SFU coach Bruce Langford says rookie trio aren't playing like rookies

By Howard Tsumura, The Province -- One thing Bruce Langford can't be accused of is speaking in hyperbole.

The head coach of the defending CIS champion Simon Fraser Clan women's basketball team can offer a blunt assessment with the best of them. You know he's giving you the straight goods on the three players -- guards Carla Wyman, Kristina Collins and forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe -- that make up his incoming class of freshman players.

"Our rookies are the best-skilled rookies we have had since I got here," says Langford, who has won four national titles in his eight seasons at the helm and last season led his team to a 31-1 record. "They are better than the Fab Five were as rookies skill wise."

That's saying a lot, considering the Fab Five 2006 class, which included Kate Hole, Matteke Hutzler, Laurelle Weigl, Robyn Buna and Kelsey Horsting have played huge roles in the Clan winning two national crowns the past three seasons.

If you were in SFU's West Gym last Friday and watched the freshmen trio combine for 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-10 from the three-point arc in a 99-46 win over the Memorial SeaHawks, you'd never have figured they had just graduated from high school in June.

"They aren't playing like rookies," says Langford, whose team opens its final season in the CIS on Saturday (5 p.m.) in Victoria against the Vikes. "Practices have never been more competitive than they are now, and practices have never been as physical as they are now."

All three share a similar theme in that they are multi-skilled, multi-positional players.

The 5-foot-7 Wyman from North Vancouver's Argyle Secondary has a lot of point guard skills, but more than anything a burst in her step that allows her to accentuate the Clan's transition game. Langford compares her to former Clan wing-guard speedster Kelsie Thu.

"I think she is a sparkplug," says Langford. "She goes from zero to full speed in two steps. She is explosive."

Adds Wyman, who shot 4-for-7 from three-point range against Memorial and scored 14 points: "It's so fun. I am loving it, all the movement on offence. It's pass, pass, pass and no one is selfish."

Collins, a 5-foot-10 guard-wing from Port Coquitlam's Riverside Secondary, could grow into one of the Clan's most versatile players ever.

"I don't think there is one [Clan] player that is really similar to her," says Langford, who thinks the combination of Collins' mental and physical skills will allow her to mirror so many Clan greats by the time her career is over. "But I know we'd like her to take pieces of other people's games and make them all a part of her."

Langford says that includes the confidence of Teresa Gabriele, the leadership of Dani Langford, shot-making ability of Buna and the confidence of Lani Gibbons.

"That'd be quite a player, eh?" Langford asks.

And Raincock-Ekunwe, the 6-foot-1 forward from Vernon's Kalamalka Secondary has a skill package the Clan has never had before.

"Nayo is unique," says Langford. "She is 6-1 and she can jump out of the gym. She's got great hands and she glides to places. But she also has no idea of how good she can be."

Adds Raincock-Ekunwe, who had 11 rebounds, six points and two blocks in 14 minutes against the SeaHawks: "I came here because I knew I could get pushed to be a better player."

The first real test for SFU's three rookies comes Saturday.

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CANADA WEST POWER RANKINGS

The message is clear from the seven conference women's basketball coaches that took part in The Province's annual Canada West power rankings: SFU and Saskatchewan are the clear choice at Nos. 1-2.

The Clan garnered every first-place vote and the Huskies every second-place vote.

Seven conference coaches took part in the voting with 14 points for a first-place vote and one point for a last-place vote. Regina received five third-place votes while Victoria got four fourth-place votes.

Subsequent rankings will reflect team performance on a weekly basis.

1. Simon Fraser Clan 98

2. Saskatchewan Huskies 91

3. Regina Cougars 80

4. Victoria Vikes 71

5. UBC Thunderbirds 66

6. Alberta Pandas 63

7. Lethbridge Pronghorns 60

8. Calgary Dinos 52

9. Manitoba Bisons 40

10. Winnipeg Wesmen 39

11. Trinity Western Spartans 23

12. Fraser Valley Cascades 22

13. Thompson Rivers WolfPack 20

14. Brandon Bobcats 10