2020/21 UConn Recruiting

[Charliebball]

Look at the kids on a lot of the tournament teams who are really good. A lot of talent below the top 50 or 75. and we have more competition than ever for top kids. UConn might need to deepen the net a bit because the elite kids are getting an expanding number of decent programs closer to home. I’m not sure a Taurasi leaves the West Coast for us so readily. Players like Erwin and Bent are nice kids, but they are pretty much walk on caliber at UConn. There have to be kids somewhere between them and the top 50 kids we chase who can play for us so that missing on the top branches doesn’t leave us where we look to be next year.

that's blasphemous talk my friend!!!!!...........be prepared to be called a Louisville fan boy and a know nothing.................believe me I know.............

 

[MTC]

3/24

Nika Muhl: 17 points (3-15 FG, 11-14 FT), 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 steals

Rebounds are more important now. Buffalo embarrassed us on the boards.

 

[CocoHusky]

Look at the kids on a lot of the tournament teams who are really good. A lot of talent below the top 50 or 75. and we have more competition than ever for top kids. UConn might need to deepen the net a bit because the elite kids are getting an expanding number of decent programs closer to home. I’m not sure a Taurasi leaves the West Coast for us so readily. Players like Erwin and Bent are nice kids, but they are pretty much walk on caliber at UConn. There have to be kids somewhere between them and the top 50 kids we chase who can play for us so that missing on the top branches doesn’t leave us where we look to be next year.

For those that were advocating UCONN casting a wider net in recruiting-you got it!
For the 2020 class this list of players (15) have confirmed UCONN interest or are interested in UCONN. This is the largest number of recruits I can ever remember UCONN being involved with at this date in the process ~ 9 Months before early signing day. View attachment 39570

 

[MTC]

With all due respect to Ms. Dillard, UConn shut her down in the 1st half. Only when UConn was in foul trouble did she start to bull her way into shots. Good player but seems like her HS rating was relatively accurate.

After rewatching the game I was so Impressed with Dillard and teammates. Without a top recruit they gave Uconn a battle and if they had a "BIG" it might have ended different. We have to get tougher on the boards.

 

[cohenzone]

QUOTE="CocoHusky, post: 3037610, member: 5823"]For those that were advocating UCONN casting a wider net in recruiting-you got it!
For the 2020 class this list of players (15) have confirmed UCONN interest or are interested in UCONN. This is the largest number of recruits I can ever remember UCONN being involved with at this date in the process ~ 9 Months before early signing day. View attachment 39570

[/QUOTE

]im not sure that’s a lot wider than usual and it isn’t very deep ranking wise. Only Marshall is a relatively local kid. Obviously getting some of those kids is possible. Getting none of them is also.possiblr. My point was as that list suggests, there are no kids even around the 75-100 level on that list who might be pretty good role players. Lots of athletic good shooting kids out there who might never be AA but who help a team to win. Or we could move the university to Texas.

 

[CocoHusky]

[/QUOTE

]im not sure that’s a lot wider than usual and it isn’t very deep ranking wise. Only Marshall is a relatively local kid. Obviously getting some of those kids is possible. Getting none of them is also.possiblr. My point was as that list suggests, there are no kids even around the 75-100 level on that list who might be pretty good role players. Lots of athletic good shooting kids out there who might never be AA but who help a team to win. Or we could move the university to Texas.

The list is definitely wider than usual because we are only 2 weeks away from the start of official visits.
Getting none of them is and has always been a possibility. You point about it being wider in terms of depth (50-100) is correct. Every year there will be kids that perform above their HS rank. Megan Gustafson is just the latest. In 2015 UCONN offered two post players Kalani Brown and Batouly Camara. Batouly was ranked #53 in the class. UCONN is evaluating players in the range you are suggesting and some are actually offered. Let's be practical though, the UCONN program is not going to be sustained by players ranked in the range you are suggesting. I can't think of a single player in the range who has made a significant contribution to the UCONN program=starter. Now let's flip that around to the recruits perspective. Why would a recruit ranked in that range pick UCONN when they can go to Kentucky or Iowa play as a freshmen, average 35 minutes per game playing instead of praying for garbage time to get in 5 mins per game?

 

[MTC]

I am new here so I ask a few simple questions. Does Geno wait to announce all his commitments at one time usually? I have a feeling that many girls will wait until the last minute before declaring. How many of our recruits actually have offers?

The list is definitely wider than usual because we are only 2 weeks away from the start of official visits.
Getting none of them is and has always been a possibility. You point about it being wider in terms of depth (50-100) is correct. Every year there will be kids that perform above their HS rank. Megan Gustafson is just the latest. In 2015 UCONN offered two post players Kalani Brown and Batouly Camara. Batouly was ranked #53 in the class. UCONN is evaluating players in the range you are suggesting and some are actually offered. Let's be practical though, the UCONN program is not going to be sustained by players ranked in the range you are suggesting. I can't think of a single player in the range who has made a significant contribution to the UCONN program=starter. Now let's flip that around to the recruits perspective. Why would a recruit ranked in that range pick UCONN when they can go to Kentucky or Iowa play as a freshmen, average 35 minutes per game playing instead of praying for garbage time to get in 5 mins per game?

I agree with everything you said but here is the thing - against Buffalo we had the height advantage, the home court advantage, the better coach advantage, and higher ranked recruits advantage and the game was competitive. So just maybe we could figure out how Buffalo does so well with lower ranked players.

 

[cohenzone]

The list is definitely wider than usual because we are only 2 weeks away from the start of official visits.
Getting none of them is and has always been a possibility. You point about it being wider in terms of depth (50-100) is correct. Every year there will be kids that perform above their HS rank. Megan Gustafson is just the latest. In 2015 UCONN offered two post players Kalani Brown and Batouly Camara. Batouly was ranked #53 in the class. UCONN is evaluating players in the range you are suggesting and some are actually offered. Let's be practical though, the UCONN program is not going to be sustained by players ranked in the range you are suggesting. I can't think of a single player in the range who has made a significant contribution to the UCONN program=starter. Now let's flip that around to the recruits perspective. Why would a recruit ranked in that range pick UCONN when they can go to Kentucky or Iowa play as a freshmen, average 35 minutes per game playing instead of praying for garbage time to get in 5 mins per game?

That’s a critique of Geno. He either trusts a player or not at all. But we all know you can’t sustain excellence with one recruit every few years coupled with scramble late recruits like Bent who are flattered to be recruited. I’d have to believe there are kids in the lower half of even the top 100 who would also be flattered to be recruited by UConn. It seems like we aren’t recruiting in light of present day competition and geographic distribution of talent. Maybe we still get an occasional star from afar like Williams, Not that it would work quite so well these days, but UConn’s rise to the top began with almost all Northeast kids. Maybe a little bit more focus on the closer to home territory is needed without abandoning the attempt to get more distant prizes. But we are spoiled. Our big issue is maybe we aren’t going to win an NC.

 

[Argonaut]

The list is definitely wider than usual because we are only 2 weeks away from the start of official visits.
Getting none of them is and has always been a possibility. You point about it being wider in terms of depth (50-100) is correct. Every year there will be kids that perform above their HS rank. Megan Gustafson is just the latest. In 2015 UCONN offered two post players Kalani Brown and Batouly Camara. Batouly was ranked #53 in the class. UCONN is evaluating players in the range you are suggesting and some are actually offered. Let's be practical though, the UCONN program is not going to be sustained by players ranked in the range you are suggesting. I can't think of a single player in the range who has made a significant contribution to the UCONN program=starter. Now let's flip that around to the recruits perspective. Why would a recruit ranked in that range pick UCONN when they can go to Kentucky or Iowa play as a freshmen, average 35 minutes per game playing instead of praying for garbage time to get in 5 mins per game?

Because there should be adults in their life that are reminding them that their college career expands beyond their freshman year. When you go to UConn, you theoretically go with the understanding that you will be pushed dangerously close to the edge, to become a better player in FOUR YEARS.

If you want to be a star on day one, it was a pleasure watching your highlight tapes. Even Stewie had times her freshmen year when she was in Geno’s doghouse. But if you are willing to put in the work and are a top caliber player and willing to drink the Kool Aid, then UConn will almost always be the better option.

 

[CocoHusky]

That’s a critique of Geno. He either trusts a player or not at all. But we all know you can’t sustain excellence with one recruit every few years coupled with scramble late recruits like Bent who are flattered to be recruited. I’d have to believe there are kids in the lower half of even the top 100 who would also be flattered to be recruited by UConn. It seems like we aren’t recruiting in light of present day competition and geographic distribution of talent. Maybe we still get an occasional star from afar like Williams, Not that it would work quite so well these days, but UConn’s rise to the top began with almost all Northeast kids. Maybe a little bit more focus on the closer to home territory is needed without abandoning the attempt to get more distant prizes. But we are spoiled. Our big issue is maybe we aren’t going to win an NC.

What is a critique of Geno? Don't see how you can say UCONN is not recruiting relative to distribution of talent. Cali, Missouri, NY, TX, Washington state, Minnesota, TN, Arkansas, Virginia, Canada, Georgia, Poland, Australia, Crotia, Germany are some of the recent homes or recruiting targets. What am I missing here?

 

[CocoHusky]

Because there should be adults in their life that are reminding them that their college career expands beyond their freshman year. When you go to UConn, you theoretically go with the understanding that you will be pushed dangerously close to the edge, to become a better player in FOUR YEARS. If you want to be a star on day one, it was a pleasure watching your highlight tapes. Even Stewie had times her freshmen year when she was in Geno’s doghouse. But if you are willing to put in the work and are a top caliber player and willing to drink the Kool Aid, then UConn will almost always be the better option.

There "should be", often there is not. UCONN is not for everyone. I'm more than happy with the ones we get, can't be concerned about those we don't.

 

[CocoHusky]

I am new here so I ask a few simple questions. Does Geno wait to announce all his commitments at one time usually? I have a feeling that many girls will wait until the last minute before declaring. How many of our recruits actually have offers?
I agree with everything you said but here is the thing - against Buffalo we had the height advantage, the home court advantage, the better coach advantage, and higher ranked recruits advantage and the game was competitive. So just maybe we could figure out how Buffalo does so well with lower ranked players.

Q: Does Geno wait to announce all his commitments at one time usually?
A: Geno is required to wait until a NLI is signed before he can comment on any specific recruit. At the end of the recruiting period UCONN WBB generally issues a statement saying who the members of each recruiting class are (is).
Q: How many of our recruits actually have offers?
A: For the class of 2020 UCONN has 3 offers that have been reported in the press-NOT REPORTED BY UCONN. Van Lith, Gusters, & Brueckers. There is an unconfirmed report that Reese has a UCONN offer.

 

[cohenzone]

What is a critique of Geno? Do see how you can say UCONN is not recruiting relative to distribution of talent. Cali, Missouri, NY, TX, Washington state, Minnesota, TN, Arkansas, Virginia, Canada, Georgia, Poland, Australia, Crotia, Germany are some of the recent homes or recruiting targets. What am I missing here?

That kids won’t come here just to plat garbage time. That was basically a critique of Geno. It’s true that his trust level is very conservative.

Yes, you missed my point. I’m saying he is recruiting distant places where top kids now have more pretty solid non-UConn choices. And he is losing kids who might have drooled over UConn 10 years ago but because of those geographic options near home decide to stay closer. It looks like we don’t pay attention to kids closer to home who are even top 75-100 some of whom are diamonds in the rough.

 

[CocoHusky]

That kids won’t come here just to plat garbage time. That was basically a critique of Geno. It’s true that his trust level is very conservative.

Don't think that's a fair critique then. Top 75-100 kids aren't going ANYWHERE to play garbage time. 10-30 kids aren't going ANYWHERE where they have to sit- have you seen the transfer rates lately. Why pin that on Geno?

 

[HopJim]

That kids won’t come here just to plat garbage time. That was basically a critique of Geno. It’s true that his trust level is very conservative.

Yes, you missed my point. I’m saying he is recruiting distant places where top kids now have more pretty solid non-UConn choices. And he is losing kids who might have drooled over UConn 10 years ago but because of those geographic options near home decide to stay closer. It looks like we don’t pay attention to kids closer to home who are even top 75-100 some of whom are diamonds in the rough.

You are spot on that the farther you go to recruit, the lower the probability of success. I am a sales guy and I would always tell my team that focusing on lower probability prospects however great means you may waste time that could be better invested (ex Boston). Yes, we are getting CA, TX, TN, etc. prospects but similar to any gamble, sometimes you win (ex. Lou/CA), and sometimes you lose. Recruiting goes in phases and coaches need to adjust.

 

[CocoHusky]

You are spot on that the farther you go to recruit, the lower the probability of success. I am a sales guy and I would always tell my team that focusing on lower probability prospects however great means you may waste time that could be better invested (ex Boston). Yes, we are getting CA, TX, TN, etc. prospects but similar to any gamble, sometimes you win (ex. Lou/CA), and sometimes you lose. Recruiting goes in phases and coaches need to adjust.

We can't look at the outcome and retroactively decide if the investment was worth it. If you say Boston was not worth the investment then I would argue that Rebecca Lobo, DT, Shea Ralph, Tina Charles & Stewie were. These are all players where the investment by the staff in recruiting was questioned BEFORE the investment was made.

 

[cohenzone]

Don't think that's a fair critique then. Top 75-100 kids aren't going ANYWHERE to play garbage time. 10-30 kids aren't going ANYWHERE where they have to sit- have you seen the transfer rates lately. Why pin that on Geno?

You still don’t get it. Why are some kids only playing garbage time? Geno’s trust level is very shallow. A kid like Coombs who he’s played a bit more lately didn’t see the floor at all even against Buffalo when her main asset might have been useful.

Your central assumption seems to be that mid level ranked kids won’t come to UConn because they will get more playing time elsewhere. How do you know that when we don’t recruit those kids? I’m saying we don’t particularly hedge at all against missing the top kids in a world where most top players don’t live anywhere near Connecticut and these days have very good options near where they live.

 

[cohenzone]

We can't look at the outcome and retroactively decide if the investment was worth it. If you say Boston was not worth the investment then I would argue that Rebecca Lobo, DT, Shea Ralph, Tina Charles & Stewie were. These are all players where the investment by the staff in recruiting was questioned BEFORE the investment was made.

You ignore comptely the point. The competition is much broader for top kids who live further away from Connecticut. The kids you named are all from the northaast except for Shea Ralph who came here when the competition for soneonei.of her caliber was pretty much Tennessee, UNC and a few others.

 

[CocoHusky]

You still don’t get it. Why are some kids only playing garbage time? Geno’s trust level is very shallow. A kid like Coombs who he’s played a bit more lately didn’t see the floor at all even against Buffalo when her main asset might have been useful.

Let me see if I get this right: Mikayla is playing garbage time because "Geno's trust level is shallow"?
I don't believe that! Mikayla is playing garbage time (sometimes not at all) because she has not shown the ability to impact the game in a positive manner. This is the same standard that has been applied to every player to wear a UCONN uniform while Geno has been the coach. Why should Geno make an exception for Mikayla?

 

[CocoHusky]

You ignore comptely the point. The competition is much broader for top kids who live further away from Connecticut. The kids you named are all from the northaast except for Shea Ralph who came here when the competition for soneonei.of her caliber was pretty much Tennessee, UNC and a few others.

DT is from the NE?

 

[Sven23]

We can't look at the outcome and retroactively decide if the investment was worth it. If you say Boston was not worth the investment then I would argue that Rebecca Lobo, DT, Shea Ralph, Tina Charles & Stewie were. These are all players where the investment by the staff in recruiting was questioned BEFORE the investment was made.

Pot calling kettle.... You're retroactively saying the investment by the staff was questioned. Proof of questioning recruiting any of the players listed. Please break it down individually. This should be hilarious.

 

[cohenzone]

Let me see if I get this right: Mikayla is playing garbage time because "Geno's trust level is shallow"?
I don't believe that! Mikayla is playing garbage time (sometimes not at all) because she has not shown the ability to impact the game in a positive manner. This is the same standard that has been applied to every player to wear a UCONN uniform while Geno has been the coach. Why should Geno make an exception for Mikayla?

Why do I bother. He had been playing her a good bit more lately not in garbage time. When push came to shove he didn’t use her in a game where her defensive skill might have helped and he had a player in Dangerfield who had become a defensive liability because she was playing carefully due to foul trouble. Geno’s trust level has always been shallow. He wins, but it rarely varies that out of 13-15 kids, the deepest he will go is 7 and occasionally 8.

 

[cohenzone]

DT is from the NE?

You have major comprehension issues. When was DT recruited, last year?

 

[CocoHusky]

Why do I bother. He had been playing her a good bit more atelier not in garbage time. When push came to shove he didn’t use her in a game where her defensive skill might have helped and he had a player in Angerfield who had become a defensive liability because she was playing carefully due to foul trouble. Ends trust level has always been shallow. He wins, but it rarely varies that out of 13-15 kids, the deepest he will go is 7 and occasionally 8.

Pot calling kettle.... You're retroactively saying the investment by the staff was questioned. Proof of questioning recruiting any of the players listed. Please break it down individually. This should be hilarious.

Rebecca Lobo's mother (an educator) did not consider UCONN a good enough academic school for her Daughter compared to Stanford.
Shea Ralph's mother was All-American basketball player at UNC.
DT's mother was not comfortable with her daughter leaving the state.
Tina Charles was pitched anti-UCONN very heavily by Brenda Freeze, Jeff waltz and CVS that UCONN would never emerge from the post "DT" "dark ages".
Stewie was always thought to be a Duke lean, so much so that on one of her visits to UCONN when UCONN was curb stomping Duke Geno said to Stewie they (Duke) could have really used you tonight.

 

[CocoHusky]

You have major comprehension issues. When was DT recruited, last year?

DT was recruited in 2000.

 

[Sven23]

The simple fact is Geno doesn't stock pile players. He has stated over the years many times the ideal is about 7 to 8 core players that he can trust & mesh as a 1st unit interchageably, for the most part. That number keeps good cohesion, flow, chemistry. Players out of the top 8 are ancillary, role players, that number is maybe 2 or 3. then possibly have some hard working walk on fill a spot for a roster of 12. UConn/Geno is not going to be a place with 15 recruited scholarhip players on the roster. That's not how Geno roles. He's not going to be like some other schools with 15 recruited players, gives an offer to every kid under thesun, then says the actal try out is when you get here. Kids leave once they realize they aren't getting time when they are recruited like this. Kids now know they can go more places, build a profile at a non top 10 school, etc...and play from day one or at last 3 years of starting. Bball is becoming more how fball has become, since they reduced schiolarships, it's not easy to stock pile players like before in fball and even big time recruits leave if they aren't gettig the time they want. In the old days they would wait their turn and maybe only get 1 or 2 years of being a starter/star of the team at fball power like Bama, That's not how kids role and while the top schools are still thebest, the 2nd level has become deeper. There is a strong argument if NCAA really wanted to improve the depth of WCBB, they would reduce scholarships down to 12(like men) from 15. Give the 3 scholarship spots to other womens sports to keep Title IV compliance.

 

[cohenzone]

Rebecca Lobo's mother (an educator) did not consider UCONN a good enough academic school for her Daughter compared to Stanford.
Shea Ralph's mother was All-American basketball player at UNC.
DT's mother was not comfortable with her daughter leaving the state.
Tina Charles was pitched anti-UCONN very heavily by Brenda Freeze, Jeff waltz and CVS that UCONN would never emerge from the post "DT" "dark ages".
Stewie was always thought to be a Duke lean, so much so that on one of her visits to UCONN when UCONN was curb stomping Duke Geno said to Stewie they (Duke) could have really used you tonight.

Last try. What is it that you can’t get your mind around that solid choices close to home abound in 2019 compared to 1994 and 2000. Rebecca Lobo in fact picked close to home even back then. I don’t know about you, but my wife and I were social friends of Rebecca’s parents. I have a good idea of their considerations. Stewie is a Northeast kid. Tina Charles is a northeast kid.

 

[cohenzone]

DT was recruited in 2000.

Exactly. In a totally different recruiting era.

 

[donalddoowop]

Let me see if I get this right: Mikayla is playing garbage time because "Geno's trust level is shallow"?
I don't believe that! Mikayla is playing garbage time (sometimes not at all) because she has not shown the ability to impact the game in a positive manner. This is the same standard that has been applied to every player to wear a UCONN uniform while Geno has been the coach. Why should Geno make an exception for Mikayla?

Coombs has played good defense, made steals, gotten rebounds and shown excellent quickness and athleticism and given the starters a rest without hurting the team. That is impacting to me. She does not need to score. UConn has four other players on the floor who can score. Just as KLS was not expected to rebound when she first got to UConn because there were other rebounders, Coombs' job is mainly to play defense and she has done that as well as the starters.

 

[Sven23]

Rebecca Lobo's mother (an educator) did not consider UCONN a good enough academic school for her Daughter compared to Stanford.
Shea Ralph's mother was All-American basketball player at UNC.
DT's mother was not comfortable with her daughter leaving the state.
Tina Charles was pitched anti-UCONN very heavily by Brenda Freeze, Jeff waltz and CVS that UCONN would never emerge from the post "DT" "dark ages".
Stewie was always thought to be a Duke lean, so much so that on one of her visits to UCONN when UCONN was curb stomping Duke Geno said to Stewie they (Duke) could have really used you tonight.

None of those prove at all anyone other than you retroactively thought it was a waste of time. Your great proof(not proof), is essentilly anti UConn talk from other people/schools. That happens recruiting every kid. Scarolina throws anti TN stuff if they are recruiting someone, etc.... Geno making a classic Geno sarcastic comment ....LOL. Yes, and I bet Geno also said look at who has come out of UConn? I know how to develop talent. Duke sit in a zone and play no defense(something he has said publicly regarding Azura adjusting to UConn). As expected it was a laughable attempt. The only known long shot which is documented is Lobo b/c UConn had crap facilities, hadn't really done anything and Geno/Chris were not well known upstarts. 1 out of 5..that's 20%. That's a F, unless you're at a SEC school, there it's a B