Some Collier practice highlights

[DavidK]

I just miss seeing an actual basketball, the off season is way too long. some nice shots she is working on.

 

[Nuyoika]

I just miss seeing an actual basketball, the off season is way too long. some nice shots she is working on.

Look at her working on that foot work and jumper. I'm all about it!

 

[ricky]

She is the real deal. I saw her ability to handle and shoot in the u17 I believe last summer. She also has a very good 3. She only needs to get stronger so she can hang on to those incredible rebounds she hauls in. The extra strength will also help her stay on those nice moves she makes after being bumped. I hope coach gives her more opportunities this year.

 

[Kaizen]

She will be another Morgan Tuck.

 

[VAMike23]

She's so smooth, like buttah ....

or Gale Sayers

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Shake it, bake it ... repeat. We are going to need all she has to give this year. I like the back to the basket, spin shoot move.

 

[Nuyoika]

She is the real deal. I saw her ability to handle and shoot in the u17 I believe last summer. She also has a very good 3. She only needs to get stronger so she can hang on to those incredible rebounds she hauls in. The extra strength will also help her stay on those nice moves she makes after being bumped. I hope coach gives her more opportunities this year.

Yeah true. Last year she would sky in get the rebound but just didn't have the upper body strength to get the ball back up. I know they are working with her on that.

 

[victor64]

With that handle she may be out of position playing 4.

 

[Huskee11]

Great to see this......remember she had surgery on her hip for a torn labrum only a few months ago. Nice to see her moving so easily.

 

[CocoHusky]

She will be another Morgan Tuck.

With that handle she may be out of position playing 4.

Funny you should say that, and this is going to sound hypercritical. Napheesa is a long legged girl, & her dribble is too high. Watch Morgan execute some of the same sequence and notice Morgan dribble is rarely above the knees while Napheesa's dribble is at the waist.

 

[jcoton56]

Like that sweet hesitation and drive

 

[MilfordHusky]

Thanks, David. Nice offensive moves. I'd like to see her add a bank shot too. From the 45-degree angle, it's the best shot.

 

[EricLA]

Great stuff. Thanks for posting! The defense was a little... soft... but I'm sure she will be able to nail those shots with a defender draped all over her too!!

 

[VAMike23]

Funny you should say that, and this is going to sound hypercritical. Napheesa is a long legged girl, & her dribble is too high. Watch Morgan execute some of the same sequence and notice Morgan dribble is rarely above the knees while Napheesa's dribble is at the waist.

It could easily be another 10+ years before we see a Husky with footwork as good as Morgan's. Picasso and da Vinci had their hands and brushes; Morgan has her feet and her Nikes! They're all things of beauty!

 

[huskyd]

She will be another Morgan Tuck.

Kyla Irwin is more of a Morgan type, considering body size and aptitude for playing under the basket. Kyla also has range, able to sink 3's as Morgan did. It's noteworthy that Collier is working on shots close to the basket because that's where she's likely to spend most of her time. Gabby's shot improved greatly, and those three ladies should form the essence of UConn's defense/offense around the hoop this year. I should add that I expect Lou at 6'4" to crash the boards more this season. Hypothetically, if Kyla is like Morgan, Lou like Breanna, and Crystal like Moriah, the team has significant upside. Am I dreaming?

 

[OldAlum]

Are you dreaming?
Yes

We all are. Part of the fun of pre-season!

 

[DaddyChoc]

nice footage... but she'd get called for traveling on just about every move

 

[Bigpetunia]

She will be the single most improved player on the team this year, which is saying a lot...watch out for the new version of Gabby as well!

 

[jdubct]

nice footage... but she'd get called for traveling on just about every move

picky, picky.

 

[donalddoowop]

nice footage... but she'd get called for traveling on just about every move

Not by an official who knows what he or she is doing.

 

[bags27]

Right: I don't see the comparison to Tuck. Napheesa is a lot quicker or at least her moves seem to be more explosively forward from the sides, while Tuck has fantastic foot work that allows her to work more methodically from the foul line or underneath. In college, at least, Tuck is a 4-5 and Napheesa is a 3-4, IMO.

 

[BobbyJ]

Not by an official who knows what he or she is doing.

You're right, it's called a step back. Steph Curry style.

 

[Carnac]

Yeah true. Last year she would sky in get the rebound but just didn't have the upper body strength to get the ball back up. I know they are working with her on that.

If you remember this time last year, she said she had never lifted weights in her life. Fast forward one year.......she's been on a personal weight training program designed especially for her. She has to be stronger than ever before. She will continue to increase her strength and endurance as time goes on, the team's strength and conditioning coach will see to that.

Although her body did not show it, Breanna Stewart was said to be one of the strongest players on the team. Looks can be deceiving. Former Laker head coach "Pat Riley" once said (during the show time era) ........."No rebounds, no rings". In addition to her other skills, Collier has a nose for the ball. She has proven to be an excellent rebounder, thus earning the moniker "A ball magnet" from her teammates.

That's something you can't teach. A player either has it, or they don't. Dennis Rodman had it. Charles Barkley had it. Wes Unseld had it. Magic Johnson had it. Napheesa Collier has it!. What is "it"? It, is made up of 4 components: positioning (screening out opponents), timing, jumping/leaping ability and desire/resolve. Remove any one of them, you can/will not be a prolific rebounder.

 

[BigBird]

I love watching her movement on the floor. It's almost as if she's dancing. Smooth, coordinated, purposive movement.

 

[msf22b]

I

That's something you can't teach. A player either has it, or they don't. Dennis Rodman had it. Charles Barkley had it. Wes Unseld had it. Magic Johnson had it. Napheesa Collier has it!. What is "it"? It, is made up of 4 components: positioning (screening out opponents), timing, jumping/leaping ability and desire/resolve. Remove any one of them, you can/will not be a prolific rebounder.

Hey, Carnac, you left out a most important example
Kiah Stokes had it....Has it!