Oregon State Loading Up On Guard/Wing Play!

Nars Martinez

May 16, 2020 @ 07:52 PM

Oregon State University has turned into one of women’s college basketball's powers over the course of the last eight years. In Head Coach Scott Rueck's first season at the helm, OSU finished dead last in conference play going 9-21 overall and 2-16 in league play. Just one year later the Beavers finished 20-13 and 9-9 in league. One of the main pieces to the program’s turnaround was Clarkston High School’s (WA) Jamie Weisner. The 5’10 guard would go on to lead the program to levels they had never seen before, including a final four run, all while winning Pac-12 player of the year in 2016. Fast forward to the 2019-2020 season and OSU is a perennial top 25 program in the entire country and they are showing no signs of slowing down with their recent commitments in the 2020 and 2021 classes. OSU finished the 2019-2020 season 23-9, with a number 14 national ranking by the AP. The program is known for carrying lots of size on their roster, but they have seen tons of success in their recent recruitment of four high level guards/wings. 2020 commits Sasha Goforth and are two pieces the staff is extremely excited about and rightfully so. Goforth is one of the best scoring guards in the country with outstanding length and mobility in her 6’1 frame. The McDonald’s All American out of Arkansas has been extremely impressive over the years with the Arkansas Banshees. She is highly sought after due to her scoring ability, but she also has the potential to be a very good defender at the next level. I saw her really lock in on defense this past Spring and Summer with the Banshees, turning defense to offense. out of Georgia is a player that will also be able to play a variety of positions at the next level. Standing at 6’1, Samuel has the ideal length and athleticism to be able to excel as a slasher and lock down defender. Her hustle and unselfishness with FBC United made her stand out on a team that featured four other girls that were McDonald’s All Americans. The 2021 class features two more high level guards/wings that will make playing time extremely competitive a year and a half from now. out of Illinois has been one of the country’s most highly recruited players in the 2021 class for several years. At 6’0, she has the strength, handle and shooting ability to make an instant impact at the next level. Her footwork and comfortability shooting from all over the court makes her really difficult to defend. She was the first commitment to Oregon State in the 2021 class. The most recent commit to the Beavers is Washington’s . The 5’11 shooting guard is known for her lethal scoring ability, as displayed at the adidas All American Camp last Summer when she dominated some of the top players on the adidas circuit in cut throat 1 on 1. The connection to Oregon State has been there since day one as she has worked out for multiple years with OSU legend, Jamie Weisner (see above). Both played for the same club team under Steve Klees’ Northwest Blazers. A further connection is assistant Katie Faulkner (Baker) who also played for Klees’ Blazer program many years ago. Playing time with be ultra competitive at the shooting guard and small forward position, but the Oregon State Beavers will be loaded for years to come with these four super recruits. By The Rankings: 2020 6’1 SG Sasha Goforth (Fayetteville HS, Arkansas Banshees-AR) ESPN: #21 overall, #6 position Blue Star: #12 overall ASGR: #26 overall Prospects Nation: #14 overall, #2 position

2020 6’1 SG (St. Francis HS, FBC United-GA) ESPN: #29 position ASGR: #57 overall Prospects Nation: Top 100 PGH Georgia: #2 position

2021 6’0 SG (Napervile North HS, Midwest Elite-IL) ESPN: #12 overall, #4 position Blue Star: #8 overall ASGR: #39 overall PGH Illinois: #1 overall, #1 position

2021 5’11 SG (Chiawana HS, NW Blazers-WA) ESPN: #10 overall, #2 position Blue Star: #41 overall ASGR: #20 overall Prospects Nation: #27 overall PGH Washington: #1 overall, #1 position