Taya Hanson
Taya Hanson competes at the Check Me Out Showcase against players from across the United States. *Photo by Glenn Nelson.
The recruiting race to land the most talented players a program can find often overlooks one inescapable truth, fit is as important a factor as any. With the verbal commitment of Taya Hanson, the Arizona State Sun Devils got an ideal fit for head coach Charli Turner-Thorne’s style.
Hanson, a 5-foot-10 wing-guard from Kelowna, British Columbia, is a versatile perimeter player who is as impactful on the defensive end as she is on the offensive end.
Taya Hanson has sought out competition from an early
age. *Photo by Glenn Nelson.“Hanson is one of those kids that you just bet on,” Keil Moore, director of scouting for ProspectsNation.com, said. “With her work ethic and the energy she plays with, there's just a good chance she will figure college basketball out.”
Hanson’s length and athleticism allow her to attack off the dribble and put pressure on defenses. She’s got good vision and is a good passer. Her perimeter shooting as improved over the last two years and if that phase of the game continues to improve she’ll be a real weapon.
With two years of international competition with Canada’s U16 and U17 national teams as well as her cross-country move to TRC to play better competition, her goals seem clear. Glimpses of that desire to compete were evident dating back to 2015 when she travelled to Seattle and Oakland to compete against some of the Western United States’ best players in the two Check Me Out Showcases.
Hanson is a player that enjoys working on her game
and competing hard. *Photo by Chris Hansen.Hanson will head to Tempe on the heels of ASU’s two-player 2017 signing class of 6-5 post Eva Rubin of Flossmoor, Illinois, and 6-1 forward Bre’yanna Sanders of Fresno, California.
Timing will be good for Hanson and the 2018 class as the Sun Devils have five freshmen on their current roster, including four perimeter players. Despite only two juniors on the roster expected to graduate prior to the arrival of the 2018 recruiting class, the ASU roster is not at the maximum of 15 scholarships allowing them to sign a larger class if the right players are in the mix.
With one commitment in hand before the spring and summer evaluation periods arrive, Turner-Thorne and her staff are looking to build momentum and sign the talent to keep the program in the top 25 for years to come.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.
