Four hours before the girl's high school game between Hamilton and Chandler, which is one of Arizona's fiercest high school rivalries, I was not surprised in the least to find Hamilton's Cassidee Ranger diligently working on her shooting.
It was one of the last games of the high school season when most basketball players are thinking about their upcoming club season or relaxing with friends. But not Cassidee Ranger. The three year Varsity player had an intense look on her face and I knew then that the opposing player assigned the arduous task of guarding her was going to have a very hard time trying to stop Cassidee from scoring. I had seen that look before and I could not help but smile later that night when I heard that Cassidee Ranger scored six 3-pointers.
About four years ago, I had walked into the same gym and watched a very young Cassidee playing with the men. I immediately noticed that there was something special about the girl in the pony tails. It was a swagger of confidence. She was not intimidated in the least playing against men. She attacked the basket with eagerness and did not hesitate to shoot the 3-pointer everytime she was left open. When her team won she was quickly ready to play the next game. When her team lost, she was just as quick to let her teammates know where they went wrong and what needed to be done to win the next game. Keep in mind that this was a girl playing in a city gym against men who played hard-nosed basketball.
About two years ago, I was back at the same gym and once again I noticed that Cassidee was on the floor but this time her team was made up of all girls and, like before, she was playing against the men. Her team controlled the gym by winning 4 games straight and Cassidee was just as engaged as when I first saw her play with a leadership on the court that was Napoleonic in nature. There was no doubt on the floor that Cassidee was the straw that stirred the drink that night.
Fast forward to today. In her last year of Varsity high school, Cassidee has become a force to be reckoned with on the hardwood. The college that is lucky to have this basketball player will have laid claim to a basketball prodigy whose 3-point shooting accuracy, passing skills, defensive focus and overall team-player playing style will be an added plus to any collegiate program that has her on the roster. In the words of her Hamilton high school Coach:
"Cassidee is a three-year varsity player that can shoot the ball from the outside and runs the court exceptionally well. She is currently a captain on our team and a strong spot-up shooter that can consistently knock down open jump shots. She is an extremely hard worker that is willing to do anything asked of her. As a freshman Cassidee came off the bench and played limited minutes. She dedicated herself to improving and was on varsity the next year as a sophomore. Cassidee continued to improve each year earning more and more minutes and improving her game to where it is today as one of the top shooters and players in the state of Arizona. I feel Cassidee has not reached her full potential and with her dedication and hard work the sky is the limit. Cassidee is averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals a game this year as a senior. Cassidee is an exceptional shooter. She shoots 38% from the field this year and 33% behind the 3-point line where she made 61 this season. She is one of the hardest working and dedicated players I have ever coached. She spends countless hours in the gym or training on her own to improve her skills. She is a very gifted basketball player with a very high basketball IQ. She has a great work ethic on and off the court and carries a 3.67GPA. Cassidee is one of the elite players that her presence on the team makes everyone around her better. I feel Cassidee is an incredible player that has not reached her full potential and would greatly benefit any college program." - Coach Kain
At the prestigious "All-Arizona Showcase" held in 2011, it was written about her that:
"This guard can really shoot the ball. Her 3 point shooting at the All Arizona Showcase was second to none. She shot so well that she earned the nickname "buckets" or BUCKETZZZZZ! by a show case coach for her ability to score from the perimeter and hit five threes in one quarter and 2 more in the second a total of seven. The coach from the opposing team walked out of the gym after the fifth consecutive three point shot in the first quarter and let his assistant coach, coach the rest of the half as he yelled at his team 'can't anyone guard that girl' and waked off. after the game an NBA player came up to here parents and said that Ranger was amazing to watch even as a retired NBA player. Ranger is also physical in the paint on both offense and defense and confidence is definitely there". - Ron Coleman
Intersport, a sports marketing company that operates the 2012 American Family Insurance National High School Slam Dunk & 3-point Championships, which will air on CBS on Sunday, April 1, 2012, has invited Cassidee to participate in this event and the invitation is indicative of the fame that is now following Cassidee's game.
At the end of the day, hustle, determination, shooting accuracy, basketball IQ and the epitomy of being a teamplayer is what comes to mind when one sees Cassidee's game. Something tells me that soon there will be more than just the local city gyms and high school basketball for Cassidee. Soon we will see that determined look on a lasger stage as Cassidee Ranger sets her eyes on the college level where her Varsity years and All Arizona Showcase performances clearly indicate is where she will continue to shine.
Additional Articles on Cassidee Ranger:
Jose Morales | JuniorHoops.com | Talent Scout, Writer & Event Analyst
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