Grass Roots Watch

Some of the top talent from the West congregated in Irvine, Calif., for the Grass Roots Sports Fall Showcase viewing event at Condordia University.

STORY & PHOTOS BY CHRIS HANSEN

IRVINE, Calif. - A great collection of West Coast talent got together for the Grass Roots Sports Fall Showcase at Concordia University. More than one hundred prospects from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and even two sisters from the Peach State, Georgia. They were joined by their parents and 60 or so college coaches from across the country.

The one-day event broke the kids into 10-player teams coached by a collection of players from Pepperdine in Daphanie Kennedy and Jasmane Clarendon and USC in Camille Lenor, Eshaya Murphy and Jamie Hagiya and culminated in two all-star games, one for the upperclass (2007-2008) and underclass (2009-2011).

The first annual event run by Grass Roots Sports was a very solid event with some youngsters making names for themselves.

Coco Davis

Koi Brown – A 5-8 combo guard from Silverado High School was one of the strongest seniors in the event. She played strong and scored at will for much of the weekend. She showed a nice pull up jumper to go along with solid ball handling ability.

Coco Davis - A combo guard from northern California has been making news lately, not only with her play at the Showcase but she has reportedly transferred to Sacramento High School, joining her summer club ball teammate Vicki Baugh and just weeks ago committed to SDSU. She sported her SDSU pullover during warm-ups and showed everyone why she was recruited in the first place with her creative ability and ultra-high confidence.

Briana Gilbreath

Candace Chambers – The 6-1 forward from Seattle Prep was a favorite of the showcase event coaches who loved her energy and feel for the game. She wasn’t the tallest front court player but used her strength around the basket and did some damage from the high post where her smooth mid range jumper found twine with regularity.

Ashley Gayle – The highly recruited 6-4 forward, whose combination of height and athleticism are matched by few, was the best shot blocker in the building. She showed an emerging post up game to go along with her work cleaning up the glass, a piece of her game that will be key in her taking advantage of her tools on the next level.

Briana Gilbreath – Gibreath’s sister just recently committed to USC creating headlines across the country while Briana was out making a name for herself. The 6-2 wing played with poise and confidence, making things happen on both ends of the floor. Her performance on Saturday was a great step in creating an identity for herself away from her sister. She showed an improved mid range jumper and more aggressiveness on the offensive end than she had this summer on her star-studded club team.

Chelsea Hopkins – Maybe the quickest player with the ball of everyone at the showcase the 5-6 guard form Mojave High School was one of the most spectacular players Saturday. Hopkins created shots for herself and her teammates with a great combination of shiftiness and natural quickness and a change of direction and change of pace. She controlled the tempo of every game she competed in.

Hannah Stephens (right) tries a head fake
against Candace Chambers

Michelle Jenkins – The 6-2 post from Oregon’s back-to-back state champions has started playing much more aggressive, a key for this highly skilled post player. Her pivots are on point and she understands how to get position. The most notable change is her more physical play on the defensive end.

Victoria Nayor – The 5-6 guard from Green Valley High School was another solid guard in a seemingly loaded junior class. Her most impressive attribute aside from solid ball handling was her creative passing. She dropped a number of dimes, some hit the target but her teammate wasn’t ready for the pass.

Hannah Stephens – The 5-7 guard from Archbishop Mitty had the play of the day coming down on the break, splitting two defenders by wrapping the ball all the way around her waste then using her body to shield off the defender by jumping into her and finishing with a left handed scoop shot with contact. The creative guard will get a chance to make a name for herself from now on with teammate Danielle Robinson committed to Oklahoma. She’s got the tools and the confidence to be a very strong prospect.

Destini Mason

Hayley Henderson – A 5-8 guard from Palo Verde High School has improved a lot in the last year and plays with a lot of presence on the floor handling the basketball. She showed her handle is tight and her passing abilities are very solid. She handled ball pressure well and distributed the ball, a lost art in these individual focused showcase events.

Destini Mason – The 5-8 guard from Perris High School played with confidence and aggressiveness showcasing her ability to get to the basket and create from the perimeter. Her handle in nice and her pull-up jumper is legit. For a sophomore she is strong physically as well.

Monique Oliver – The 6-3 post from Cheyenne High School played with a much more confident and expanded low post game. She worked hard for position and sealed the defender well, using her feet and keeping her body low through her pivot moves.

Haiden Palmer – The 5-10 wing fromVista del Lago High School showed tremendous poise handling the basketball. She has nice handle and is very smooth in her movements both with the ball and without, definitely a player to keep an eye on.

Tierra Rogers – The 5-11 forward from Sacred Heart Cathedral continues to prove that she is one of the best, if not the best, at getting to the cup in the country. Rogers’ first step is so explosive that she is almost impossible for the defender to keep in front of them. She is also starting to show a mid range jumper. Adding a consistent jumper would make her one of the toughest people to guard in the country, regardless of class.



Kaleena Lewis – This youngster played well beyond her years. The 5-11 guard from Holy Family Middle School has all the shake in her game already and gets into the paint off dribble penetration with ease. She is strong and goes the to the basket with authority. This kid could be scary good.

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All Star Selections
Upperclass - 2007 & 2008
Kara Bible
Koi Brown
Candace Chambers
Gabrielle Clark
Coco Davis
Ashley Gayle
Aly Geppert
Amber Glasser
Briana Gilbreath
Chelsea Hopkins
Michelle Jenkins
Lindie La Rocque
Victoria Naylor
Bjonee Reaves
Devan Satchel
Hannah Stephens
Aishah Sutherland
Reiko Thomas
Quanisha Turner
Kristen Victor

Underclass – 2009 and up
Jordan Adams
Ashley Armstrong
Chelsea Bridgewater
Alexis Byrd
Ciera Dunbar
Lauren Engeln
Hayley Henderson
Kaleena Lewis
Destini Mason
Monique Oliver
Haiden Palmer
Tierra Rogers
Jordan Sanchez
Kiyana Stamps
Ashley Walls
Ashley Ward
Krystal Wells
Davellyn Whyte

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Kristen Victor

Amber Glasser

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Chris Hansen is the National Director of Scouting for Women's Basketball at HoopGurlz.com and Scout.com. Chris leads the panel that evaluates and ranks girl's basketball prospects nationally for HoopGurlz and Scout.com. Chris has been involved in the women’s basketball community since 1998 as a coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. He can be reached at [e-mail].