Mosqueda-Lewis headlines big weekend
Seven Top 25 prospects still undecided
All the transactions haven't been accounted for, but the major ones mark a trend: If recruits were stocks, the guards definitely were up during a most critical recruiting weekend.
The busy weekend of pledges left just seven uncommitted players ranked in ESPN HoopGurlz's top 25, though one of them, No. 14 Bria Hartley, is considered by many to be a lock to join Mosqueda-Lewis as a Husky commit. Big prizes still await, however. Five of the other six are ranked in the top 10, including No. 1 Chiney Ogwumike, No. 2 Natasha Howard, No. 5 Kaneisha Horn, No. 6 Richa Jackson and No. 8 Shoni Schimmel.
The team recruiting rankings continue to be paced by Maryland, which has gotten commitments from five ranked players (led by No. 7 Alyssa Thomas), and Duke, which despite the recent de-commitment of Clair Watkins has three commitments from ranked players (paced by No. 4 Chelsea Gray).
This past weekend made an obvious setting for such big developments because the start of college practices provided the girls' recruitment a relevant centerpiece for an official visit. O'Neill, for one, said she had fallen in love with Cal and Georgia after visits to those schools, but was swept off her feet at Kentucky on Friday when she watched Big Blue Madness in a soldout Rupp Arena.
"To see what kind of support the entire state had for its sport was really exciting," said O'Neill, a 5-foot-6 point guard from the Bronx, N.Y. "Seeing [men's coach] John Calipari running practice while at the same time introducing himself to the people of Kentucky really was awesome. I didn't really know where I was going until I got there."
ESPN HoopGurlz takes a closer look at the weekend's top developments.
No. 2 Mosqueda-Lewis to UConn
The Skinny: The sharp-shooting wing from Mater Dei High School (Anaheim, Calif.) fuels a theory that girls who plan to go any distance to play for a powerhouse program will pledge early. The Huskies already have a strong class going in 2010, with four ranked prospects, so Mosqueda-Lewis' commitment could be timed to motivate other top 2010 guns -- No. 1 Ogwumike and No. 14 Hartley. Ogwumike was also there for UConn's Super Show party on Friday.
The Whole Story: On The Trail
No. 22 Moore to Texas
The Skinny: The Longhorns have a lot of ballhandlers to replace after Brittainey Raven, Kathleen Nash and Erica Arriaran graduate, plus an elite post prospect in Cokie Reed coming in with a need for space to operate down low. Moore not only helps address those needs, she gives Coach Gail Gostenkors a push in an absolute dog fight against Kim Mulkey at Baylor and Gary Blair at Texas A&M in the prospect-rich Lone Star State.
The Whole Story: Chris Hansen
No. 24 Simmons to Tennessee
The Skinny: After large, top-ranked classes in 2007 and 2008, Pat Summitt has had to use her few available scholarships with care. She has been able to bank on No. 28 Lauren Avant from this class for years and now has Simmons to help ease the loss of Angie Bjorklund in 2011. Simmons landing here seems further evidence that Hartley, who had the Vols on her short list, is expected to head to Storrs.
The Whole Story: Mindi Rice
No. 30 O'Neill to Kentucky
The Skinny: There's a lot to like about what's going on in Lexington, including the 2010 recruiting class, which already included post Samantha Drake, No. 74 in the ESPNU HoopGurlz 100, and Maegan Conwright, a not-to-be-overlooked pledge at the point-guard position. Add to that mix the New York swagger and toughness of O'Neill, whom many consider the best classic point guard in the class.
The Whole Story: Glenn Nelson
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