Newcomers to Watch in women’s basketball
Big 12 features four of the top impact players for 2005-06 season
Special feature |
Erika Arriaran, 5-10, Texas
This sharp-shooting guard was named the national high school player of the year by Parade Magazine and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She averaged 17.2 points and shot 52 percent from 3-point range as a senior. As a fifth grader, Arriaran was good enough to be invited to an all-star camp to compete against high school players.
Courtney Paris, 6-4, Oklahoma, Ashley Paris, 6-3, Oklahoma
With the Paris twins, OU coach Sherri Coale shouldn’t have any worries about her inside game for a while. Courtney was USA Today’s and the Naismith Player of the Year after posting some eye-popping numbers as a prep senior — 27.4 points, 18.9 rebounds and five blocks. She was the MVP of the McDonald’s All-America game. Ashley averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Candace Parker, 6-3, Tennessee
Parker was on campus last season but didn’t play because of knee problems. If anything, the delay has heightened the anticipation of this two-time national player of the year making her college debut. Parker gained fame by winning a slam-dunk contest against boys as a high school senior and her legend grew when she dunked over a Tennessee men’s player in a pickup game.
Renee Montgomery, 5-7, Connecticut
A guard who’s fleet of foot and hand, Montgomery probably will start immediately for the five-time national champs. She led her high school team in West Virginia to three consecutive state championships and averaged 22.5 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals as a senior. Montgomery set a state tournament record with nine steals in a game in 2003.
Shaquina Mosley, 5-6, Kansas
Gillian Goring, 6-7, North Carolina State
This much talked about center has flown under the radar since earning high school All-America honors in 2002. A native of Trinidad, she originally signed with Connecticut but ended up at Arkansas-Fort Smith. Goring sat out one season at Fort Smith, then played for two years before joining the Wolfpack.
Abby Waner, 5-10, Duke
The Blue Devils are getting a prolific scorer. Waner averaged 32.5 points as a high school senior in Colorado and was the Gatorade and McDonald’s national player of the year. Her team won three state championships and she had a triple-double in a game with 45 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. And here’s one more impressive number: a 3.95 grade-point average.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL |
| Add College basketball headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links




