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On Women's Basketball

Saturday Night Recruiting

Posted by: Tony Bleill

Sunday, November 23, 2008 1:38 AM

Had a very interesting and enjoyable night at the Blue Star Country Classic Showcase at Parkland, watching some of the top Division I prospects in the country. You had Bolinbrook, with two signees and a bevy of underclassmen who are attracting interest; Indianapolis Ben Davis, with a Penn State signee and Purdue commit; Heritage Christian and UConn signee Kelly Faris, and Milwaukee Rufus King, which has two Big East signees (but only one showed up).

Thoughts on the two games and the players involved:

--It's funny watching the college coaches at these things. For them, it's as much about being seen by the players as anything else. They've already seen most of these kids during the summer, so that's not as important as making sure the kids know they're in the gym. It wasn't a coincidence that Law and Purdue's Sharon Versyp were sitting in the front row across from the Bolingbrook bench. (Versyp's program is getting a Ben Davis junior, DeeDee Williams, in 2010). As a recruiting contact told me, this part of the job, for the college coaches involved, is little more than babysitting. They're there to be seen.

And while they're sitting on those hard bleachers, they spend much of their time looking down, texting their fingers into a bloody pulp. One wonders: Shouldn't Research in Motion's stock price be a little higher? For heaven's sake, every one of these coaches is working their Blackberry like it contains the secret of life.

Law was flanked by assistant Tamika Louis. Versyp was sitting next to assistant Nadine Morgan.

Other staffs represented: Michigan State, Western Michigan, Southern Illinois, Butler, Memphis and Eastern Illinois.

--Bolingbrook's 6-2 freshman, Morgan Tuck, is impressive. She has a college body, moves well and, though she clearly prefers to go right, did use her left hand a couple times. She's one of four Bolingbrook players who have been offered scholarships by Jolette Law, and it's easy to see why. Can't see anything but a bright future for her.

--Wasn't particularly impressed by Bolingbrook point guard Ariel Massengale, a top sophomore, as she didn't seem to make good decisions against the Ben Davis zone. She had four turnovers in the first quarter.

--The three other Raiders that Illinois has offered -- Massengale, 6-3 sophomore Marissa Taylor and 6-0 sophomore Taylor Tuck, Morgan's sister -- are a cut below Morgan. Taylor is built well but doesn't have Morgan Tuck's agility. Taylor Tuck, a backup, is more slender than her younger sister.

--As for the Ben Davis duo, I liked Penn State signee Alex Bentley. She controls the tempo, can score off the dribble and spotting up, and she'll use her left hand. I can see her being a factor for the Nittany Lions.

Wasn't as impressed with Williams. She's long and lanky, making her a major factor on defense (Ben Davis put her at the top of a 1-2-2 zone), but doesn't seem to be as refined offensively.

--Kelly Faris is the prototypical Indiana high school basketball player. She's smart, fundamentally sound and totally unselfish. She probably had as many assists as points in HC's 67-43 victory. She's unflappable. At one point, she took an elbow to the face (a cheap shot from a Rufus King player, who drew a technical) but didn't even flinch, just walking away. Faris, ranked 9th in the senior class by Blue Star, won't blow you away with her athleticism, but she plays the game the right way. She makes everyone around her better, and I'm guessing that's one reason Geno Auriemma wanted her.

--Rufus King's Rachel Story, who has signed with Louisville, didn't play because of a school-imposed suspension.