference USA title this season in a poll of league coaches that was announced today.

In addition, two-time first-team, all-conference senior guard Brittany Carter was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year and senior forward Jasmine Lee was named to the preseason first team.

The only other Tiger team picked to win the C-USA title was the 1997 team that went on to win the regular season title and advance to the NCAA tournament with a 22-7 record.

Carter, who averaged 13.8 points per game during an injury-riddled season a year ago, is the first Tiger to be named Preseason Player of the Year honors since Tamika Whitmore did so before the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

In her first season at the U of M after transferring from Georgia, Lee averaged 12.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.

The U of M opens the 2011-12 season Nov. 11 at FedExForum against Saint Louis at 5 p.m. The Tigers will also play host to the C-USA tournament March 7-10, with the first two rounds taking place at Elma Roane Fieldhouse and the semifinals and finals at FedExForum.

Tennessee and others set to welcome key recruits

The NCAA evaluation weekend is upon us, and elite prep players will be showing off their games in front of college coaches at events across the country this Friday-Sunday. As a result, most schools have opted not to use this weekend as a chance to get seniors on campus for official visits and instead use the time to get a jump on evaluating the top underclass prospects on their lists.

Tennessee, however, has bucked the system.

This year, the fall evaluation weekend represents a major recruiting weekend for the SEC school. Instead of evaluations, Tennessee will be all about on-campus visits. The list of players headed to Rocky Top this weekend includes all of their current class of 2012 commitments -- Bashaara Graves of Clarksville, Tenn., the No. 5-ranked player in the 2012 class by ESPN HoopGurlz; No. 20 Andraya Carter of Flowery Branch, Ga. and No. 39 Jasmine Jones of Madison, Ala. Joining them will be Rachel Hollivay of Columbus, Miss., the No. 8 player in the 2012 class who will be on her official visit; and Diamond DeShields of Norcross, Ga., the No. 3 player in the 2013 class who will be visiting unofficially.

Read complete Hoopgurlz story

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

U of M women move into renovated facilities

image from CommercialAppeal.com



It was three years ago that University of Memphis women's basketball player Brittany Carter first heard about the renovations that were scheduled to take place at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

But those renovations -- complete with brand new locker rooms for the women's basketball and volleyball teams, a players lounge area and a team meeting room -- took longer than expected.

"I was like, I hope it gets done before I leave," Carter said.

As Carter, now a senior, heads to the Tigers' first practice for the upcoming 2011-12 season today, Phase 1 of the fieldhouse renovations are complete, a year later than what was originally hoped for. The final cost was about $1 million, said associate AD for compliance/senior women's administrator Lynn Parkes.

"We're very grateful that the university and the athletic department made that kind of commitment to our women's programs -- volleyball and basketball," Parkes said. "We continue to progress and hope to see the university reap the benefits of their investments in the programs."

Click here for complete Commercial Appeal story

For Andrea Holmes, recovery a “day-by-day” ordeal

Binghamton University women's basketball star senior guard Andrea Holmes (Mitchell) is on the road to recovery after suffering a season-ending ACL tear in her left knee late last season against Boston University.

With about a month remaining before the Bearcats open non-conference play, Holmes told reporters she feels about 70 percent following an offseason of surgery and rehab.

Last season, Holmes led the team in scoring, assists and steals, and became just the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 points.

"It's still a great amount of pain that I feel, like every other day maybe," Holmes said. "It just has a mind of its own. When it's good, it's good; when it's bad, I really do feel bad."

Despite the pain, Holmes says she's been doing a lot of the "basic things" like running, jumping and shooting around to get herself back into "the flow of basketball."

She is currently focusing on regaining a sense of comfort in her lateral movements and cuts.

While Holmes and Binghamton head coach Nicole Scholl agree that Holmes is progressing nicely in her recovery process, no timetable has been set as of yet for her return.

"It's all day-by-day," Scholl said. "It just depends on how fast the recovery is going and what we see in practice. For me, I think my comfort level, once I see her get knocked to the ground and she gets back up and she's fine and got a smile on her face, I think that's when everybody's gonna be alright."

According to Holmes, Oct. 5 marks the six-month clearance date set by her doctor, though she'll also have to wait for clearance from the trainer.

Click Here for complete Binghamton University Pipe Dream website story