Amari DeBerry says she ‘can’t show up to UConn unprepared’ after delayed senior season

[chrissaran]

Well, that’s the real question, isn’t it? There have been players here for years that never really got the UConn way of playing.

That's why they transfer. Nobody likes sitting on the bench.

 

[HuskyNan]

That's why they transfer. Nobody likes sitting on the bench.

There have been some that graduated that didn’t “get it”. Charde, for example

 

[cohenzone]

Understanding how raw she is, Gabriel is. still on the team and seems pretty athletic. Might be interesting if she improves enough to be added to the mix. That’s probably one player too deep for GA’s usual system.

 

[CocoHusky]

You are correct as usual. I lumped two thoughts into the same sentence. As far as I can find she has indeed only played with Saylor (and won gold) on the USA Americas team. I have seen photos of her with some of the other recruits in several locations including attending a UConn game. I also was not comparing that experiencee to playing on the Canadian National team which was not just against age group players so of course would have even greater impact. This doesn't lessen the point that playing for a national team is an experience that gives those participating in it an edge over other recruits who did not have the chance to have that option.

Absolutely, just being invited to participate in a USA basketball age group try outs gives a player a tremendous advantage over other recruits. The three most significant advantages are: 1) Level of competition is unmatched. 2) Level of coaching is top notch 3) Experience international competition.
Although some have not made the age group teams (Aubrey and Caroline ) I can hardly think of an American UCONN recruit or POI that was not a USA Basketball invitee.

 

[Alydar]

Understanding how raw she is, Gabriel is. still on the team and seems pretty athletic. Might be interesting if she improves enough to be added to the mix. That’s probably one player too deep for GA’s usual system.

She's the forgotten potential. Universally dismissed and admittedly a long shot but the kind of long shot I like to bet on. Geno doesn't hand out charity scholarships.

 

[BostonBay]

She needs to work on her post moves inside. Be efficient around the basket. If she relies on being a "perimeter" center, she might follow the same fate as ONO.

 

[Zinethar]

Some like to question posts like this. It is off season and most of us are looking for ways to keep our passion going. Just something to do. I expect Geno to use everyone in the early games (except when the big top 10 games occur)Once her is satisfied he knows what each can do we will see some specialists in certain game scenarios. However once it becomes February the actual tournament rotation will start to take shape and those players will get the lions share of the minutes to be tournament fit. It happened this year and will again. Only sure starters I will bet money on is the seniors on senior night.

 

[cferraro04]

If DeBerry brings toughness and finishes 2 footers, she will take some of ONOs minutes, as those are her biggest weaknesses and the only real weakness on the team next year, really

Here is the thing, even though UConn may not have a true 5 and our players can play multiple position...when UConn is incredible 1 through 4...then teams cannot double and triple on the 5. Our centers for the most part will be operating one on one. If our center can pull their defender out to the foul line and hit the foul line jumper...the middle is going to be wide open for drives and back door cuts... UConn will feast in the middle next year and any weakness or semblance of a weakness will be easily covered up by the plethora of talent in all the other positions on the floor.

 

[DEpup]

I think Amari will actually benefit from Liv moving to a high post role. Amari comes in already with more skills than Liv did to play that type of post role so she could be a ready made back up to Liv and maintain offense continuity. We'll see what she does in practice.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Yet another thread with Liv bashing....

 

[oldhusky]

Amari will face a very steep learning curve her first year. Any probable comparison to AE's freshman year is way off base. Two different type players, AE is/was way ahead as far as aggressiveness and physically being ready upon arrival.

Think this is true, particularly for a skilled 6-5 big. As a backup to Liv she probably would be good even in her freshmen year, with much to learn. With Dorka she doesn't have to ready in the very beginning.

It is very hard for me to judge how good a player Amari's size will be based on limited video. Usually with most bigs you see the kind of rebounds, blocked shots and inside baskets that you expect from someone with a big size advantage. It is too easy for them, it is only in those rare games when they go against another top big prospect that you can make more of a judgement. Amari will gain more experience going against Liv, Dorka, Aaliyah and Piath in a month of practice than she obtained in her entire high school career.

Dorka might have more or less ability than Amari, and who knows which player will be the best down the road, but Dorka starts with a huge advantage in experience this year. We are in good shape either way. Remember last year we didn't really play a backup C and that was with our starter only playing 25 minutes a game.

We had Piath but were not ready to use her in the rotation. Instead we had a three player rotation with Liv, Aaliyah and Aubrey, where Liv just played the 5, Aubrey the 4, and Aaliyah splitting time between both. Adding two more players that can play the 5 allows Aaliyah to concentrate on being a 4, her best position.

 

[DEpup]

I think Amari will be good enough as a freshman to do a few minutes in the second quarter if Liv gets a foul or 2 and you don't want to risk another. And I think she can be good around the latter part of the 3rd into the 4th for Liv when Liv hits her 20 or so minute mark. Then Piath comes in for Amari the last 4 minutes of the 4th. I think we can expect Piath to go from playing 2 min a game to around 4-5 min in typical BE games.

Again, my thoughts are based on typical BE games. In top 25 matchups, Piath gets no minutes and Amari gets a couple. I think Liv, Aaliyah, Aubrey, and Dorka will get all PF/C substantial minutes in a top 25 match up.

I really think we should start discussing any minute distribution conversation in a 2 track mode between typical BE and top 25 matchups because the minute distribution will be drastically different.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Is there anyone in the pro leagues still shooting hook shots? I haven't noticed one in the games I've watched. Kareem certainly had a good one but it appears to me to be a lost art. Must be a reason for that.

The old fashion sweeping hook has been replaced by the jump hook which has a faster release and is more accurate.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Adding two more players that can play the 5 allows Aaliyah to concentrate on being a 4, her best position.

Both Dorka and Amari can play either 4 or 5. We will have a very versatile group of 4 that can play the 5 and 3 of them the 4. I can imagine a scenario where whoever has the other teams best defensive rebounder will slide out to be the offensive 4 or the high post passer. That will make more offensive rebounds available for the other post.

 

[chrissaran]

Charde was a great athlete, but she never fulfilled her potential.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

New video someone put together on DeBerry. Highlights will show she is quite skilled but not to be confused with Kalani Brown. Also a Jasmine Lister cameo.

 

[Drew8]

She has some of the prettiest post moves I have seen.

 

[Jibariqua]

Unless in the article she's talking about the U17 trials in 2018. Both Amari and Caroline were there and neither made the final (star studded) team.

She was on a 3x3 team for the U18 USA National Championships with Azzi, Ayana Patterson, & KK Bransford.