Talk about pressure. Junior Alisha Hicks, a 5'9 guard from Kennedy High (CA), is already being labeled by the local media as potentially the best girls basketball player in Sacramento history. And that was near the end of her sophomore year. And that is following directly on the heels of Folsum star Jennifer Hall, who has accepted a scholarship to Vanderbilt and also got some looks from the Purdue staff.

Hicks would go on to average 17 points, seven rebounds, seven steals and six assists for Northern California champion Kennedy as a sophomore. Kennedy was defeated by No. 1 Lynwood in the California Division I championship game. She starts the 2002-03 season named to the honorable mention all-american list by Street & Smith, and ranked as the 27th best player in the nation by All Star Girls Report.

Hicks received her first recruiting letter when she was in the eighth grade, from Stanford. Now she gets regular mail from Purdue, UCONN, Duke, Kansas State, UCLA and USC. Among many others. Her academic plans are to work toward being an orthodontist.

Katie G off to good statistical start

Although early to tell how her numbers compare statewide, Katie Gearlds is leading the Indianapolis area in two categories -- blocked shots and scoring average. Through four games she is averaging 28.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 steals and 5.0 blocked shots. She is also currently 13-of-15 form the charity stripe. On Wednesday, Gearlds scored 38 points for Class 3A No. 3 Beech Grove, who improved their record to 5-0. She hit six perimeter shots in the game.

Scoreboard

Sophomore Jodi Howell had a game-high 32 points in a 72-43 Alexandria (6-0) win over Lapel.

Sophomore Ashley Walker of Davis HS (CA) had a game-high 22 points in a 64-17 win over Central. She was also named first team all-league for volleyball last week.

Caprice Smith scored 17 points as the No. 6 Blazers (6-1, 1-0) rallied to beat No. 17 Loyola (6-1, 0-1) in the GCAC Red opener for both.

Candace Parker has a career best 38 points in a 52-46 win over No. 7 Regina. She also had 22 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots.