Preseason Girls' Top 10
1. LONG BEACHPOLY, Long Beach, Calif. (11--25) The Jackrabbits, who forfeited 20 games lastseason, play in the two toughest tournaments in the country--the NikeTournament of Champions in Phoenix and the 3-Point Play Holiday Tournament atthe University of Maryland. Then they return to California to defend theirDivision I (largest schools) state title. Leading this loaded squad is juniorguard-forward Jasmine Dixon. Candice Nichols, Brittany Brumfield and TajaEdwards are also talented veterans, but watch out for freshman twins Ashley andBrittany Wilson.
2. COLLINS HILL,Suwanee, Ga. (31--1) They have Maya Moore, the consensus No. 1 senior in thecountry, sharpshooter Jordan Jones and ultratalented 6'1" junior TaylorDalrymple, but it will be hard for the Eagles to be as good as they were lastyear because point guard Shantell Black (now at Ole Miss) and two otherstarters graduated.
3. PROVIDENCEDAY, Charlotte (29--1) With three starters back, including senior point guardEpiphany Woodson and junior twins Britny and Whitny Edwards, the Chargers haveplenty of weapons.
4. CHRIST THEKING, Middle Village, N.Y. (30--0) Coach Bob Mackey is working on two nicestreaks: 57 wins in a row and back-to-back national titles. Three starters arereturning, including senior Lorin Dixon, the human blur. So what's not to like?Tina Charles is now at UConn, and with her went the Royals' post game. And theywill again play their usual brutal schedule.
5. THE FIRSTACADEMY, Orlando (30--2) This year the Royals will be making an inaugural tripto the Nike Tournament of Champions. Elite talents 6'4" senior KrystalThomas and 5'10" junior Alex Deluzio should do just fine in Arizona, butsenior point guard Tierra Brown and senior power forward Jaimie Givens will betested severely.
6. NOTRE DAMEACADEMY, Middleburg, Va. (28--3) The Dragons have four starters back, includingpoint guard Ebonie Williams and 6'2" power forward Mia Nickson. JosetteCampbell is 6'1" and Azania Stewart is 6'4", so Notre Dame is big. Theschool will play a very tough schedule, which should help its ranking.
7. URSULINE,Wilmington, Del. (21--5) Elena Delle Donne--the recruiting prize of the '08class--is one of those kids who makes everything. And she's 6'4". Put aquick girl on her, and she shoots over her; put a big girl on her, and shesteps back and starts draining threes. The Raiders play a tough schedule, whichmeans that Kayla Miller, Erin Edwards and Shannon O'Hanlon are going to have tostep up more than once.
8. ARCHBISHOPMITTY, San Jose (27--3) All five starters return for coach Sue Phillips, andshe's added a solid transfer, plus a freshman class that Phillips calls one ofthe best in her very successful 15 years at Mitty. Danielle Robinson(Oklahoma-bound) is the best known Monarch, but Kassandra McCalister, NicoleAnderson, Lindsay Leo and Jessica Torrecillas are tall and talented aswell.
9. FENWICK, OakPark, Ill. (32--2) It's difficult to choose between Fenwick and Bolingbrook asthe best in Illinois, but it's a truism in high school coaching that seniorswin for you. Since the Friars have four very good ones, they get the nod for atop 10 spot. Devereaux Peters and Alison Jackson are the best of that seniorquartet, but Holly Harvey and Erin Power are also excellent players.
10. BELLAIRE,Bellaire, Texas (33--5) The Cardinals don't play out of state this year, andbecause of their relatively weak schedule this ranking may be too high. But,oh, do they have talent. Antoinette and Annette Davis, daughters of former NBAplayer Antonio Davis, transferred in to join point guard Jasmine Hartman andcenter Zoe Rogers.
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JON WINSLOW/AP
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