The McDonald’s All-American announcement has come and gone without any real controversy or debate regarding the makeup of the 2016 teams. Of course there are always some parents, coaches and recruiters who feel their favorite got shortchanged but this season’s lack of any real firestorm suggests that the committee may have come pretty close to getting it right. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the rosters, it’s important to always keep in mind that McDonald’s honors are a reflection of performance on the scholastic level and carry no guarantee of success in the colligate game. As we’ve done in the past, today we take a look at some mid-season statistics of the 2015 All-Americans as they head into the home stretch of their freshman campaigns.
The transition from high school to college basketball is far from a simple process and even the best in each class finds the going tough as they acclimate to a new program, higher level of competition and the weight of added expectations. As you look at some of these numbers remember that McDonald’s All-Americans generally are joining programs with a depth of top tier talent. Few players will walk right in as 2014’s Kelsey Mitchell did and lead the entire country in scoring during her freshman year at Ohio State. In fact many are, for the first time in their basketball careers, coming off the bench and fighting for playing time.
The numbers below are from games leading up to Thursday January 28, 2016. Of the 24 athletes to compete in last year’s McDonald’s All-American game, 22 have seen action this season. Ali Patberg (Columbus, Indiana – Notre Dame) is taking a medical redshirt as a result of a torn ACL while De’Janae Boykin (Springdale, Maryland – UConn) was limited early due to injury and chose to transfer to Penn State before ever taking the floor for the Huskies. Another athlete who was not a McDonald’s All-American, Jessica Shepard (Fremeont, Nebraska – Nebraska) is having a banner year averaging 20.4 points per game and 9.1 rebounds. Shepard was a consensus top three player nationally but suffered a season ending knee injury too early in her senior season to eligible for McDonald’s consideration.
The remaining 22 McDonald’s All-Americans from 2015 have started 36 percent of the games they’ve played in while averaging a combined 19.25 minutes per contest. Just 10 players are seeing in excess of 20 minutes per game. Destinee Walker of North Carolina leads the way in average minutes played with 36.9 per game while starting 22 of 22 games. Of course the rash of transfers following the 2014 – 15 season opened up some opportunities for additional minutes for both Walker and and fellow McDonald’s freshman teammate Stephanie Watts (32.1 minutes).
As a group the 2015 McDonald’s All-Americans are averaging 8.33 points per game. Only seven of 22 are scoring with double figure averages to this point in their freshman year. Cal’s Kristine Anigwe (Phoenix, Arizona) leads the way with an impressive 20.4 points per game average after 19 games. There are just five freshmen in the top 50 of Division – I scoring nationwide with Anigwe being the only McDonald’s honoree among the quintet.
Looking at the rebounding average, the combined per game average comes in at a disappointing 3.63. Just five of the athletes are pulling five or more per game. Anigwe again leads the way again grabbing 9.3 each time out. As a whole the freshman class has just two among the country’s top 50 but does not include the Cal standout.
A more impressive stat is the field goal percentage being shot by the 2015 McDonald’s All-Americans. As of last Thursday they were shooing a solid 43.1 percent overall. Six are shooting over 50 percent with Kalani Brown (Slidell, Louisiana – Baylor) setting the pace finishing at a 59.2 percent clip. Anigwe is close behind shooting 57.8 percent. Nine players are struggling with percentages under 40 percent thus far this season. Five freshmen are among the nation’s top 50 in field goal percentage with Anigwe being the only McDonald’s player among the group. Though Brown has taken 125 attempts she just misses the per-game average for inclusion in NCAA statistical rankings.
Here is an alphabetical list of last year’s McDonald’s All-Americans and their pertinent stats through last Thursday. Don’t read too much into them or what the implications might be looking back or going forward. These are very talented players just getting their feet wet in long, promising careers. Just like all players in their first year of college basketball…the best is yet to come.
Kristine Anigwe – Phoenix, Arizona – California
19 Games – 19 Starts 30.1 mins 20.4ppg 9.3rebs 57.8%fg 3.0to’s 1.2blks 1.2steals
De’Janae Boykin – Springdale, Maryland – UConn
Did not play – Transferred following first semester to Penn State
Kalani Brown – Slidell, Louisiana – Baylor
21 Games – 1 Start 13.6 mins 8.7ppg 3.8rebs 59.2%fg 1.2to’s 1.09blks
Taja Cole – Chesterfield, Virginia – Louisville
20 Games – 6 Starts 14.0 mins 3.2ppg 1.3rebs 37.9%fg 2.0assists
Napheesa Collier – St. Louis, Missouri – UConn
19 Games – 8 Starts 20.0 mins 7.4ppg 5.6rebs 52.3%fg 1.5blks 1.8steals
Te’a Cooper – Powder Springs, Georgia – Tennessee
19 Games – 6 Starts 21.4 mins 8.4ppg 1.8rebs 33.7%fg 2.8to’s 2.1assists
Sophie Cunningham – Columbia, Missouri – Missouri
20 Games – 20 Starts 27.0 mins 13.9ppg 5.3rebs 52.2%fg 39.0%3-pt 1.9to’s
Asia Durr – Atlanta, Georgia – Louisville
17 Games – 2 Starts 22.4 mins 10.6ppg 1.8rebs 40.3%fg 41%3-pt 1.58to’s 1.47assists 1.3steals
Brianna Fraser – Brooklyn, New York – Maryland
20 Games – 0 Starts 12.4 mins 4.8ppg 3.6rebs 40.3%fg
Sam Fuehring – Lodi, New Jersey – Louisville
18 Games – 2 Starts 9.4 mins 3.8ppg 1.4rebs 47.4%fg
Kiah Gillespie – Hartford, Connecticut – Maryland
19 Games – 9 Starts 14.8 mins 7.0ppg 3.7rebs 39.6%fg
Ashley Hearn – Sachse, Texas – UCLA
13 Games – 0 Starts 7.8 mins 0.3ppg 1.5rebs 13%fg
LaShann Higgs – Round Rock, Texas – Texas
20 Games – 1 Start 15.1 mins 7.3ppg 3.8rebs 37.8%fg 1.2to’s 1.7assists 1.5steals
Jordan Hosey – Manvel, Texas – Texas
19 Games – 0 Starts 10.1 mins 3.1ppg 3.8rebs 37.8%fg 1.1to’s
Kyra Lambert – Schertz, Texas – Duke
22 Games – 20 Starts 27.1 mins 6.1ppg 2.5rebs 41.4%fg 32%3-pt 2.6assists 1.95to’s 1.3steals
Marina Mabrey – Manasquan, New Jersey – Notre Dame
20 Games – 2 Starts 21.5 mins 12.6ppg 3.1rebs 53.3%fg 48.9%3-pt 2.4to’s 2.4assists 2.1steals
Beatrice Mompremier – Miami, Florida – Baylor
21 Games – 9 Starts 14.2 mins 7.1ppg 6.1rebs 56.8%fg 39%ft 1.76to’s 1.3blks
Taylor Murray – Severn, Maryland – Kentucky
18 Games – 0 Starts 21.9 mins 7.8ppg 3.0rebs 41.4%fg 32%3-pt 2.6assists 1.95to’s 1.3steals
Arike Ogunbowale – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Notre Dame
20 Games – 0 Starts 19.4 mins 11.7ppg 3.9rebs 41.8%fg 1.85to’s 1.25assists
Ali Patberg – Columbus, Indiana – Notre Dame
Did not play – Medical Redshirt – ACL Tear
Katie Lou Samuelson – Santa Ana, California – UConn
19 Games – 5 Starts 20.0 mins 9.5ppg 3.4rebs 42.9%fg 32%3pt 1.2to’s 2.5 assists
Deja Strother – Kenmore, Washington – Washington
12 Games – 0 Starts 6.1 mins 2.5ppg 2.4rebs 37.%fg 1.0to’s
Destinee Walker – Orlando, Florida – North Carolina
22 Games – 22 Starts 36.9 mins 13.5ppg 3.7rebs 37.7%fg 2.95to’s 2.59assists 1.13steals
Stephanie Watts – Matthews, North Carolina – North Carolina
22 Games – 20 Starts 32.1 mins 13.6ppg 6.9rebs 36%fg 2.8to’s 2.5assists 1.5steals
