Editor's note: Over the next couple of weeks, Prep2Prep will preview some of the top girls basketball teams in the Bay Area. Today we take a look at Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.
Mitty forward Kelli Hayes has scored at least 500 points and grabbed at least 200 rebounds in each of the last two seasons. In her junior year, she blocked 14 more shots but otherwise remained consistent with her sophomore numbers. Now she enters her senior season, and in addition to leading the club statistically - in 2012-13 her scoring average, 17.1, was more than twice that of the second leading scorer, and she was first in assists and steals, second in blocks, and third in rebounds - she will assume a larger leadership role off the court as well.
That’s because point guard Vanessa Garner and wing Emily Dinger, as well as Kalyn Simon and D’andree Galipeau, all graduated and are now playing for colleges. Hayes, a UCLA-signee, has already racked up impressive awards – CCS Player of the Year twice, and WCAL Player of the Year. She scored at least 25 points against St. Francis several times, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Ignatius, and Deer Valley; and had 23 points and 17 rebounds versus Presentation.
The defending CCS Open Division and WCAL Champions are under the stewardship of Sue Phillips, who in 20 years has amassed 581 wins against 103 losses. Recent experience includes head coach of the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team. The Mitty graduate has guided the Monarchs to 18 CCS titles, nine NorCal titles, and five State championships.
Phillips welcomes back 5-foot-4 sophomore guard Jahnay Anderson. Last year Anderson made an impression in the season-opener with 17 points against Bishop O’Dowd. She went on to reach double figures eight more times, including a season-high 19 against Miramonte and 18 versus Wilcox. She made 61 three-pointers for the year at a shiny 41 percent clip and tallied 6.6 points per game.
In the summer Anderson was observed to have “good speed on both ends” and made a trio of 3s in a 46-44 win over a team from Hawaii. She should become the number two option on the 2013-14 roster.
Expect sophomore Kaliya Griffin to take a starting spot. Griffin chipped in 5.5 points per game; she’s rehabbing an ACL but Phillips says she “will play this year.” The coach also expects junior wing/forward Taylor Todd, 6-1 junior center Conner Bennett (transfer, eligible January 6), and a quartet of freshmen—forward Harika Veeramacheneni, guard/forward Madeline Holland, and guards Heleyna Hill and Daniella Guglielmo—to fill in the rotation.
Cal-Hi Sports' Harold Abend made note over the summer of Holland’s size and strength, her perimeter play and ability to “mix it up in the paint.” NiaJai Craig, a 5-10 center, led the team last year in rebounding (8.2) and blocked shots (2.2). But she transferred to Pinewood, so Hayes and the newcomers with height will need to make up that difference.
“This year’s team will be very young compared with last year’s senior-loaded group,” says Phillips, “but very talented. It will also be more versatile with multiple players possessing inside and outside attack capabilities. The Monarchs will play a decidedly up-tempo style of play at both ends of the floor likely pressing the entire game.”
The Monarchs are set for the Elite Shootout at Laney College, December 13-14, when they face Lynwood of Southern California and Brookside Christian. The Monarchs also are entrants in the Eastside Prep Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament (December 27-31), but they are the only Bay Area team traveling south for the La Jolla Country Day Sweet Sixteen Invitational (December 4-7), where they will open their season. Other marquee matchups include Salesian (away, January 4) and usual WCAL foes Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Ignatius, and St. Francis.
