Evina Westbrook
Evina Westbook takes flight at the 2016 Check Me Out Showcase in Seattle, Washington. *Photo by Glenn Nelson.
Earlier this week, the No. 2 player in the 2017 class, Evina Westbrook of Salem, Ore., released her final six. Westbrook is now considering Maryland, Notre Dame, Oregon State, South Carolina, Tennessee and USC. Official visit dates are set with all except Oregon State, a campus she’s been on numerous times.
Clay’s Take
Westbrook is long and athletic with quick feet on defense. I had the chance to coach her team and she was one of the top defenders in the gym at the Check Me Out Showcase. Westbrook was very coachable and full of potential. Her ability to get downhill off of the dribble was impressive. She was attentive to instruction, focusing on getting better during her time in Seattle. Even now, with a FIBA U18 gold medal in hand, she is still scratching the surface of how good she can be.
The Finalists
Maryland
Visit Date: Sept. 29-Oct. 2
2017 Commits: None to date
2016 Class:
Why she could be a Terp: Westbrook would be a heck of an encore to the No. 1 recruiting class in 2016 and provide a player with the scoring skill set to follow Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.
Notre Dame
Visit Date: Sept. 22-25
2017 Commits
2016 Class
Why she could become Irish: The program’s tradition and history of being among the best in the country along with solidifying a core backcourt with Ali Patberg, Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young.
Oregon State
Visit Date: No official visit
2017 Commits
2016 Class
Why she could become a Beaver: OSU is as close to a hometown team as you will find, but on the heels of the Final Four run in 2016 there are reasons beyond location for Westbrook. She has ties to the school as well as her father was a Beaver.
South Carolina
Visit Date: Oct. 6-9
2017 Commits
2016 Class
Why she could become a Gamecock: Teaming with Ty Harris and becoming the next it duo after the star power graduating over the next two seasons. The obvious appeal as well of playing under a former Olympian Dawn Staley has to be a consideration.
Tennessee
Visit Date: September 15-18
2017 Commits: None to date
2016 Class:
Why she could become a Lady Vol: In recent history it’s been the Oregonian thing to do, with Mercedes Russell, Jordan Reynolds and Jaime Nared all heading to Knoxville. The history of the program is an appeal as is the chance to be the star after Diamond DeShields and Te’a Cooper graduate.
USC
Visit Date: September 8-11
2017 Commits:
2016 Class:
Why she could become a Lady of Troy: Westbrook’s father is from Inglewood and her father still calls Southern California home. In addition she would join a top 25 player in Clark in the USC 2017 class, giving the program some star power and play for a Hall of Fame player in Cynthia Cooper.
With options near and far, established and on the rise, the eventual commitment of Westbrook has a chance to have a major impact on the recruiting landscape. Outside of Megan Walker, there just aren’t many long perimeter players with the ability to impact both sides of the court like Westbrook can, making her a potential program changer.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was 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.
Comments
Te'a Cooper will be