Looking Up

Tiffany Hayes is an understated wing for Winter Haven whose recruitment has been equally understated. That's about to change, big time.

STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON

SEATTLE, Wash. - Tiffany Hayes is a soft-spoken junior at Winter Haven High School in Florida whose coach thought her wing was a little too understated during their team's opening game, against No. 1 Collins Hill, at the T-Mobile Invitational at the University of Washington's Bank of America Arena. And, so far, Hayes' recruitment has been similarly subdued.

That all changed, rather dramatically, during a nationally broadcast game on Thursday. Hayes rolled out a performance well-suited to the best programs in America and, as such, is certain to be on just about every Division I most-wanted lists.

It's difficult to imagine a program not needing a long, quick and athletic, 6-foot wing who can sling the three with ease, put the ball on the floor, execute a killer crossover and attack the rim. Hayes just needed a reminder that she is that type of player.

Tiffany Hayes

"I thought she laid back a little in the first game, so I had a talk with her today," Winter Haven coach LaDawn Gibson said after her team beat Issaquah 63-49 in the T-Mobile consolation game. "I said, 'Look, it's your time. Show people who you are.' "

Taking that advice to heart, Hayes was involved in her team's first 15 points. She hit three of her four three-pointers during the first quarter. Hayes finished with 25 points, hitting 9 of 16 shots.

Hayes' "laid back" game against Collins Hill still was worthy of 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. With the exception of Maya Moore, who was playing on her own universe, Hayes and Khadijah Rushdan of St. Elizabeth clearly were the best players in the event.

"I was just trying to help out my team," Hayes said. "I didn't want to go off on my own. I have worked on all the type of shots that I took."

A subdued recruitment for Hayes still means that Connecticut, Notre Dame, Georgia and Baylor top an impressive list that also includes the likes of Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Temple and Texas. It's just that there are several other elite programs that have yet to weigh in. They almost certainly will. Hayes and Gibson expect her to make a school decision after the summer circuit, during which Hayes will play for Essence, which also has April Sykes, the No. 2 player in 2008, according to HoopGurlz.com.

Hayes already has qualified through the NCAA Clearinghouse with a 3.3 grade-point average, according to Gibson. Though Hayes showed primarily a three-point shot, or finishes at the rim off penetration, Gibson says she also has an effective mid-range game. "Tiffany can do anything," Gibson said.

On the latter point, a national audience finally can agree.

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