WAUKEGAN, Ill.–The 8th annual USJN Windy City Classic once again proved itself to be one of the premier events of the NCAA Spring Evaluation period. With 345 teams and over 3,500 athletes, this tournament was one of the deepest in the country during the April non-scholastic weekend and the top brackets featured some of the nation’s elite prospects in each class. Wall to wall recruiters were on hand from every tier on the colligate level to take in all the action from start to finish.
Here are several prospects that stood out over the course of the three day event.
2014
Chatrice White – 6-03 – Easily one of the top post players in the Midwest who plays with the Nebraska CSS Bison. White is a traditional post player with very good feet. She shows her range at times yet still was dominant in the paint throughout the tournament. White is currently undecided but has narrowed her choices to Oklahoma State, Illinois and Nebraska. (Commitment update – White has chosen to join Matt Bollant and the folks in Champaign going with Illinois over the Cowgirls and Cornhuskers)
Bria Pierce – 5-11 – This perimeter player from Overland Park, Kansas is a physical player with good ball skills. She played extremely well all weekend. In the bracket championship game she took over with her 3 point shooting. In that title game her Missouri Valley Eclipse team beat the NE CSS Bison for top honors.
Kortney Dunbar – 6-1 – This post player from Edwardsville, Illinois is smooth but at the same time very physical inside. In a semi-final game against the NE CSS team, she out rebounded both White and standout sophomore Jessica Shepard. Making this Illinois verbal all the more impressive is the range and touch she has from the perimeter.
Justine Hall – 5-9 – An Aurora, Colorado native, this slender, explosive wing plays for the Colorado Rockies. She has very good guard skills and is a threat shooting the ball. She recently led her Regis Jesuit High School team to the Colorado state championship this past march. She is still undecided on her college choice but already has offers from Pac 12, Big 10 and Big 12 schools.
Brook Kissinger – 5-7 – Another Illinois commit, Kissinger is a very smooth point guard with good handles. She has very good court vision and the speed to capitalize on it. She plays alongside of White and Shepard for the NE CSS Bison club team.
2015
Napheesa Collier – 6-2 – Already well-established as one of the top prospects to watch in the 2015 class, this St. Louis native displayed her dominance each time she took the floor. The lean, athletic forward has the capacity to be a threat away from the rim or take over in the paint when needed. She has the ability to run with the guards and can be a factor on the break or setting up in the halfcourt. The top tier recruiters have been lining up for a couple of years already.
Jessica Shepard – 6-3 – While Collier may still be weighing her college options this elite 2015 inside – out threat has already provided a verbal commitment to Coach Connie Yori and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, Shepard has the size and versatility to challenge any opponent. Along with White and Kissinger, she helped lead the NE CSS squad to a division title.
Jerry Howard has covered women’s basketball for over 10 years and oversees Biokates Sports Network and HoopTracker Magazine. He speaks nationally on recruiting for various sports as well.
