2017 recruits: Who is UConn still pursuing?

[Charliebball]

To use the NFL analogy again. They are not the guy who is 6'5, 239 lbs, and running a 4.35 (Calvin Johnson). I think they're more like the guy who is 6'4, 211 lbs, and running a 4.50 (AJ Green). All of those are within the normal range for the position but taken together the total package is way above average.

I guess overall that's what I'm saying - I think your characterization of Walker undersells her athletic ability. But I agree that she's not no.1 solely because she is a great athlete and it's her skill/work ethic that sets her apart from the other elite athletes. But there are not many of those elite athletes to start with and I do think she is one.

One reason Walker doesn't appear to be freakishly athletic is that she has great footwork/body positioning and most of what she does appears to be effortless. No excess body motion, no flailing arms, no screams/grunts, she just does what she does in a very efficient manner. For those looking for the spectacular, Rellah is certainly the more entertaining prospect but if you appreciate smooth, smart basketball Walker can't be beat (although young Christyn Williams is gaining on her).

 

[EricSD]

One reason Walker doesn't appear to be freakishly athletic is that she has great footwork/body positioning and most of what she does appears to be effortless. No excess body motion, no flailing arms, no screams/grunts, she just does what she does in a very efficient manner. For those looking for the spectacular, Rellah is certainly the more entertaining prospect but if you appreciate smooth, smart basketball Walker can't be beat (although young Christyn Williams is gaining on her).

I would like both, thank you very much!!!

 

[JordyG]

This discussion is another reason why I love The BY and BY-ers. Why other WCBB forums look like blah blah twitter-ers at best and schizophrenics describing the color blue at their worst.

 

[BobbyJ]

Orangutan - what I mean by simple measurables is not that they are not great athletes - every player in the WNBA is a great athlete - what I mean is Catchings or Moore would not win a race with all other 5' 11" - 6'2" pro basketball players, they would not have greater arm length, nor the best jumping ability, or the best arm strength or leg strength - to use your analogy, they wouldn't be the athletic 'freaks' that appear every year at the NFL combine - the 6'4 receiver that runs a sub 4.3 40 yard dash, jumps up into the top 50 picks, and gets cut after two years because he just isn't a good football player. What makes Moore and Catchings iconic is all those things that are not physically measurable. EDD and now Breanna are 'freakish' because they do things that 6'4+" players haven't been able to do before and if they also have all those immeasurable qualities of Catchings and Moore they will become iconic too, but Moore and Catchings have done it while 'confined' within 'average' (for WNBA players) athletic bodies.

You both have made great observations and points about these special players. I would also add one and that is that these top players all seem to share a mental trait that great players in other sports have as well. For the majority of players, the game can be very fast and hectic. For the elite players, the game can seem to be slow moving. Their minds can seem to be two plays ahead of everybody on the floor and they are able to make adjustments and maneuver at their own pace. Add in above average instincts and coordination and you've got an elite player. As Bill Parcells would say, "They just get it".

 

[UcMiami]

You both have made great observations and points about these special players. I would also add one and that is that these top players all seem to share a mental trait that great players in other sports have as well. For the majority of players, the game can be very fast and hectic. For the elite players, the game can seem to be slow moving. Their minds can seem to be two plays ahead of everybody on the floor and they are able to make adjustments and maneuver at their own pace. Add in above average instincts and coordination and you've got an elite player. As Bill Parcells would say, "They just get it".

the concepts of multiple 'intelligences' include two - spacial and body/kinetic intelligence that deal with movement and recognition of visual patterns in spacial relationships that speak to athletic performance. The idea that different people have specific mental pathways developed in different ways that could increase their ability to perform physical tasks similar to the way we think of having strengths in math or art or other standard 'intellectual' pursuits.

As an aside - some of the work that Tom Brady is doing to try and keep performing at top efficiency seems to border on these ideas as do some of the more advanced sports labs.

 

[bags27]

the concepts of multiple 'intelligences'

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

 

[Charliebball]

I know that the original thread was about UConn 2017 targets but I wanted to pass along this highlight reel of 2018 target and UConn lean (my belief) Christyn Williams. I usually don't pay too much attention to these video compilations but when you see talent like this from a player who was only a freshman (last year) you have to sit up and take notice. I have seen her play (video only) a number of times including at the Boo Williams EYBL event and she always plays as advertised.......................

 

[JordyG]

I think it's important to understand that the human mind/body is a flexible organism. That although many may intrinsically attain knowledge through different methods or "intelligences" most if not all humans often use multiple pathways IN COMBINATION to attain this gnosis. We may instinctively use certain schemes over and over, but depending on the data to be absorbed we may use altogether different intelligences to attain an organic, working knowledge fit for ourselves.

 

[bags27]

Not too strong on defense, huh?

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[JordyG]

Not too strong on defense, huh?
View attachment 13537

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I'm so old school. Love that mid range stop and pop. Good handle, quick last step, good court vision. I like the way she finds seams to slither through for layups. Long arms. Nice.

 

[BobbyJ]

I know that the original thread was about UConn 2017 targets but I wanted to pass along this highlight reel of 2018 target and UConn lean (my belief) Christyn Williams. I usually don't pay too much attention to these video compilations but when you see talent like this from a player who was only a freshman (last year) you have to sit up and take notice. I have seen her play (video only) a number of times including at the Boo Williams EYBL event and she always plays as advertised........

This was a freshman reel? She's a BAD girl. If UConn gets Walker and this kid together that's going to be unfair.

 

[JordyG]

This was a freshman reel? She's a BAD girl. If UConn gets Walker and this kid together that's going to be unfair.

With Walker, her and Collier stuff could get real ugly. Filthy. Tough luck WCBB.

 

[winlots]

I think it's important to understand that the human mind/body is a flexible organism. That although many may intrinsically attain knowledge through different methods or "intelligences" most if not all humans often use multiple pathways IN COMBINATION to attain this gnosis. We may instinctively use certain schemes over and over, but depending on the data to be absorbed we may use altogether different intelligences to attain an organic, working knowledge fit for ourselves.

JORD: your good thoughts, especially about pathways, do seem to relate to one discovery that does seem to be well researched and supported: the more modalities (used here in terms of the senses, such as visual, auditory, etc) that are involved in the process of learning, the more powerful/effective that particular learning experience seems to be. For example if you see " 2 +2 = 4" and also hear it, you will be more likely to remember the answer than you would have been if just a single sense had been involved.

 

[JordyG]

JORD: your good thoughts, especially about pathways, do seem to relate to one discovery that does seem to be well researched and supported: the more modalities (used here in terms of the senses, such as visual, auditory, etc) that are involved in the process of learning, the more powerful/effective that particular learning experience seems to be. For example if you see " 2 +2 = 4" and also hear it, you will be more likely to remember the answer than you would have been if just a single sense had been involved.

Thanks and not surprising. The human organism is a complex collaboration that uses a consortium of schemes for learning. Interestingly when one modality is blocked or even destroyed the mind/body will form a new schemata using totally different intelligences, different techniques to achieve the same or sometimes enhanced goals. Hence the previous gnosis can be reattained or strengthened.

 

[Charliebball]

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This was a freshman reel? She's a BAD girl. If UConn gets Walker and this kid together that's going to be unfair.

She's just a baby..................just getting started and best of all she seems like a really grounded kid and great teammate. Remember that she is playing AAU with UConn commit Lexi Gordon................they make a dynamite tandem.

Here's an interesting quote from CW which bodes well for UConn ” I believe my game resembles Diana Taurasi because she is very explosive, she can shoot well and she is a leader on and off the court. “

 

[j66kicker]

Here's an interesting quote from CW which bodes well for UConn ” I believe my game resembles Diana Taurasi because she is very explosive, she can shoot well and she is a leader on and off the court. “

Well, if she comes here, maybe the coaching staff will help her get over her remarkable lack of self confidence

"Yeah, this sorta looks like me."

 

[Sluconn Husky]

[

She's just a baby...just getting started and best of all she seems like a really grounded kid and great teammate. Remember that she is playing AAU with UConn commit Lexi Gordon......they make a dynamite tandem.

Gordon looks like a decent player from what I've seen, but Williams looks like an elite talent. High basketball IQ to go with her skills and quickness.

 

[JordyG]

Gordon looks like a decent player from what I've seen, but Williams looks like an elite talent. High basketball IQ to go with her skills and quickness.

What I like is these two seem to be a package deal. A package I'll be happy to sign off for.

 

[Charliebball]

Gordon looks like a decent player from what I've seen, but Williams looks like an elite talent. High basketball IQ to go with her skills and quickness.

Gordon is a glue player, not a lot of flash.......................she does everything pretty well and she can really shoot.............from all reports she is a very enthusiastic team player who is a joy to coach...............I would expect her to fill an important role on the team in the years to come

 

[MilfordHusky]

Christyn looks like a very talented senior, not a freshman. She's a scoring machine.

 

[SkilledUp]

Let's be honest, though - all of these kids, however hard they work, are also top 1% athletes.

I agree with UcMiami in the sense that if you look over the history of WBB the best players are not merely a list of the most athletic players. But at the same time, people like Catchings, DT, and Maya are all superior athletes, even for pros.

To say of Walker - "She does not stand out in terms of size, speed, leaping ability, or other simple measurements" First of all, we don't have measurements on all these kids. I bet if we had NFL-combine style stats, she would stand out. Also, how many 6'1 players are truly off-the-dribble perimeter players. There's maybe a few each class. Some of the reason she can play that way is surely that she has worked hard on her handle but 99% of 6'1 girls are never going to be able to play that way regardless of how hard they work.

I mean, one of my dormmates in college was the DIII player of the year. She was 6-foot even, played as a post, and outran basically every opposition post she played against. Walker would make her look like a tortoise in a foot race.

Walker is great off the dribble and can pull up from anywhere on the court. The only kid I've seen do this consistently like her is Richards. Richards is a little taller than walker and also faster. Boothe at 6'3" can dribble pretty good and shoot really well but can't do it as well as Walker (six foot one) and Richards (six foot two inches). Just check out Walker and Richards hudl videos they have if you haven't seen them play

 

[SkilledUp]

Pending @SkilledUp explanation of what he meant this is not the first time I have heard this type of cautionary phrase used in relation to Rellah Boothe. That does not make it accurate especially when we are talking about a teenager. But none the less it is out there. Rellah burst onto the scene in August 2014 after Adidas nationals where her and Jade Williams were though to be the two most promising players. Last spring she tried out for the USA basketball U16 team and was not selected. If you read any of the daily reports from the trials she was widely regarded as the most talented & spectacular player during the trials by people like Mike Flynn who had a ring side seat for all days of the trials. So how does the most talented player not make the U16 team? She was not a team player=rough edge #1 . In the aftermath of the trials she had some well intended ( but completely misguided) AAU types that created a fire storm of protest by trashing the selection as biased against "southern" players=rough edge #2. These same strap hanging AAU types also posted on Youtube a highly doctored hype tape of the USA basketball trials titled "Rellah Boothe Grown Woman" . The clear implication being Rellah was a woman playing among girls at the trials and should have been selected=rough edge #3 because Rellah has two more years of prep basketball to play. Rellah played on a very good nationally ranked HS team, her team was good enough to beat Crystal Dangerfield's Blackman #1 at the time with Rellah putting up Monster mumbers had 37 points and 22 rebounds in the victory- she was just a sophomore. This summer Rellah left that high school and enrolled in IMG Academy- Rough edge #4 because although the orchestrators/strap hanging AAU types would have you believe she enrolled at IMG for "academic" reasons common sense tells you otherwise. Rough Edges and UCONN/Geno not compatible.

This is exactly what I was meaning when I said rough edges. Boothe mentioned herself my other rough edge in her new video today. Saying "I need to work on playing hard all the time"

 

[SkilledUp]

The word is Collier isn't going to leave the state of Texas since the death of her dad. It's really a sad situation for a really good kid, but it was going to take a lot to get her out of Texas anyway......this just made it more difficult. Her dad and Kim Mulkey had known each other from there days in Louisiana so they have grown really close also. It will be very interesting in the next year or two.

 

[SkilledUp]

For those who haven't seen Walker play






And for those who haven't seen Richards play

 

[SCGamecock]

For those who haven't seen Walker play






And for those who haven't seen Richards play

So where does Westbrook fit in your opinion. I've heard a few posters on here say that she's the closest guard to Walker as far as skills. Do you think Richards is better than Westbrook?

 

[CocoHusky]

I agree with your premise, but you know there are parts of every fanbase who have no life other than the teams they support. They try to engage recruits on the social media platforms, I assume to make themselves feel connected to the process somehow. The incident last night with the Texas A&M Football Coach and the subsequent tweets from their fanbase confirms to me that I'm on the correct path.

I have to go read up on that Texas A&M incident.

 

[hoophuskee]

The word is Collier isn't going to leave the state of Texas since the death of her dad. It's really a sad situation for a really good kid, but it was going to take a lot to get her out of Texas anyway.this just made it more difficult. Her dad and Kim Mulkey had known each other from there days in Louisiana so they have grown really close also. It will be very interesting in the next year or two.

How much "word" does it mean when she has still has a long time for that decision?

 

[SkilledUp]

So where does Westbrook fit in your opinion. I've heard a few posters on here say that she's the closest guard to Walker as far as skills. Do you think Richards is better than Westbrook?

Westbrook is really good. Richards is the only kid I've seen play like Walker. I've seen them play each other 3 times and it was a sight to see. Westbrook stock rose when they won Nike nationals last year. She plays great defense but no one scores the way Walker and Richards does. Richards led Cy fair in scoring and rebounding during boo Williams........that's playing next to jade Williams and Charlie Collier. I think we will see Richards climb the rankings on prospect nation board. Prospect nation board probably matters the most.....just if you guys wanted to know.

I think Walker is the number one wing, but Richards is 1B to me. Westbrook is behind the both of them but you can't be to upset with that spot. Me personally was hoping to see both and Richards and Walker both in a UCONN uniform. They both handle the ball well enough and can shoot the ball really well. It would have been nice to see that.

 

[SkilledUp]

How much "word" does it mean when she has still has a long time for that decision?

I understand what you are saying, but it is going to take some work from the staff to pull her away. I wonder what dad said to her before he passed....she's always at Baylor games and practices so I guess it is the wait and see moment now

 

[MilfordHusky]

For those who haven't seen Walker play






And for those who haven't seen Richards play

Not many sophomores look like Megan Walker. Actually, not many seniors look like her.

Richards is impressive too!