 |
| Devon |
Lots of preseason teams and polls coming out this time of year. LadySwish offers its own All-Virginia team. Don't like our ideas? Let us know yours!
FIRST TEAM:
Devon Brown 5-10 Sr. G/F Liberty
Emily Correal, 6-3 F Sr. William and Mary
Ataira Franklin, 5-11 Jr. G Virginia
Tarik Hislop, 5-7 Sr. G James Madison
Genevieve Okoro, 6-0 Jr. F Richmond
SECOND TEAM
Monet Tellier 5-11 Jr. G. Virginia Tech
Amber Easter, 6-0 Sr. G/F George Mason
Rachel Gordon, 6-0 Soph. F Norfolk State
Nikki Newman, James Madison
Da'Naria Erwin-Spencer, 5-5 Sr. G Radford
 |
| Emily |
On Devon: The redshirt senior from Waynesboro has the tools to have her best season at Liberty, and that's saying something for a kid who has made the Big South's first team as a freshman, sophomore and junior. We like her versatility and the numbers aren't bad, either: 16.9 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 spg and .790 free-throw percentage, second in the league. With 1,441 career points, she's on track to be in the 2,000-point club.
On Emily: We love that Emily has so many career interests -- actress, comedian, next Erin Andrews, singer -- that she can't decide, but we offer another: baller. Correal averaged 13.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg, and frankly, we believe she can do even in the block while imposing herself on the defensive end.
 |
| Ataira |
 |
| Tarik |
On Tarik: One of the best kids I've coached? The words are from Kenny Brooks, who loves his point guard, noting he says has a great head on her shoulders to go with her clutch shooting. The woman who says she'd like to be a lion so she could be king of the jungle might just be queen of the CAA (OK, we know about Elena.....). Hislop led the Dukes in scoring, assists, free-throw percentage and minutes played and while her shooting percentage ain't the prettiest, we want the ball in her hands in a tight game. Why? Consider her game winners last season versus ODU and VCU and her OT performance to help JMU down Drexel in OT. Hislop was instrumental in the Dukes' WNIT run, averaging 15.2 ppg.
 |
| Genevieve |
 |
| Monet |
On Monet: She's got great size and a pretty stroke (a Monet, eh?), and we think her upside is tremendous. She started 28 games last season, led the Hokies in scoring (13.7 ppg) and had 21 double-doubles, twice scoring more than 30 points. A better team around her should make for an even bigger year for the 5-11 guard.
 |
| Rachel |
On Rachel: Baby, can she board. The youngest on our LadySwish team, Gordon ranked 16th nationally in rebounds (10.4 rpg) and set a school record with 303. Toss in 8.3 ppg and the fact that she's only a sophomore .....
On Da'Naria: She was first team All Big South and it's easy to see why. The 5-5 guard started all 31 games, scoring in double figures in 26 of them. Averaging 17.4 ppg, Erwin-Spencer shot .459 from the field. Did we mention she's 5-5? In heels. Plus she has a great first name.
 |
| Da'Naria |
On Amber: Coach Jeri Porter needs even bigger production from Easter now that Taleia Moton is an alumna, and we think the senior can deliver, coming off a season when she started 28 games, averaging 12 ppg, 7 rpg and 2.1 spg.
On Nikki: Stats don't tell her story. She might just be the best defender in the state, and she does all the intangibles coaches are crazy about. Led the Dukes with 7.8 rebounds and averaged 5.8 ppg. Match her up against the opponent's best threat and you won't be sorry.
 |
| Amber |
 |
| Nikki |
Who else do we like? We bound ourselves to 10, but which 10 is a hard call. We like ODU sophomore Ashley Betz-White, reigning CAA Rookie of the Year, and took a hard look at Hampton Alyssa Bennett.
VCU's Robyn Parks deserves a mention as does Longwood's Chelsea Coward. Tech's Aerial Wilson? Tough to overlook the senior guard, in double figures in 10 of the Hokies final 11 games.
Tell us who you like!
I noticed one thing - in the state of Virginia, it is saturated with lots of guards.
ReplyDeleteR-
Marlene Stollings should be preseason coach of the year by default based on the mess and program in shambles that Beth Cunningham left behind. Thank goodness VCU has a decent coach we can get behind.
ReplyDeleteOne look at VCU's recruiting class suggests that program's going to be just fine. As for Cunningham, can't really fault her for returning to her old school - and her husband's old school - to work for the coach that developed her into an All-American. Not sure how many people would have turned down a similar opportunity.
ReplyDelete