Aja or Turner - just for kicks

[triaddukefan]

Between the two... I voted for Wilson. Though you certainly cant go wrong with Turner.

Barring injuries and transfers.... the 2018 WNBA draft.... oh my

 

[Gate81]

when the game is on the line, who WANTS and should have the ball? Turner.

 

[Orangutan]

All these stats. But what does the eye test say? Stevens scores in "multiple" ways when aja does more of her consistent damage inside. I'm not saying Stevens is a better overall player BUT in terms of being a F/G Stevens is ahead of BOTH Turner and Wilson. And I don't need stats to remind me what I saw the past 6-8 months of the 3. My actual EYES have seen the 3 play.

I've watched all three as well, but I have a terrible memory. I like to use stats to back-up and fact-check my impressions. My impressions were that I liked Wilson better than Stevens and liked Wilson roughly equally as well as Turner, though they are playing different roles.

I have no problem with Wilson scoring mostly inside. Might as well shoot as close to the basket as possible. She can knock down the mid-range shot, which I think is what a 4 needs to be able to do to maintain good spacing. It would be different if Stevens was shooting 35%+ from outside, but she's at 28%, so I can't really count the outside shot as an asset for her.

As for Stevens being ahead of Turner "in terms of being a F/G", Turner is playing center. She's not in that competition at all. I get that Stevens is more versatile, but ND doesn't need Turner to be versatile. They need her to be a great center.

 

[CocoHusky]

when the game is on the line, who WANTS and should have the ball? Turner.

But but......... Wilson had game winning shots this year against Duke, hit a basket to pull South Carolina with one in the last 30 seconds & got a piece of Jewell's shot (rebound ended up with Cable) in FF against ND. Earlier in the tournament Wilson also hit two free throws to put South Carolina ahead of FSU in last two minutes of the game. Wilson was pretty clutch this year.

 

[UConnCat]

when the game is on the line, who WANTS and should have the ball? Turner.

You lost me with your answer. I actually think Wilson may want the ball more when the game is on the line (she does not lack for confidence or the desire to be "the one") and I think she should have the ball. I really like Brianna Turner but I think Wilson's offensive game is more polished right now. I do think Turner's game will catch up and may surpass Wilson's as I think she's a better athlete and seems to go a little harder than Wilson.

 

[triaddukefan]

I've watched all three as well, but I have a terrible memory. I like to use stats to back-up and fact-check my impressions. My impressions were that I liked Wilson better than Stevens and liked Wilson roughly equally as well as Turner, though they are playing different roles.

I have no problem with Wilson scoring mostly inside. Might as well shoot as close to the basket as possible. She can knock down the mid-range shot, which I think is what a 4 needs to be able to do to maintain good spacing. It would be different if Stevens was shooting 35%+ from outside, but she's at 28%, so I can't really count the outside shot as an asset for her.

As for Stevens being ahead of Turner "in terms of being a F/G", Turner is playing center. She's not in that competition at all. I get that Stevens is more versatile, but ND doesn't need Turner to be versatile. They need her to be a great center.

Stevens can hit the midrange shot.

 

[Orangutan]

Stevens can hit the midrange shot.

Right. I know she can. But in reference the claim that Stevens can score in more ways, I was saying that Wilson can, too.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Statistically, it's pretty close to a wash but I have to go with Turner. She seems to have more capability to take over a game against the very best teams.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

I chose Turner.

That being said GA did pursue Wilson instead of Turner in the end as far as recruiting which leads me to believe he saw some great potential in Wilson...
His track record goes without saying.

Tough choice honestly. Both are outstanding but Turner seems more athletic to me.

 

[Adesmar123]

Am I safe to assume this is about the Steel Dan album Aja vs Ike and Tine Turner?

In that case I vote for Aja..if only for the title song.

 

[Orangutan]

I chose Turner.

That being said GA did pursue Wilson instead of Turner in the end as far as recruiting which leads me to believe he saw some great potential in Wilson...
His track record goes without saying.

Tough choice honestly. Both are outstanding but Turner seems more athletic to me.

That's a little bit misleading. Turner committed in May '13 at which point Wilson didn't even have a top 10 yet. It's not like it was an either/or situation and they chose Wilson.

It was reported in Jan of '13 that UConn had stopped recruiting Turner, but near as I can tell (and I think this was the consensus at the time) they pulled away because they sensed she was a longshot. In the fall of 2012, Jim Fuller was reporting that Turner was one of UConn's top targets, so it appears that Geno was very much interested in Turner at one point.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

That's a little bit misleading. Turner committed in May '13 at which point Wilson didn't even have a top 10 yet. It's not like it was an either/or situation and they chose Wilson. It was reported in Jan of '13 that UConn had stopped recruiting Turner, but near as I can tell (and I think this was the consensus at the time) they pulled away because they sensed she was a longshot. In the fall of 2012, Jim Fuller was reporting that Turner was one of UConn's top targets, so it appears that Geno was very much interested in Turner at one point.

Noted

You did see that I chose Turner, right???

 

[Orangutan]

Noted

You did see that I chose Turner, right???

I did!

I one point did a obsessively thorough deep-dive of research on Turner's recruitment. Sorry if came off as scolding or something. I'm just fascinated by the minutiae of recruiting.

 

[calpedaler]

I thought she did a better job against Breanna then Aja did. Plus I see more upside in her. Guess I'm not the only one, but I expect it to be close.

Who knows how well Turner would have done if Stewie had been 100% the whole game.

I see Turner as a better developed defensive player and Wilson as a better developed offensive player.

 

[triaddukefan]

Im surprised at the size of the voting gap

 

[Reypl21]

This will be a good poll to have after this next season is over. I voted with Turner, but it'll be interesting seeing each of their Sophomore jumps. I believe Turner has a lot of offensive game inside of her that wasn't utilized her Freshmen year because she was asked to be a defender and rebounder. Regardless both of these players are most likely going to be All-Americans during their college careers. I'm willing to bet A'ja Wilson will be a preseason one too this year because of how much hype surrounded her throughout her Freshmen campaign.

 

[Gus Mahler]

This reminds me of Chamberlain versus Russell. To some extent it's What Do You Value? In my view being (eventually) a beast near the basket at both ends gives the nod to Turner. For all her talent, I don't see Wilson being the defender, shot blocker, and rebounder that Turner is and will be.

 

[bballnut90]

I'd choose Turner over Wilson. Wilson has stronger all around skills at this point, but Turner is a unique physical specimen. She has good touch around the basket, runs the floor better than any post in the country and is a much better defensive player than Wilson. Offensively she has a way to go, but I think she has as much untapped upside as anyone in the country. She'll get a lot more touches this year without Loyd, and she'll also be the focus of opposing teams defenses. I'm looking forward to seeing how she does.

Wilson is sort of a mystery to me. She has good size and a good frame but isn't a physical post player and doesn't have the strength to bang down low. Her jumper is better than Turner's, but it isn't a strong point in her game. She is more aggressive and assertive offensively than Turner, but when it's all said and done, I think Turner does a better job of getting it done on both ends of the court and has more room to improve.

That said, both are stud players and could easily be conference POY and 1st Team All Americans this year.

 

[uconnever]

Both seemed pretty laid back, but I think turner is and will end up being the better of the two. Right now it's basically even, but turner played better when they faced us.

 

[UcMiami]

I actually think of the three as follows from the little I have seen them play:
Wilson - C/F
Turner - F
Stevens - F/W

Of the three Stevens seems the most natural out to the three point line and Wilson has the most bulk/muscle to stand up in the post. They're all three great players but also very young. This next year should be interesting to see if one of them develops more quickly than another.

 

[triaddukefan]

I actually think of the three as follows from the little I have seen them play:
Wilson - C/F
Turner - F
Stevens - F/W

Of the three Stevens seems the most natural out to the three point line and Wilson has the most bulk/muscle to stand up in the post. They're all three great players but also very young. This next year should be interesting to see if one of them develops more quickly than another.

I was thinking yesterday.... that you could actually play all 3 together in the same line-up.... I would put Turner as the C..... Wilson as the PF.... with Stevens as the WF.

 

[CocoHusky]

I was thinking yesterday.... that you could actually play all 3 together in the same line-up.... I would put Turner as the C..... Wilson as the PF.... with Stevens as the WF.

This position thing is kind of funny because I saw Wilson and Turner in AAU and high school ball when they were both being heavily recruited and both were predominantly wing slashing type players. Stevens did not emerge until very late in the recruiting proccess and I saw her via video but the same slashing coast to coast type players. I agree with UC Wilson just based on body type will eventually be a center, Stevens will remain a stretch 4 and turner will be a close to the basket PF defined by quickness.

 

[UcMiami]

This position thing is kind of funny because I saw Wilson and Turner in AAU and high school ball when they were both being heavily recruited and both were predominantly wing slashing type players. Stevens did not emerge until very late in the recruiting proccess and I saw her via video but the same slashing coast to coast type players. I agree with UC Wilson just based on body type will eventually be a center, Stevens will remain a stretch 4 and turner will be a close to the basket PF defined by quickness.

It is a lot easier for an extremely talented HS player to play wherever she wants to - the talent disparity in most of the games is so large. Get to college, and a Turner bring the ball up against fast aggressive guards is a Turn(ov)er waiting to happen. Same goes for their wing ball handling skills, where in HS playing outside meant they weren't double/triple teamed and could shoot without any pressure - now in college, they aren't being double teamed down low, but they do have a fast aggressive guard stripping them outside - it makes the inside play a better percentage play.

 

[Go/huskies]

I would have to go with Wilson; she’s more versatile right now with a “Candace Parker” type of game. If Stevens is going to be added to the mix, then why not throw Gabby Williams in there to? Right now all four are playing more of a power forward role for their teams. And i'm sure if Wilson or Turner had picked Uconn they would have had similar role to the one Williams played this year.

 

[triaddukefan]

I apologize for throwing this thread off by suggesting Stevens

Both seemed pretty laid back, but I think turner is and will end up being the better of the two. Right now it's basically even, but turner played better when they faced us.

In my opinion, Wilson appears to be much more fiery and expressive on the court than Turner.