Allisha Gray to South Carolina

[EricSD]

Charlie Creme ‏@CharlieCreme 36 minutes ago
Next year a UCONN-SC battle will be fun. After that it might just be a Gamecocks world with everyone else just watching.
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The best "talent" doesn't always make for the best "team." UConn WBB has plenty of both...and the best coaches. When all is said and done, I'll take the team from Storrs.

Charlie is funny. SC doesn't have the "best talent". He's forgetting that UCONN has a sick team (by class) in 2 years of:

SR: Tuck, Chong
JR: Nurse, Williams, Butler, (Ekmark)
SO: Collier, Samuelson, Boykin
FR: Dangerfield, (Irwin, Bent)

I put the kids in parenthesis who are question marks as far as how "elite" they are. But Tuck is a legit top 5 kid. Nurse is a legit top 5 kid. Williams is a legit top 10 kid. Collier and Samuelson are not only legit top 5 kids, but may be the top 3-4 in their class. Samuelson is certainly #1 and Collier might be #2, 3, or 4. Dangerfield is a legit top 5 kid in her class.

So 4 of our starters are legit top 5 in their respective classes. Aside from Wilson, SC has no one (in 2 years) who is as good as the quartet of Turk, Nurse, Collier or Samuelson. I tend to agree with Cat - ND might be the early favorite that year, but certainly UCONN will be up there as well. I'd put SC as well as everyone else a step below.

 

[triaddukefan]

And your point? Not sure if you are saying I'm being proud or haughty, or both. But if that was your point, I certainly have a comment for you...

 

[Orangutan]

I still consider ND the favorite for the 16-17 championship.

I think ND is well set up for the future, but I rate Collier and Samuelson VERY highly going back to before they committed when I coveted them for the Irish. If they're as good as I think they are, UConn won't fall off much upon Stewart's graduation.

 

[AnotherVolFan]

Now this scares me!! They will be LOADED!!! Dawn almost made it to the championship game this year....no doubt in my mind she'all be knocking on the door of a championship in the years to come!

 

[Icebear]

SC is the main reason TN won't be winning the SEC anytime soon.

 

[Orangutan]

Aside from Wilson, SC has no one (in 2 years) who is as good as the quartet of Turk, Nurse, Collier or Samuelson. I tend to agree with Cat - ND might be the early favorite that year, but certainly UCONN will be up there as well. I'd put SC as well as everyone else a step below.

I'm of the opinion that Gray and Davis are massively talented but under-coached at present. This starting line-up has immense potential, in my opinion:

PG - Cuevas
W - Davis
W - Gray
PF - Wilson
C - Coates

 

[UConnCat]

In a span of 2 years, SC is losing Ibiam, Dozier, Tiffany Mitchell, Tina Roy, Welch, Sessions, and Olivia Gaines. That's a lot of production lost and it has to be made up somewhere.

Exactly, which explains why Dawn has gone the transfer route. Without Davis and Gray, her perimeter players look to be good but not championship level players. Of course, bringing in transfers with 2 years of eligibility left means big losses in 2018 (Wilson, Gray, White, Davis, Cuevas, etc). It'll be interesting to see how she does recruiting high school players going forward.

 

[Orangutan]

And your point? Not sure if you are saying I'm being proud or haughty, or both. But if that was your point, I certainly have a comment for you...

I was going for the proud part - I just went with the full biblical quote (New International Version) for a bit of fun. Normally, I'm the last person who would quote the bible.

And UConn fans have every reason to be proud! It's just dangerous to predict the results of hypothetical games that may occur in 2017.

 

[triaddukefan]

Maybe I'm mistaken... But it seems like you're defending UNC...

Either way, I'm looking forward to "little Carolina" beating UNC on the football field and the lady Blue Devils at Colonial Life... I can easily see 17,000+ at that game. We tend to hate the ACC around here..

Actually I was sticking up for NC vs little brother to the south

I actually think the game in Charlotte (football) will be a good matchup....strength vs strength.. Offense (them) vs Defense (you guys)

I hope the Duke game down there is on a Sunday.... i know i wouldnt be able to go to a Monday night game...... a Sunday game is one that could be a possibility ... as long as I could sit with fellow Blue Devil fans. (they dont call them Lady Blue Devils )

By the way .... we tend to hate the SEC up here... so the hate is mutual

 

[EricSD]

I'm of the opinion that Gray and Davis are massively talented but under-coached at present. This starting line-up has immense potential, in my opinion:

PG - Cuevas
W - Davis
W - Gray
PF - Wilson
C - Coates

Good points - UCONN would likely counter with Nurse, Collier, Samuelson, Tuck and Butler. I forgot about Davis, and Coates is very very good. It would certainly be a good battle.

 

[SCGamecock]

2015 - Farmer, Cuevas, Duckett, Cliney, Sessions, T.Davis, Wilson, Roy, Mitchell, Dozier, White, Coates, Imovbioh, Colley.... A HUGE roster, that'll lose 5 players (4 Guards, 1 post)

2016 - Farmer, Cuevas, Duckett, Cliney, T. Davis, Wilson, White, Coates, Colley, K.Davis, Gray... Manageable roster, doesn't include any possible 2016 commits.. Lots of upperclassmen (1 soph, 7 juniors, 3 seniors)

Dawn will need a big classes in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to maintain a decent roster... She can get by with 2 or so recruits in 2016 but she needs to go BIG after that. In 2018 she basically loses her entire current roster.

 

[connboy77]

With all of that talent around her (Gray, Davis, Wilson and Coates) she simply just has to distribute the ball... and if she's not capable then we also have Colley who will be a 20 year old frosh with tons of international experience as a PG. We'll be okay at PG I think..

What makes you think that Colley won't reopen her recruitment? Could anyone blame her if she did?

 

[SCGamecock]

What makes you think that Colley won't reopen her recruitment? Could anyone blame her if she did?

Anything is possible.. As we're learning this off season, players transfer for a myriad of reasons. She only has one PG ahead of her, it's not like SC is drowning in point guards (if that's what your insinuating).. If she's afraid of competing with 1 other player then maybe it's best she leaves. Just like Colley could leave before then, it's also likely SC would've brought in another PG behind her..

 

[Wonkster]

SC is the main reason TN won't be winning the SEC anytime soon.

I sure hope so. The more times I see bewildered faces on the Vols' bench each season the better.

 

[Orangutan]

What makes you think that Colley won't reopen her recruitment? Could anyone blame her if she did?

For starters, she signed a letter of intent...

 

[Sonny44]

Tweet from David Clonniger South Carolina Beat Reporter

Quite a day for Dawn Staley. New contract, and her third ACC transfer -- North Carolina's Allisha Gray is coming to Columbia.


South Carolina is now loaded for the Future. Presuming no transfers from South Carolina have to consider them the favorites for National Championship in 2016/2017 Season.

I wouldn't worry too much about. They've done nothing on the big stage yet.

 

[j66kicker]

Well, I think UConn is the clear preseason favorite in 2015-16. I do see the 2016-17 Husky rotation as being nasty: Tuck, Nurse, Butler, Collier Samuelson, Boykin, Williams, Ekmark, Chong, Dangerfield, Irwin, Bent. That's a very deep and stout squad.

A lot will come down to how much UConn's kids progress over the next 17 months versus ND's. I'm especially interested to see what Turner and Muffet's excellent 2015 recruiting class do...

I'm glad for the real competition. UCONN is starting with a core of thoroughbreds, plus we usually develop them better than anyone else. So I'm thinking we'll be OK. But it will be nice to have some serious competition and get some competitive games for a change.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I think ND is well set up for the future, but I rate Collier and Samuelson VERY highly going back to before they committed when I coveted them for the Irish. If they're as good as I think they are, UConn won't fall off much upon Stewart's graduation.

I agree with this. The most important x-factor is Crystal Dangerfield. I think she's going to be terrific. The question is how quickly does that happen. If it's immediately, UConn could still be atop the group of loaded teams next year. If not, it'll be more of a crapshoot.

 

[cbraarj]

South Carolina is potentially terrifying in 15-16 if Staley can make all the pieces fit together properly.

Prediction Connecticut by 20 in South Carolina this year!It will be like going to play Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium!

 

[Carnac]

Like Nationwide says in their commercials .... "sometimes life comes at you fast"

Once a kid decides to transfer, they are already 90% sure where they want to go. They perform their "due diligence" before they make their announcement.

 

[Carnac]

Like Nationwide says in their commercials .... "sometimes life comes at you fast"

Once a kid decides to transfer, they are already 90% sure where they want to go. They perform their "due diligence" before they make their announcement.

Tweet from David Clonniger South Carolina Beat Reporter

Quite a day for Dawn Staley. New contract, and her third ACC transfer -- North Carolina's Allisha Gray is coming to Columbia.


South Carolina is now loaded for the Future. Presuming no transfers from South Carolina have to consider them the favorites for National Championship in 2016/2017 Season.

What a great year for Dawn and her program. She's not even fishing, and they're jumping into the boat anyway. When was the last time you saw anything like this?

 

[jsloanjr]

As long as Geno is coaching UCONN, this team will be doing just fine...........

 

[Gate81]

what if Mavunga goes to Notre Dame which is near home? SC out of scholarships, plz say she won't fall for the Duke line (since they now need ABG anyone but guards), and Hatchell probably won't let her go to TN who would love to have her join DD and Russell.

 

[Tonyc]

UConn is beating top teams by 20+ pts. So Stewie and MoJeff graduate and Lou and Collier come in with Butler. So you tell me how an opponent can make up those 20+ pts against UConns defense when UConn is adding the above 3? First of all those teams will be coaching and playing against Geno . Geno has the better talent and by far the better team a team that plays and functions as a team. Folks I know your excited but chances are you not beating UConn.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

what if Mavunga goes to Notre Dame which is near home? SC out of scholarships, plz say she won't fall for the Duke line (since they now need ABG anyone but guards), and Hatchell probably won't let her go to TN who would love to have her join DD and Russell.

Both ND and Louisville are in the ACC. It's unlikely she is allowed to go to another ACC school.

 

[triaddukefan]

Both ND and Louisville are in the ACC. It's unlikely she is allowed to go to another ACC school.

I dont get why some posters think that Mavunga would end up at either of those two schools. I guess they must think they are still in the Big East

 

[johnnyc]

It's just dangerous to predict the results of hypothetical games that may occur in 2017.

What's dangerous about it?

 

[HuskyFan1125]

I dont get why some posters think that Mavunga would end up at either of those two schools. I guess they must think they are still in the Big East

Just not used to those two being in the ACC I guess

 

[kat0189]

I forgot about Louisville being in the ACC, lol. And it seems reasonable that Hatchell does not let Mavunga transfer within the conference. However, I think it would be tricky to justify preventing her from going to Tennessee. And, recall that Stephanie Mavunga and Mercedes Russell were very good friends. For some reason, I want to say they even knew each other when they were younger, before the USA basketball connection, despite one hailing from Oregon and the other from Indiana. It's been a while since they were first recruited out of HS so I'm hazy on the details but I do recall some ink on their friendship.

Anyhoo, I haven't read this thread too closely in its entirety, and I did see one of the press releases mention Alicia Gray will sit out 15-16, but are we sure she won't be able to play right away given the controversy at UNC (as was speculated elsewhere)? If Gray plays right away that sure makes next season a whole lot more interesting. They still have Mitchell for next season, but otherwise it seems logical that a South Carolina natty will come post-Brenna Stewart/MoJeff.

That said, nothing is set in stone. My remaining questions would be if little Cuevas can run the team as PG. (I could see her being their "Shannon Bobbit," but I could also see her being inconsistent and limited by her size). Furthermore, Coates is a thoroughbred, but only 2 more years of her. Will Jatarie White develop into a legit successor to Coates, as all the HS accolades indicate she should? Jury is still out on her based on year #1, due to injuries IIRC.

 

[UConnCat]

Anyhoo, I haven't read this thread too closely in its entirety, and I did see one of the press releases mention Alicia Gray will sit out 15-16, but are we sure she won't be able to play right away given the controversy at UNC (as was speculated elsewhere)? If Gray plays right away that sure makes next season a whole lot more interesting. They still have Mitchell for next season, but otherwise it seems logical that a South Carolina natty will come post-Brenna Stewart/MoJeff.

I suppose the players could seek a waiver from the NCAA which would likely be ruled upon before the NCAA is even close to ruling on the overall investigation in to UNC's alleged rules violations. Typically, transfers are granted waivers by the NCAA as part of a ruling that includes a post-season ban for a program. A waiver request now could not be granted on those grounds since the NCAA is not even close to a final decision on UNC's alleged violations. So, I'm not sure what the grounds would be at this point for seeking a waiver. Gray mentioned concern over the stigma now attached to a UNC degree. Might the NCAA consider that sufficient grounds? I doubt it.

The NCAA has a history of moving slowly on investigations like this so it could be sometime in 2016 before a final ruling is issued.