2019/20 UConn Recruiting

[Sluconn Husky]

Across Border Global Games took place today as mentioned above. No Amihere, obviously.

Canada upset the US behind Merissah Russell who scored 36. Jordan Horston was named MVP of the US squad and was reportedly terrific. Zia Cooke, Rickea Jackson, Sam Brunelle, Sydney Parrish, Treasure Hunt, and others also played in this one.

Broadcast below but you have to click on 'Watch this video on Youtube' to see it:

 

[MilfordHusky]

I’m liking Jordan more each day!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Horston had 27 points including numerous baskets in the 4th as the teams went back and forth.

Rickea Jackson with 23 points. Zia Cooke with 11, Sam Brunelle scored 5.

 

[Charliebball]

 

[Charliebball]

Across Border Global Games took place today as mentioned above. No Amihere, obviously.

Canada upset the US behind Merissah Russell who scored 36. Jordan Horston was named MVP of the US squad and was reportedly terrific. Zia Cooke, Rickea Jackson, Sam Brunelle, Sydney Parrish, Treasure Hunt, and others also played in this one.

Broadcast below but you have to click on 'Watch this video on Youtube' to see it:

I don't love these all-star type games.........lot's of ugly basketball............Horston certainly showed her stuff

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I don't love these all-star type games....lot's of ugly basketball..Horston certainly showed her stuff

Notice they listed Horston as a wing and she wasn't in the backcourt when bringing the ball up from the little I've seen. I don't think she has a true position which is fine at UConn per se. Maybe she plays the 1, 2 and 3 at times.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

First 2+ minutes Horston runs the breaks perfectly with a great pass for a layup, plays a great defensive possession, and then buries a three after bringing the ball up the court.

Had a nifty shot off the dribble go in and out.

An end-to-end layup that included a ball fake and a drive around her defender.

She kinda reminds me of Mo Jefferson in many ways.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Horston makes a big-time block at 16:35 right under her own basket. Multi-dimensional and athletic with a good handle and developing shot. Can really pass too. Looks like a different player than she did with the U16 team.

 

[Charliebball]

First 2+ minutes Horston runs the breaks perfectly with a great pass for a layup, plays a great defensive possession, and then buries a three after bringing the ball up the court.

Had a nifty shot off the dribble go in and out.

An end-to-end layup that included a ball fake and a drive around her defender.

She kinda reminds me of Mo Jefferson in many ways.

she has Mo's aggressiveness but not her handle............Horston sometimes dribbles a bit too high for my liking....................that works in high school, not sure it will work against a good college defender.......

 

[UConnCat]

Merissah Russell is Canada's #1 prospect in the c/o 2020. She just turned 16 and played on Canada's Sr National Team in the recent Commonwealth games in Australia. Canada's roster was not what we saw in last year's Americup and not what we'll see at the World Cup but still great experience for a 16-year-old. Team USA will see Russell at the U17 world championships later this summer.

 

[Charliebball]

Merissah Russell is Canada's #1 prospect in the c/o 2020. She just turned 16 and played on Canada's Sr National Team in the recent Commonwealth games in Australia. Canada's roster was not what we saw in last year's Americup and not what we'll see at the World Cup but still great experience for a 16-year-old. Team USA will see Russell at the U17 world championships later this summer.

Louisville has been recruiting her for a while now............no surprise there

 

[Golden Husky]

Any inkling as to when Jones, Amihere, Boston and Horston announce their destinations?

 

[Go/huskies]

I wonder if any of Jones, Boston, or Amihere will be on officials with Horston.

 

[JC95]

I know a lot can change but from this video and how close both are I think Fudd sadly is Notre Dames to lose. But like I said a lot can change .. these are young ladies with a lot to think about and a lot of choices to make down the road so who really knows. I personally think GENO goes after the players he truly knows he can get and not wait for the recruiting games.. we don’t want to end up paying the price in the end... UCONN needs to reload if they want to stay in contention for years to come.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Any inkling as to when Jones, Amihere, Boston and Horston announce their destinations?

Horston is reportedly going to announce in July.

Jones was going to wait until the fall.

 

[Golden Husky]

Horston is reportedly going to announce in July.

Jones was going to wait until the fall.

Thanks, Sluconn

 

[Sluconn Husky]

This season the 16-year-old Boston averaged 24.1 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 2 steals and 2.5 assists per game, and hit 66 percent of her field goals attempts, including 44 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

...

Boston recorded 23 double-doubles (double figures in points and rebounds) this past season and four of those games were triple-doubles.



A Center of Attention: Worcester Academy’s Aliyah Boston wins second straight Gatorade Player of the Year – This Week In Worcester

 

[mhshuskies]

That's what I'm saying. Since Gene Smith isn't changing the coach, there is not point for any top Ohio player to go to OSU if they want to leave elevated.

Or their parent needs a coaching job.

 

[Charliebball]

This season the 16-year-old Boston averaged 24.1 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 2 steals and 2.5 assists per game, and hit 66 percent of her field goals attempts, including 44 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

...

Boston recorded 23 double-doubles (double figures in points and rebounds) this past season and four of those games were triple-doubles.

She's playing against some pretty average high school competition for the most part but has proven herself in international play...........still needs work but what high school player doesn't

 

[Charliebball]

I know a lot can change but from this video and how close both are I think Fudd sadly is Notre Dames to lose. But like I said a lot can change .. these are young ladies with a lot to think about and a lot of choices to make down the road so who really knows. I personally think GENO goes after the players he truly knows he can get and not wait for the recruiting games.. we don’t want to end up paying the price in the end... UCONN needs to reload if they want to stay in contention for years to come.

as somebody said earlier in one of the threads what happens if Brunelle ends up being a part time bench player..............will Fudd and Bueckers be put off by that?

Also like you said, a lot can happen in a couple of years, those two will develop plenty of other friendships with players going to other schools and both seem savvy enough not to commit to any school until they are 100% certain of their decision..................if we see that UConn still is recruiting them in the coming months then they must think there's reason to do so....

 

[CocoHusky]

as somebody said earlier in one of the threads what happens if Brunelle ends up being a part time bench player....will Fudd and Bueckers be put off by that?

Also like you said, a lot can happen in a couple of years, those two will develop plenty of other friendships with players going to other schools and both seem savvy enough not to commit to any school until they are 100% certain of their decision...if we see that UConn still is recruiting them in the coming months then they must think there's reason to do so....

It would be astounding if Brunelle is sitting on the bench for ND even as a Freshmen because that would mean that Mikayla Vaughn (Junior ) or Danielle Patterson (Junior) or Danielle Cosgrove (Sophomore) would be the ones keeping her on the bench. It's only 15 months until Brunelle steps on the ND campus but the team will be far different and have only 1 player (Young) of significance remaining from the 2018 National Championship. Paige is 27 months away from stepping onto the ND campus and Azzi is 39 months away-IF they choose to go that route.

 

[Dillon77]

It would be astounding if Brunelle is sitting on the bench for ND even as a Freshmen because that would mean that Mikayla Vaughn (Junior ) or Danielle Patterson (Junior) or Danielle Cosgrove (Sophomore) would be the ones keeping her on the bench. It's only 15 months until Brunelle steps on the ND campus but the team will be far different and have only 1 player (Young) of significance remaining from the 2018 National Championship. Paige is 27 months away from stepping onto the ND campus and Azzi is 39 months away-IF they choose to go that route.

Share your sentiments, Coco (sorry, Charlie), with one modification: it probably wouldn't be Mik Vaughn keeping Sam on the bench, given that MV is very much a low post, based on what I've seen to this point. The Danielles (Patterson and Cosgrove) look to be playing somewhat similar positions as Sam. Opportunities will abound on the ND team in 2019.

Fully expect Ms. Brunelle to be firmly in the mix and on the floor.

(On a somewhat related but different note, it will be interesting to see the effect of Jordan Nixon's arrival on Danielle Patterson's game. The two played very well together at Mary Louis Academy. I know it's high school vs. college, but sometimes players just connect.)

 

[Charliebball]

Share your sentiments, Coco (sorry, Charlie), with one modification: it probably wouldn't be Mik Vaughn keeping Sam on the bench, given that MV is very much a low post, based on what I've seen to this point. The Danielles (Patterson and Cosgrove) look to be playing somewhat similar positions as Sam. Opportunities will abound on the ND team in 2019.
Fully expect Ms. Brunelle to be firmly in the mix.

I think the op's feeling was SB was not quite as good as advertised and thus would be having a bit more difficulty then expected..........as we've seen at UConn............highly ranked players out of high school don't always see the court as much as anticipated and I would assume MM like Geno, doesn't start players based on their initial rankings...........

 

[Charliebball]

this actually brings up an interesting question to be answered after next season...................coming out of high school who is the more accomplished player, Sam Brunelle or Megan Walker?

 

[oldude]

She's playing against some pretty average high school competition for the most part but has proven herself in international play......still needs work but what high school player doesn't

Many, if not most of the top girls HS players are playing against some pretty average HS competition (i.e. Brunelle). It is only during AAU and international competition that everyone can get a true gauge of how a player measures up against top competition. With that said, I’m a little surprised that there weren’t more comments regarding Brunelle’s 5 pt output vs the Canadian National team while Horston was dropping 27.

 

[CocoHusky]

I think the op's feeling was SB was not quite as good as advertised and thus would be having a bit more difficulty then expected.....as we've seen at UConn..highly ranked players out of high school don't always see the court as much as anticipated and I would assume MM like Geno, doesn't start players based on their initial rankings......

this actually brings up an interesting question to be answered after next season....coming out of high school who is the more accomplished player, Sam Brunelle or Megan Walker?

The high school accomplishments are somewhat irrelevant. What is far more significant was that Megan Walker was playing behind 3 established college All-American players KLS, Napheesa & Gabby at her position as a freshmen at UCONN. Azura Stevens a legit national player of the year candidate could not crack the UCONN starting lineup. Even if Megan were a guard she would have been trying to displace a 4 year UCONN starter and the eventual National Defensive player of the year in Kia Nurse. Don't see any such obstacles for Brunelle's unless the ND recruiting pickups significantly at the forward position.

 

[CocoHusky]

Many, if not most of the top girls HS players are playing against some pretty average HS competition (i.e. Brunelle). It is only during AAU and international competition that everyone can get a true gauge of how a player measures up against top competition. With that said, I’m a little surprised that there weren’t more comments regarding Brunelle’s 5 pt output vs the Canadian National team while Horston was dropping 27.

I think @Charliebball had the most measure take on this even below.

I don't love these all-star type games....lot's of ugly basketball..Horston certainly showed her stuff

This was not a USA basketball event, not that USA basketball events are perfect but the caching is "usually" better than these All-star type events. In this game for example Zia Cooke ( who is supposed to be a PG) shot the ball the first 7 times she touched it. There were also 15 kinds on the US rosters a few of which I had never heard off.

 

[oldude]

I think @Charliebball had the most measure take on this even below.

This was not a USA basketball event, not that USA basketball events are perfect but the caching is "usually" better than these All-star type events. In this game for example Zia Cooke ( who is supposed to be a PG) shot the ball the first 7 times she touched it.

No doubt that all star games are an imperfect measuring stick to gauge relative player ability. But sometimes, individual players can rise above the sometimes free-wheeling and occasionally sloppy play that characterizes such competition to truly distinguish themselves, as CW did in the most recent McD AA game. Last year in the McD AA, MW had her moments, but was not a dominant factor in the game.

The US-Canada all star game was hardly a thing of beauty. Horston clearly rose above the crowd while the #1 ranked player in the class did not. When viewed in light of SB’s less than stellar performances in the Under 17 world championships and the difficulty she had vs a talented freshman when her HS team bowed out of the state quarterfinals, one has to wonder if a pattern isn’t emerging here.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The high school accomplishments are somewhat irrelevant. What is far more significant was that Megan Walker was playing behind 3 established college All-American players KLS, Napheesa & Gabby at her position as a freshmen at UCONN. Azura Stevens a legit national player of the year candidate could not crack the UCONN starting lineup. Even if Megan were a guard she would have been trying to displace a 4 year UCONN starter and the eventual National Defensive player of the year in Kia Nurse. Don't see any such obstacles for Brunelle's unless the ND recruiting pickups significantly at the forward position.

Meg was 7th in the rotation, and there were 6 top-10 (mostly top-6) draft choices ahead of her. That explains a lot relative to past freshmen and next year’s frosh. Megan Walker can play the game.

In terms of high school accomplishments, it’s hard to say because it’s a team game, but Sam’s team was knocked out in the Virginia quarter-finals, when she was slowed by a freshman defender. In contrast, Megan’s Monacan team won 3 straight Virginia championships (in a larger size class, I believe). She scored something like her team’s last 15 points to capture the narrow win as a senior. Geno gave her a hard time, saying if she had played like that all game, no 4th quarter heroics would have been needed. Meg’s efforts were much like those of Kaleena, who outscored the entire Berkeley team in the second half in the California finals.

 

[CocoHusky]

No doubt that all star games are an imperfect measuring stick to gauge relative player ability. But sometimes, individual players can rise above the sometimes free-wheeling and occasionally sloppy play that characterizes such competition to truly distinguish themselves, as CW did in the most recent McD AA game. Last year in the McD AA, MW had her moments, but was not a dominant factor in the game. The US-Canada all star game was hardly a thing of beauty. Horston clearly rose above the crowd while the #1 ranked player in the class did not. When viewed in light of SB’s less than stellar performances in the Under 17 world championships and the difficulty she had vs a talented freshman when her HS team bowed out of the state quarterfinals, one has to wonder if a pattern isn’t emerging here.

Overall what I'm pointing out is the inaccuracy (danger!) of a single point evaluation. For example Samantha may have performed poorly at USA basketball last summer but Haley Jones & Rickea Jackson did not make that team. Which is worse, making the team and performing poorly or not making the team at all?