Of the St. Louis American
The theme of the 2006 St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star Basketball First Team is plain and simple. The bigger the better. This year’s team is a celebration of the talented tall girls who led their teams to tremendous seasons in 2006. Of the five members of the first team, four are 6 feet tall or above. The only member not to reach 6’0” is 5’8” LaShayla Bell of University City, but she plays the game like she’s 6’2” so she fits in well with the rest of the team.
Here are capsule summaries of the St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star First Team:
Felicia Chester (Incarnate Word): The 2006 St. Louis American Player of the Year. The smooth 6’2” senior with the flawless fundamentals capped off a stellar career by leading the Red Knights to a 31-1 record and the Missouri Class 5 state championship. As the only senior on the team, Chester provided valuable leadership as well as top performances every night. For the season, Chester averaged 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 2.9 blocks and 2.3 assists. An excellent shooter in the post or out to 15 feet, Chester shot 58 percent from the field. She was also the catalyst of the Red Knights’ stingy defense, whether she was at the top of the full-court pressure defense or on the back line with her shot-blocking ability. Chester averaged 20 points a game during IWA’s postseason run to the state title. She signed with DePaul University of the Big East.
Shakara Jones (Francis Howell Central): The 6’2” junior center joins Incarnate Word’s Chester as a repeat member of the “Fab Five.” The daughter of former University of Missouri standout Ron Jones, young Shakara has cut her own niche as an elite player in her own right. A powerhouse in the low post, Jones averaged 25.2 points a game to lead the St. Louis metropolitan area in scoring. She scored more than 30 points on six different occasions with a season high of 35. With a soft shooting touch around the basket, Jones shot 64 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged eight rebounds and three blocks a game in leading Howell Central to the Gateway Athletic Conference South title and a second consecutive district championship. Jones will return as one of the top recruiting targets in the state of Missouri next season. She is on the wish list of many major colleges around the country.
Teandrea Smith (East St. Louis): The 6’1” sophomore forward is one of the most talented young players in the talent-rich state of Illinois. A “Fab Five” second team member as a freshman, Smith ascends to the first team this season after leading the Flyerettes to a 26-2 record and the Southwestern Conference title. The younger sister of senior standouts Veronica and Victoria Smith, Teandrea dazzled opposing teams with her combination of versatility and athleticism. For the season, Smith averaged 14 points, 8.7 rebounds, four steals, 2.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. She spent much of her time in the low post, but she is also an excellent ball handler and shooter on the perimeter. Many major college recruiters from around the nation are already taking notice of this burgeoning young talent who still has two years of high school basketball left in her career.
Channon Haywood (Hazelwood East): The 6’0” sophomore forward was this season’s breakthrough player of the year for the breakthrough team of the year. Haywood is a marvelous athlete who plays the game with an abundance of spirit and energy. Haywood led Hazelwood East to new heights as the Spartans finished with a 26-5 record, won the Suburban North Conference title and reached the Final Four of the Class 5 state tournament for the first time in the school’s history. She was also selected the Suburban North Player of the Year. Haywood was an automatic “double-double” every time she stepped on the court as she averaged 15.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. To make things more uncomfortable for opposing teams, Haywood is just starting to scratch the surface of her vast potential as a player. She will return next year with just about every other key player from the Spartans’ Final Four team.
LaShayla Bell (University City): The Suburban South Conference Player of the Year, the 5’8” senior finishes her career as one of the top players in the history of the University City program. A testament to the adage, “it’s not how big you are, but how big you play,” Bell consistently outplayed bigger opponents at 5’8” because her quickness, leaping ability and unquenchable work ethic. As a senior, Bell averaged 11.9 rebounds a game to rank seventh in the St. Louis area. She also averaged 16.7 points and 3.2 steals and 1.5 blocks in leading U. City to a district title and a berth in the Class 4 state quarterfinals. Bell is at her best during the postseason as she averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds during the Lions’ five playoff games, including a 35-point outburst against Jennings’ in the Lions’ 62-62 victory for the district title. A four-year starter, Bell finished her career with 1,391 points and 1,050 rebounds, which ranks her among the school’s all-time leaders in both categories. An excellent track and field athlete as well, Bell will probably play both sports in college.
St. Louis American Girls “Fab Five” All-Star Basketball Team
First Team
LaShayla Bell 5’8” University City (Sr.)
Felicia Chester 6’2” Incarnate Word (Sr.)
Channon Haywood 6’0” Hazelwood East (Soph.)
Shakara Jones 6’2” Francis Howell Central (Jr.)
Teandrea Smith 6’1” East St. Louis (Soph.)
Second Team
Shanika Butler 5’5” Gateway Tech (Jr.)
Shameia Green 5’7” Normandy (Jr.)
Veronica Smith 5’11” East St. Louis (Sr.)
Victoria Smith 5’11” East St. Louis (Sr.)
Lauren Woods 6’0” Belleville East (Jr.)
Third Team
Jaleesa Butler 6’0” Alton (Sr.)
Theresa Davis 6’0” Incarnate Word (Jr.)
Barissa Ford 5’5” Clayton (Jr.)
Shania Hurst 5’9” Kirkwood (Jr.)
Meghan Lewis 5’8” McCluer South-Berkeley (Soph.)
Fourth Team
Brittney Adams 5’10” Belleville East (Jr.)
Brittany Dodson 5’6” Metro (Jr.)
Brittany Noel 5’9” Jennings (Sr.)
KeAmber Vaughn 5’11” Hazelwood Central (Jr.)
Lauren Witherspoon 5’5” Metro (Sr.)
Fifth Team
Jasmine Bailey 5’9” Normandy (Soph.)
Dana Guthrie 5’2” Hazelwood West (Sr.)
Natisha Jones 5’4” Wellston (Sr.)
Heather Sistrunk 6’0” Vashon (Sr.)
Catherine Stepps 5’6” Beaumont (Sr.)
