All five 2020 recruits have signed, and Geno has comments.

[eebmg]

A clear and clean version for anyone who wants it for wallpaper. Click for HQ.

Nika looks quite a bit like Sue Bird (in her current incarnation) to me and Paige maybe channeling DT

 

[VaConnFan11]

My concern with a very good class of 5 would be recruiting for the next 1 and 2 years. A recruit would have to believe that playing time would be very limited barring injuries or transfers.

 

[oldude]

My concern with a very good class of 5 would be recruiting for the next 1 and 2 years. A recruit would have to believe that playing time would be very limited barring injuries or transfers.

Recruits don’t think that way and frankly they shouldn’t. As Geno has commented, “If a recruit is worried about competing for playing time they don’t belong at UConn.”

 

[Jim]

With all of the international players Geno has recruited lately (Poland, Croatia, Canada), perhaps the BY should consider switching to metric Hartley units.

 

[Teacherdeb]

Agree. IMHO starters will be Westbrook, Williams, Makurat, Walker and ONO. No matter how great, no freshman has ever started for UCONN unless forced into the role by injuries, or forced to play because literally no one else played their position (Dolson)...

Numbers won't be an issue next year on a team with 11 players...

Jen Rizzotti, yes?

 

[CocoHusky]

So just how many 5'11" guards will we have on the team next year? Is it my imagination, or will we have about ten kids all competing for the backcourt?

 

[j66kicker]

Agree. IMHO starters will be Westbrook, Williams, Makurat, Walker and ONO. No matter how great, no freshman has ever started for UCONN unless forced into the role by injuries, or forced to play because literally no one else played their position (Dolson)...

Numbers won't be an issue next year on a team with 11 players...

Christen Williams? Kia Nurse? Seems almost the rule rather than the exception..

 

[bluedevil]

Didnt Maya start right away or am I mistaken?

 

[EricLA]

Christen Williams? Kia Nurse? Seems almost the rule rather than the exception..

Who was ahead of them on the depth chart? Molly Bent? In Nurse's case it was sophomore Chong. Saniya was just not good enough then.

I guess we will see. With all the options, this time depth that's highly rated, I just don't see the freshmen starting. Fudd and/or Bueckers may prove me wrong...

 

[BostonBay]

We need to sign Fudd and get more size. Need 6'2"+ wings who can shoot and create their own shot.

 

[JordyG]

We need to sign Fudd and get more size. Need 6'2"+ wings who can shoot and create their own shot.

 

[CocoHusky]

We need to sign Fudd and get more size. Need 6'2"+ wings who can shoot and create their own shot.

When Azzi signs with UCONN there will be 5 very capable wings on the UCONN roster.

Aubrey Griffin 6'1"​

Aaliyah Edwards 6'3"​

Saylor Poffenbarger 6'2"​

Mir Mclean 5'11" & plays like 6'2"​

Anna Makurat 6'2"​

 

[Biff]

When Azzi signs with UCONN there will be 5 very capable wings on the UCONN roster.

Aubrey Griffin 6'1"​

Aaliyah Edwards 6'3"​

Saylor Poffenbarger 6'2"​

Mir Mclean 5'11" & plays like 6'2"​

Anna Makurat 6'2"​

Well Anna is only 6'1" so there goes your whole argument...

 

[CocoHusky]

Semi-serious, hypothetical, slightly related question:

Who you got?
Paith, Mir, Nika, Paige, Aaliyah ("20) & Aubrey
vs.
Evina, Megan, Anna, ONO, Christyn

 

[Geew1992]

Semi-serious, hypothetical, slightly related question:

Who you got?
Paith, Mir, Nika, Paige, Aaliyah ("20) & Aubrey
vs.
Evina, Megan, Anna, ONO, Christyn

Soooo.....they're playing 5 on 6??

 

[CocoHusky]

Soooo.....they're playing 5 on 6??

No. Basketball is 5 on 5 but when you have to divvy up a 11 man roster to be some what even...

 

[BobbyJ]

Semi-serious, hypothetical, slightly related question:

Who you got?
Paith, Mir, Nika, Paige, Aaliyah ("20) & Aubrey
vs.
Evina, Megan, Anna, ONO, Christyn

Whichever team has ONO.

 

[eebmg]

A quick article at ESPNw on the winners / losers of NLI week.

Winners and losers from national signing week

While landing Hailey Van Lith boosted Louisville's place in the class rankings, Mississippi State missed out on two top-10 prospects.

www.espn.com

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Well Anna is only 6'1" so there goes your whole argument...

Seeing her next to Geno during her home visit, I doubt she's even that.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Argonaut]

Mir is wearing personalized UConn shoes.

If that doesn't scream "I'm here for the long haul," I don't know what does.

 

[VaConnFan11]

Recruits don’t think that way and frankly they shouldn’t. As Geno has commented, “If a recruit is worried about competing for playing time they don’t belong at UConn.”

I would agree with you 20 years ago, but not now. Didn't UConn just have 2 or 3 transfer because of playing time?

You can pick your poison. Recruits come in and transfer or recruits don't come at all. Time will tell.

 

[CTBballfan243]

I would agree with you 20 years ago, but not now. Didn't UConn just have 2 or 3 transfer because of playing time?

You can pick your poison. Recruits come in and transfer or recruits don't come at all. Time will tell.

It must be exhausting being a UConn WBB fan. First you’re worried about the recruits UConn doesn’t have or get. Then when you get a nice recruiting class you’re worried about about future recruits not wanting to come to UConn because the roster is stocked with to many good players!!!! Sheesh......... Just relax an enjoy watching the team that is here now. Recruiting will take care of itself. UConn will get the kids that want to come here.

 

[j66kicker]

It must be exhausting being a UConn WBB fan. First you’re worried about the recruits UConn doesn’t have or get. Then when you get a nice recruiting class you’re worried about about future recruits not wanting to come to UConn because the roster is stocked with to many good players!!!! Sheesh......... Just relax an enjoy watching the team that is here now. Recruiting will take care of itself. UConn will get the kids that want to come here.

It is - it’s a huge responsibility we’re saddled with. Much worrying is required to remain at the top. Somebody has to do it. If not us, who?

 

[EricLA]

I would agree with you 20 years ago, but not now. Didn't UConn just have 2 or 3 transfer because of playing time?

You can pick your poison. Recruits come in and transfer or recruits don't come at all. Time will tell.

There has never been a top 10 recruit leave UCONN over playing time. NEVER. Some of the kids who left were highly rated coming out of HS, but almost to a person, there was too much talent in front of them and they felt they could get more PT elsewhere.

They were right of course. All the following players went on to have nice careers at less competitive schools:

• Kennitra Johnson to Purdue
• Michala Johnson to Wisconsin
• Brianna Banks to PSU
• Ekmark to ASU
• Edwards to USC
• Boykin to PSU
• Gordon to TTU
• Espinosa to Mississippi State (starter last year, comes off the bench this year)

There were others who left for very personal reasons (Delle Donne and Walker). Espinosa-Hunter did not follow Geno's rules after being told numerous times. Edwards was never really a good fit. The whole story about those 2 will likely never see the light of day.

My point is, as much as transfers suck, and we as fans bemoan anyone who leaves, an overwhelming majority of them just weren't getting the PT, meaning the void they leave is minimal at best. Not every player is Kyla Irwin, Molly Bent, Heather Buck, Lorin Dixon, etc. And not all of them will be as patient as Chong was in waiting till her senior season to not only start, but shine brightly.

Bottom line, the best players will play lots at UCONN. Those who put the effort in and wait their turn will also see PT (ie. Chong). The ones who aren't quite good enough will either need to wait their turn, work harder and get better to earn PT sooner, or will decide to leave.

These kids have to know who's here, who's coming, and what not, but sometimes the reality is not what they expected. Fingers crossed tho!