I LOVE TARA'S PIONEER SPIRIT! IF IT'S NEW AND IT WORKS - SHE'S ALL IN! HERE'S A PREVIEW OF WHAT 2020/21 MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

When Chiney graduated in 2014, Tara lost Stanford's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. A lot of coaches would have stuck with their old tried and true offense, without a Chiney, and just muddled through. Not Tara. She was heard to say, "This old dog has got to learn some new tricks."  

She dumped the Triangle and started learning the Princeton Offense, which is guard-oriented and up-tempo. It uses constant motion, backdoor cuts, and multiple screens on and off the ball. In mid-December UConn rolled into town featuring the National Player of the Year, Briana Stewart. Stanford was featuring their two-month-old offense. As you'll recall, it worked: Amber Orrange went off in the fourth quarter - got us into overtime and then beat'em.

While learning the Princeton Offense, Tara was also incorporating what she could of the Warrior's positionless offense, built around three-point shooting. They set twice as many off-ball screens as any other NBA team to get their shooters open. They increased their passing to an average of 314 per forty-eight minute game - which would equate to 262 passes in a forty minute game. Get the shooters open shots. This is where I think we're headed.

You may have noticed the shift in our recruiting to fill the team with superb three point shooters over the last five years:

2016: Anna Wilson, Nadia Fingall, and DiJonai Carrington.

2017: If she gets a full season, Kiana Williams has a shot at becoming the top three point shooter in Stanford history. Alyssa Jerome is a 6'-3" long ball shooter. 

2018: Lexie and Lacie Hull are both great three point shooters.

2019: Haley Jones, Ashten Prechtel and Hannah Jump.

2020: Cameron Brink and Jana VanGytenbeek.

2021: Brooke Demetre, Jzaniya Harriel, Elena Bosgana and Kiki Iriafen. 

I'll leave you with what I expect will be a preview of our 2020/21 season - the first half of the February 2020 game against USC in which we hit ten threes. In 2020/21 I fully expect twenty 3's in several games. Doesn't that sound like fun?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ae2YQ8JTRg

GO STANFORD!! LET'EM FLY!! I CAN'T WAIT!!

I RESIST STATING THE OBVIOUS - BUT RECRUITING IS THE KEY TO THE STANFORD WBB SUCCESS! AND THE BEAT GOES ON IN 2021!!

STANFORD'S CLASS OF 2021 

BROOKE DEMETRE - 6'-3" GUARD 

MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL, SANTA ANA, CA.

I remember my industrial grade disappointment when Katy Lou Samuelson chose UConn over Stanford in 2015. That's how excited I am that Brooke Demetre didn't make that mistake. This video from Brooke's junior year tells the story:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLmMzpxGMTs

She's going to write her name in lights in the Stanford record books and I can't wait to see her in action. 

JZANIYA HARRIEL - 5'-10" POINT GUARD

ANTELOPE HIGH SCHOOL, SACRAMENTO, CA.

Think a slightly taller Kiana. I predict that after a quick adjustment to Division 1 players, Jzaniya will delight the fans in Maples for four years. She's got the entire package and will make her teammates sizzle. Like Kiana she's smooth and lethal driving for layups or floaters and she's deadly from distance. At point guard, Stanford just keeps getting stronger.

ELENA BOSGANA - 6'-2" FORWARD

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL, ATHENS, GREECE

Our first European star! Elena could be EDD's little sister when you watch her play. She's young (16) and rangy in this video, but as you watch it, imagine her two years later with more strength and experience. Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis (1998 Stanford All American) is married to Elena's coach and mentored her through the recruiting process at Stanford.

https://stanford.n.rivals.com/news/greek-star-s-relentless-drive-has-propelled-her-to-rare-heights

I'm anxious to watch Elena develop her body, her game, and her confidence on the Farm. In her sophomore season I expect to see glimmers of Alanna Smith.  She's good now, but just wait and enjoy the ride.

KIKI IRIAFEN  (9th RANKED RECRUIT) - 6'-3" FORWARD

HARVARD-WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH HILLS, CA.

Sue and John Soo have done a great job of introducing Okikiola to our membership elsewhere in this website. I'll just do a little additional raving. What a fabulous attitude she has!! She's a legit star who does all the dirty work underneath with joy and enthusiasm! You hear coaches talk about "motor" - man has she got one! Belibi, Prechtel, Brink, and Iriafen, - if I were Katy I would have a hard time containing my excitement for the future of our program. An embarrassment of riches - I think I heard her say recently. 

 When Kiki said, "Stanford" I could almost hear Geno, Kim, and Dawn groan. One of the themes of my blog, if you've been following along, is the reversal of the magnetic pole in women's basketball to the West. I think five years ago Kiki would have said, "UConn or Baylor." Things they be a changin and it's just getting started people. Success breeds success in this business. Katy's going to turn Okikiola into a genuine beast and I think the above named coaches know it.