2019/20 UConn Recruiting

[Charliebball]

In general, (and IMO), raters put a lot of emphasis on what guards do with the ball in their hands, ball handling in particular. To a certain extent that is understandable since they have the ball in their hands a great deal on most teams. UConn's guards however don't do a lot of fancy dribble moves as UConn is much more of a passing team. UConn guards, except for transitions, pass far more often than they dribble. You rarely see any UConn player dribble more than 3 times before either shooting or passing. So guards that find open team mates and who can play without the ball are more valuable in Storrs than someone who has great spin moves.

I haven't seem Hailey Van Lith much in game situations but I have seen Bueckers. She is to my eye significantly longer, both in height and in reach. Her length gives her an advantage defending away from the ball as she deflects and intercepts a lot of passes. It also allows her to rise higher on drives to the hoop.

But then I have been high on Bueckers for about 2 years and once I fall in love with a player it's hard to talk me off them. Beyond skills I love her on-court attitude, confident, in fact unintimidatable (is that a word?), bordering on cockiness. She looks like there is nowhere in the world she would rather be.

I see Hailey Van Lith taking over at Oregon when Ionescu graduates. No knowledge, just a hunch.

I agree with your description of UConn guard play but I wonder whether always playing with that kind of unselfishness is partly to blame for the end of the game issues in the past two years..........having a player that can get her own shot regardless of the defense could be the difference between winning and losing as we witnessed in the ND game..........having a great ball handler/shooter is a nice insurance policy to have even if it's rarely used.........

 

[CocoHusky]

In reality any of the 3 top 2020 PGs: Van Lith, Bueckers, or Clark would excel in UCONN's system.
I don't see how two of the three could work overlapping with Christyn Williams for 2 years and potentially with Azzi Fudd for 3 years. Give me any one of the three and Cameron Brink and I'll be a very happy camper.

 

[Charliebball]

Van Lith is a pitbull that will stick her nose anywhere. She's strong, physical, and relentless. She's going to score and get people out of the seats with her skills. She's also likely going to be a good rebounder for her size due to the attributes mentioned above.

Bueckers is smooth as silk with an amazing feel for the game and basketball IQ. She too will get people out of the seats with her no-look passes and incredible finishing ability.

I think Van Lith's lower center of gravity and strength (5-7 vs 5-11) will likely make her a better defender in tight, but Bueckers' IQ, quickness, and length will make her a better one in space.

don't forget PB's floater.............I bet that darn shot will win multiple games in the final seconds during her college career............

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think Van Lith's lower center of gravity and strength (5-7 vs 5-11)

Didn't Van Lith talk about her height in that interview that was posted earlier in this thread? Thought she said she was 5-9 ish on a good day. Also that she grew a little bit taller already this summer.

 

[Charliebball]

In reality any of the 3 top 2020 PGs: Van Lith, Bueckers, or Clark would excel in UCONN's system.
I don't see how two of the three could work overlapping with Christyn Williams for 2 years and potentially with Azzi Fudd for 3 years. Give me any one of the three and Cameron Brink and I'll be a very happy camper.

aren't Williams and Fudd both really more shooting guards then point guards?...........I would think pairing them with any of the 2020 pg's would be a beautiful thing........

 

[Charliebball]

I believe I read that she had already made 2 official visits -- UCLA and North Carolina.

ahhhhhhhh two really wonderful schools...............just not the best for WBB................

 

[Charliebball]

In reality any of the 3 top 2020 PGs: Van Lith, Bueckers, or Clark would excel in UCONN's system.
I don't see how two of the three could work overlapping with Christyn Williams for 2 years and potentially with Azzi Fudd for 3 years. Give me any one of the three and Cameron Brink and I'll be a very happy camper.

the folks at ND believe that they have a good chance of landing both Clark and Bueckers..........now that might be a bit tricky for MM if it happened............

 

[CocoHusky]

aren't Williams and Fudd both really more shooting guards then point guards?......I would think pairing them with any of the 2020 pg's would be a beautiful thing...

It would be a beautiful thing to pair one 2020 PG with Williams & Fudd. Two 2020 PGs however would be overkill IMO because one of them would have to play SG (backup) or a backup PG role. I think you have 3 alpha in these three 2020 PGs. Which of them would be willing to play a backup role?

 

[Golden Husky]

I agree with your description of UConn guard play but I wonder whether always playing with that kind of unselfishness is partly to blame for the end of the game issues in the past two years.....having a player that can get her own shot regardless of the defense could be the difference between winning and losing as we witnessed in the ND game.....having a great ball handler/shooter is a nice insurance policy to have even if it's rarely used....

Do you believe CW fits that description?

 

[Charliebball]

It would be a beautiful thing to pair one 2020 PG with Williams & Fudd. Two 2020 PGs however would be overkill IMO because one of them would have to play SG (backup) or a backup PG role. I think you have 3 alpha in these three 2020 PGs. Which of them would be willing to play a backup role?

I agree...........don't need to be greedy.........I'll take anyone of the three although PB is still my favorite............getting shut out on all three though would be very distressing indeed...........

 

[CocoHusky]

the folks at ND believe that they have a good chance of landing both Clark and Bueckers.....now that might be a bit tricky for MM if it happened..

I think ND would have a similar problem except it might be more acute.
ND brings in 3 quality guards in 2018 ( Gilbert, Nixon, Prohaska)
ND brings in 1 quality guard in 2019 (Peoples) might be more.
If ND were to bring in 2 more quality guards in 2020 that would be 6 quality guards. Who among those 6 would be willing to play a backup role? Would Azzi be happy being #7 guard?

 

[JoePgh]

Re Aliyah Boston, it is ENTIRELY possible that she has already made a confidential commitment to Geno to come to UConn, but has chosen for whatever reason not to make it publicly known. I certainly have no inside information, but I know that other players have done similar things. I recall, for instance, that Napheesa committed privately a few months before she made it known. I have a hunch that both of this year's freshmen committed privately long before their public announcements.

The bottom line is that there is no need to get worked up about Boston's "delay" in committing, in part because there may not even be a delay.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Didn't Van Lith talk about her height in that interview that was posted earlier in this thread? Thought she said she was 5-9 ish on a good day. Also that she grew a little bit taller already this summer.

There was a coy giggle to go with that "on a good day" comment. You may have noticed her standing on her toes in the photo taken with her 3x3 team last week. Seeing her next to Bueckers---listed at 5-11---I think Van Lith is every bit 5-7, or at least 4 good inches shorter than Paige.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

If someone says they are "5-9 ish" on a good day, odds are they are not 5-9.

 

[Charliebball]

I think ND would have a similar problem except it might be more acute.
ND brings in 3 quality guards in 2018 ( Gilbert, Nixon, Prohaska)
ND brings in 1 quality guard in 2019 (Peoples) might be more.
If ND were to bring in 2 more quality guards in 2020 that would be 6 quality guards. Who among those 6 would be willing to play a backup role? Would Azzi be happy being #7 guard?

I have expressed a similar thought to our friend Dillon...........I'll let him explain how it would work.........I'm sure he'll come up with something that makes sense from the ND perspective

 

[Charliebball]

Do you believe CW fits that description?

I sure do..........frankly I think MW does too...........just needs the chance to prove it.........

 

[CocoHusky]

I have expressed a similar thought to our friend Dillon......I'll let him explain how it would work....I'm sure he'll come up with something that makes sense from the ND perspective

If I remember correctly @Dillon77 said something along the lines that Peoples, Gilbert & Prohaska would play SG and Nixon, Paige and Clark would play PG. That a good division by class and position but not a optimal mixture to pursue Azzi.

 

[BobbyJ]

Jordan says she wants a coach who will push and develop her. I don’t see her getting coached up at UNC, OSU, or Tenn.

Those 3 schools have coaches ?

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think ND will already be loaded with PGs, including Nixon and Peoples. I think that hurts them in recruiting Bueckers and Van Lith.

Can Paige and Hailey Van Lith play together? They are doing very well together on the 3 x 3 team. Paige can clearly be a combo guard, and Hailey Van Lith can shoot. Could Bird and Taurasi co-exist in the same backcourt? They win championships when they are together.

I’m not sure PB and Hailey Van Lith want to play on the same college team, but I bet Geno would be thrilled to get both and would make it work. Geno really wants PB, but I think he also really likes Hailey Van Lith. I’m not sold on Bueckers and Fudd going to ND to play with Brunelle. Sure, it could happen, but I’m skeptical. If PB goes to ND, Geno needs to get Hailey Van Lith (or equivalent) to offset that.

I’m not concerned at all about Hailey Van Lith’s height. On a good day, Moriah was about 5’7”. She won 2 Lieberman Awards, 1 National Defensive Player of the Year Award, and 4 National Championships. Mo and Hailey Van Lith have different skill sets, but neither lets their height limit them.

I really think that Jasmine will be a phenomenal recruiter. She has youth and street cred. I think she can get Hailey Van Lith.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Those 3 schools have coaches ?

That’s my point.

 

[newfrontier]

I see Hailey Van Lith taking over at Oregon when Ionescu graduates. No knowledge, just a hunch.

Well, in the interview of June 22, Hailey Van Lith says she wants to study engineering, and of the 7 universities she mentioned, the University of Oregon HAS NO ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. If she is serious about majoring in engineering or related field (specific major yet to be determined by her), UO cannot be a choice.

Of the six remaining schools on her early "list", Oregon State offers the most choices in engineering and related majors (15), followed by Notre Dame, UCLA, and UCONN (10-12 each), Louisville (8), and Baylor (4).

Hailey Van Lith could easily take over for Destiny Slocum at Oregon State, after serving one year as her understudy or "apprentice" in 2020.

 

[Dillon77]

If I remember correctly @Dillon77 said something along the lines that Peoples, Gilbert & Prohaska would play SG and Nixon, Paige and Clark would play PG. That a good division by class and position but not a optimal mixture to pursue Azzi.

Hey Charlie and Coco:

Yes, that's the basic thinking I've read/heard regarding ND's approach to all these quality guards.

A lot of this depends, at least in my NJ-based, Irish-fan mind is what happens at the wing position. Right now, the Irish have Jackie Young (who is really a guard with hops) playing that position. But I think they want to get bigger there, which is why they're after Haley Jones in a major way.

If Ms. Jones does come to ND (no sure thing, as we all know), that means all these guards are really competing for just two positions, as opposed to possibly playing the wing in a smaller-guard approach.

If Nixon, Gilbert, Peoples and Prohaska are performing well and they're set at the wing, I could see the Irish being very happy (as anyone would be) with "just" Bueckers or Clark. Can't see both of them wanting to dribble into a potential logjam...anywhere.

But if Jones (or someone else in that position) does not come to ND -- I could see the Irish going after a Mady Westbeld, Sydney Parrish or Alli Campbell (now a legit 6' tall) or going after two premier guards and having a three-guard approach as often as possible.

Of course, they could be then hold off for a huge push at Azzi Fudd. Fudd, after all, is one of those once-every-decade or so talents that you just pursue and pursue, as I'm sure MM, Geno and Tara (never forget where Azzi's first name came from) will be.

Should be interesting on the guard/wing front, for sure.

 

[Bronx23]

Hailey Van Lith is more of a "floor general", has a better handle, is a better on ball defender, and is better at reading defenses and getting the ball to the open player.

Of course it would be phenomenal to get Bueckers, but I would be very satisfied with Hailey Van Lith.
I almost always favor point guards.
Seems from what I've read, heard and seen small clips of that Hailey Van Lith is maybe more similar to a Sue Bird. Bueckers might be close to or the next DT. Can't go wrong with either but I've never seen anyone yet better than DT, speaking only of guards.
If somehow both came, a few championships would likely follow. It might though then preclude Azzi Fudd, who might just become or is, the best of the three. Like choosing between Mays, Mantle & Snider. WOW! WOW! WOW!
Bronx23

 

[Dillon77]

Well, in the interview of June 22, Hailey Van Lith says she wants to study engineering, and of the 7 universities she mentioned, the University of Oregon HAS NO ENGINEERING PROGRAMS. If she is serious about majoring in engineering or related field (specific major yet to be determined by her), UO cannot be a choice.

Of the six remaining schools on her early "list", Oregon State offers the most choices in engineering and related majors (15), followed by Notre Dame, UCLA, and UCONN (10-12 each), Louisville (8), and Baylor (4).

Hailey Van Lith could easily take over for Destiny Slocum at Oregon State, after serving one year as her understudy or "apprentice" in 2020.

ND has a good engineering school and -- having just attended my daughter's graduation in May -- a number of her fellow grads who went the engineering route were quite happy with what they learned and where they were going with said degree.

That said, picking up on the "where will all these guards play at ND?" posts, I can't see Hailey Van Lith fitting in with the Irish unless Bueckers or Clark go elsewhere. As for her height, she plays tough and is strong in the lower body. I could see her alternating with a Jordan Nixon for two years, offering some bi-coastal takes on "shake and bake."

But I think MM has really got her sights on Paige B. and Caitlin C. first.....

 

[Bronx23]

Van Lith is a pitbull that will stick her nose anywhere. She's strong, physical, and relentless. She's going to score and get people out of the seats with her skills. She's also likely going to be a good rebounder for her size due to the attributes mentioned above.

Bueckers is smooth as silk with an amazing feel for the game and basketball IQ. She too will get people out of the seats with her no-look passes and incredible finishing ability.

I think Van Lith's lower center of gravity and strength (5-7 vs 5-11) will likely make her a better defender in tight, but Bueckers' IQ, quickness, and length will make her a better one in space.

Love your analysis of these two young seemingly to be great players.
Bronx23

 

[Bronx23]

I agree with your description of UConn guard play but I wonder whether always playing with that kind of unselfishness is partly to blame for the end of the game issues in the past two years.....having a player that can get her own shot regardless of the defense could be the difference between winning and losing as we witnessed in the ND game.....having a great ball handler/shooter is a nice insurance policy to have even if it's rarely used....

Yes! Exactly! Need either or both KLS or Pheesa to get a bit selfish when need be! Not sure personality wise either of them have that. Off the court or in life itself, that unselfishness is a wonderful, special quality. On the court in huge moments, one needs an assassin whether it be DT, MM, Michael Jordan or LeBron!
Just struck me that KLS and Pheesa might be Scottie Pippens! Nothing to sneeze at! Seems Bueckers and Fudd might be what's needed down the road a little bit!
Bronx23

 

[newfrontier]

ND has a good engineering school and -- having just attended my daughter's graduation in May -- a number of her fellow grads who went the engineering route, were quite happy with what they learned and where they were going with said degree.

That said, picking up on the "where will all these guards play at ND?" posts, I can't see Hailey Van Lith fitting in with the Irish unless Bueckers or Clark go elsewhere. As for her height, she plays tough and is strong in the lower body. I could see her alternating with a Jordan Nixon for two years, offering some bi-coastal takes on "shake and bake."
But I think MM is really got her sights on Paige and Caitlin first.

Hailey Van Lith has interest in Oregon State, of that I am certain. She and her team from Cashmere, WA, just attended the annual OSU girls high school basketball team camp held in Corvallis the week of June 25. She had to leave a bit early to attend either 3 on 3 or USA team practice. Obviously she has lots of excellent choices. I think her decision may be a year away yet, as she will only be a junior in high school this fall.

It's interesting and fortuitous that she was in Corvallis the same week as all the local and national whoopla, celebration, and media spotlights that surrounded Oregon State playing for and winning the National Championship in baseball...proving that a student athlete can win a National Championship in a very significant sport at ORST. Oregon State had to get through Big 10 champ Minnesota, Pac 12 Washington, and 3 SEC schools (LSU, Mississippi State, and Arkansas) to win it.

 

[HopJim]

Hey Charlie and Coco:Kudos to the ND posters. Great at this stage in the off season to have some new, interesting, fact based input to consider.


Yes, that's the basic thinking I've read/heard regarding ND's approach to all these quality guards.

A lot of this, at least in my NJ-based, Irish-fan mind is what happens at the wing position. Right now, the Irish have Jackie Young (who is really a guard with hops) playing that position. But I think they want to get bigger there, which is why they're after Haley Jones in a major way.

If Ms. Jones does come to ND (no sure thing, as we all know), that means all these guards are really competing for just two positions, as opposed to possibly playing the wing in a smaller-guard approach.

If Nixon, Gilbert, Peoples and Prohaska are performing well and they're set at the wing, I could see the Irish being very happy (as anyone would be) with just Bueckers or Clark. Can't see both of them wanting to dribble in a potential logjam...anywhere.

But if Jones (or someone else in that position) does not come -- I could see the Irish going after a Mady Westbeld, Sydney Parrish or Alli Campbell (now a legit 6' tall) or holding off for an Azzi Fudd. Fudd, after all, is one of those once-every-decade or so talents that you just pursue and pursue, as I'm sure MM, Geno and Tara (never forget where Azzi's first name came from) will be.

Should be interesting on the guard/wing front, for sure.

 

[donalddoowop]

Of course it would be phenomenal to get Bueckers, but I would be very satisfied with Hailey Van Lith.
I almost always favor point guards.
Seems from what I've read, heard and seen small clips of that Hailey Van Lith is maybe more similar to a Sue Bird. Bueckers might be close to or the next DT. Can't go wrong with either but I've never seen anyone yet better than DT, speaking only of guards.
If somehow both came, a few championships would likely follow. It might though then preclude Azzi Fudd, who might just become or is, the best of the three. Like choosing between Mays, Mantle & Snider. WOW! WOW! WOW!
Bronx23

Just an OT for you. Ritchie Ashburn was better than all three of them. (smile)

 

[Sakibomb25]

Oregon State had to get through Big 10 champ Minnesota, Pac 12 Champ Washington, and 3 SEC schools (LSU, Mississippi State, and Arkansas) to win it.

Technically, Stanford was the Pac-12 champions this year... though of course flamed out in the first round of the play-offs. I'm sure they would trade a Pac-12 crown for a spot in the College World Series...

 

[newfrontier]

Technically, Stanford was the Pac-12 champions this year... though of course flamed out in the first round of the play-offs. I'm sure they would trade a Pac-12 crown for a spot in the College World Series...

sorry...my bad..