Mid-Season Headlines
It is right around the midway point of the high school season and there is some news to update on recruitment, players and teams. Below is a brief overview of multiple topics and headlines thus far in the season. Multiple…
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Continue ReadingIt is right around the midway point of the high school season and there is some news to update on recruitment, players and teams. Below is a brief overview of multiple topics and headlines thus far in the season.
Multiple unsigned D1 prospects still available
The 2020 class still has some suitable talent for the D1 level that remains uncommitted. Since the early signing period, there has not been a lot of reports on recruitment updates for many unsigned seniors, but with the turn of the new year, I would suspect more news to follow.
2020 6’8 C Sela Heide (Mt. Si HS/Tree of Hope) – The towering center has yet to play this season, but will reportedly be returning sooner rather than later. She has some D1 schools still reaching out, but has yet to make a decision or finalize any plans. She is expected to sign this spring, so she is almost in the home stretch of her recruitment.
2020 5’9 SG Tiarra Brown (Bethel HS/NW Magic) – The senior star at Bethel has helped her team to an impressive 11-0 record and number one ranking in 3A. She has the athleticism and versatility to play at the D1 level, but her club coach Vanessa McClendon posted via social media that she will keep her recruitment open until the spring.
2020 5’9 SG Nakia Boston (Lynnwood HS/NW Greyhounds) – Nakia has really blown up this winter from a statistical standpoint and made another push at establishing herself as a legitimate Division 1 prospect. I have watched her play many times and spoken with multiple high school coaches and trainers in the area and all have told me the same thing, “She’s a D1 player.” She can shoot it, she’s a solid defender and has some combo guard capability. Any Division 1’s looking for a late signee could have a nice pickup with the Lynnwood senior.
Only two juniors are currently committed
The junior classes’ recruitment has been moving slower than the 2019 and 2020 classes had at the same stage. Apart of this has to do with the talent not being quite as strong top to bottom, but also kids are just taking their time with their decisions more so. The two commitments so far are Clarkston’s Ashlyn Wallace (Idaho) and Central Valley’s MJ Bruno (Portland). 5-star prospect Talia von Oelhoffen announced her top five of UConn, Oklahoma, Oregon State, UCLA and Stanford. Other than that, some players have picked up some offers and gone on visits here and there, but there are no other reports of players going ahead giving a verbal commitment.
Season changing MRI results await
Senior forward Jordyn Jenkins had an MRI on the 9th for her knee injury suffered versus Mt. Spokane during Christmas break. The hope is that she will return for playoffs, but if not, the course of the 4A class completely changes. Kentridge was the number one 4A team and carried an undefeated record before losing Jenkins to injury. Kentridge would go on to lose two games in a row, including a 39-62 loss to Beamer. We will have an updated report on the USC signee right when it is made available to us.
Two eastern Washington area teams have made a big jump
Two teams that rank in the top 5 of their respective class were not so fortunate a season ago. 3A Kennewick and 2A Ellensburg were both 16-9 a season ago and far from being a top contender at the midway point at this time a year ago.
Kennewick is led by Hawaii signee MeiLani McBee, 6’0 junior Madeline Gebbers, and senior guard Aislin Fiander. They have taken a huge jump from a year ago and rank number five in 3A, posting a 10-1 record. They are coming off of a big road win at 4A contender Chiawana and did so without 6’2 C Alexis Stein who will add a lot of physicality inside when she is back playing.
Ellensburg has proven to be a serious contender in 2A with their 10-0 record and number 2 ranking in 2A. 2022 PG Dylan Phillip is a D1 recruit and has been very strong this season. Her motor, quick hands and feet allow her to make plays on both sides of the ball. It has been an overall team effort to rise to a top 2 team in the state though and Ellensburg is officially on the map as a real contender for a state title.
Kobe Bryant takes a visit to the “mountains”
Yes, this makes a mid-season headline and it is true! 5-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi popped up at Cashmere’s game versus Medical Lake. Kobe has taken Louisville signee Hailey Van Lith under his wing, even training her at the Mamba Sports Academy this last summer. Hailey did not disappoint, dropping 35 points as she inches closer to the state’s all time scoring record.