Pre Season Player Rankings by Class.

[Wbbfan1]

Preseason Women’s College Basketball Players Rankings – Class by Class!

It’s that time of year again! The start of a brand new women’s college basketball season is upon us with many exciting story lines to watch for. This also means that the women’s c…

wbasketballblog.com

 

[Shades]

I think they’re doing this for draft rankings more than anything else. It’s not bad. Some picky things for me is I would rate Slocum ahead of McDonald, and probably Walker ahead of both of them.

Under freshmen, it’s looking like she’s never heard of Fran Belibi. I’m curious where Satou Sabally’s sister slots. I believe she’s considered a RS freshman. It’d be nice to see her actually play to know if she lives up to her family name, but she should rank somewhere on a list just on name alone.

 

[DaBball]

I think they’re doing this for draft rankings more than anything else. It’s not bad. Some picky things for me is I would rate Slocum ahead of McDonald, and probably Walker ahead of both of them.

Under freshmen, it’s looking like she’s never heard of Fran Belibi. I’m curious where Satou Sabally’s sister slots. I believe she’s considered a RS freshman. It’d be nice to see her actually play to know if she lives up to her family name, but she should rank somewhere on a list just on name alone.

I am too in regards to Nyara. I have seen a few different services that have not ranked her that high, HoopGurlz didn't list her as a top-100 recruit, where as Sabally was top-40, and one of the Euro services ranked her 7th among 2000 born players (the same service ranked Makurat #2), though it appeared very outdated. Prospects Nation had her fourth among internationals.

She looked very good in the highlight film I've seen of her. Similar to her big sister, but where Satou skews SF, Nyara skews PF.

 

[bennyskid]

How is Ruthy Hebard #3? I only see her when she plays OSU and she has never had anything like a "#3 senior-in-the-country" game against us. To my eye, she's a second rounder, not a top-three talent.

 

[DefenseBB]

How is Austin, who is a fine player, better than ONO??? I am fine with Rhyne Howard, who was awesome last year on a meh Kentucky team where she could do what she wanted. I will be very happy to see how the “UConn Sophomore jump” affects CW and ONO compared to these others...

 

[TerpWomenFan]

How is Austin, who is a fine player, better than ONO??? I am fine with Rhyne Howard, who was awesome last year on a meh Kentucky team where she could do what she wanted. I will be very happy to see how the “UConn Sophomore jump” affects CW and ONO compared to these others...

The mistake is they put Shakira over Mikesell. But Shakira I believe played way more minutes than ONO last season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

A few things that jump out at me. Fingall #23 among Sr? Hmm. Unless she is fully healthy and makes a big jump as a Sr., I just don't see it at all. Career average of 4.4 ppg and was averaging 8 ppg/5rpg last year before she got hurt.

I know UConn fans won't like it, but based on what they've done so far in their career, no way Walker should be ahead of Onyenwere. Boley well ahead of K. Williams is a complete joke (and ahead of Chelsea Dungee). Boley had 1 season where she didnt do much and another season where she was a streaky 3 point specialist (and not much else). It doesn't seem like the author of this article actually watches much WCBB.

 

[DefenseBB]

The mistake is they put Shakira over Mikesell. But Shakira I believe played way more minutes than ONO last season.

All due respect here Terp, but this is this years pre-season so last years minutes are moot. Ono was very good in the NCAAT, made the USA Trials and the FIBA America’s team. She is better and will be better than Austin. BTW, I think and believe that Austin is a stud and will be the best player on MD this year. I think next Sunday she will do unbelievable against SC.

 

[DaBball]

How is Austin, who is a fine player, better than ONO??? I am fine with Rhyne Howard, who was awesome last year on a meh Kentucky team where she could do what she wanted. I will be very happy to see how the “UConn Sophomore jump” affects CW and ONO compared to these others...

Which should go ahead on the list:
Player A: 8.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.6 BPG

or

Player B: 4.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG

These lists are based off college seasons.

 

[DeeHusky]

What a joke! Lol - NaLyssa Smith 7th best sophomore behind Shakira Austin, Taylor Mikesell, Christyn Williams, Naz Hillmon, and Destanni Henderson. Smith is a star waiting to happen. For now, I would go Rhyne, NaLyssa, Christyn...and then come back after the season. As another post pointed out Boley ahead of Kiana Williams and Chelsea Dungee...please!

They haven’t played yet so I can’t factually bag this up, but Rickea Jackson is not the seventh best freshman —she’s better than most of them.

Lastly, Sidney Cooks is no longer at Michigan State.

 

[shiverz45]

The biggest joke is Ty Harris who is on the all SEC first team did not even make the list of 36 seniors.

 

[shiverz45]

I don't get the love affair with Brunelle. I am sure she is fine player but all of the international tournaments and all star games I have seen her play in she has not live up to the hype.

 

[Plebe]

The biggest joke is Ty Harris who is on the all SEC first team did not even make the list of 36 seniors.

Maybe that's a sign of how weak the SEC is?

 

[SCspur]

The biggest joke is Ty Harris who is on the all SEC first team did not even make the list of 36 seniors.

I’ve learned to not give a crap about lists like these and I’m sure Harris would agree. The only thing that matters is winning games!

 

[DefenseBB]

Which should go ahead on the list:
Player A: 8.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.6 BPG

or

Player B: 4.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG

These lists are based off college seasons.

It’s about projections, and you should know that. Liv’s minutes will jump dramatically and she will be a focal point more than she ever was last year. Austin still has to play with Charles and Jones. I see ONO as better than Austin.

 

[DaBball]

It’s about projections, and you should know that. Liv’s minutes will jump dramatically and she will be a focal point more than she ever was last year. Austin still has to play with Charles and Jones. I see ONO as better than Austin.

Projections is only half of it, per their criteria: "The preseason rankings are combined of a combination of what happened last year and what is most likely predicted this season from the players."

 

[DeeHusky]

It’s about projections, and you should know that. Liv’s minutes will jump dramatically and she will be a focal point more than she ever was last year. Austin still has to play with Charles and Jones. I see ONO as better than Austin.

I don’t know about one being better than the other, but Maryland still doesn’t start Austin from the lineups that they’ve used so far this year. ONO will have a much better chance to prove so with Austin coming off the bench.

 

[triaddukefan]

36 Seniors better than Leaonna Odom?

 

[nwhoopfan]

36 Seniors better than Leaonna Odom? View attachment 47725

I already brought up Fingall from Stanford. I will GUARANTEE that Hristova from Washington St. and Melgoza from Washington have much bigger impacts this year than Fingall does, neither of whom is listed anywhere among the Seniors. Like I said, the author's judgement is questionable.

edit--add the eldest Molina, also from Wazzu, as another Sr. from the Pac 12 who is better than Fingall who also didn't get mentioned.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

All due respect here Terp, but this is this years pre-season so last years minutes are moot. Ono was very good in the NCAAT, made the USA Trials and the FIBA America’s team. She is better and will be better than Austin. BTW, I think and believe that Austin is a stud and will be the best player on MD this year. I think next Sunday she will do unbelievable against SC.

To be honest I don't 100% disagree with this. Last year Maryland needed Austin more than UConn needed ONO. This year it will be the opposite. Maryland will have more weapons so I see Austin's numbers about the same while ONO numbers will go way up. Also people may be sleeping on senior Blair Watson. She is 100% healthy and playing like she did before the ACL injury in January 2018. Her outside shot is better than Mikesell's right now.

 

[eebmg]

How is Ruthy Hebard #3? I only see her when she plays OSU and she has never had anything like a "#3 senior-in-the-country" game against us. To my eye, she's a second rounder, not a top-three talent.

good thing OSU is not in the WNBA.

 

[Shades]

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER: Shakira Austin wants even bigger things in second season at Maryland

By all accounts, former Colonial Forge star Shakira Austin’s debut college basketball season was a success.

www.fredericksburg.com

this off-season, Austin’s primary focus has been diversifying her offensive attack with improved ball-handling and adding a pull-up jumper to her arsenal.

“A lot of people and a lot of coaches just see height and so that’s where they put me,” Austin said.

Sounds like A’ja Wilson.

As a freshman at Maryland, she averaged 8.4 points per game to go along with 9.5 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per contest. She capped the season with perhaps her best overall performance. She scored 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, blocked six shots and recorded three steals in an 85-80 loss to UCLA in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

She’s been in the weight room adding muscle to what was once a lanky frame. Her father, David Austin, said his daughter now resembles WNBA standout A’ja Wilson who has a toned 6-foot-4 physique.

“Even though she plays the center role she should be limitless in what she can do similar to a Brook Lopez or [Antetokounmpo],” David Austin said.

I’ll take her dad’s word for it. He actually sees what’s going on.

Maryland women’s basketball’s Shakira Austin dedicated herself to making a big sophomore jump

The sophomore forward has worked hard to play at a high level in her second year with the program.

www.testudotimes.com

“If I had to choose someone out there that’s probably been the most improved player up to this point, we’d definitely go to our sophomore Shakira Austin.” said Frese. “[I am] really excited to be able to see the early impact that she’s made in practices.”

I’ll take her coach’s word for it. She actually sees what’s going on.

She specifically focused on improving her face-up and post game, aiming to limit herself to one to two dribbles when trying to score, while also getting in the weight room to use her strength and length to her advantage more.

“Overall, as long as everybody is patient on the offensive end and we execute [in the paint], it’s going to be a lot of fun this year,” senior Stephanie Jones said. “Me and Shakira [are] going to be pretty hard to stop inside, especially with her length, so I’m really looking forward to [this season].”

I’ll take her teammate’s word for it. She actually sees what’s going on.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER: Shakira Austin wants even bigger things in second season at Maryland

By all accounts, former Colonial Forge star Shakira Austin’s debut college basketball season was a success.

www.fredericksburg.com

Sounds like A’ja Wilson.







I’ll take her dad’s word for it. He actually sees what’s going on.

Maryland women’s basketball’s Shakira Austin dedicated herself to making a big sophomore jump

The sophomore forward has worked hard to play at a high level in her second year with the program.

www.testudotimes.com

I’ll take her coach’s word for it. She actually sees what’s going on.



I’ll take her teammate’s word for it. She actually sees what’s going on.

I had posted this on the Maryland board but from the open practice and the two exhibition games I have seen the improvement is there. She finishes around the basket at a higher level than she did her freshman year. The encouraging thing for Maryland fans is Shakira actually decided to put in the extra effort to make herself a better player. She is coming off the bench right now as Brenda has decide to start Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller. So Austin and Watson will make an awesome reserve combination.

 

[Shades]

Hmm... if she’s most improved, why would she be coming off the bench? I wouldn’t judge too much on preseason games.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Hmm... if she’s most improved, why would she be coming off the bench? I wouldn’t judge too much on preseason games.

We'll find out in the South Carolina game on Sunday.