Tanya Ray Named Arkansas- Monticello Head Women's Basketball Coach

Tanya Ray has been named head coach for the women’s basketball team at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Ray becomes the seventh head coach for the Cotton Blossoms in the 38-year history of the program.

Ray comes to UAM after serving as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level for the past 11 seasons. Most recently, Ray was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro for the past nine seasons (2002-11). Before joining the staff at ASU, Ray served two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Click here for complete University of Arkansas-Monticello article

IT's OFFICIAL!! Stan Gatlin, Southwind's New Coach

Former Millington High girls basketball coach, Stan Gatlin, is officially the new coach at Southwind High.

Memphis Girls Basketball Fundamental Friday: Kevin Durant Guard Drills

Laquaris Harris Highlight Video

Laquaris Harris 5'6 2011 PG Booker T. Washington

22 USA Women’s National Team Members Set To Attend May 10-12 Training Camp In Las Vegas

image from USABasketball.com

USA Basketball National Team veteran Diana Taurasi is one of 24 players expected to participate in the USA National Team training May 10-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Twenty-two members of the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, including all 12 who aided the USA to the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal, will attend the USA National Team’s May 10-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev., USA Basketball today announced. Additionally, Baylor University sophomore Brittney Griner and the Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot have accepted invitations to participate in the camp in the hopes of being added to the USA National Team pool.

Gathering for the first time since winning the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal, the USA National Team’s training camp will be held each day at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion starting at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

Participating in the training camp are USA National Team members Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Shameka Christon (Chicago Sky), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream), Ebony Hoffman (Los Angeles Sparks), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Kia Vaughn (New York Liberty), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx).

Click here for complete USA Basketball news

ESPN Hoopgurlz remaining Spring Evaluation Schedule

Here is a tenative list of the upcoming events during the 2011 spring evaluation period that HoopGurlz will be breaking down.

April 30-May 1: 4th Annual Gateway Challenge -- St. Louis, Mo.
April 30-May 1: USJN Great Plains Qualifier -- Evanston, Ill.
May 14-15: West Coast Premier Spring Invit. -- Pomona, Calif.
May 26-30: USAB U16 Team Trials -- Colorado Springs, Colo.
May 28-30: Midwest Showdown -- Mason, Ohio.
May 28-30: Wildcast Classic -- Lexington, Ky.

Nina Davis, The Captain

This article and image was actually published on ESPN Rise website back in February. It features Tennessee State Champion tournament MVP Nina Davis. WOW!! She was selected captain of Central's team as a freshman.

Nina Davis wasted no time becoming a leader.

She was named captain of her Memphis Central (Memphis, Tenn.) varsity basketball team her freshman year.

But it’s not always easy being a freshman and having to tell your teammates, most of whom are older, what to do.

“It was very hard being a captain my freshman year and telling my other teammates what to do,” Davis said. “I found the courage to do this by just having the confidence in myself also having lots of support from my coach, Niki Bray, and family.”

Now in her second year as both a high school student and captain, the 16-year-old sophomore point guard believes she has become more vocal this year.

“I now know that I don’t have to be afraid to lead my teammates and worry if they will follow me,” Davis said. “And that I don’t have to be afraid to speak my mind because my teammates will respect me regardless. I wish I would’ve known these things my freshman year.”

So how does Davis lead the team while still maintaining friendships with her teammates?

“What happens on the floor, we leave on the floor,” she said. “As we step off the court, we just forget about what happened earlier and just relax and have fun in our free time with each other.”

But it’s especially difficult when Davis has to tell one of her teammates they did something wrong.

“Sometimes it’s very hard to tell them that they are wrong, but we all must learn from our mistakes,” she said. “So as a leader, I step up to the plate and tell them so that this mistake won’t hurt us in the long run.”

Davis advises other young captains to always believe in themselves and, if they do that, their teammates will respect them for who they are.

“Never be afraid to shine and show the gifts that God has given you,” she said.

SOURCE

2011 MAYB Memphis/Bartlett Tournament Results

8th Grade Division
Champs: Lady Tarheels
2nd: Arkansas Front Row Sports
3rd: Patosha Jeffery's Team Po Po
4th: Collierville Dragons

High School Division
Champs: Team Memphis Elite-Holmes
2nd: Arkansas Front Row Sports
3rd: Lady Bearcats
4th: Lady Bobcats

2011 Best of Preps Finalist

Danielle Ballard, Central junior
Ballard, a Best of the Preps finalist for the second
straight season, saved her best for last, scoring 21 points
and pulling down 10 rebounds in Central’s 72-59 victory
over Murfreesboro Riverdale in the championship game of
the AAA state tournament. The Lady Warriors’ floor leader,
the 5-8 Ballard averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 assists and 4.7
steals per game while making the all-tournament team in
Murfreesboro.

Nina Davis, Central sophomore
Davis was named the Most Valuable Player of the state
tournament after helping the Warriors win the first AAA
championship team by a Memphis girls team in 26 years.
She scored 21 points in the Lady Warriors’ title-game victory
and went 27-of-30 from the free-throw line in three
tourney games. For the season, the willowy 5-10 Davis
averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 52 percent from
the floor.

Kaylah Keys,Harding sophomore
A two-year starter for the Lions, Keys lit it up in 2011,
leading the city in scoring at 24.4 points per contest. She
also chipped 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists while leading
Harding to the Division 2-A state tournament. The 5-4
Keys, a Miss Basketball finalist, has already surpassed
1,000 points for her career and has twice been named to
the West Region all-tournament team.

Hasina Muhammad, Ridgeway senior
The versatile 6-0 Muhammad had a banner senior year
for the Roadrunners, earning Most Valuable Player honors
in District 15-AAA while also being a Miss Basketball
finalist. The Auburn signee averaged 18.4 points, 7.6
rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 2.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game
for the Roadrunners, while shooting 46 percent from the
floor and 70 percent from the line.

Aaliyah Whiteside, Central junior
The third member of Central’s “Big Three,” Whiteside
came through in the clutch for her team. In a 66-59 victory
over Johnson City Science Hill in the AAA semifinals,
the sharp-shooting guard scored 17 points, including a
pair of big 3-pointers. She joined Ballard and Davis on
the all-tournament team and led Central in scoring for the
regular season, averaging 13.6 points per contest, as the
Lady Warriors finished 29-9.

Click here for complete Best of Preps nominees

2010-2011 Women's College Basketball Coaches Top Salaries

Pat Summitt (Tenn) made $2 million and Auriemma (UConn) $1.6 million. Kim Mulkey (Baylor) made $1.1 million, Vivian Stringer (Rutgers) $1.085 million, Gail Goestenkors (Texas) $1.052 million, Sherri Coale (Oklahoma) $948,000, Blair (Texas A&M), Brenda Frese (Maryland) and Jim Foster (Ohio State) all around $800,000. After three years at UCLA, Nikki Caldwell recently signed at LSU for $700,000 a year with incentives that can take her to $900,000.

Click here for complete article "Geno And Pat Aside, Salaries Of Women's Coaches Make No Sense"

Click here to see 2011 Coaches’ compensation for schools in four of the last five NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournaments.

Aaliyah Whiteside makes ESPN Hoopgurlz Deep South Classic Tip Sheet

Junior, Aaliyah Whiteside (Central)  received an awesome evaluation from Mark Lewis of ESPN Hoopgurlz.

Aaliyah Whiteside, Team Memphis Elite (Memphis, Tenn.): One of the most enjoyable aspects about watching prospects over the course of their career is the continuing evolution of their game. Even more enjoyable is when that athlete is an elite player like this 5-11 guard. Whiteside established herself long ago as a recruit at the highest level of play, but she has continued to advance the skills and scope of her game almost every time we've seen her in action. The potential she demonstrated at a young age is now very much a reality and it may have her climbing even higher than her current No.35 ranking in the 2012 class. Her size and athleticism go hand in hand with an aggressive approach at both ends of the floor. She attacks with the ball in her hands but also cuts effectively without leaving defenders trying to recover. On the defensive end, she can match up with any spot on the perimeter and has the quickness and lateral speed to turn ball handlers and dictate options. She's looking stronger and playing with a maturity that should have an already crowded line of recruiters getting even longer.

Click here for complete ESPN Hoopgurlz story

Tennessee AAU State Qualifier in Memphis

Last Tennessee AAU Qualifier Coming Up in Memphis Area.

To qualify for AAU state tourney, you MUST play in at least one (may
play in multiple) Qualifying Tourney.

The last one is May 6th, 7th and 8th.

Deadline for registration is April 29th.

All age groups will be played.

Cost is $ 200 per team (multiple team discount available)

Games will be played at St Benedict At Auburndale High School along with
St Francis Middle School and St Francis Church Gyms.

Questions ?
Call Don Williams at 901-485-1350, email him at coachdonwilliams@att.net
or go to the website, www.teammemphiselite.org

Hoopgurlz bringing back Prospect Watch

 from Glenn Nelson, Hoopgurlz Founder

We are bringing back Prospect Watch, which was a popular weekly column from our independent days. Everyone thought this was a great way to shine a light on teams and players during the club season, which is why we're bringing this back.

If you have news items you'd like us to consider, please send them to both:

glenn@hoopgurlz.com
chris.hansen@espn.com

Let us know if you have photos we can use (helps immensely).

Examples of items include:

• Player's college school list
• Player's extraordinary game
• Player has an interesting hobby
• Team accomplishment (win streaks, tournament title, etc.)
• Coaching accomplishment

No player is unimportant! We started HoopGurlz for all girls. This is not just for ranked or elite players!

Important: Please be as detailed as possible. Spell names correctly. Give hometowns of players, teams. Give player's class year. Include your association with the player/team, so we know the source of the information.

Durriya Shields and Jasmine Settles signs with Alabama State University

White Station seniors, Durriya Shields and Jasmine Settles made it official yesterday. They signed their Letters of Intent to play for Alabama State University.

Erika Sisk’s all-around game keys OHS success

image and story from oxfordeagle.com

A team-first approach to winning basketball games turned out to be very successful for the Oxford Lady Chargers and junior point guard Erika Sisk this season. Not only did OHS win 24 games and advance to the Class 5A North Half tournament under coach Shayne Linzy in his second season, the 5-foot-4 Sisk was able to show her all-around skills better than she has before.

Sisk not only set up her teammates during games, but she was a driving force behind the Lady Chargers’ offense. She led the area with averaging 22.0 points per game and then added to that outstanding scoring ledger by dishing out 4.8 assists and grabbing 3.9 rebounds per game.

On defense, where Sisk has been known to shine as a freshman and sophomore, her speed and athleticism also allowed her to lead the team with 4.9 steals per game.

It was Sisk’s all-around effort that allowed her to win this year’s EAGLE Player of the Year honor and Oxford’s first in two seasons. Joining Sisk on this year’s team is teammate Kristen Dickerson, Lafayette’s Shaquilla Isom and Nikki McChristian and Water Valley’s Ashley Phillips. Honorable mentions went to Lafayette’s Mykira Buford and Water Valley’s C.C. Phillips.

Sisk, Isom, Phillips and McChristian are repeat members of the team, while Buford was a first-team member last year. Sisk, Phillips and McChristian are three-year members of the team dating back to the 2008-09 season.

Erika Sisk is from Oxford, MS and a member of Team Memphis Elite-Wade.

adiZero Crazy Light Sharp Blue Preview

Crazy Light is the lightest basketball shoe ever made weighing only 9.8 ounces. It has a SPRINTWEB exoskeleton which is less than 1mm thick and seamlessly bonded to the upper for support. The nylon itself is translucent adding to the weight reduction and providing added breathability. Derrick Rose and other adidas athletes debuted the shoe in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Available June 3, 2011

Jordan Retro VII Black/Light Graphite/Bordeaux

 

AIR JORDAN 7 RETRO

15 Reasons to Look Forward to the 15th WNBA Season

15. Breakout stars: We’ve seen Leilani Mitchell and Crystal Langhorne take home the Most Improved Player crown over the past two years. Who is your pick to breakout in 2011? Watching the players evolve over the years into a greater version of themselves is thrilling, to say the least.

14. The playoffs: Take a moment and look at the rosters for each team in the league. Done? Now, give me a legitimate reason why the playoffs and finals aren’t going to be ridiculously competitive and special. Don’t worry, I’ll wait…

13. The battle for MVP: Diana Taurasi? Lauren Jackson? Sylvia Fowles? Angel McCoughtry? Tamika Catchings? Cappie Pondexter?

12. The All-Star game in San Antonio: I’ll be at the AT&T Center on July 23rd. Will you?

11. Candace Parker’s return: Now fully healthy, Parker is on a mission to lead the Sparks back into the playoffs and is more driven to win than ever before. Look for a 20-10 season from CP3.

USA Basketball U16 National Team Invitees

The field of invitees includes 17 players from the 2013 class and 18 from the 2014 class. The USA Basketball selection committee will pick 12 players to form the team that will be headed by head coach Jill Rankin Scneider and assistants Gail Hook and Letitia Hughley. (For more on the coaches, visit USABasketball.com.)

These 35 participants will be joined by a select group of applicants that can submit paperwork to USA Basketball by May 10, for a chance to be included in the team trials. This supplementary group will have to provide their own travel arrangements for the trials.

Class of 2013 Invitees

Alaina Coates -- 6-4 Post -- Irmo, SC
Kendall Cooper -- 6-3 Post -- Carson, CA
Kaela Davis -- 6-2 Wing -- Suwanee, GA
Diamond DeShields -- 6-1 Wing -- Norcross, GA
Makayla Epps -- 5-10 Guard -- Lebanon, KY
Allisha Gray -- 5-11 Guard -- Sandersville, GA
Rebecca Greenwell -- 6-1 Guard -- Owensboro, KY
Linnae Harper -- 5-7 Guard -- Chicago, IL
Jessica Jackson -- 6-2 Forward -- Jacksonville, AR
Stephanie Mavunga -- 6-3 Forward -- Indianapolis, IN
Erica McCall -- 6-3 Forward -- Bakersfield, CA
Taya Reimer -- 6-3 Forward -- Fishers, IN
Mercedes Russell -- 6-5 Post -- Springfield, OR
Karlie Samuelson -- 6-0 Guard -- Huntington Beach, CA
Jannah Tucker -- 6-0 Wing -- Randallstown, MD
Sydney Umeri -- 6-1 Forward -- Acworth, GA
Kendall Waters -- 6-1 Forward -- San Ramon, CA

Class of 2014 Invitees

Recee' Caldwell -- 5-8 Guard -- San Antonio, TX
Sierra Calhoun -- 6-0 Guard -- Brooklyn, NY
McKenzie Calvert -- 5-9 Guard -- Schertz, TX
Jordin Canada -- 5-6 Guard -- Los Angeles, CA
LaJahna Drummer -- 6-2 Wing -- Los Angeles, CA
Courtney Ekmark -- 6-0 Guard -- Phoenix, AZ
Mackenzie Engram -- 6-2 Forward -- Powder Springs, GA
Gabby Green -- 6-0 Guard -- Oakland, CA
Taryn Griffey -- 5-6 Guard -- Windermere, FL
Erin Mathias -- 6-3 Post -- Pittsburgh, PA
Kelsey Mitchell -- 5-7 Guard -- Cincinnati, OH
Jaime Nared -- 6-1 Guard -- Portland, OR
Alyssa Rice -- 6-2 Post -- Reynoldsburg, OH
Chastity Taylor -- 5-10 G -- Melville, NY
Brianna Turner -- 6-3 Forward -- Pearland, TX
Mikayla Venson -- 5-7 Guard -- Arlington, VA
Makayla Waterman -- 6-2 Post -- Dayton, OH
Jatarie White -- 6-3 Post -- Charlotte, NC

Click here for ESPN Hoopgurlz story

Tony Wilson New President of The Memphis Lady Bobcats

story from herhoops.com

Tony Wilson is now the President of the Memphis Lady Bobcats as program founder Rod Echols make a big move to the state of Texas to the Alamo city of San Antonio. Echols will remain the CEO of the program and still promote players as Tony Wilson will handle the day to day operation of the Bobcats National Travel Program. Wilson, also head coach of the Memphis Lady Bobcats Platinum Team will be the perfect fit to run the now largest girls basketball club in the Memphis Area. Wilson has new ideas that will make the club above the rest and will have new visions of growth. Meanwhile, Echols will probably venture out become an icon of girls basketball and change the seen. Echols has launched the G7 Movement this year and everyone should be on the look out for it to take Texas by storm as the Tennessee-Texas Basketball Dynasty will begin. Echols will be doing some big things with Texas Trilogy DFW Elite to make Memphis as Big of a hot bed for girls Basketball as they Big State. One of the Lady Bobcats biggest events ever is in the making with the Rage on the River Tournament May 14-15th. Don't be surprise to see Echols on the Collegiate seen of things. For now Tony Wilson is getting the club prepared for another road trip to the Gateway Classic in St. Louis, MO April 29- May 1.

Glory wins 15U/16U Division Championship at Peach State Tip-Off Classic

Team Tennessee Glory 15U (2014) competed at Brandon Clay’s, Peach State Basketball Tip-Off Classic in Atlanta, GA. April 15 – 17, 2011. The team got off to a fast start by defeating the SouthEastern Lady Blazers 16U in exhibition play with outstanding play from Grace Wade (Faith Christian Aca.), Chyna Ellis (Arlington) and sharp shooter Sydney Smith (Collierville).

The team progressed through their first bracket game by posting 17 point victory over Florida’s Finest’ 16U team. The GLORY then faced the perennial powerhouse program Louisiana Domino’s 15U team. This game was a highlight of the event, in front of a capacity crowd, with fans and college coaches, the game went down to the wire. The GLORY was down by 7 points with 1:10 remaining, but with outstanding play from Courtney Banks (White Station), Jasmine Cincore (Central), Ashley Jackson (Ridgeway), and Torri Lewis (MHEA) the game was tied with a 3-point basket by Lewis as time expired. In the sudden death OT the GLORY played great pressure defense which forced the Domino’s to shoot and miss. Jackson cleared the rebound with an outlet to Banks who attacked the retreating defense only to make a phenomenal pass to Lewis for a layup and game winning basket.

The Championship game proved to be an all-out assault on TN Xtreme 15U. Gabbrella Salazar (Briarcrest) sparked the unit with 3-point accuracy and point-guard play. Raylin Starks (Arlington), Taylor Johnson (Kirby), Jasmine Hurley (DeSoto Central) kept the Xtreme’s 6”4’ post play at bay, while Yasmeen Brady's (Central) aggressive play helped close out the contest.

The Peach State event is college exposure at it’s best, with multiple GLORY athletes receiving offers from SEC, Conference USA, and BIG 12 colleges. Next up, the GLORY will travel to St. Louis, MO. on April 30 to participate in the USJN Gateway Challenge.

DFW defeats Philadelphia Belles in Boo Williams Nike Invitational

The Boo Williams Nike Invitational is one of the toughest club basketball tournaments on the circuit. Winning the gold bracket of the elite division is no small feat. But there was calmness during and after DFW T-Jack Elite's 68-63 win over the Philadelphia Belles.

This win was part of a two-piece promise the team made last spring when the program lost its director and leader, Marques Jackson, to a heart attack.

"Our main thing was Coach Jackson," Ashley Eli said. "This was the weekend of his funeral so it's a really emotional weekend for us and we just really wanted to do it for him. So it's not so much winning a tournament but just more doing it to make him proud and we know he's looking over us."

This DFW team, whose core has been together since the eighth grade, missed this tournament a year ago to attend Jackson's funeral. But this resilient group had two goals this season -- win Boo and win Nike Nationals.

Read full Hoopgurlz article

Free Unsigned Senior Camp

Free Unsigned Senior Camp
Friday, April 22, 2011
East High School

3206 Poplar Ave.
12:30pm-3pm
For High School Seniors and Junior College Players
*** Participants need to wear reversible jersey***
NAIA, D2, JUCO coaches are expected to be in attendance
RSVP with Coach Terrence Isabel at 870-733-4670

Starkitsha Luellen-Higgins participate in Pro Camp

article and image form gotigersgo.com

University of Memphis senior forward Starkitsha Luellen-Higgins (Melrose) participated in an open workout in front of several WNBA general managers, head coaches and numerous professional agents and scouts in conjunction with the Women's Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind., last week. The workout was conducted at Pike High School in Indianapolis and Luellen-Higgins was one of about 60 players from across the country that displayed their talents in the open workout.

"This was a great opportunity for Star in her attempt to continue her playing career overseas," Head Coach Melissa McFerrin said. "I told her to go out there and play hard, play physical and rebound. She received good feedback from the several agents that watched her play. It was a great opportunity for her to showcase her skills and I hope she is given the opportunity to continue playing the game she loves professionally."

During McFerrin's years in the college game, she has coached numerous individuals who have played professionally in both the WNBA and overseas, such as Katie Smith (currently with the Washington Mystics), Janel McCarville (currently with the New York Liberty), and Lindsay Whalen (currently with the Minnesota Lynx).

Luellen-Higgins recently completed her eligibility at the University of Memphis after starting her college playing career at Southwest Tennessee Community College. A graduate of Melrose High School here in Memphis, she was two-year letterwinner at Memphis, helping Memphis make two post-season tournament appearances (WBI in 2010 and WNIT in 2011). She played in 56 career games at Memphis, averaging 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 10 points in the regular season finale at UCF, scoring eight straight points to spark a Tiger run in the second half.

She will graduate in May with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

TSWA All-State Girls Basketball Teams

All-State girls basketball teams as selected by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

CLASS AAA

Rachel Allen (Northeast), Danielle Ballard (Central), Shacobia Barbee (Riverdale), Armeka Booker (Oak Ridge), Nicole Bowers (Hillsboro), Sydney Carden (Halls), Shanice Cason (Siegel), Nina Davis (Central), Bashaara Graves (Clarksville), Hannah Goolsby (Cookeville), Isabelle Harison (Hillsboro), Kyla Kerstetter (Brentwood), Briana Morrow (Glencliff), Hasina Muhammad (Ridgeway), Jordan Neuharth (Walker Valley), Hayley Newby (Farragut), Cheyenne North (Station Camp), Alexus Patterson (Knox West), Tyisha Petty (Riverdale), Torie Vaught (Maryville), Aaliyah Whiteside (Central), Caya Williams (Mt. Juliet).

CLASS AA

Jenna Adams (McMinn Central), Kayla Biles (Upperman), Kelsey Brooks (Pigeon Forge), Cara Bowling (Elizabethton), Haley Felker (Harpeth), Sam Fender (Greeneville), Bre Hall (Fulton), Anna Hammaker (CAK), Ann Jones (Liberty), Keiona Kerby (Liberty), Cassidy Martin (Piegon Forge), Elizabeth Masengil (McMinn Central), Ansley Ricker (South Greene), Mackenzie Sells (Livingston Academy), Emily Sissom (Cannon County), Kelli Smith (Lipscomb), Kendra Willliams (Bolivar).

CLASS A

Robyn Anthony (Arts & Sciences), Courtney Bailey (Scotts Hill), Alex Bond (Oneida), Mariah Britton (North Greene), Jaycee Coe (Jackson County), Layce Colter (Red Boiling Springs), Carly Daniel (Wayne County), Carly Dickens (Clarkrange), T.T. Flowers (Lake County), Rachel Garland (Moore County), Lindsey Higgins (Harriman, Alaina Jordan (Coalfield), Lindsey Kilby (Oakdale), Abby Laws (Loretto), Mariah Massengill (Silverdale Baptist), Alyssa McMahan (Cosby), Sydney Roach (Clay County), Keta Robinette (Marion County), Alycia Simmons (Perry County), Heather Vann (Moore County), Caroline Warden (Jackson County).

DIVISION 2

Simone Busby (GPS), Marjorie Butler (Webb), Chadarryl Clay (GPS), Symone Daniels (St. Benedict), Kaylah Keys (Harding Academy), Sarah Galvin (JPII), Taylor Reece (Brentwood Academy), Christina Slay (Ensworth), Justice Swett (Ensworth), Derica Wyatt (FRA).

Christal Porter signs with Rice University

article from CommercialAppeal.com

A stellar highlight video -- and an academic record to match -- helped Germantown girls basketball standout Christal Porter land a scholarship with Rice University in Houston.

Porter, a 6-1 post player, signed with the Owls on the first day of the late signing period last Wednesday. And while most of the big names in all sports tend to sign early, the late period is perfect for ferreting out hidden gems. Porter fits the bill, said coach Kristen Reich, who added her star is only just now scratching the surface.

"I think she's going to do really well," Reich said.

"Her senior season was her best season, and she's worked so hard to improve. Especially for post players, it takes them longer to develop. She's only going to get better."

Porter was a versatile presence for Germantown, which finished the season with a 18-12 mark. She led her team in rebounding (10.9 per game) and steals, while finishing second in points (9.1) and assists.

That versatility was on display on the highlight video that Porter sent out to various schools. Rice was intrigued, and Porter's 3.7 grade point average and score of 27 on the ACT helped seal the deal. She signed after visiting the campus last weekend.

"They needed a post player, but they had almost given up because it was so late (in the recruiting process)," Reich said. "Their coach (Greg Williams) said it's hard sometimes for them to recruit to their academic standards."

While Rice will benefit from signing Porter, Reich said it's big accomplishment for her program as well.

"It's huge," she said. "It just shows how much our program has grown, especially in such a competitive district."

Ridgeway star Hasina Muhammad set to face South's best

article and image from CommercialAppeal.com

As a player on the Memphis Elite Daniels AAU team, Hasina Muhammad was accustomed to participating in the Deep South Classic each spring against some of the top girls from across the country.

On Saturday, the Ridgeway senior will join 21 of those top-ranked prep players at the 12th annual Deep South Classic -- only this time she will be a participant in the fourth annual Fila All-American Basketball Game. The game will be played at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with tipoff at 9:30 p.m. CDT.

Muhammad, an Auburn signee, will play on the West team.

''There's girls that I've played against for years on the AAU circuit, and I have some friends in Florida that will be playing,'' Muhammad said. ''I'm just real excited because I get to know those people.''

The rosters are comprised of players slated to attend 19 universities. Muhammad is the only representative from Tennessee.

''It's an awesome experience for her,'' Ridgeway coach Tonya Willett said. ''It gives her an opportunity to see the competition she will have to play against next year at Auburn. Obviously, she was asked to play in a game of that caliber with those top-tier players, which is awesome. She was extremely excited.''

In leading the Roadrunners to a 20-9 record in her senior season, Muhammad averaged 17.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.9 blocked shots and 2.6 steals. At 6-feet, Muhammad is projected to be a wing player at Auburn.

Willett said Muhammad was Ridgeway's most valuable player since her sophomore season. And she expects her former star to have the same type of impact at Auburn, where they are comparing her to former Auburn star DeWanna Bonner, now a member of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.

''The thing that I like most about Hasina is the fact that she's a kid with great character,'' Willett said. ''I think basketball skills fade after a while. But to have a kid with the character that she has, I don't think that she's been tainted that much. I've coached some kids that have been real cocky and not coachable. Hasina wants to get better. And it's hard to find that kid. She's gotten all of the national attention and she loves her teammates still. She's still unselfish. It's hard to find that kid.

''She has consistently shown the fact that she wants to get better. I think she has room to grow and I think that she will just because of her character. Obviously she has an innate talent to play basketball. But she has a strong attitude that's going to help her to reach very high heights.''

Muhammad, who also participated in the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association's All-Star game in Murfreesboro in March, said she plans to enroll at Auburn June 23.

''I'm excited, and I'm ready to work hard,'' she said.

Quote of the Day

“Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.”
-Denis Waitley

2011 USJN Windy City Classic Schedule and Results

CLICK HERE

2011 Michael T. White's FILA Deep South Classic Schedule and Results

CLICK HERE

Top Club Teams of the South

For four years, Kenny Kallina of The National Women's Basketball Insider, has put out the top club teams of the South. He released his ranking just in time for the highly anticipated evaluation weekend. The South is Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

1. Tennessee Flight (Nike - Tom Insell) - The Flight have sat atop of this poll for years now but will see some real competition this year from around the south. Returning Rebecca Greenwell (2013 KY), Shacobia Barbie (2012 TN) and Alexa Middleton (2014 TN) the Flight has a backcourt that rivals anyone in the country another Nike National Title would not be out of the question. (BOO WILLIAMS SPRING EVENT)

2. A.O.T. Rebels (Atl Celtics) - Possibly the most talented team in the South. With the best wing combo I can name future all americans Breanna McDonald (Chamblee 2012) and Diamond DeShields (Norcross 2013) will be a tough guard for anyone. Led by 2015 superstar Tea Cooper the Rebels have a ton of point guard talent with Dominique Wilson (McEachern 2012) and Victoria Carter (Norcross 2012). Along with Deshields and McDonald Paches Roberts (2012 McEachern) also will give them size and athleticism on the wing with Kayla Montgomery inside. (BOO WILLIAMS SPRING EVENT)

3. South Carolina 76ers Wiley - This will be one of the last runs for Azia Dozier, Khadijah Sessions, and Xylina McDaniel of Spring Valley HS in South Carolina but possibliy the best team in the South last year will get to showcase themselves in Deep South against some of the top teams in the country. Look for them to hold this spot or move up over the spring and summer. (DEEP SOUTH SPRING EVENT)

4. Kentucky Premier (Michael T White) - Not often you find a team with all the best players from one state but Premier is as close as it gets. Super Soph Makayla Epps (Marion Co.), Sydney Moss (2012 - Boone County) among others. Kentucky Premier was one of the top teams in the country last year and returns a lot of their team. (DEEP SOUTH CLASSIC)

5. Miami Suns - The Suns are back and are set to probably get in the top 2 or 3 in the region next year. Raigyne Moncrief 5-10 G 2013 Plantation, Fl, Brittany Brown 5-9 G 2013 Fort Walton Beach, Fl and Aisha Edwards 5-7 G 2014 Coral Springs, Fl make up one of the top guard combinations in the country. Along with Kai James 6-5 C 2013 Dwyer, the Suns have potentially 5 All Americans and are tops in the Sunshine State. (DEEP SOUTH CLASSIC)

6. Georgia Ice - The Ice return Kaela Davis 13-Univ of Tennessee, Alexis Brown 5-9 G 13-Univ of Maryland, Kristina Nelson 13-GA, and have added Andraya Carter 5-8 G Univ of Tennessee 2012, Nicole Tanner 6-3 C (Auburn) - AL. The X factor for the Ice this year could be Taryn Griffey's maturity after a big high school season the 5-6 freshman guard led Dr Phillips HS (FL) to the state championship as well as the NHSI championship. Lack some deth the ICe should be very good but will finally get to play on the big stage. (Boo Williams)

7. Essence - The team which the ajoining state rule has hurt the most with the absence of Rachel Hollivay 2012 MS, the Essence will either discover the next big thing in the post or could struggle. Back court strength with Alexis Prince (2012-FL), Niya JOhnson (2012-FL) and Ieshia Small (2013-FL) will be key to their success this spring and summer. (BOO WILLIAMS)

8. FGB - A young roster still has some highlights of kids few know about 5-10 G Courtney Williams of Charlton County Georgia is one of the hidden gems in the south and Trimaine McCullough 2013-FL may be the best point guard in the south. Couple that with super freshmen Aunesha Williams GA, Dominique Simpson, and Sha'Quoia Crockett, this could be FGB's best team ever. (DEEP SOUTH)

9. FBC Southeast Elite - A stacked backcourt with Brittany Jackson (2012-FL) and Tiffany Mitchell (2012-NC - South Carolina) also has Keyona Hayes 6-2 F 2012 another unknown gem of the south should be one of the best teams in Georgia again this year. (Boo Williams)

10. Georgia Hoopstars Black - The Hoopstars return Ohio State commitment Kianna Holland (SC) from injury and added Peyton Whitted (2013-GA) who left Georgia Ice. the Hoopstars have a steady flow of big players and athletes on the perimeter one of the classic teams in Atlanta are always competitive and atop of the region.

11. Charlotte 76ers (North Carolina)
12. Georgia Elite (Georgia)
13. South Mississippi Elite (Mississippi)

14. Memphis Elite Daniels (Tennessee)

15. Mississippi Hoop Dreams (Mississippi)
16. Central Florida Elite (Florida)
17. Jacksonville Lady Rams (Florida)
18. Knoxville Lady Panthers (Tennessee)
19. Tennessee Flight Select (Tennessee)
20. Drake Reed (Tennessee)
21. Alabama Southern Starz (Alabama)
22. Georgia Metros (Georgia)
23. Blue Star Florida (Florida)
24. South Georgia 76ers (Georgia)
25. South Florida Jaguars (Florida)
26. Georgia Blazers (Georgia)
27. Alabama Twisters (Alabama)
28. Orlando Comets (Florida)
29. Alabama Roadrunners (Alabama)
30. Low Country Ballers (South Carolina)
30. Carolina All Stars (North Carolina)

SOURCE

Glory Dominates in Little Rock

Team Tennessee Glory is off to a great start, the 15U/Soph team swept the field, to go 6 – 0 and win the Championship of the Girlz Got Game tournament held in Little Rock, AR, April 2 & 3, 2011. The GLORY posted a 30 point average margin of victory for the tournament. Each contest provided dominant performances by freshmens Ashley Jackson, Jasmine Cincore, Courtney Banks, Rayelynn Starks, Cyhna Ellis, Tenelle Walker, Grace Wade, Sydney Smith, Gabriella Salazar and Yasmeen Brady, these are some the nations top prospects for 2014. The team was anchored by sophomore Jasmine Hurly and the prolific 8th grade phenom Torri Lewis. To cap off a great weekend of basketball, point guard Courtney Banks was named tournament MVP.

Jemil Jefferson Signs

Craigmont High's Jemil Jefferson has signed with the Itawamba Community College women's basketball team. The 5-10 forward averaged 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game for the Lady Chiefs as a senior.

2011 Fila All-American Game Roster

2011 Fila All-American Game, a Michael T White production, will be held on April 16, 2011 at the University of North Carolina during the Deep South Classic spring evaluation event.



East
Alexandra Cohen (6-5 / Bayside, Wis. / Northwestern)
Elem Ibiam (6-3 / Griffin, Ga. / South Carolina)
Sara Hammond (6-2 / Mount Vernon, Ky. / Louisville)
Janitah Iamaleava (6-2 / Carson, Calif. / Oregon)
Danielle Butts (5-10 / Winterville, N.C. / North Carolina)
Loliya Briggs (5-11 / Jacksonville, Fla. / Pittsburgh)
Erika Johnson (6-1 / Seattle, Wash. / California)
Sydney Wallace (5-10 / Duluth, Ga. / Georgia Tech)
Jasmine Jackson (5-11 / Old Bridge, N.J. / Georgetown)
Ka'lia Johnson (5-9 / Chester, Va. / Duke)
Kiana Johnson (5-6 / Chicago, Ill. / Michigan State)

West
Ronisha Major (6-3 / Huntsville,Texas / Texas)
Sarah Imovbioh (6-2 / Charlottesville, Va. / Virginia)
Reshanda Gray (6-3 / Los Angeles, Calif. / California)
Dearica Hamby (6-3 / Marietta, Ga. / Wake Forest)
Natiece Ford (6-2 / Holly Springs, N.C. / Clemson)
Hasina Muhammad (6-0 / Memphis, Tenn. / Auburn)
Asia Boyd (6-0 / Detroit, Mich. / Kansas)
Madison Cable (6-0 / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Notre Dame)
Chanise Jenkins (5-4 / Chicago, Ill. / DePaul)
Megan Buckland (6-0 / High Point, N.C. / North Carolina)
Brittany Roundtree (5-8 / Jacksonville, Fla. / North Carolina)

All Access Practice with Geno Auriemma DVD Review and Cheat Sheet Bonus

All Access Practice with Geno Auriemma DVD Cheat Sheet

2011 MAYB/MPHS,TN/W. Memphis-I Tournament Champions

High School Division

Team Memphis Elite - Daniels

7th/8th Grade Division

Patosha Jeffery's Team Po Po

Maya Moore Top Pick in WNBA Draft to Minnesota Lynx

Maya Moore is used to winning titles at Connecticut.

Now she's ready to bring that same mentality to her new team -- the Minnesota Lynx, who took her with the first pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday.

"Every year the goal is a championship," she said. "That's what I expect. I go on to every team expecting to win a championship, especially with the amount of talent we have. I don't want to limit to the playoffs, I want to win a championship."

She helped UConn win a record 90-straight games during one stretch over the past two seasons, and also led the school to two national championships in her stellar four-year career.

Click here for complete ESPN article

Super Champs of America Spring Classic

The Memphis Lady Mustangs coached by Anthony Douglas won the 8th Grade division of the Super Champs of America Spring Classsic tournament. They defeated  “2^nd to None” 37 to 16.

Other teams participating in the 8th grade girls division include Lady Bearcats, Arkansas Warriors, Magic Stars and Super Champs.

Where Memphis Teams will be this Weekend - Spring Evaluation Period

Girls Deep South Classic, Raleigh, NC April 15-17, 2011
Memphis Lady Magic Elite 14/17, Team Memphis Elite 17U, Memphis Elite Daniels 17U – TN, Memphis Elite Holmes 15U – TN, Memphis Elite Wade 17U – TN

Windy City Classic Chicago, IL April 15-17

Lady Bobcats

Peach State Hoops Tip Off Classic April 15-17, 2011 Suwanee, GA

Team Memphis Elite - Williams, TEAM Tennessee Glory

12th Annual Heart of Texas Showcase April 15-17 Frisco, TX

Tri-State Elite, Lady Hawks

Memphis Players participating in Tournament March Madness

Compilation by Commercial Appeal staff

NCAA Div. 1/NWIT: Jasmine Robinson (Overton), Alabama; Desiree Phillips (Manassas), Missouri State; Sarah Watkins (Houston), Arkansas; Adrian Rogers (Ridgeway), Southern; Starkitsha Luellen-Higgins (Melrose), Memphis; Mary Jackson (Oakhaven), Memphis; Jasmine Gardner (Mitchell), Liberty; Jasmine Newsome (Millington), Tennessee-Martin; Lauren Avant (Lausanne), Tennessee; Deja Foster (Wooddale), Georgia Tech; Centhya Hart (Treadwell), St. Johns; Crystal Riley (Hillcrest), Kentucky; Nia Gregory (Collierville), Arkansas-Little Rock; Karisma Tyson (Overton), Arkansas-Little Rock; Jasmine James (Bartlett), Georgia, Jamila Ajanaku (Central), Middle Tennessee State.

NCAA Div. 2: Jessica Brown (Booker T. Washington), Delta State.

NAIA: Ashley McGill (Northside), Xavier; Brandi Young (East), Xavier; Mycal Smith (Ridgeway), Belhaven; Nijahal Kuykindoll (Southwind), Lindsey Wilson LaTesa McLaughlin (Millington) Union University

JUCO: Ashley Robinson (Millington), Georgia Perimeter; Hattie Harris (Fayette-Ware), State Fair.

Adrienne Pratcher talks about NCAA Championship experience

article from CommercialAppeal.com

One of the reasons Adrienne Pratcher chose to attend Texas A&M is because she felt like the women's basketball program could do some amazing things under coach Gary Blair.

But when the final horn sounded and the Aggies had defeated Notre Dame on Tuesday night, 76-70, to claim their first NCAA national championship, the sophomore point guard from East High was left stunned.

"I was shocked and excited at the same time," Pratcher said, "because I never thought I would be in that situation, on a team that won a national championship.''

Pratcher was a backup point guard to Associated Press honorable mention All-American Sydney Colson. She played in 34 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds for the 33-5 Aggies.

She enjoyed the NCAA Tournament ride that saw Texas A&M knock off Big 12 rival Baylor, a No. 1 seed that beat the Aggies three times this season, in the Elite Eight, then follow that with a thrilling win over Stanford, another No. 1 seed, in the Final Four semifinal game.

Pratcher's playing time diminished as Texas A&M advanced in the tournament. She played a total of five minutes at the Final Four, where her only disappointment was committing four turnovers.

''I don't think it was so much me being nervous,'' she said. ''I think it was me mentally probably not being ready to play. It was just me going out there and being nonchalant with the ball. The turnovers were very crucial. They were basically things that should never happen.''

Still, all was forgotten when the Aggies cut down the nets at Conseco Fieldhouse, then returned Wednesday to College Station, Texas, where thousands of fans filled Reed Arena to greet the champions.

''It was a great experience,'' Pratcher said. ''It made me realize how the people at this university feel about sports, how they feel about us as people, it was awesome. We had a great crowd. Afterwards, we got to sign autographs and mingle with the kids, so it was cool.''

Pratcher, who was the class valedictorian at East in 2009, looks forward to returning to Memphis later this spring to share her experience with family and friends. She's also already looking forward to next season, when she's expected to replace Colson at point guard.

''I think this offseason I need to work on being a team leader, getting players together and working out,'' she said. ''I need to work on my mid-range jumper and getting everything down pat so I can be ready for next season.''

Lauren Avant leaving Tennessee

Story and Image from govolsxtra.com

Tennessee has lost another women's basketball player and a key position has taken the brunt of the latest departure.

Freshman point guard Lauren Avant told UT coach Pat Summitt on Wednesday that she wouldn't return next season. After a team workout at Pratt Pavilion, Summitt said that Avant would finish the spring semester at UT before transferring to a "smaller school."

The news came the day after injury-plagued center Kelley Cain announced that she would forgo her final season of eligibility. At that point, Summitt said that she didn't expect any more player attrition.

"She just didn't feel like that maybe a Division I program was the best for her,'' Summitt said of Avant. ". . . She said: I'm not looking for anything other than maybe a Division II or III (school)."

Avant could transfer to a school in either classification and maintain her eligibility, rather than have to sit out a season."

UT issued a release on Avant's departure but she didn't comment on the matter.

With Avant leaving, reserve Kamiko Williams and Briana Bass, who plays sparingly, are the primary point guards currently on the roster. Freshman Meighan Simmons moved into the starting spot in early December and finished the season there but she's destined to play off guard.

Incoming freshman Ariel Massengale already has been named the starting point guard for next season by Summitt, who indicated that UT now will add at least one more player this spring.

Avant's season had a Cain-like quality to it. She arrived at UT still recovering from a shoulder injury that limited her to eight games during her senior season at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis. While at UT, she suffered an ankle injury and endured illness and concussions. She played in just 19 games. Her biggest highlight was scoring 11 points and sparking a comeback victory at Vanderbilt on Feb. 13.

The demands of playing basketball at Tennessee were compounded by Avant's pre-med academic concentration. She plans to become an orthopaedic surgeon.

Avant originally committed to Tennessee when she was 14 years old.

Congratulations, Adrienne Pratcher

Former East standout, Adrienne Pratcher, sophomore point guard for Texas A&M

2011 NCAA Womens National Champions.

Texas A&M Womens Basketball National Champions

image from yahoo sports

Texas A&M 76 Notre Dame 70

Danielle Adams scored 22 of her 30 points in a dominating second half and Texas A&M beat Notre Dame 76-70 on Tuesday night to win its first national championship.

Texas A&M (33-5) built an early 13-point lead with its aggressive defense, fell behind by seven in the second half, then rallied by pounding the ball inside to the 6-foot-1 Adams, who bulled her way to 9-for-11 shooting in the final 20 minutes.

Click here for complete ESPN Story

Notre Dame-Texas A&M Womens NCAA Championship Game Preview

Coverage: ESPN
8:30 PM ET, April 5, 2011
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Already packed with one surprise after another, the NCAA women's tournament has one big dose of intrigue left when Notre Dame and Texas A&M play for the championship.

The traditional powers -- Tennessee, Connecticut, Stanford -- are all gone, only the second time ever the title game won't have a No. 1 seed in it. But there's a budding star in Irish standout Skylar Diggins, a new participant in the Aggies and an entertaining, outspoken coach in Texas A&M's Gary Blair.

Click here for complete ESPN story

Texas A&M, Notre Dame National Championship Game

Notre Dame 72 UConn 63


Texas A&M 63 Stanford 62

Nikki Caldwell named LSU Womens Basketball coach

from espn.com

LSU has hired Nikki Caldwell as its women's basketball coach, vice chancellor and director of athletics Joe Alleva announced Saturday night.

Caldwell, who won a national championship as a player at Tennessee and then two as an assistant with the Lady Vols, was 72-26 in three seasons at UCLA. The Bruins were 28-5 this season and lost to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"Nikki is one of the best and brightest coaches in the country," Alleva said in a release. "She has been successful on every level -- as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach -- and she has all the qualities to bring our program to national prominence."

Caldwell will replace Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor, who stepped down last month after LSU failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in 13 years. Chancellor was 90-40 in four seasons with the Tigers.

Caldwell, who also spent three seasons as an assistant at Virginia, will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday.

She was selected the Pac-10 coach of the year in 2010 after going 25-9 in her second season with the Bruins and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. UCLA's five losses this season were the fewest in school history in the NCAA era.

"I met with Nikki earlier this week and made her what we felt was a very attractive multiyear offer to keep her in Westwood," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. "It was our hope that Nikki would want to continue building what she has started at UCLA and we did all we could to make that desire a reality."

Quote of the Day

“To dream anything that you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.”
-Bernard Edmonds

Girlz Got Game Final Revised Schedule

Girlz Got Game
Girls Basketball Tournament
April 2-3, 2011
Arkansas, Little Rock

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High School Division (5 pages)

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9th/10th Grade Division

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Middle School Division

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6th Grade Division

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5th Grade Division

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