Mikayla Coombs to Transfer

[SCspur]

Georgia fans speculating she could land there.

 

[WLT1717]

Big blow to this team. I thought she was not getting enough playing time that she deserved. I don't blame her for transferring into a program that gives her a fair chance. We've been loosing bench players that can help us.

“Deserved” based on what? Please explain.

She didn’t earn more minutes. She had a fair chance and made a modest contribution despite extraordinary laurels upon entering the program.

Then she quit rather than dig in and earn her minutes. Another example of a highly-touted player who could not accept that minutes in a UConn Jersey must be earned - and are not owed or simply given.

Excellence has a cost.

 

[CocoHusky]

Georgia fans speculating she could land there.

I was thinking there or Georgia Tech would be good spot for Mikayla.

 

[SCspur]

I was thinking there or Georgia Tech would be good spot for Mikayla.

Never thought about GT. Plenty of pt and an outstanding education could sway her. Plus Nell is a very outgoing woman so that could factor in as well.

 

[CocoHusky]

Never thought about GT. Plenty of pt and an outstanding education could sway her. Plus Nell is a very outgoing woman so that could factor in as well.

Mikayla must have had good academic credentials coming out of high school. Think is was @UConnCat who said Michigan was among her other options.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Duke apparently a potential landing spot for Coombs as well.

 

[SCspur]

Mikayla must have had good academic credentials coming out of high school. Think is was @UConnCat who said Michigan was among her other options.

She’s certainly a smart young lady that’s for sure! I’m certain she’ll find a school that’s for her academically and athletically.

 

[JellyBean]

Like others, I wish her the best. Looking at the website, 7 players on roster. Never seen so few players before. The one thing I don't get is, if a player wanted more minutes/playing time, why not out work somebody for that spot? Be competitive. Maybe she was and could not catch the eye or confidence of the coaching staff who knows. I just know that I am going to come at a person hard for a playing spot. Wish Mikayla the best

 

[Jmsdawg]

I'm not sure why we have an AEH pissing contest.

I watched four MSST games this year where AEH started. She reminds me of Courtney Ekmark. Her best attribute is shooting but she is slow-footed on D. Her fit with MSST may be much better than at UConn and, if so, the best of luck to her. Courtney had two good years at ASU but never reached the prominence she had as a high schooler.

Is that bad????

Not sure what you mean by pissing contest, I simply stated AEH is putting effort into improving her defense and she is getting better but I am beginning to feel AEH is a sore subject for many BYers, so I will refrain from any AEH comments in future post.

 

[DaBball]

Espinoza-Hunter is already better than Ekmark. Anyone who watched them go head to head would likely agree. Espinoza shot about 9% better from 3 than Ekmark.

 

[uconnfan68]

Espinoza-Hunter is already better than Ekmark. Anyone who watched them go head to head would likely agree. Espinoza shot about 9% better from 3 than Ekmark.

But Ekmark is halfway through law school. I’d say she’ll end up ok.

 

[DaBball]

But Ekmark is halfway through law school. I’d say she’ll end up ok.

I didn’t say she wouldn’t end up okay? I said she wasn’t as good as AEH. Basketball is not in her future.

 

[MilfordHusky]

But Ekmark is halfway through law school. I’d say she’ll end up ok.

A top-25 law school at that!

 

[CL82]

I was thinking there or Georgia Tech would be good spot for Mikayla.

Why?

 

[triaddukefan]

I was thinking there or Georgia Tech would be good spot for Mikayla.

What about Wake Forest or Clemson?

 

[CocoHusky]

What about Wake Forest or Clemson?

Also good possibilities.

 

[CocoHusky]

Why?

Close to her home, good academics, plenty of playing time, solid coaches.

 

[Plebe]

What about Wake Forest or Clemson?

How is it that the Wake Forest coach hasn't become part of "coaching changes"?

 

[FanFromMaine]

Not sure what you mean by pissing contest, I simply stated AEH is putting effort into improving her defense and she is getting better but I am beginning to feel AEH is a sore subject for many BYers, so I will refrain from any AEH comments in future post.

Please don’t refrain on my account. I enjoy your commentary.

I inferred that you were continuing the “sky-is-falling” mantra using AEH as an example of someone UConn lost but who is succeeding elsewhere. If that was not your point, mea culpa.

 

[FanFromMaine]

Espinoza-Hunter is already better than Ekmark. Anyone who watched them go head to head would likely agree. Espinoza shot about 9% better from 3 than Ekmark.

I don’t agree that AEH is better and I did watch both kids last year.

AEH was an adjunct to MSST’s offense and got a lot of open looks as the defense collapsed. Ekmark was a key element of ASU’s offense and was guarded accordingly. Both were adequate defenders but could be easily beaten latera

But it may occur that AEH takes a bigger role next year and I was wrong. If so, more power to her. One of the fascinating aspects of WBB is watching kids develop.

 

[Jmsdawg]

Please don’t refrain on my account. I enjoy your commentary.

I inferred that you were continuing the “sky-is-falling” mantra using AEH as an example of someone UConn lost but who is succeeding elsewhere. If that was not your point, mea culpa.

I have never been a “sky is falling” type when it’s comes to UConn. I consider UConn to be the premier WBB program and Geno the best coach ever in WBB. I believe Geno and UConn have been great for WBB and are directly responsible for the growth in elite teams now in WBB. Without Geno and UConn WBB would not be the game it is today!

 

[SVCBeercats]

“Deserved” based on what? Please explain. She didn’t earn more minutes. She had a fair chance and made a modest contribution despite extraordinary laurels upon entering the program.
Excellence has a cost.

I agree. Some players must accept reality. An example of players who understood the reality of their UCONN situation and succeeded or at least had a better experience elsewhere are AEH, Butler, Michala Johnson, Ekmark, Banks, Sadie Edwards, and most certainly Azurá Stevens.

 

[CajunHusky]

Stef always had great hands and footwork. But she was slow and out of shape.

stefanie-dolson
the ESP service evaluation for Stef coming out of HS. Of note she was evaluated as being as quick as other posts but in need of conditioning. Ranked 39th in her class.

 

[DaBball]

I don’t agree that AEH is better and I did watch both kids last year.

AEH was an adjunct to MSST’s offense and got a lot of open looks as the defense collapsed. Ekmark was a key element of ASU’s offense and was guarded accordingly. Both were adequate defenders but could be easily beaten latera

But it may occur that AEH takes a bigger role next year and I was wrong. If so, more power to her. One of the fascinating aspects of WBB is watching kids develop.

I was talking specifically about their head-to-head matchup, where Ekmark had 6 points on 2-14 shooting and Espinoza-Hunter had 12 on 5-11 shooting. Not sure if you watched games like the Oregon game, but Espinoza-Hunter was face-guarded the entire time.

 

[UConnCat]

I was talking specifically about their head-to-head matchup, where Ekmark had 6 points on 2-14 shooting and Espinoza-Hunter had 12 on 5-11 shooting. Not sure if you watched games like the Oregon game, but Espinoza-Hunter was face-guarded the entire time.

AEH certainly shot the ball better than Ekmark last season, no doubt benefiting from the attention given to McCowan and Howard. AEH was not a better basketball player than Ekmark last season when you look at other ways to contribute on the court. CE did more to help her team win than just shoot, no doubt born of need on the ASU team. She played 6 more mins/game than AEH but more than doubled her assists and rebounds. The challenge for AEH going forward is to become a complete basketball player rather than one who is content to stand behind the arc.