High School Hoops

Women's Basketball, Feb 2005 by Kallum, Clay

A look at 10 teams and 15 players to watch for the 2004-2005 season. By Clary Kallum

1. Piedmont (Calif): 6'4" Courtney Paris is the best player in the country and 6'3" twin sister Ashley is in the top 10-if not the top 5. The Highlanders lost only twice last year and return four starters plus two key transfers. They're also playing every quality team they can entice to the San Francisco Bay Area, plus going to the Nike TOC in Phoenix where national championships are won.

2. Murray Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.): The Lady Blazers were 30-1 last year, losing only to unranked Long Beach Poly in the West Coast Jamboree-but remember, they've now beaten perennial power Christ the King three straight seasons in the New York state championships. Bergtraum returns junior Epiphany Prince and sophomore Erica Morrow, so don't expect much of a drop-off.

3. Lincoln (Dallas, Tex.): The Lady Tigers are flat loaded, and with the Nike TOC, Piedmont and Oakland Tech on the schedule, they've got a chance to prove themselves at the highest level. Simone Cook (6'4") and Dominique Seals (6'3") are as good as it gets up front, so if Andrea Riley and Melbia Patterson get it done in the backcourt, Lincoln could wind up as one of the best in the nation.

4. St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.): The junior guard tandem of Dymond Simon (would we make that up?) and Nicole Neals is unmatched, and so, for that matter, was the Knights' 35-0 record last season. They return four starters, including 6'2" junior post Kaylie Murphy. St. Mary's will have a homecourt advantage in the Nike TOC and also will go to the Kroger Classic.

5.ThunderRidge (Littleton, Colo.): Abby Waner is the best guard in the country and Emily Fox will go to Minnesota next year, so the Grizzlies are loaded in the backcourt. Up front, they're not quite as tough, but with all five starters back, they could easily improve on their 22-2 record. They too will be at the Nike TOC.

6. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.): The Patriots return 6'4" senior Brooks Cornish, but got 6'2" transfer Katie Holzer from Texas to add even more height up front. Enonge Stovall (5'10") is big-time as well. A tough schedule and abundant talent gives the Patriots a chance to win a national title.

7. St. John's (Washington D.C.): Start with 6'3" senior point guard Brittany Mitch (off to Duke next year) and 6'1" senior forward Marissa Coleman (Maryland), add 6' sophomore Dominique Bryant and you've got a team capable of playing with just about anyone. The Cadets will be at the Nike TOC in Arizona and will have the opportunity there to show how they stack up nationally.

8. Oakland Tech (Oakland, Calif.): The Bulldogs won the California Division I (largest schools) title behind 6'3" center Devanei Hampton and 5'9" guard Alexis Gray-Lawson. Both return, along with every other starter, so Oakland Tech will only get better. The Bulldogs are also playing a tough schedule, including a game against near neighbor Piedmont. A final record with fewer than five losses will be a major achievement

9. Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio): The Eagles lost only once last year, to national champ Mount Notre Dame and return four starters, including power forward Aisha Jefferson. Don't expect much of a drop-off.

10. Christ the King (Middle Village N.Y.): The Royals are always good, but they're second best in New York to Murray Bergtraum-a rivalry, by the way, that is far from friendly. But with 6'2" Careem Gay and 6'3" Tina Charles up front, CTK is once again one of the top teams in the nation.

10 more to watch:

11. Southridge (Beaverton, Ore.), 12. Roosevelt (Washington, D.C.), 13. Ankeny (la.), 14. Centennial (Las Vegas, Nev.), 15. Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.), 16. New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 17. Craigmont (Memphis, Tenn.), 18. Mt. Notre Dame (Cincinnati, Ohio), 19. Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.), 20.WestMonroe(La.).