Wahine high on big signing class
The Hawaii women’s basketball team bolstered its ranks considerably with the 2019 early signing period.
Four of the players were mentioned on Warrior World previously. Those four are all incoming freshmen.
They are:
>> Nae Nae Calhoun, a 5-4 point guard out of JW North (Calif.) High
>> Olivia Davies, a 5-9 combo guard out of Wasilla (Alaska) High
>> MaKayla Edwards, a 5-10 guard/forward out of Salesian College (Calif.) Prep
>> Kasey Neubert, a 6-0 forward out of Highlands Ranch (Colo.) High
A fifth player, Barbara Rangel, was the last player added to the class to this point. She is a 6-foot-2 forward out of Moorpark College who averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds as a freshman.
Five players for a single basketball signing class is quite a haul.
“Coach (Courtney) Locke has been our recruiting guru and has changed our philosophy of how much I’m off island, going to home visits and seeing the kids,” coach Laura Beeman said. “Me getting multiple evaluations so that we have good evaluations and not a one-time thing. Obviously our location makes evaluations difficult live. But Coach Locke has done a great job of getting us all out, watching kids multiple times. I did a lot of home visits. Once we identified the kids that we really wanted, it was just attacking everybody in their lives and letting them know what a great fit they would be for us and what a great fit we would be for them. And that’s parents and travel-ball coaches and high school coaches and counselors and whoever. It was a strategy that worked very well because we developed some wonderful relationships with these kids and their parents.”
Beeman plans to keep recruiting for the coming season because she has a scholarship in her pocket, plus whatever attrition occurs.
“It’s always nice to have room on your roster. I don’t need to have 15. So, right now, we’re talking to some kids. We’re going to get the best fit that we possibly can, whether it’s mid(year) or next year.”
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UH (0-3) faces Portland (2-0) on Friday and Seattle University (0-2) on Sunday in the Bank of Hawaii Classic. Both games tip off at 2:30 p.m.
The Wahine are expected to still be without forward Lahni Salanoa and center Lauren Rewers. However, they should have 6-foot wing Amy Atwell back in action after she missed the first three games of the season recovering from an injury.
“It was really hard (to sit and watch), especially the first two, losing by one point. It’s kind of like, you go through everything in your head, if I was out there what would I do to get us across the line. So it was really challenging sitting on the bench and seeing everything the girls were suffering through out there. So I’m pretty excited to get back out on the court this weekend in the tournament and hopefully improve that record.”
The Australian expects to have a role in helping UH improve its rebounding. The Wahine have been outrebounded by one, one, and 14 in their three games.
We need a center.
Still haven’t given up on Lauren Rewers, though.
C’mon, girl, you can do it!
It’s an uncomfortable truth that the women’s basketball team had success with other coaches’ recruits. In my opinion, the only Beeman-picked players who could really play were Destiny King and Sarah Toeaina. Julissa Tago should be on this list, but she disappears sometimes.
Myrrah Joseph and Savannah Reier look pretty decent.
She recruited others like Harris, who were good supporting players for the 2015-16 team and the other teams. Morgan Mason for the 2014-15 team, etc.
I like Leah and Lahni for the current team and Woodfolk, among others.
No inside game. They’re just launching threes.
Somebody has to be greedy on this team.
Nice block, Rewers.
She doesn’t need to score.
Four consecutive points in the paint
Move your feet, #14.
Second block.
That’s better.
Third block.
The shot hit the side of the backboard, but at least they ran the offense for 30 seconds without turning it over.
Kanoa hits the deck.
Alas, for nothing, a turnover.
This team goes into scoring droughts because nobody can shoot 40%.
Tago hits a three then loses her man twice on consecutive possessions.
31-30 at the half.
Lauren Rewers played well.
I hope she starts instead of Alexander to start the second half.
Tia’s poor shooting is becoming a liability. JMO.
At least Tago is getting involved in the offense. I think she only put up 5 shots in the opener.
If Tago, Middap, and Salanpa can knock down shots, she can concentrate on being a distributor.
Like just now.
C’mon #2.
You’re wide open.
Salanoa hit the three because Kanoa passed up the three and threw it to her.
That’s how it should work.
Just throwing a simple outlet pass after you grab the defensive rebound is a challenge.
I realize that women don’t have the same vertical as men, but you can’t short-rim a lay-up.
Its going to be a long season again.
Rachel Odumu played hard.
Hope this class is a good one. Salanoa is playing well. What is the level of support with recruiting? Locke seems to be on the right track. So just what the h*** has been going on these past few years with recruiting anyway?
And what happened to fundamentals? What’s up with not moving your feet and defense or lack of it?
Offense, watch film, fundamentals. Just our two pennies.
Leah Salanoa played 39 minutes, 19 pts, 11 rebounds, 1 assist
too bad none of the bigs that left were replaced. need 2 more biggies inside to help Rewers. having an inside presence could really help the Wahine and relieve pressure on Makenna.