ESPW's Preseason Top 25 Players

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Ignatius L Hoops

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http://www.espn.com/womens-college-...p-25-women-college-basketball-players-2016-17

The top 25 thus far (please overlook that Hays apparently thinks Maryland is in the ACC):

25. Katelynn Flaherty, Michigan, G, 5-7, junior

2015-16: 22.1 PPG, 2.4 APG, 44.9 FG%

Among returning Division I players, only Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and Washington's Kelsey Plum averaged more points per game a season ago. Flaherty isn't a volume scorer in the negative sense. Given the frequency and accuracy with which she shoots from the 3-point line, her overall efficiency in turning shots into points ranks among the best in the country. There is a reason folks in Ann Arbor, Michigan, mention Steph Curry when describing how she goes about her work. -- Graham Hays


20. Nia Coffey, Northwestern, F, 6-1, senior

2015-16: 20.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 43.2 FG%

Coffey was the star in an otherwise disappointing 2015-16 season for the Wildcats. She finished among the top five in the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and blocks, and led the conference with 18 double-doubles while also cutting down on turnovers. She has scored in double figures in 50 consecutive games. Coffey will leave Northwestern as one of the best players in school history, but her résumé will look even better if she can help the Wildcats improve on last season's 4-14 Big Ten record. -- Charlie Crème


16. Brionna Jones, Maryland, C, 6-3, senior

2015-16: 15.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 66.5 FG%

An example of giving interior players time to develop, Jones has steadily progressed to the point that she resides comfortably alongside Alaina Coates in the discussion of best posts. In ACC play a season ago, Jones averaged 16.1 points per game yet missed an average of just 3.7 shots per game. That's demoralizing stuff for a defender. She also averaged a double-double in league games, which might well be a sign of dominance to come. -- Graham Hays
 

And the final two B!G players in ESPNW's top 25 players.

4. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Maryland, G, 5-11, senior

2015-16: 19.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 54.3 FG%

What Walker-Kimbrough did last season borders on the ridiculous. She shot better from the 3-point line than all but 24 players in the entirety of Division I did from the field. And it's not as if that was a small sample size for someone who attempted nearly four 3-pointers per game. No one was a more efficient scorer. But that's only the tip of the iceberg for someone who also rebounds, passes and created three turnovers a game all on her own through steals and blocks. -- Graham Hays


3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State, G, 5-8, junior

2015-16: 26.1 PPG, 3.4 APG, 45.2 FG%

One of the best pure scorers in the country -- third in Division I last season -- Mitchell is dangerous from everywhere on the court. She can just as easily take the ball to the rim as hit a 3-pointer; she made 126 from long range in 2015-16. A consensus first-team All-American as a sophomore, she expects to play more at the point guard position this year. To that end, one of the hardest things for Mitchell is being more vocal, but she hopes to improve on that as well. -- Mechelle Voepel
 

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