2019 Washington Forwards to Watch

High school season is here and there is a lot of excitement surrounding girls basketball. No one is probably more excited than the seniors who will have one last shot to leave a lasting legacy at their respective high schools. While "small ball" has become a huge topic in boys basketball, the bigs still reign supreme in girls basketball. The ability to alter shots, score inside and step out and hit the mid range jumper is still highly sought after for college coaches. The five senior forwards highlighted below are some of the best bigs Washington has to offer in the senior class. &nbsp; <em>2019 Forwards to watch</em>: <strong>Erika Brumfield</strong>, 6'3, PF, W.F. West HS- The two time Olympian All-Area Selection and 2A State Champion averaged just under 13 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. While those stats are very solid, her impact does not always show up in the stat book. Her length and mobility at 6'3 are game changing on the defensive end. She may block 2-3 shots per game this year, but she will alter three times as many. After garnering multiple college offers, Brumfield decided <em>Portland State University</em> is where she belonged for the next four years after high school. She has signed her Letter of Intent and is now focused on winning back-to-back 2A state championships. *Update* Erika will sit the season out with a knee injury &nbsp; <strong>Isabela Hernandez</strong>, 6'1, F, Lynden Christian HS- The skilled left hander is a winner. She was apart of a Lynden Christian team that finished the season 27-0 her junior year, on their way to a 1A State Title. As a sophomore her team made the state tournament, finishing 25-2. She also won another 1A State Championship her freshman year. Lyden Christian has accumulated a 77-4 record in her first three seasons and they are are favorites to win it all again. She consistently puts double digits points on the board, while rebounding and doing little things to help her team win games. Lynden Christian Head Coach Brady Bomber says, "Isabela has set an example of how to be both a great basketball player and more importantly a great teammate." That leadership quality along with her strong work ethic to improve has paid off, as she has signed to<em> San Diego State University</em>. &nbsp; <strong>Beyonce Bea</strong>, 6'1, F, Washougal HS- <em>University of Idaho</em> Head Coach Jon Newlee and his staff were able to beat out 11 other schools to earn Bea's commitment and eventual signing. The 6'1 forward had most of the Big Sky after her, as well as Mountain West Conference schools such as Fresno State, where she did visit. As a junior, Bea averaged nearly 19 points per game and was named 2A First Team All-State. The two time GSHL Player of the Year looks to lead Washougal to its fourth straight state tournament before putting on a Vandals jersey. &nbsp; <strong>Emily Nelson</strong>, 6'1 F/C, Mt. Spokane HS- Emily Nelson is a high school coach's dream. Her leadership and hustle is unmatched. Mt. Spokane Head Coach David Pratt raves at Emily's improvement over the course of the last four years saying, "Emily has matured in every sense of the word and combine that with a deep passion and love for the game and you have a kid who can flat out play." Echoing Coach Pratt's words, Emily has legitimate go-to post moves, which you do not see from every big and her mid range shooting has also improved greatly. One of Emily's best and most overlooked skills is her passing. She is one of the best passing posts in the state and Coach Pratt also mentioned her "focus on proper box out technique and having a nose for the ball" when it comes to rebounding.  After garnering attention from a variety of colleges from the D1 and D2 levels, she ultimately decided to sign with Coach Christy Martin at <em>Saint Martin's University</em>. Mt. Spokane is locked and loaded for a state tourney run and Emily will at the 'center' of it. &nbsp; <strong>Symone Brown</strong>, 6'1, PF, Kamiakin HS- The <em>Central Washington University</em> signee is one of the more athletic front court players in the state and a big time rebounding presence. Her tenacity was greatly missed on last year's Kamiakin team that finished 4th in 3A. Symone sat out with an injury last winter, but she is back on the court and ready to go out on top in her senior year. The coaching staff has very high expectations of the senior forward and assistant coach Nick Thomas tells <em>Prep Girls Hoops </em>"She has a fire in her eyes after missing her junior year due to injury." Kamiakin is one of the favorites to win 3A and Symone will be a huge part of them having a chance to win it all. &nbsp; <em><span style="font-size: 10pt">Feature Photo Credit: Matt Baide- The Chronicle</span></em>