2017 & 2018 Recruiting "Bigs": Loretta Kakala & Aquira DeCosta

6,634 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 10 yr ago by ClayK
kat0189
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A recent update by Prospects Nation on 6'3" Loretta Kakala from Manteca did not mention Cal. She made an official visit to ASU over the weekend (which apparently went very well per Twitter) and per the PN article "is considering the Pac-12 school [Arizona State] among programs such as Georgia Tech, Louisville, Oregon State, and Washington."

Cal had been mentioned as being involved here and there prior to this article, so I'm still going to keep tabs on her. She switched AAU teams and will play for reigning Nike National Champions Cal Stars this summer, so you would think she would wait to see her options after the big boost in exposure, but somewhat surprisingly, the same PN article says she hopes to make a decision before the July evaluation period.

Though I was of course a bit discouraged by this update on Loretta Kakala, I then noticed a lot of encouraging interaction between Aquira DeCosta and the Cal WBB program on Twitter. She even is buddies with Brittany Shine, and already seems very friendly and close with our prized player Kristine Anigwe.

Of course we have the ultimate competition in recruiting DeCosta, as Geno offered her some time ago and seemed to be quite interested. A major development for UConn was revealed recently, as an newspaper article state that 6'1" wing Megan Walker the #1 recruit from 2017 was "close to committing to UConn."

I'm hoping this might help us with DeCosta. Perhaps the scenario being that Walker limits her playing time on the perimeter where she hopes to develop more?

6'5" Angel Jackson from Salesian c/o 2019 could be the interior presence we need to allow DeCosta to roam more away from the paint.

Incidentally, this 2019 ranking list (one that I had never heard of before! lol) has Jackson at #3 overall in the country! But I know many here who have seen her in action would say that it is too soon to place her that high. Ironically, these rankings seem to have a refreshing West Coast bias: Evina Westbrook of Oregon is actually ranked #1 for 2017, DeCosta #1 for 2018, Ayanna Clark #7 for 2017, McKenzie Forbes #9 for 2018, and Hannah Jump #10 for 2019. Yet surprisingly, it appears the person behind these rankings is actually based in Michigan.

http://www.swishshotreview.com

p.s. for bobbk: Autumn Newby is ranked #10 per the link above, though both she and Mikayla Coombs took an official visit to Penn State together recently.
ClayK
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I think Angel Jackson is going to be very good ... she looked impressive against Miramonte at season's end, and those who saw her last summer say her improvement was huge.

DeCosta will go wherever she wants. She can shoot from the perimeter well enough to play the four, or maybe even the three, and she's extremely athletic.

If Cal could get either of these two, it would be a big step forward.
kat0189
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ClayK;842676375 said:

I think Angel Jackson is going to be very good ... she looked impressive against Miramonte at season's end, and those who saw her last summer say her improvement was huge.

DeCosta will go wherever she wants. She can shoot from the perimeter well enough to play the four, or maybe even the three, and she's extremely athletic.

If Cal could get either of these two, it would be a big step forward.


Just noticed that full footage of that Miramonte game is on YouTube! But I'll have to save it for later when I have time to watch and take your word on Jackson's performance for now (10 seconds in and that Sabrina girl just went around her to snatch the rebound off a missed free-throw that fell off their side of the rim :cry.

Schroeder71
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http://www.maxpreps.com/games/girls-basketball-winter-15-16/archbishop-mitty-vs-salesian-college-preparatory/3-11-2016-Q2f5N7OMYkytejz4sSZtBA.htm
scroll down for box score

She is tall (6-5) but doesn't jump often for rebounds or blocks. I saw her in the Mitty game in San Jose and she was held without a field goal from the floor eventhough the Monarchs tallest posts are 6-2. Angel blocked or altered at least a half-dozen shots during the game when players attempted to finish around the rim. Jackson also grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the game. She had several of her shots blocked by Tahlia Garza (6-2), Haley Jones (6-0), etc. Garza (7) & Jones (3) blocked 10 shots between them...It's possible that she could develop the offensive aspects of her game over the next three years of high school AND become a star. Right now-her biggest impact by far is in on defense! She hit half her free throws but exhibited good form. GO BEARS!
85 Fly
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First, thanks for all the HS updates Kat you are on your game as usual!
Good to know Kakala is coming to the Stars, I'll get to look at her now.
I want Westbrook (I bet she is staying home) & DecCosta-Lol
No Forbes, if she's in Pac 12 I see her at Utah, Oregeon or Washington.
If Jackson keeps working on her game we should have a better evaluation of her incoming junior season, but the potential is there great improvement from when she started through the playoff run.

I forgot my honorable mention- I want Naje Murray :gobears: I think if she has a break out AAU season to go along with her HS season she will get more than mid-major offfers (equivalent to what happened to Minyon Moore after junior AAU season)...I'm not saying that is all she has now because I don't know but I have a feeling some other Pac 12 teams are looking at her.
carmichaelbear
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I recall that Kakala indicated on a social media communication (?twitter?) that she would be leaving the state to play college ball some time back, which seems to be consistent with the list of schools she is considering
kat0189
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Yes, it was probably me (lol) that mentioned a Kakala tweet, but the Tweet said "East." I figured maybe Louisville or something, but heavily considering Arizona State, Washington, Oregon State (and not, say, UCLA, who had been linked with her earlier) does sound rather like simply "getting out of California" instead. Hmmm. We'll see.
kat0189
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85 Fly;842676485 said:

First, thanks for all the HS updates Kat you are on your game as usual!
Good to know Kakala is coming to the Stars, I'll get to look at her now.
I want Westbrook (I bet she is staying home) & DecCosta-Lol
No Forbes, if she's in Pac 12 I see her at Utah, Oregeon or Washington.
If Jackson keeps working on her game we should have a better evaluation of her incoming junior season, but the potential is there great improvement from when she started through the playoff run.

I forgot my honorable mention- I want Naje Murray :gobears: I think if she has a break out AAU season to go along with her HS season she will get more than mid-major offfers (equivalent to what happened to Minyon Moore after junior AAU season)...I'm not saying that is all she has now because I don't know but I have a feeling some other Pac 12 teams are looking at her.


Didn't Sierra Smith transfer out of St. Mary's Stockton for her senior year? I was curious if it had to do with Naje Murray's improvement.
ClayK
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My understanding is that Smith is now at Salesian ... don't know why she transferred, if indeed she did.
OBear073akaSMFan
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ClayK;842676627 said:

My understanding is that Smith is now at Salesian ... don't know why she transferred, if indeed she did.


Wonder if she will play AAU ball with the Orinda Magic, where the coach and tons of Salesian players play. Last year did she not play for Cal Storm?
85 Fly
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I did hear the rumors about Sierra but I heard them last year also and obviously she was at SMS the first day of school so w'ell see if she moves this time.
I thought Sierra was a Cal Ballaz girl? I know Salesian girls in recent years to play for Ballaz, Cal Stars and Orinda so if she is moving forward with Salesian and the coach is with Orinda maybe she plays with them this season?....
OBear073akaSMFan
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85 Fly;842677174 said:


I thought Sierra was a Cal Ballaz girl? ..


You are right! She is listed on Cal Ballaz team roster for 2015. We shall see in 2016.
85 Fly
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OBear073akaSMFan;842677230 said:

You are right! She is listed on Cal Ballaz team roster for 2015. We shall see in 2016.


But if she moves on with Salesian and like you said the coach is with Orinda she may go that route for 2016?
kkross22
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Sierra has transferred to Salesian. The transfer had nothing to do with basketball, most definitely wasn't prompted by Naje's or any other teammate's performance, and all to do with her being unhappy living in Stockton away from her dad, family, and close friends.
If Sierra had her way, she would have transferred in the beginning of her junior year, but we pushed her to stay. She really wanted to transfer in January, but thought it would be unfair to her team to leave mid season.
Sierra will be playing AAU for the Oakland Soldiers.
kat0189
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kkross22;842677322 said:

Sierra has transferred to Salesian. The transfer had nothing to do with basketball, most definitely wasn't prompted by Naje's or any other teammate's performance, and all to do with her being unhappy living in Stockton away from her dad, family, and close friends.
If Sierra had her way, she would have transferred in the beginning of her junior year, but we pushed her to stay. She really wanted to transfer in January, but thought it would be unfair to her team to leave mid season.
Sierra will be playing AAU for the Oakland Soldiers.


Thanks for the 411! Family first—makes sense, and nice of her to stick it out through the season for her team. We all wish her the best of luck!
Kookiebean
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kkross22;842677322 said:

Sierra has transferred to Salesian. The transfer had nothing to do with basketball, most definitely wasn't prompted by Naje's or any other teammate's performance, and all to do with her being unhappy living in Stockton away from her dad, family, and close friends.
If Sierra had her way, she would have transferred in the beginning of her junior year, but we pushed her to stay. She really wanted to transfer in January, but thought it would be unfair to her team to leave mid season.
Sierra will be playing AAU for the Oakland Soldiers.


Great news, Love to see your play. Great Talent!
85 Fly
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@ KKross- Salesian has a great team (even with seniors leaving, they got some JV girls that can ball just were waiting their turn to move up)...I really will be watching them closely this season, they can use Sierra's leadership because she definitely knows how to perform under the bright lights and the biggest stage. We as parents sacrafice for our children's well being so this is a win-win situation close to family and she can still play the sport she loves at a power program. Wish your family the best as they transition back to the Bay...I will miss watching Sierra lead the Lady Rams, she's been a joy to watch.

I gotta make a note to see if I can check out Oakland Soldiers in the Bay sometime this season...I know so many girls now that are playing for them this season-gotta go support.
85 Fly
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St. Mary's DeCosta earns state, national honors

http://stocktonpreps.com/news/744/st-mary-s-decosta-earns-state,-national-honors/
ClayK
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Just saw both play, and both were impressive. Cal Stars Elite is loaded, but the prize is Evina Westbrook.
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