After overcoming a host of injuries early in high school, UConn 2021 commit, Mass. product Caroline Ducharme fulfills dream of becoming a Husky

[RoadWarrior]

Good Courant Article adding additional color to Caroline Ducharme's recruitment process at UCONN. Thought it deserved a separate thread:

Alex Gallagher, Ducharme’s coach at Noble and Greenough school, describes Ducharme as “athletically and instinctively a really rare breed" that “has an edge to her, a fire that is really intense and affects her teammates in a very positive and competitive way.” He sees Ducharme’s competitive nature and drive as a natural fit with Auriemma’s coaching style.

After overcoming a host of injuries early in high school, UConn 2021 commit, Mass. product Caroline Ducharme fulfills dream of becoming a Husky

Every little girl growing up in New England that plays basketball is a UConn fan and dreams of becoming a Husky, Caroline Ducharme says — her younger self included. The Milton, Mass., native …

www.courant.com

 

[eebmg]

Alot of newbie lifelong huskies coming.

Geno will need to be at his best to get them singing the same song

 

[eebmg]

Caroline has lots of interesting layers.

Perhaps most impressively, Gallagher brought Ducharme on as an assistant coach during her sophomore year, where alongside the rest of the coaching staff she broke down film and worked on scouts. The coach says that the experience elevated her basketball IQ to a whole new level and that she carried it over into her junior campaign, where she continued to have a voice in game preparation.

and she wants to earn the time

“She’ll be determined to get there and earn time. But she’ll earn it,” Gallagher said. “She expects none, she knows that she’s got to earn it and she’s got to earn it by really working her butt off and doing everything she can to be prepared for Coach Auriemma and his staff. And there’s no doubt in my mind she’ll work tirelessly to arrive on campus ready to give them everything she’s got and as prepared as she possibly can.”

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Don't subscribe to Courant. What injuries did she suffer?

 

[eebmg]

Don't subscribe to Courant. What injuries did she suffer?

Specific quotes

Ducharme’s commitment has been all the more meaningful for her given the setbacks she faced early on in high school. She tore her ACL going into her freshman year before tearing her shoulder labrum and missing her sophomore season.

Intent on not letting the time off the court go to waste, Ducharme focused on improving as a shooter while recovering from the knee injury and then worked on getting bigger, stronger and more agile as her shoulder healed. All that adversity gave her a bit of a chip on her shoulder, she says, of wanting to prove people wrong and get back to where she was before.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Why Noble & Greenough’s Caroline Ducharme committed to UConn for 2021 - The Boston Globe

Junior guard from Milton, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 24.8 points, 14 rebounds and 6.0 assists at Nobles.

www.bostonglobe.com

"The junior guard from Milton averaged 24.8 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists for the NEPSAC Class AA champions."

Caroline Ducharme, a top-50 guard in Class of 2021, commits to UConn

The UConn women’s basketball team landed another coveted recruit in Massachusetts guard...

www.ctpost.com

Yeah, ESPN has Caroline ranked incorrectly. These programs certainly see her as a highly ranked player. "Ducharme held offers from several other top programs, including Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Maryland, Tennessee and Michigan, and planned to make another round of visits after the Final Four."

Journal Inquirer

The latest news from Manchester, Connecticut, as well as coverage of Enfield, Vernon, South Windsor, East Hartford and beyond.

www.journalinquirer.com

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Specific quotes

Ducharme’s commitment has been all the more meaningful for her given the setbacks she faced early on in high school. She tore her ACL going into her freshman year before tearing her shoulder labrum and missing her sophomore season.

Intent on not letting the time off the court go to waste, Ducharme focused on improving as a shooter while recovering from the knee injury and then worked on getting bigger, stronger and more agile as her shoulder healed. All that adversity gave her a bit of a chip on her shoulder, she says, of wanting to prove people wrong and get back to where she was before.

Those are horrible injuries. I really hope she goes injury-free for the remainder of her career. The long-term effects of an ACL tear can be devastating. Shea Ralph, having torn her ACL (what?- twice?) counsels other players about what to expect and how to cope with the pain.

Didn't Tina tear her shoulder labrum and have surgery?

Really tough injuries.

 

[JordyG]

Don't subscribe to Courant. What injuries did she suffer?

I don't either. I just read the article(s) through my browser. When I get the message that I've reached my free article limit, I just change browsers.

 

[eebmg]

Those are horrible injuries. I really hope she goes injury-free for the remainder of her career. The long-term effects of an ACL tear can be devastating. Shea Ralph, having torn her ACL (what?- twice?) counsels other players about what to expect and how to cope with the pain.

Didn't Tina tear her shoulder labrum and have surgery?

Really tough injuries.

I read somewhere that Caroline is very mature about her body and is very conscientious about her off court regimen.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Great story! Lots of interesting info.

I particularly like the story about Caroline being an assistant coach as a sophomore. It reminds me of Sue Bird watching from the bench while hurt as a freshman at UConn. She absorbed everything that Geno taught.

I also like Caroline Ducharme's versatility and what Saylor has to say about her. Saylor is the most versatile player I've seen since Maya. Caroline seems pretty close.

On a different topic, it's interesting that both of Caroline's parents attended Williams College (in the Little 3), her sister plays at Brown, and she looked at Stanford. She is passing up an Ivy-level education for UConn. That makes me wonder about Kiki Rice, the freshman who was the Gatorade POY in D.C. in BOTH soccer and basketball. Both of Kiki's parents went to Yale, so I was thinking Princeton or Stanford would appeal to her. But Professor Auriemma is a Hall of Famer and will make a great sales pitch.

 

[Deuce]

Those are horrible injuries. I really hope she goes injury-free for the remainder of her career. The long-term effects of an ACL tear can be devastating. Shea Ralph, having torn her ACL (what?- twice?) counsels other players about what to expect and how to cope with the pain.

Didn't Tina tear her shoulder labrum and have surgery?

Really tough injuries.

It’s 2020 ACL injuries aren’t what they used to be (ie in Shea’s day where I think she had 3)

 

[uconnfan68]

Specific quotes

Ducharme’s commitment has been all the more meaningful for her given the setbacks she faced early on in high school. She tore her ACL going into her freshman year before tearing her shoulder labrum and missing her sophomore season.

Intent on not letting the time off the court go to waste, Ducharme focused on improving as a shooter while recovering from the knee injury and then worked on getting bigger, stronger and more agile as her shoulder healed. All that adversity gave her a bit of a chip on her shoulder, she says, of wanting to prove people wrong and get back to where she was before.

Instantly a favorite.

 

[uconnfan68]

I read somewhere that Caroline is very mature about her body and is very conscientious about her off court regimen.

Not playing with any braces...