Rankings are somewhat new and evolved over the years in female sports. Candace won the major awards in her time that would have put her as the #1 ranked player. USA Today (twice POY), Naismith POY, and Gatorade POY.
Candace, Alexis and S'ade were all ranked #1 by different recruiting services (ASGr, Blue star, Scout?). Hoopgurlz didn't have rankings back then, but the guy who did them for years previously came from I think Scout...who did do rankings.
She was.
Blue Star had some doozies back in the day, like Ashley Robinson #1 over Taurasi, Nicole Teasley #1 over Catchings...
Blue Star definitely had Candace ranked #1, though. It was ASGR that was smoking crack because SWG's stepdad was involved with them. They had Candace ranked like #4 or #5, lol. I swear the writing was on the wall from the get to that he was going to be a thorn in Pat's side. What a wasted talent SWG was, and her traveling circus of a meddling family had a lot to do with that.
Yeah, I remember SWG's wack job dad, and how she supposedly felt like a "robot" in Pat's system. Funny thing, Bobbitt sure didn't look like a robot leading the team to two titles in her place.
And I fully believe Parker missing her freshman season cost Pat another title...
That Michigan state debacle….smhAnother funny thing is she didn't do jack crap at Maryland once she transferred there because she still had the same knees, and wound up not even finishing her eligibility. She never played a full season of college basketball. Her first season was cut short due to her tendonitis, her second season she cut short herself by transferring, which bled into her junior season (had to sit out until after Christmas). She redshirted her senior year and never played again after that.
100%. No way we don't win it all in Indy if Parker is on the team. Still remember Ely pulling a no-show in her last college game in her hometown.
I think you got most of them, except maybe Tiffani Johnson, who I'm pretty sure was the USA Today Player of the Year in 1994.In terms of overall players that were either ranked #1 or won NPOY honors in HS, these are the ones I know of:
Mary Ostrowski, Bridgette Gordon, Lisa Harrison, Tiffany Woosley, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Kara Lawson, Shyra Ely, Ashley Robinson, Candace Parker, Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, Mercedes Russell, Diamond DeShields (was ranked #1 in the class in her sophomore and junior years), and Evina Westbrook.
She also won the Naismith POY and Gatorade POY awards as a junior. She was the first player to win the Naismith Award as a junior, with Maya Moore being the second. She could've been the first junior to win the others, for all I know, but I remember at the time the Naismith Award was made out to be a big deal.
Only ASGR didn't have Candace ranked #1, because Jerry Gatewood was involved with the organization. But SWG won the Parade Magazine POY award in 2004. Keep in mind that Candace missed part of her senior year after a torn ACL. Everyone knew Candace was the best player in that class. She was a once-in-a-generation talent and had won more than one NPOY award as a junior. BlueStar definitely had her ranked #1 (I used to have those rankings bookmarked but the site has since been deleted). Sylvia Fowles was the consensus #2 player in that class with Lex and SWG both being top 5. IIRC, Tasha Humphery and Crystal Langhorne were ranked right behind them. When I think back to the top 5/6 players in that class, those are the ones that come to mind.
I think you got most of them, except maybe Tina Johnson, who I'm pretty sure was the USA Today Player of the Year in 1995. Some services had Nykesia Sales of UConn #1 that year... but at the time, USA Today had the most prestigious recruiting service.
Durham was an example of someone creating a top list with a minimum of nationwide experience.
aside from an earlier thread - I have often wondered why the LVs didn't use Parker just in the March Madness time of her first year. Even then I did n't expect her to play for four years. She had rehabbed for nearly a year. ( yes I no, mightof, could of , never would.... but I did consider the idea back then. just another time a boarder was NOT listened to. smile
Yes, Michelle Johnson, Vicki Baugh, Cait McMahan, etc.