2015-16 Basketball preview: WCAC girls
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Version 0 of 1. Top Teams Paul VI (32-2), Good Counsel (21-11), St. John’s (17-15) Top players G Deja Ford, St. Mary’s Ryken, 5-9, Sr. G Lindsey Pulliam, Good Counsel, 5-9, Jr. G Jasmine Whitney, Paul VI, 5-9, Sr. G/F Kayla Robbins, St. John’s, 6-1, Sr. Skinny: Though Paul VI lost All-Met Jonquanae Cole, there’s plenty left in the cupboard in Fairfax. The Panthers are again nationally ranked and will enter this winter as the two-time defending WCAC champions after going undefeated in league play last year. Whitney (Pittsburgh commit), guard Raven James (Villanova) will be joined this year by Team Takeover teammate Amira Collins, a sophomore forward who transferred to the Fairfax school after starting at St. John’s last year. Freshman guard Ashley Owusu is considered a top recruit in the 2019 class and could be an immediate contributor, like sophomore Kate Klimkiewicz was a season ago. . . . St. John’s suffered through an injury-riddled campaign last year, but the Cadets seem poised for a bounce back this winter. Robbins, a Michigan commit, could be one of the area’s top players now that she’s completely healthy from knee surgery two years ago and forward Sarah Overcash, an Illinois recruit, emerged as a steadying force inside last season. The return of guard Niya Beverley from injury and the addition of freshman Carly Rivera should provide the quality point guard play they lacked a year ago. . . . Good Counsel will again be among the league’s best teams after returning to the WCAC championship game last year. The Falcons lost All-Met Nicole Enabosi to graduation, but Pulliam emerged as one of the area’s top prospects last year and will step into a starring role this season. Classmates Maya Riley and Cara Judkins were also key contributors in 2014-15. There is lots of intrigue surrounding freshman point guard Chloe Chapman, who is considered one of the top 2019 recruits in the country by ESPN. . . . McNamara is coming off its most wins since 2008 under Coach Frank Oliver, and junior Kyara Frames is expected to make the Mustangs a WCAC contender again despite some key personnel losses. St. John’s transfer Shelby Harris-Moate, who sat out last season at McNamara with an injury, and senior Simone Smith will also be factors. Expect freshman Jakia Brown-Turner to have an immediate impact as well since senior Moriah Crisp, a UNC-Wilmington commit, will miss the entire season due to injury. . . . Elizabeth Seton will have to learn to function without leading scorer Raven Fox, who is now playing at Syracuse, but junior point guard Tatyana Carver earned second team all-WCAC honors last year. Junior Jaylen Hines also returns after missing all of the 2014-15 season with a knee injury. . . . St. Mary’s Ryken won more than 20 games for the first time last year and the return of Deja Ford, a College of Charleston commit, should ensure the Knights remain a threat in league play. . . . Led by seniors Jasmine Taylor and Janiya Clemmons, O’Connell returns its top four scorers from last season and could be a dark horse in league play this year. . . . Bishop Ireton must replace its two leading scorers, but showed significant improvement under Coach Jason Harris last year. . . . Holy Cross went winless in league play last year, but should be improved with guards Anna Capizzi, Amber Onyekeware, Madison Boyd all back |