From the tipoff of the 16-and-under girls' basketball AAU nationals in late June through the end of July, college coaches and talent scouts did a lot of watching, whispering and wishing.
Traveling what seemed like endless miles and spending what seemed like endless hours in gyms, the first class of the new millennium has stated its case.
The Class of 2000 reveals that the balance of power in the girls' game has shifted to the Sun Belt states. California, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Florida have become this year's recruiting hotbeds. Last year was dominated by the Midwest -- particularly Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.
Two teams from Texas were among the top three at the 16-and-under AAU nationals, Arizona won the 17-and-under tourney and Oklahoma teams combined for a 1-2 finish at the 15-and-unders held in Oklahoma City.
While the geographic areas producing the most and best recruits seems to be a cyclical thing, there is no less urgency for college recruiters.
Quite a few observers contend that there isn't enough talent to go around. Other girls' sports, particularly softball and soccer, have joined volleyball in pursuit of the top high school female athletes.
The best in the basketball Class of 2000 is 5-foot-11 guard Diana Taurasi of Chino, Calif. While her talents have long been known, everything the talented guard does on the basketball court and the way she does it puts her in a league of her own.
After a summer performing before hundreds of recruiters and scouts at tournaments and camps, Taurasi on Monday committed to Connecticut. She also was considering UCLA.
Here's a look at the top 50 high-school basketball players around the country as they gear up for their senior campaigns:
1. Diana Taurasi
The vitals: 5-11 guard, Chino, Calif. (Don Lugo).
The skinny: To say she's got game is an understatement. Taurasi can handle the ball, pass, rebound and shoot from well beyond NBA 3-point range. More than anything else, it's just plain fun to walk in a gym and watch her play. She has received glowing endorsements, and a number of observers are calling her the best female high school player ever.
Headed where: Committed to Connecticut.
2. Ashley Robinson
The vitals: 6-4 center, South Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie).
The skinny: With the emphasis on size, she would likely be the nation's No. 1 player in a year without Taurasi. Strong and powerful, she is the best post player in the Class of 2000.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Tennessee.
3. Ebony Hoffman
The vitals: 6-2 center, Harbor City, Calif. (Narbonne).
The skinny: Another power player, Hoffman also has the ability to go outside and shoot 3-pointers with accuracy. She'll give opposing coaches a lot of headaches in the future.
Heading where: Leaning toward USC over Tennessee.
4. Alana Beard
The vitals: 5-10 forward, Frierson, La. (Southwood).
The skinny: A standout at the AAU nationals last summer. A combination of power and finesse, with a great ability to run the floor.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Duke.
5. Erika Valek
The vitals: 5-6 guard, Lubbock, Texas (Coronado).
The skinny: Valek has received Taurasi-like praise as the best pure point guard in more than a decade. A proven winner, she has quarterbacked her AAU team to three consecutive national championships.
Heading where: Considering Texas, Texas Tech and Purdue.
6. Nicole Powell
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Phoenix, Ariz. (Mountain Point).
The skinny: Every college coach seems to want this talented forward. Powell possesses a complete, all-around game that is well-suited for the next level.
Heading where: Considering Stanford, Duke and Notre Dame.
7. Anne O'Neil
The vitals: 5-11 guard, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Kennedy).
The skinny: An outstanding scorer, she was the No. 1 player in her state. Played with a California team that also included Oklahoma's Iciss Tillis during the summer.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Illinois.
8. Chelsea Trotter
The vitals: 6-3 center, San Dimas, Calif. (Brea Olinda).
The skinny: Probably a top-five selection before tearing an ACL last winter.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Stanford.
9. Iciss Tillis
The vitals: 6-3 center, Tulsa, Okla. (Cascia Hall Prep).
The skinny: Has a tremendous upside. An outstanding athlete (she's the daughter of former heavyweight boxer James "Quick" Tillis) and student. She suffered a broken nose at the junior nationals in Washington, D.C.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Duke.
10. Morgan Valley
The vitals: 6-0 guard, Colchester, Vt. (Rice Memorial).
The skinny: She can shoot off screens -- with a tremendous release -- as well as any player in the nation. Her play last spring vaulted her into the top 10, and she has done nothing to diminish her standing.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Connecticut.
11. Roneeka Hodges
The vitals: 5-10 guard, New Orleans, La. (O. Perry Walker).
The skinny: One of the most talented and athletic one-on-one players in the nation. Got to the basket almost at will throughout the AAU nationals.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Louisiana State, along with her twin sister, Doneeka.
12. Chandi Jones
The vitals: 5-11 forward, Bay City, Texas (Bay City).
The skinny: An outstanding athlete, Jones' stock did nothing but climb throughout the summer.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Houston.
13. SeSe Helm
The vitals: 6-3 center, Bowling, Ky. (Warren Central).
The skinny: A solid, talented post player who was in great demand before committing to Kentucky.
Heading where: Verbally committed to Kentucky.
14. Tasha Butts
The vitals: 5-11 forward, Milledgeville, Ga. (Baldwin).
The skinny: Was the No. 1 player in Georgia.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Tennessee.
15. Syretta Coleman
The vitals: 5-9 guard, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler).
The skinny:A tremendously quick guard with the ability to score.
Headed where: Verbally committed to UC Santa Barbara.
16. Ebony Felder
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Jackson, Miss. (Murrah).
The skinny: A tough inside player who ranks No. 1 in the state of Mississippi.
Headed where: Considering Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana State and Florida.
17. Kelly Mazzante
The vitals: 5-11 guard, Montoursville, Pa. (Montoursville).
The skinny: A pure scorer.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Penn State.
18. Mandakova Clark
The vitals: 5-9 guard, Baltimore, Md. (Milford Mill Academy).
The skinny: A solid backcourt performer who knows how to use her talents.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Rutgers.
19. Becky Bonner
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Concord, N.H. (Concord).
The skinny: A very smart performer with tons of talent who was being recruited coast to coast.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Stanford.
20. Amber Jacobs
The vitals: 5-6 guard, Clarks, Pa. (Abington Heights).
The skinny: Her stock soared this summer. She's a versatile backcourt performer with a great future.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Boston College.
21. Shereka Wright
The vitals: 5-10 forward, Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove).
The skinny: Coaches are drooling over this prospect who can play inside or outside.
Headed where: Considering Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and Purdue.
22. Tia Miller
The vitals: 6-2 center, St. Petersburg, Fla. (Bocca Ciega).
The skinny: She could be the best of a talented group of stars from Florida.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Auburn.
23. Aminata Yannie
The vitals: 6-1 forward, Machesney Park, Ill. (Harlem).
The skinny: The top senior in the state decided to stay close to home.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Illinois.
24. Stacy Stephens
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Winnsboro, Texas (Winnsboro).
The skinny: When the Bulls drafted Elton Brand as the No. 1 pick in the the NBA draft, general manager Jerry Krause talked about the size of Brand's hands and those of his mother. He should see Stephens' hands.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Texas.
25. Cherrise Graham
The vitals: 5-7 guard, Radnor, Pa. (Archbishop Carroll).
The skinny: One of the most athletic guards in the class, particularly on the offensive end.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Purdue.
26. Susan King
The vitals: 5-7 guard, Richfield, Minn. (Academy of Holy Angels).
The skinny: A superb shooter, who, like Tillis, was a member of the '98 Junior World Team that traveled to Russia.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Stanford.
27. Ugo Oha
The vitals: 6-4 center, Houston, Texas (Hastings).
The skinny: A virtual unknown in many circles coming into the summer, she established her reputation at the AAU nationals.
Headed where: Considering Vanderbilt, George Washington and Alabama.
28. Laurie Koehn
The vitals: 5-8 guard, Hesston, Kansas (Moundridge).
The skinny: An outstanding perimeter shooter who was receiving national attention before committing.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Kansas State.
29. Jessica Moore
The vitals: 6-3 center, Palmer, Ala. (Colony).
The skinny: Regarded by some as the best female player the state of Alaska has ever produced. She'll have an impact at the next level.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Connecticut.
30. Ashley Battle
The vitals: 5-11 guard, Wheeling, W. Va. (Linsly).
The skinny: Can, and does, play almost every position on the floor.
Headed where: Considering Connecticut, Penn State and Duke.
31. Jenni Benningfield
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Louisville, Ky. (Assumption).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Vanderbilt.
32. Rebekkah Brunson
The vitals: 6-1 forward, Oxon Hill, Md. (Oxon Hill).
The skinny: Colleges love her upside potential.
Headed where: Considering Maryland and Georgetown.
33. Aisha Hollans
The vitals: 5-10 guard, Berkeley, Calif. (Berkeley).
The skinny: A tremendous talent who is being recruited by schools across the nation.
Headed where: Considering long list, including Cal, Kansas and Arizona.
34. Vanessa Randall
The vitals: 6-4 center, Orlando, Fla. (Boone).
The skinny: She will be a force inside no matter where she ends up.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Florida.
35. Jeneka Joyce
The vitals: 5-7 guard, Topeka, Kan. (Washburn).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Notre Dame.
36. Emily Hayman
The vitals: 6-3 forward, Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South).
The skinny: A solid inside player.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Ohio State.
37. Remetra Craig
The vitals: 5-10 guard, Portola Valley, Calif. (Portola Valley).
The skinny: A terrific prospect and an exciting player.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Duke.
38. Lisa Willett
The vitals: 6-0 forward, Santa Barbara, Ill. (Santa Barbara).
The skinny: One of the top forwards in the Class of 2000.
Headed where: Considering UC Santa Barbara, Vanderbilt and Colorado State.
39. Jackie Shook
The vitals: 6-5 center, Aurora, Ill. (West).
The skinny: Highly coveted, Shook probably won't be staying close to home.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Penn State.
40. Vicki Krapohl
The vitals: 5-5 guard, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Mount Pleasant).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Duke.
41. Shalicia Hurns
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Indianapolis, Ind. (Broad Ripple).
The skinny: The No. 1 prospect in Indiana.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Purdue.
42. Dawn McCullouch
The vitals: 5-8 guard, Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Rutgers.
43. Jessica Combs
The vitals: 6-4 forward, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to UC Santa Barbara.
44. Natalie Ritchie
The vitals: 5-9 guard, Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo).
The skinny: An outstanding scorer and perimeter shooter.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Texas Tech.
45. Yolanda Whigham
The vitals: 5-9 guard, Plant City, Fla. (Plant City).
The skinny: The best perimeter player in Florida.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Georgia.
46. Alexa Johnson
The vitals: 6-1 forward, Hacienda Heights, Calif. (Hacienda Heights.)
The skinny: Had an outstanding tournament at the AAU nationals.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Nebraska.
47. Joy Jenkins
The vitals: 6-3 center, Aurora, Colo. (Rangeview).
The skinny: A solid prospect who had a long list of colleges in pursuit.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Colorado State.
48. Julie Just
The vitals: 5-10 guard, Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West).
The skinny: There might not be a better 3-point shooter in the class.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Ball State.
49. Michelle Zylstra
The vitals: 6-2 forward, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Northwestern.
50. Ovlina Lewis
The vitals: 6-1 forward, Detroit, Mich. (King).
The skinny: N/A.
Headed where: Verbally committed to Louisiana Tech.
