[2006alum]

For anyone who's interested, three of our incoming frosh, Haley Jones, Fran Belibi, and Ashten Prechtel will be playing in the McDonald's All-American Game on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. PDT today. Probably the single best chance to see what the future looks like.

And one more plaudit for Jones: she was named Morgan Wootten Player of the Year, fresh off of receiving the Naismith Player of the Year award. 

One other interesting wrinkle: she's now listed as 6'2". Between her, Belibi (6'1" but with a 33" vertical leap), Prechtel (6'5") and Brink (6'4"), we'll have a lot of height coming in in the next two years.

[2006alum]

For anyone who's interested, three of our incoming frosh, Haley Jones, Fran Belibi, and Ashten Prechtel will be playing in the McDonald's All-American Game on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. PDT today. Probably the single best chance to see what the future looks like.

And one more plaudit for Jones: she was named Morgan Wootten Player of the Year, fresh off of receiving the Naismith Player of the Year award. 

One other interesting wrinkle: she's now listed as 6'2". Between her, Belibi (6'1" but with a 33" vertical leap), Prechtel (6'5") and Brink (6'4"), we'll have a lot of height coming in in the next two years.

[BobK]

I thought Prechtel was out with a hand injury?

[BobK]

I thought Prechtel was out with a hand injury?

[mbdude]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

[mbdude]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

[standfan]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

[standfan]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

[76lsjumb]

Didn't see it, but if the report is that no one got injured, then it must be considered a rousing success regardless of how anyone looked.  

During Bowl season, buckets of ink [or whatever the Internet equivalent of that is] are spilled on the fact that those games are not only "meaningless" but should probably be avoided by any player with a future in order to avoid the possibility of injury.  It seems to me that applies in spades to these HS All-America games, particularly in basketball, where a torn ACL or some such can end a career before it even gets started, for no particularly good reason [other than commercial $$$].  I have nothing against naming a Mc-D's HS All-America team -- I think that's great -- but these days, there's a reasonably good chance that all of the players in it have had at least a few opportunities to play with or against each other either on their school, club or USA squads.  So it isn't really necessary for them to play in this game [and risk injury, just for the fun of playing each other] Moreover, the level of play at any All-xxxxx game is rarely particularly stellar or indicative of anything.  And, since virtually all, if not all, have already committed months [if not years ago], nobody's really learning anything of value from the game.

But, again, if no one got injured, then I breathe a sigh of relief... and wait until next year's meaningless risk event.

[76lsjumb]

Didn't see it, but if the report is that no one got injured, then it must be considered a rousing success regardless of how anyone looked.  

During Bowl season, buckets of ink [or whatever the Internet equivalent of that is] are spilled on the fact that those games are not only "meaningless" but should probably be avoided by any player with a future in order to avoid the possibility of injury.  It seems to me that applies in spades to these HS All-America games, particularly in basketball, where a torn ACL or some such can end a career before it even gets started, for no particularly good reason [other than commercial $$$].  I have nothing against naming a Mc-D's HS All-America team -- I think that's great -- but these days, there's a reasonably good chance that all of the players in it have had at least a few opportunities to play with or against each other either on their school, club or USA squads.  So it isn't really necessary for them to play in this game [and risk injury, just for the fun of playing each other] Moreover, the level of play at any All-xxxxx game is rarely particularly stellar or indicative of anything.  And, since virtually all, if not all, have already committed months [if not years ago], nobody's really learning anything of value from the game.

But, again, if no one got injured, then I breathe a sigh of relief... and wait until next year's meaningless risk event.

[jonnyss]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

agree on all points.

fran was the star of the telecast, cameras on her all the time, announcers begging her to dunk.  she is a very good rebounder. very enthusiastic. she will play as a freshman

haley made some good plays on defense - at least one steal and several blocks.

prechtel is not a post player - at least not yet. not a banger, not jockeying for position and then boxing out. more of a very big wing.

of other players:

charisma osborne started at point guard for the west and was the best point guard - in fact the only guard on either side who ran an offense and distributed. the others kept the ball and tried to score one on 5. in addition, charisma hit a very long 3 and played quick, tight defense. she plays a similar game to kiana w, but charisma is more ripped and less cheerful. i am still dismayed and puzzled that we passed on charisma (coached by stanford's vanessa nygaard) in favor of hannah jump and ashten prechtel - both fine players, but osborne is a star who has the skills, discipline and court awareness to start for ucla as a freshman.

breanna beal and aliya boston (both south carolina) are really really good

samantha brunelle (notre dame) is tall, strong, agile, and a great outside shooter - this year's katy lou.

jordon horston (tennessee), sammie puisis (florida state), and rickea jackson (fl. state) also flashed.

[jonnyss]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

agree on all points.

fran was the star of the telecast, cameras on her all the time, announcers begging her to dunk.  she is a very good rebounder. very enthusiastic. she will play as a freshman

haley made some good plays on defense - at least one steal and several blocks.

prechtel is not a post player - at least not yet. not a banger, not jockeying for position and then boxing out. more of a very big wing.

of other players:

charisma osborne started at point guard for the west and was the best point guard - in fact the only guard on either side who ran an offense and distributed. the others kept the ball and tried to score one on 5. in addition, charisma hit a very long 3 and played quick, tight defense. she plays a similar game to kiana w, but charisma is more ripped and less cheerful. i am still dismayed and puzzled that we passed on charisma (coached by stanford's vanessa nygaard) in favor of hannah jump and ashten prechtel - both fine players, but osborne is a star who has the skills, discipline and court awareness to start for ucla as a freshman.

breanna beal and aliya boston (both south carolina) are really really good

samantha brunelle (notre dame) is tall, strong, agile, and a great outside shooter - this year's katy lou.

jordon horston (tennessee), sammie puisis (florida state), and rickea jackson (fl. state) also flashed.

[CompSci87]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

I haven't watched the all star game yet, though I have it DVRed. I did watch the US U17 team this year with Jones and Belibi. Jones started and was excellent, so I'm not worried about her. (Belibi didn't start for U17, but got good minutes and looked talented but less experienced, just as you'd expect.)

[CompSci87]

Does appear to have something on her right hand

I was quite impressed by Belibi. She was definitely strong, fairly fast and somewhat more polished on the offensive end than I expected. On defense she needs to learn to stay on her feet and to refine the angles she defends, but that seems like some skills that can be coached. 

Those were unimpressive performances for Jones and Prechtel. It's just one game, but I'd say Prechtel needs to get a lot more physical, and I hope Jones can play 35 minutes at a higher gear than we saw this afternoon. (I'll assume for now she can shoot a lot better than she did today.)

I haven't watched the all star game yet, though I have it DVRed. I did watch the US U17 team this year with Jones and Belibi. Jones started and was excellent, so I'm not worried about her. (Belibi didn't start for U17, but got good minutes and looked talented but less experienced, just as you'd expect.)