Prospect Watch - Aug. 10

By Glenn Nelson
HoopGurlz Publisher
Posted Fri, 08/10/2007 - 06:59 Shawna-Lei Kuehu's new look and recruiting outlook, plus our usual look around the country.

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STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON

Twice a day it would occur. Twice a day, everyone would receive a reminder, faded like an aging Polaroid, of her silky smooth jump shot. Twice a day at Nike Nationals, the California Storm would take the court for warmups and Shawna-Lei Kuehu would be out there with them.

Kuehu, of Aiea, Hawaii, even would be suited up, although it was just a tease. Cleared to play, she had suffered an ACL tear last winter and no one was in the mood for taking any chances. So she continued to tease - until the next-to-last day of competition, when she was trotted out to shoot technical foul shots near the end of the game.

She made them.

"Coming in cold off the bench to do that ... I know I couldn't do it," Storm coach George Quintero said. "She's a special player."

This was supposed to have been the summer that Kuehu showed how special she is. HoopGurlz ranked her 24th in the 2008 class based on a brief, but convincing stint at the end of the summer of 2007. It was then that perhaps the most storied prep girl's player in her state's history showed off her power, startlingly long wingspan and skills and athleticism that can best be described as smooth.

But the strange, merciless forces that often rule this universe sabotaged her coming out party. About a month after her twin sister, Shaena-Lyn, suffered an ACL tear in her left knee, Kuehu did the same - same tear, same knee.

So now the list of schools that probably should have stretched from Hawaii to Connecticut is a modest four deep. It contains the University of Hawaii, of course, but USC is probably the leader with Cal in the mix. Kuehu said she'd also consider Oklahoma. She is open to others and wants to take official visits before making a decision.

There's a distinct possibility that some did not recognize the svelte player working on her jumper during Cal Storm warmups this summer. During her rehabilitation, Kuehu says she was careful about how she ate. The result is that she lost a great deal of weight - we were too gentlemanly to ask how much but it is very noticeable.

"I like it," Kuehu said, extracting some brightness from an otherwise gloomy development.

RIM SHOTS

• We got the distinct impression that Shenise Johnson likely won't follow, but Syracuse coach Quentin Hillsman's landing a commitment from Tyler Ash of Liverpool, N.Y., is significant enough. Not only is Ash an extremely gifted perimeter player who can man the point at 6-2, she is an elite prospect - ranked 25th overall in 2008 by HoopGurlz.com - who chose to stay local. Coach Q is building a greatly mobile team that, so far, lacks overall size. That problem could be addressed, however, if Shakeya Leary commits to the 'Cuse, as rumored. Leary isn't just 6-3, she is mobile and has a solid handle and mid-range game.
• Ashley Corral of Vancouver, Wash., and one of the elite point guards in the 2008 class, is on an unofficial visit to Cal this weekend.
• Courtney Jones of Midfield, Ala., the No. 54 player in 2008, according to HoopGurlz.com, is down to five schools - Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Michigan State. The 6-2 forward averaged 18.7 points and 14.3 rebounds for Midfield High School as a junior and just had a strong summer with the Alabama RoadRunners.
• One of the top swing players in the 2009 class is 6-footer Bianca Lutley of Pensacola, Fla. She has very good size and is ultra-quick to the basket off the dribble, and extremely fast and athletic without the ball as well. She already has been offered by Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida St., Georgetown, LSU and Miami, among others.
• Michelle Baker, a 5-11 guard from Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Del., has committed to St. Joseph's University. Baker is a two-time, first-team all-state selection in Delaware and averaged 24 points and six rebounds a game as a junior. She is the fourth player from the Boo Williams Invitational and Mid-Atlantic AAU regional champion Comets to commit to a Division I school. Of course, the most highly anticipated Comet commitment will be that of Elena Delle Donne.

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Glenn Nelson is the publisher of HoopGurlz.com. He also founded and coached the Dragons and Northwest HoopGurlz select girl's basketball teams. Glenn previously was the editor-in-chief at Scout.com and a longtime, national-award-winning basketball columnist and writer for The Seattle Times. His work also has appeared in several books and national magazines. He is co-author of "Rising Stars: The Ten Best Players in the NBA" (Rosen Publishing, 2002). For more on Glenn's World, click here. He can be reached at glenn@hoopgurlz.com.

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