11/21/2008
Stephanie Golden
Stephanie
Golden, a
self-described "Cali-girl", is receiving interest from
colleges all over the place. To name a few, there are San Diego
State, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, University of San Diego, UC Santa
Barbra, UC Davis, Colorado State, San Francisco, Boise State, Cal
State Bakersfield, Santa Clara, Colorado, Fresno State, Fordham, and
Lehigh. Saint Mary's, in fact, has already offered her a scholarship.
And keep in mind that Golden is only a junior.
The
6-foot-3, 16-year-old forward/center averaged 12 points, seven
rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore. Golden helped lead
her team to a perfect 14-0 league record, and she received
second-team all-league honors in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
A 70-51 loss to St, Mary's of Stockton ended her season in the NorCal
semifinals. But Golden is ready and excited to get back on the court
this year.
Longtime (17 years) Miramonte coach Darrell
Hirashima is no longer coaching Golden in high school, but continues
to coach her club team, the Orinda Magic. He praised his former post player. "I think
that [Stephanie] is a unique player in that she can finish with
either hand. She can finish with her back to the basket on the low
block with a variety of moves. She can hit from outside, hit the
three, and take people off the dribble. She loves the game. She can
do significant damage in the low post," said
Hirashima.
Stephanie
Golden, a
self-described "Cali-girl", is receiving interest from
colleges all over the place. To name a few, there are San Diego
State, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, University of San Diego, UC Santa
Barbra, UC Davis, Colorado State, San Francisco, Boise State, Cal
State Bakersfield, Santa Clara, Colorado, Fresno State, Fordham, and
Lehigh. Saint Mary's, in fact, has already offered her a scholarship.
And keep in mind that Golden is only a junior.
The
6-foot-3, 16-year-old forward/center averaged 12 points, seven
rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore. Golden helped lead
her team to a perfect 14-0 league record, and she received
second-team all-league honors in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
A 70-51 loss to St, Mary's of Stockton ended her season in the NorCal
semifinals. But Golden is ready and excited to get back on the court
this year.
Longtime (17 years) Miramonte coach Darrell
Hirashima is no longer coaching Golden in high school, but continues
to coach her club team, the Orinda Magic. He praised his former post player. "I think
that [Stephanie] is a unique player in that she can finish with
either hand. She can finish with her back to the basket on the low
block with a variety of moves. She can hit from outside, hit the
three, and take people off the dribble. She loves the game. She can
do significant damage in the low post," said
Hirashima.
Hirashima continued, "[Stephanie] is a coach's
dream. She's someone who will put in the time. You just point her in
the right direction and tell her what you want her to do, and she'll
do it."
Golden returns the love for her former high
school coach. "My coach Darrell is having a full recovery from
his recent heart attack and actually played his first game today.
He's been working so hard for his rehab and seeing him out there made
me so happy. Even though he's not my high school coach anymore it's
great to be able to spend what time we have with each other. He is
amazing," exclaimed Golden.
The love of the game is a
recurring theme when talking with or about Golden. She explained,
"Whenever I watch basketball, no matter what I try and soak up
anything I can. Whether it's the old man's open gym I play at on
Sundays with Darrell and other girls on my team or it's the NBA, I
love basketball and I feel that everyone has something to learn no
matter how good they are."
Staying in the west is
something that is important to the "Cali-girl". "I'm
definitely looking at the west mostly. I went a lot of places this
summer traveling with Orinda Magic and I can attest that the west is
where I can definitely see myself," said Golden.
Basketball
isn't the only thing that takes up Golden's time, though. She is also
an artist at heart. "I love to draw. And also, a lot of people
don't know that instead of playing basketball I almost was a baton
twirler," Golden claimed.
As they always say, I guess
that the baton twirling world's loss is the basketball world's gain.
11/21/2008 Stephanie
Golden, a
self-described "Cali-girl", is receiving interest from
colleges all over the place. To name a few, there are San Diego
State, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, University of San Diego, UC Santa
Barbra, UC Davis, Colorado State, San Francisco, Boise State, Cal
State Bakersfield, Santa Clara, Colorado, Fresno State, Fordham, and
Lehigh. Saint Mary's, in fact, has already offered her a scholarship.
And keep in mind that Golden is only a junior.
The
6-foot-3, 16-year-old forward/center averaged 12 points, seven
rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore. Golden helped lead
her team to a perfect 14-0 league record, and she received
second-team all-league honors in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
A 70-51 loss to St, Mary's of Stockton ended her season in the NorCal
semifinals. But Golden is ready and excited to get back on the court
this year. Stephanie
Golden, a
self-described "Cali-girl", is receiving interest from
colleges all over the place. To name a few, there are San Diego
State, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, University of San Diego, UC Santa
Barbra, UC Davis, Colorado State, San Francisco, Boise State, Cal
State Bakersfield, Santa Clara, Colorado, Fresno State, Fordham, and
Lehigh. Saint Mary's, in fact, has already offered her a scholarship.
And keep in mind that Golden is only a junior.
The
6-foot-3, 16-year-old forward/center averaged 12 points, seven
rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore. Golden helped lead
her team to a perfect 14-0 league record, and she received
second-team all-league honors in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
A 70-51 loss to St, Mary's of Stockton ended her season in the NorCal
semifinals. But Golden is ready and excited to get back on the court
this year.
Stephanie Golden
Longtime (17 years) Miramonte coach Darrell
Hirashima is no longer coaching Golden in high school, but continues
to coach her club team, the Orinda Magic. He praised his former post player. "I think
that [Stephanie] is a unique player in that she can finish with
either hand. She can finish with her back to the basket on the low
block with a variety of moves. She can hit from outside, hit the
three, and take people off the dribble. She loves the game. She can
do significant damage in the low post," said
Hirashima.
Longtime (17 years) Miramonte coach Darrell
Hirashima is no longer coaching Golden in high school, but continues
to coach her club team, the Orinda Magic. He praised his former post player. "I think
that [Stephanie] is a unique player in that she can finish with
either hand. She can finish with her back to the basket on the low
block with a variety of moves. She can hit from outside, hit the
three, and take people off the dribble. She loves the game. She can
do significant damage in the low post," said
Hirashima.
Golden returns the love for her former high
school coach. "My coach Darrell is having a full recovery from
his recent heart attack and actually played his first game today.
He's been working so hard for his rehab and seeing him out there made
me so happy. Even though he's not my high school coach anymore it's
great to be able to spend what time we have with each other. He is
amazing," exclaimed Golden.
Staying in the west is something that is important to the "Cali-girl". "I'm definitely looking at the west mostly. I went a lot of places this summer traveling with Orinda Magic and I can attest that the west is where I can definitely see myself," said Golden.
Basketball isn't the only thing that takes up Golden's time, though. She is also an artist at heart. "I love to draw. And also, a lot of people don't know that instead of playing basketball I almost was a baton twirler," Golden claimed.
As they always say, I guess that the baton twirling world's loss is the basketball world's gain.
Danesha Stallworth
Reebok Fall Showcase report
By Chris Roemer
The
fall viewing period provides prospects with one last time to compete
in front of college coaches before the academic season. The first
weekend in October saw a variety of players float into Pleasanton for
the Reebok Fall Showcase to compete in a series of games in an effort
to leave one last positive impression. Familiar names like 2009 No. 1
ranked Denesha Stallworth were on hand as well as some maybe
unfamiliar names and faces.
Denesha
Stallworth, Power Forward - There isn't much
she hasn't already done that we can speak on, but over the course of
the weekend she did look confident in some different areas.
Stallworth looked real comfortable shooting outwards of 15 feet and
handling the ball in the open floor. With that said she was still a
force to reckon with in her usual areas of strength. Once Stallworth
established position down around the basket there wasn't anyone that
was going to stop her. She did a good job on different sequences of
sealing her man out and sometimes removing her out of picture all
together.
7/24/08 - Orinda Magic face the St. Louis Swarm. Fourth game, fourth location and now we’re at the NIKE Home in Memphis. The weather has been miserable, in the high nineties or low one hundreds every day, but today we got rain - hallelujah, the temperature dropped to eighty! The Magic jump out to a 22-6 lead behind the scorching hot shooting of Sonia Aguilar who went three for three from the three-point line and two for two from the free throw to end the half with ten points. Down 28-36 to start the second half the Magic employed a man to man full court defense that held the opponent to only eighteen points, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Swarm who prevailed 54-52. Kelsey Byrd had nine rebounds and three assists. Stephanie Golden scored sixteen points, while Sarah Tamulski added six points, six rebounds and three assists. Aguilar finished the game with twenty one points to lead all scorers, shooting five of six from the three point line and adding four rebounds.
7/24/08 - Orinda Magic Black play a Bay Area team. OK, third game, third location, third time playing at 10:20AM. We’re now at Ridgeway Baptist Church and our opponent is Blythe’s Basketball out of San Mateo, CA. Kelsey Byrd with ten points, ten rebounds and six assists led the attack along with Sarah Tamulski who had twenty points to lead all scorers and yanked down seven rebounds. But it was Deserie Azlin with an incredible midair putback that wowed the fans, she finished with thirteen points and eight rebounds. Sonia Aguilar was tenacious on defense coming away with six steals, three of which she converted for layups. The Magic defense held Blythe’s Basketball to only thirteen points in the second half, with the final score of 60-36.
7/15/08 - In the consolation championship of the Chicago Nike Summer Showcase, Orinda Magic Black faced and opponent in the Michigan Wizards who were effective in causing multiple problems for the Magic early on. Down 33-21 with 5:30 left on the clock in the first half, Kelsey Byrd, Patrice Saindon and Sarah Tumulski led their teammates in one defensive stand after another. Putting the clamps on the vaunted Michigan offensive attack, and holding them to 16 points the rest of the way to complete a remarkable 60-49 come from behind victory.
7/10/08- In their final day of play at the EOT tournament, Orinda Magic Black closed out the event in dramatic fashion. In a back and forth game the Magic came out on top against NW Elite, as senior point guard Patrice Saindon went 4 for 4 from the freethrow line down the stretch, and made the game winning assist to center Stephanie Golden in the closing seconds. Lockdown defense from senior point guard Stephanie Triggas provided the final touch as the Magic held on for the win, 52-50.
7/9/08 - Coming together as a team midway through the End of the Oregon Trail Tournament in Oregon City, OR, Orinda Magic Black found a way to come from 8 points behind and finish off the local squad of WVBA Oregon Selects in an exciting 64-54 victory.
7/8/08 - With an identical score to their previous contest, Orinda Magic Black fell 56-53 to the physically imposing squad of Salt Lake City Metros. The Metro's solid shooting presented challenges for the Magic, who themselves shot poorly from the perimeter and relied heavily on the inside scoring of Sarah Tumulski.
7/7/08 - Orinda Magic Black suffered their first defeat of the End of the Oregon Trail tournament in a narrow 56-53 loss in the opening round to Tree of Hope. Orinda's Stephanie Golden, Patrice Saindon and Sarah Tumulski provided firepower for their team, as the girls came up just short in the closing moments of the game. The Magic look to bounce back strong today in their second day of action in Oregon City.
2/7/08 - Orinda Magic forward DeNesha Stallworth gave a verbal commitment to the Cal Bears last weekend. To the delight of her local fans, and the dismay of competing recruiters, Stallworth will play her college hoops a stone's throw from the gyms of her youth. Here is what the Oakland Tribune had to say about the announcement:
Pinole Valley standout center DeNesha Stallworth gave a verbal commitment to Cal on Sunday, a year before the 6-foot-2 junior is pegged to graduate.
Stallworth, the No.18 recruit in the country for the 2009 class according to HoopGirlz.com, chose the Bears over Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas. Cal is No.9 in the Associated Press poll.
"I mainly picked Cal because it felt like a second home to me," Stallworth said Monday. "The coaches made me feel so comfortable. I just felt like they had the most concern for me. When I feel like something is for me, I just do it right way."
8/9/07 - The summer season has come to a close, and Orinda Magic players now look forward to their high school seasons as the hoop cycle continues to roll forward.
8/7/07 - Orinda
Magic center Ashley Ellis is the main attraction at Deer Valley High
School this year, just ask NorCalPreps.com. For the whole story CLICK HERE.
8/1/07 -The
Orinda Magic Black Team had a dominant run this summer, starting out
July going 4-2 at the End of the Trail tourney in Oregon City, OR. The
team followed up with a second place finish at the River City Classic
in Memphis, TN, and played to 4-1 records at both the Showtime National
Championships in Atlanta, GA and the Grand Finale in Orange County, CA.
6/23/07 - The Orinda Magic Black Team begins their tour on the summer circuit with the Nike End of the Oregon Trail Tournament in Oregon City, Oregon on July 6th. The Black Team faces off against the Columbia Waves in their first game at 4 p.m. CLICK HERE for the complete bracket.
6/17/07 -
Orinda Magic forward Denesha Stallworth impressed the audience in
Colorado Springs, CO at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. CLICK HERE for the complete story on hoopgurlz.com.
6/8/07 -
Former Orinda Magic player Brygette Bonner was selected as the Alameda
Journal girls co-athlete of the year for mastering the game of
basketball. CLICK HERE for the entire article on contracostatimes.com.
4/14/07 -
Orinda Magic guard Katie Batlin was honored for her great season at
Miramonte High School by being selected to the All-Times First Team. CLICK HERE for the whole story at contracostatimes.com.
4/3/07 - Orinda Magic forward, Denesha Stallworth, was
chosen as 1 of 36 nationally selected girls to participate in the 2007
USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in July. The event will be
held in Colorado Springs, CO at the U.S. Olympic Training Center June
13-17. Coming off a sophomore season in which her Pinole Valley High
School team went to the Nor-Cal Finals Championship game, the 6'2"
Stallworth is gaining national attention as one of the most promising
post players in the country. To learn more about this prestigious event
go to www.usabasketball.com/women.
4/2/07 - The Black Team
had their work cut out for them when they advanced to the Final Four of
the Invitational Division at the "California Classic." Matched up
against eventual tourney champs, FBC Blue, who has been ranked by many as the top club team in the nation, the Orinda Magic showed exactly why they've earned their own place in that very conversation. After leading for the majority of the game, the Magic gave up a costly run to their opponents in the final quarter, giving FBC
enough edge to pull out the victory, 46-39. To get to the Final Four of
the tournament, the Magic scored a first round victory over West Coast
Elite IEBL, 52-32, and then came from behind to defeat Swift Black,
47-44. For complete results,click here.
8/9/07 - The summer season has come to a close, and Orinda Magic players now look forward to their high school seasons as the hoop cycle continues to roll forward.
8/7/07 - Orinda Magic center Ashley Ellis is the main attraction at Deer Valley High School this year, just ask NorCalPreps.com. For the whole story CLICK HERE.
8/1/07 -The Orinda Magic Black Team had a dominant run this summer, starting out July going 4-2 at the End of the Trail tourney in Oregon City, OR. The team followed up with a second place finish at the River City Classic in Memphis, TN, and played to 4-1 records at both the Showtime National Championships in Atlanta, GA and the Grand Finale in Orange County, CA.
6/23/07 - The Orinda Magic Black Team begins their tour on the summer circuit with the Nike End of the Oregon Trail Tournament in Oregon City, Oregon on July 6th. The Black Team faces off against the Columbia Waves in their first game at 4 p.m. CLICK HERE for the complete bracket.
6/17/07 - Orinda Magic forward Denesha Stallworth impressed the audience in Colorado Springs, CO at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. CLICK HERE for the complete story on hoopgurlz.com.
6/8/07 - Former Orinda Magic player Brygette Bonner was selected as the Alameda Journal girls co-athlete of the year for mastering the game of basketball. CLICK HERE for the entire article on contracostatimes.com.
4/14/07 - Orinda Magic guard Katie Batlin was honored for her great season at Miramonte High School by being selected to the All-Times First Team. CLICK HERE for the whole story at contracostatimes.com.
4/3/07 - Orinda Magic forward, Denesha Stallworth, was chosen as 1 of 36 nationally selected girls to participate in the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in July. The event will be held in Colorado Springs, CO at the U.S. Olympic Training Center June 13-17. Coming off a sophomore season in which her Pinole Valley High School team went to the Nor-Cal Finals Championship game, the 6'2" Stallworth is gaining national attention as one of the most promising post players in the country. To learn more about this prestigious event go to www.usabasketball.com/women.
4/2/07 - The Black Team had their work cut out for them when they advanced to the Final Four of the Invitational Division at the "California Classic." Matched up against eventual tourney champs, FBC Blue, who has been ranked by many as the top club team in the nation, the Orinda Magic showed exactly why they've earned their own place in that very conversation. After leading for the majority of the game, the Magic gave up a costly run to their opponents in the final quarter, giving FBC enough edge to pull out the victory, 46-39. To get to the Final Four of the tournament, the Magic scored a first round victory over West Coast Elite IEBL, 52-32, and then came from behind to defeat Swift Black, 47-44. For complete results,click here.
Black Team 2006
Standing-Denesha
Stallworth, Brygette Bonner, Jennifer Gross, Jaleesa Ross, Katie
Batlin, Coach Darrell Hirashima, Marnique Arnold. Sitting - Christine
Herman, Courtney Fearon, Michelle Blaisdell.
| # | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Grad Yr. | High School |
| 4 | Jaleesa Ross | 5-9 | PG | 2007 | Pinole Valley |
| 10 | Courtney Fearon | 5-6 | PG | 2007 | Miramonte |
| 11 | DeNesha Stallworth | 6-2 | F/C | 2009 | Pinole Valley |
| 21 | Katie Batlin | 5-11 | G | 2008 | Miramonte |
| 23 | Michelle Blaisdell | 5-7 | PG | 2007 | Alameda |
| 24 | Kristine Herman | 6-0 | G/F | 2007 | Granada |
| 34 | Marnique Arnold | 5-10 | G/F | 2007 | Pinole Valley |
| 44 | Jennifer Gross | 5-11 | G | 2007 | Berkeley |
| 45 | Bryjette Bonner | 5-10 | G/F | 2007 | Alameda |
Coach - Darrell Hirashima
7/27/06 - Orinda Magic Black finished 1st in the Black Bracket at the River City Classic in Memphis, TN, and 3rd overall in the National Division. Jaleesa Ross was awarded MVP of the Black Bracket, due in no small part to the 31 points she put up in the championship game against WYCO Pride.Katie Batlin, Marnique Arnold, and Denesha Stallworthwere awarded all-tournament honors for their excellent effort at the tourney.
7/7/06 - The Orinda Magic Black Team is playing well at the End of the Trail Tournament in Oregon City. First Handling Idaho Elite 72-37 in the opening round, then defeating Team Concept 70-59 in an exhibition game last night. DeNesha Stallworth paired her 22 points with an additional 20 from Jaleesa Ross, while Katie Batlin handed out 10 assists in the game. This morning, the Magic kept up their solid play with a 74-61 win over former National Champion, Texas Express. A win tonight will put the Magic Black Team in the semifinals of their bracket.
5/10/06 - The Black Team heads to Irvine this weekend to compete in the West Coast Elite Spring Invitational. The Magic face off against the Fresno Vines at Irvine High School in the first round.
4/25/06 - The Black Team took 2nd in the Xplosion tournament last weekend, 4/22-4/23.
4/10/06 - The Black Team won the championship of the Strictly Hoops AAU Cal Classic II Tournament in Marin last weekend. In the 1st place game of the Gold bracket, DeNesha Stallworth had 15 points and 18 rebounds to combine with Jaleesa Ross, who chipped in nine points, six assists, six rebounds and two steals, while only missing two shots and having one turnover to lead the Magic in a win over East Bay Xplosion 17's Gold.
Strictly Hoops AAU Cal Classic Scores
W 65-39 vs. Modesto Magic
W 56-45 vs. EBX 17's Gold
4/4/06
- The Black Team went 4-1 at the California Classic in Orange County
last weekend, finishing third in the 24 team Invitational Division.
California Classic Scores
W 50-37 vs. T.S.I.N.
W 39-31 vs. Team Cal Blue
W 49-46 vs. East Bay Xplosion Black
L 43-56 vs. EBO Red
Front row, left to right: Brittany Boswell, Shay Rollins, Jene Morris, and Jasmine Smith. Back row, left to right: Darrell Hirashima, Kiesha Phelps, La'Teena Wickett, Jontelle Smith, Brianna Weiss, Brandy Miller, and Darrell Hirashima, Jr.