A Look at Brittney Griner, a 15-Year-Old Women's Basketball Phenom

The 6-6 high school basketball phenom Brittney Griner is the most popular female basketball player on the web this afternoon.

At just 15 years old, Griner wears a size 16 men's shoe and has become a star on the high school basketball circuit after dunking the ball in two separate games-a rarity in the women's game.

As a freshman she stood 6 feet 0 inches, but has grown an astonishing 6 inches since then. According to SI.com, she has drawn interest from some of the major college powers, including Wake Forest, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas, Texas, LSU, Tennessee, and many others.

Her nickname is "Big Foot," and has learned quickly how to use her size to her advantage, posting seven triple-doubles (double digits in three categories, such as points/rebounds/blocks) thus far in the season. But what's most impressive about her game is that she's doing it while covered double-covered--sometimes triple-covered--by the opposing team.

This past summer, Griner dunked for the first time during a game. And just last month, she dunked again, lighting up the entire crowd and bringing her a swarm of attention from the national media. And with a 70 inch wingspan and a great leaping ability, there will undoubtedly be more Griner throw downs in the future.

She hopes to follow in the footsteps of her favorite player, Candace Parker. Parker, who plays for the University of Tennessee, and, according to Wikipedia, was the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in a single collegiate game. She is uniquely versatile, and can play either center, forward, or guard. She helped the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee University gain the 2007 NCAA title, and will make a big splash should she decide to play in the WNBA after college. Should Griner continue to work hard and develop a more versatile game, there is nothing stopping her from becoming as good, if not better, than her sports idol.

Her game has been compared to WNBA greats Lisa Leslie, a center for the Los Angeles Sparks WNBA franchise. Leslie is 6 feet 5 inches, just a bit shorter than Griner, but plays the same position and has a similar power game. Leslie is best-known for being the first WNBA player to dunk during a game, and is one of the best-known and effective players in the entire women's game.

Could Brittney Griner be the next Candace Parker or Lisa Leslie? Only time will tell, but with such raw talent and work ethic, the odds are definitely in her favor.

To check out YouTube clips of some of Brittney Griner's highlights, including some slam dunks, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuDfRzY2Vqw