2020 Piath Gabriel commits to UConn [Merged Thread]

[donalddoowop]

I'd bet the farm (and my reputation - FWIW) that will not happen with Piath.

You don't have a farm.

 

[EricLA]

With the BY discussion about Piath over the last few days, I got to thinking about Steph’s recruitment. As a HS junior, Stef was outside the top 50 on Hoopgurlz. She got the “UConn bump” as a senior up to 39, but she clearly was not a sure thing. While she had some basketball skills, Stef wasn’t in great condition and her athleticism could be questioned (Geno once berated her for not being able to jump as high as a sheet of paper.). When Geno explained what he liked about Stef when he recruited her, he explained that when he watched her play in a very physical HS game, Stef got knocked to the floor several times. Each time she quickly got up and sprinted down the floor to get back into the game. Of course Stef went on to become a 2x AA & National Champion at UConn as well as a very good pro. It would be interesting to know what qualities Geno sees in Piath that convinced him to offer her a scholarship.

One additional thought. Geno and John Calipari are good friends, going all the way back to Calipari’s coaching days at UMass. I have to wonder if Geno got any input on the Gabriel family, specifically KY player Wenyen Gabriel relative to motivation, effort, athleticism, etc.

I don't disagree that Stef is a good measuring stick - she was outside the top 50, but I'm pretty sure she was close to top 10 with ASGR, BS, PN, or some other service(s). Maybe I'm wrong. I'll have to check my files.

But still, if she progresses anywhere near like Stef did, we are gonna be SUPER happy fans. Stef had footwork, soft hands, court vision and a knack for passing before she came to UCONN. Piath is a far different player with athleticism, shot blocking, and defensive prowess.

Obviously she will be coached up and I hope she grows in leaps and bounds like Stef did. Early on, Chris (I think) told Stef essentially "we are gonna need you to step it up and be more involved when on the court. That means a serious commitment to fitness and diet". Stef complied and was really solid by the end of her first year... I hope we see something similar with Piath...

 

[psconn]

Is she any good? I thought that the preoccupation of the BY was to get a "big." Who said anything about these "bigs" being any good?

I moved the goal post.

 

[donalddoowop]

Is UConn the leader in getting commitments from players with unusual names in the classes of 2020 and 2021,
such as Poffenbarger, Muhl, Mir, Piath, and maybe Fudd.

 

[CL82]

I mean Gabriel is good and all and I'm happy to have her, but when are we going to get a guard?

 

[EricLA]

BTW ESPN said she considered more than just a few schools:


StatusVerbal
Also Considered: Louisville Cardinals, LSU Lady Tigers, Boston College Eagles, North Carolina Tar Heels, Miami Hurricanes, Tennessee Lady Volunteers,

Prospects Nation has her rated #88

 

[oldude]

I mean Gabriel is good and all and I'm happy to have her, but when are we going to get a guard?

Speaking of which, the first thing Piath should start working on is the pick & roll. With all the incredible, dime-dropping passers she’ll be playing with, perfecting that one play ought to get her 5-10 easy buckets every game...

 

[UcMiami]

Big are often late to the game in terms of development - takes a while for coordination to catch up with growth spurts. And it is particularly true for kids who start life outside of basketball crazy countries. It sounds like she has made a significant impact in the last few months so with all the schools expressing interest I am pretty sure her stock will be rising in the recruit raankings and would have regardless of the Uconn offer/commitment.

Not going overboard on expectations - Geno gets quite a few players that haven't broken into the starting lineup and Piath could well be of that caliber - good but not great. Dolson certainly surprised but ...

 

[HGN]

Good questions. However both Oregon and Baylor have had no problem integrating multiple bigs. Hopefully someone will point that out to Ms. Cardoso and Ms. Berry in the interim.

Great point Jordy, my thoughts exactly. Texas , Baylor , and Oregon have all had success with multiple Bigs playing together. No reason Uconn can't .

 

[PAC-12HoopFan]

Can you say Lobo-Wolters?
Although some say Rebecca was a paltry 6' 4"

Agreed. The 6'7" Wolters paired with the 6'4" Lobo should be considered an effective integration of bigs. The fact that we have to go back to more than two decades to come up with such a special integration underscores how difficult it can be to have two on the same roster let alone to recruit two in the same recruiting class.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

This song is a dedication to Geno, CD, Shea & Jasmine AND it's an admonition to WCBB and doubting fans



Attah way to go Coach & Co.

PS. Thanks @PacoSwede for the spell check!

 

[oldude]

Agreed. The 6'7" Wolters paired with the 6'4" Lobo should be considered an effective integration of bigs. The fact that we have to go back to more than two decades to come up with such a special integration underscores how difficult it can be to have two on the same roster let alone to recruit two in the same recruiting class.

Uhm...how about the 6'5" Dolson and the 6'4" Stewie? If memory serves, they won a couple of national championships together.

 

[DaBball]

Uhm...how about the 6'5" Dolson and the 6'4" Stewie? If memory serves, they won a couple of national championships together.

Stewie doesn’t count! She was a guard, a wing, a forward, and a center all in one!

 

[veryolddog]

About time! I'd say we need at least 2 more to finish out the team. And, a couple of 6' 5" guards to go along with this. (LOL). It is looking like with the current recruits and the ones projected next year, the UConn will have a competitive program next year.

 

[MSGRET]

Finally a big after several frustrating seasons not being able to recruit one. I wonder if that means Cardoso will go else where or what impact it will have on Omari for 2021.

So your saying that ONO is NOT a big?

 

[Vowelguy]

Now a roster of 10

G
Westbrook (Sr/Jr)
CW (Jr)
Makurat (So)
Bueckers (Fr)
Muhl (Fr)

F
Walker (Sr)
ONO (Jr)
Griffin (So)
McLean (Fr)
Gabriel (Fr)

 

[Tonyc]

Well finally the BY is full of energy and optimistic. Im very happy with this commitment. Judging from the comments and other schools noticing her, shes a late bloomer and has been coming on the past season. Still Cardoso and DeBarry are ranked in the top 10 and Piath isnt....yet. I dont think her verbal will have any affect on their signings with UConn. They are the top post players in their class and that wont change. What will change is if the commit to UConn too. That will provide room for another post player and a forward/wing. We will be big and I dont see any of those bigs not getting alot of playtime. It was mentioned in another thread that Oregon had all those bigs and they were sitting. I still wonder why a big would commit to a school knowing they are sitting with other bigs??? I dont understand that one. At UConn bigs are developed and play. Most importantly developed. Dolson, McLauren and Stokes come to mind and look at their professional career. Now look at some other bigs at other colleges who started and never made it professionally????? Says alot about UConn and bigs. Well next years class is huge. Dont forget Westbrook either. She will play either this year or next. Huge class may be an understatement. Im Dreaming Big right now. Add Fudd and UConn will be invincable.

 

[Shorty Dee]

UConn Nation welcomes you, Piath Gabriel!! Piath made an excellent choice, Coach Chris "C.D." will make her a beast at center/forward. I am looking forward to 2020, and watching Piath play.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

BTW ESPN said she considered more than just a few schools:


StatusVerbal
Also Considered: Louisville Cardinals, LSU Lady Tigers, Boston College Eagles, North Carolina Tar Heels, Miami Hurricanes, Tennessee Lady Volunteers,

Prospects Nation has her rated #88

Something really doesn't add up. Seems as though the ratings services have overlooked something big: If Louisville, Tennessee, Miami and LSU were all offering, they saw something good. Very weird that someone is ranked that low, but is offered so widely by top teams, at least to a Big.

 

[Adesmar123]

Can you say Lobo-Wolters?
Although some say Rebecca was a paltry 6' 4"

6'5 is the new 6'4.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

Welcome!!!!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Something really doesn't add up. Seems as though the ratings services have overlooked something big: If Louisville, Tennessee, Miami and LSU were all offering, they saw something good. Very weird that someone is ranked that low, but is offered so widely by top teams, at least to a Big.

ESPN's rating was a 2018 that they didn't update. I suspect Geno arranged that - you know UConn is ESPN's favorite right (sarcasm). UConn casts a wide net and worked stealthily. We snatched a very good Big candidate and Geno sent a message to the offer collecting 98+ Bigs in her class. The boat has maybe one more seat and Geno is through waiting on one or two. Wanna play for UConn, then it is:

 

[RockyMTblue2]

If redundant my apologies:



Going to be a rocking First Night this year. Does anyone else want to call her Gabriel Piath?

 

[Golden Husky]

I've got four daughters. I'm pretty sure women never want to be called "big." But I think "tall" will work.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Speaking of which, the first thing Piath should start working on is the pick & roll. With all the incredible, dime-dropping passers she’ll be playing with, perfecting that one play ought to get her 5-10 easy buckets every game...

Do you think Paige (and Nika) can get the ball to Piath in her sweet spots?