Don't know if this was out there but Diamond Deshields Top 5..

It's a great university and they have a great coach.

Maybe the talent isn't there right now, but I think if she committed to them, talent would follow. Would enough talent follow to make them into an immediate contender? Who knows? But I don't think what UNC did this year will be any indication of what they will be in two years, if they have Diamond on their roster.

It is a great University, no question. But so is Duke and they are only about 20 miles apart, or less. And Duke right now has a lot more talent on their 2013 roster.

So I guess Diamond just likes Hatchell and her coaches better than McCallie and hers, and I can see that as a possibility, easily.

one other thing, and i'm not suggesting that it's THE deciding factor, but Tricia Stafford-Odom was the lead recruiter for Duke (she may have been the Chris Dailey of Duke - but if not I believe she was the lead recruiter) but she left and went to UNC. i get that ultimately a player is going to play for the HC, but they do establish good relationships with the asst coach who was recruiting them so it's possible that Duke has been behind the 8-ball recently with recruiting due to Tricia's defection. i think she left in August 2011, but it wasn't exactly an amicable split either.

Who knows what these players are thinking... But Likely it gets down to whether they think they are going to get PT ; or want to be on a National Championship team and get that playing time. I hope its the latter. In the case of DeShields I think its the latter. She obviously can go to UNC and get plenty of PT. And probably no NC. Or she can come to UConn and get PT and have a good shot at a NC because she won't have to carry the full load. There have been many players that Geno has recruited that went elsewhere and got all the PT they wanted and NO NC.....( EDD ; Nneka ; and Diggins come to mind). And during that era , UConn won at least 2 National Titles.

So I hope DD knows that she can come to UConn and get plenty of PT . And probably a couple of NC's to go along with it.

So, you're saying she mentioned who was on her mind first ? Hmmm.

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2012/mar/17/deshields-proves-physical-mental-toughness/?sports

Not that anyone asked, but I think it is a much better approach to not take too seriously the speculation about Diamond or any other recruit, or rumors about what they may or may not have said, thought, or confided to one person or another. I'm really content with the "be happy" sensation I am feeling about our incoming class and the team we will definitely have (if we avoid injuries) for the next couple seasons. When it comes to recruits it's all ultimately unknowable and certainly uncontrollable. I'm sticking with the certainty of the great team we will put on the court starting this fall! Once they become commits...that is different. But it is kind of fun watching the layers of speculation pile up...

More like the S.S. Minnow!

I read somewhere she was down to Uconn... Oh, here it is, on my personal wish list.

Duke and UNC are two completely different type of schools. UNC large public school, Duke small private school. Some kids like big schools some like small.

^^^ meant to add above its not hard to see why she would like one more than the other. the only things they share in common are they are close and play in the acc. the type of school, type of students everything else is just different.

For non athletes, getting into Duke is extremely competitive, as is NC(especially if you are an out of state applicant). Both are fine Universities.

She will know what will be expected of her from day 1.........KML, Breanna, Bria will give her the low down, UCONN is not a Country Club and has the perks of Augusta......

IMO if Diamond wasnt coming, Geno would be looking...for someone else. Hes not???? I like our chances.

It is crazy how UNC is in the running for top players almost every year. It must be all of those shirts, hoodies, socks, shoes and hats Hatcher sends out to possible recruits... The same goes with Duke. They have gotten a ton of top 20 players since P has been there and almost all of them get worse.

You sound bitter. Why is Russell considering Louisville? It must be all the Adidas gear Walz gives out. They have had a ton of good players who transfer out at an alarming rate. Kids must not like life at Louisville. This was all TIC trying to mimic your post but you get the point. I would say UNC or Duke are much more attractive than Louisville and you don't see people on here bashing Louisville so why are you talking down other schools?

Since Im only a guest here...... I'll refrain from bashing Louisville..... on THIS board I do find it interesting that a fan of a team with ONE final 4 appearance in school history....... no major conference titles..... maybe one top 5 appearance in the major polls... ever..... can bash Duke or even UNC. I guess because they are on the lists of a few top recruits in the 2013 class ???

Meh ...