April 2021 Recruiting Thread

[CBus13]

Does anyone know what others schools interested in KK Branford?

 

[sweetspot]

She did a video interview last year where she talked about how deeply important her faith is. I imagine most programs advertise that kind of atmosphere (or tolerance), but I left wondering if that might give Notre Dame an advantage. I know they just brought in Miles, but Bransford seems like she could be an elite combo guard too.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

4/11

Isuneh Brady: 9 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists

 

[CTisballers]

If Aubrey and Mir don't become basketball players instead of being just really athletic then they won't get much time next year.

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

 

[DEpup]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

Yeah if she wants to come off the bench her whole career that qpuld be fine. If she wants to compete for stsrting and get over 20 minutes a game then she needs to expand her game. It's up to her.

 

[Dogstar]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

Some folks fail to understand this.

 

[Dogstar]

Yeah if she wants to come off the bench her whole career that qpuld be fine. If she wants to compete for stsrting and get over 20 minutes a game then she needs to expand her game. It's up to her.

Imho...defense wins games, offense determines the MOV.

 

[BRS24]

Any thoughts on whether UConn is done recruiting for 2022-23? With all 4 seniors (DJ, ONO, EW, CW) eligible to come back for another year, will the coaches slow the process until it becomes clearer a year from now? IMHO, I would think they would all declare for the draft.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Any thoughts on whether UConn is done recruiting for 2022-23? With all 4 seniors (DJ, ONO, EW, CW) eligible to come back for another year, will the coaches slow the process until it becomes clearer a year from now? IMHO, I would think they would all declare for the draft.

Someone here claimed Juhasz said she planned on using both her eligible years. I'd be shocked if any of the other three play beyond this coming season.

 

[CocoHusky]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

Aubrey is a world class athlete but unfortunately this is true- she needs to become a better offensive player to warrant more minutes because this program requires it. The following is a list of recent UCONN players that had this same challenge of being world class defenders and had to learn to contribute more of the offensive end to warrant more minutes: Kelly Faris, Moriah Jefferson, Kiah Stokes, & Mikayla Coombs. Conversely these players had to learn to become better defenders KLS, KML and Azura. UCONN is one of the few programs out there were you don't get to specialize.

 

[pvdoggy]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

Sure, if they don't want to go to the next level.

 

[CocoHusky]

Any thoughts on whether UConn is done recruiting for 2022-23? With all 4 seniors (DJ, ONO, EW, CW) eligible to come back for another year, will the coaches slow the process until it becomes clearer a year from now? IMHO, I would think they would all declare for the draft.

I don't see any impact to UCONN recruiting as a result of extra year of eligibility ONO, EW & CW or the transfer in of Dorka. Give it a couple weeks before you revise the roster things will be much clearer.

 

[UcMiami]

Aubrey is a world class athlete but unfortunately this is true- she needs to become a better offensive player to warrant more minutes because this program requires it. The following is a list of recent UCONN players that had this same challenge of being world class defenders and had to learn to contribute more of the offensive end to warrant more minutes: Kelly Faris, Moriah Jefferson, Kiah Stokes, & Mikayla Coombs. Conversely these players had to learn to become better defenders KLS, KML and Azura. UCONN is one of the few programs out there were you don't get to specialize.

While I like the idea and agree with the concept, I don't think it actually applies specifically to the players mentioned. Moriah was the next PG when she committed, and what she really needed to learn as a freshman was how to use her skills, specifically her speed within the team and not outrun them. Kelly and KLS started as freshman, and KML was used as the designated spot up shooter (as was KLS) as a freshman and worked into a more complete role as the team built around her. Kiah never developed as a significant offense threat, nor did Kelly. And I don't think Coombs spent enough time in the program to determine what she was lacking - it just wasn't a good fit - same for AEH.

Geno generally tries to find a simple role for freshman and then expands their roles as they progress. With the best players he pushes them harder to expand their comfort zone, with more limited players he helps them find their level.

 

[BRS24]

I don't see any impact to UCONN recruiting as a result of extra year of eligibility ONO, EW & CW or the transfer in of Dorka. Give it a couple weeks before you revise the roster things will be much clearer.

Agree. I've done a "draft" update to show each year with and without the one time covid eligibility rule.

 

[UcMiami]

I also think Geno will have very serious end of season conversations with 4th year players about where their future lies as far as an extra year of eligibility. I think many college coaches will be having the same conversations with their own 4th year players. And I do not see this as a negative if a coach says 'sorry, I just don't have a place for you next year' - I think the 'contract' coaches have implied in the recruiting process is satisfied after 4 years of playing.'

The number of grad transfers has already exploded this year, and I think it will remain very high until this year's freshman have all graduated and either used a fifth year or moved on to other pursuits.

 

[CocoHusky]

While I like the idea and agree with the concept, I don't think it actually applies specifically to the players mentioned. Moriah was the next PG when she committed, and what she really needed to learn as a freshman was how to use her skills, specifically her speed within the team and not outrun them. Kelly and KLS started as freshman, and KML was used as the designated spot up shooter (as was KLS) as a freshman and worked into a more complete role as the team built around her. Kiah never developed as a significant offense threat, nor did Kelly. And I don't think Coombs spent enough time in the program to determine what she was lacking - it just wasn't a good fit - same for AEH.

Geno generally tries to find a simple role for freshman and then expands their roles as they progress. With the best players he pushes them harder to expand their comfort zone, with more limited players he helps them find their level.

Great points with which I mostly agree. Here is where I slightly disagree; Coombs was actually at UCONN for two full seasons and during those two season UCONN "desperately" need a third guard to be part of the rotation. Coombs was given many opportunities to be that third guard and she failed offensively really bad. AEH was barely there for a semester. Freshman Jefferson was not destined to be the PG of the future, for starters Bria Hartley was an AA "guard" and fully capable of running the point. Second Saniya Chong , an extremely gifted offensive player arrived at the the start of Jefferson's sophomore year. I can still remember the spirited thread that were advocating that Saniya should be starting and it was a matter of time before she pushed Jefferson aside. Moriah put a stop to all that over Chrismas break by getting in the Gym specifically to become a 3 point threat. Moriah definitely improved the rest of her game over those last 2.5 years but more than any improvement was the 3 ball that made those team almost unstoppable. Moriah career 3PT FG% =42% : KML career 3PT FG% =45% . And just to put that into context Moriah was shooting 26% prior to that Christmas break of her Sophomore year.

 

[HopJim]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

If you want a defensive specialist, let's find a shut down guard who can match up with the growing list of small but exceptionally fast and quick players who had their way with UConn this year. Muhl brings energy but she is not a shut down guard in these situations - no one on UConn is.

 

[UcMiami]

Great points with which I mostly agree. Here is where I slightly disagree; Coombs was actually at UCONN for two full seasons and during those two season UCONN "desperately" need a third guard to be part of the rotation. Coombs was given many opportunities to be that third guard and she failed offensively really bad. AEH was barely there for a semester. Freshman Jefferson was not destined to be the PG of the future, for starters Bria Hartley was an AA "guard" and fully capable of running the point. Second Saniya Chong , an extremely gifted offensive player arrived at the the start of Jefferson's sophomore year. I can still remember the spirited thread that were advocating that Saniya should be starting and it was a matter of time before she pushed Jefferson aside. Moriah put a stop to all that over Chrismas break by getting in the Gym specifically to become a 3 point threat. Moriah definitely improved the rest of her game over those last 2.5 years but more than any improvement was the 3 ball that made those team almost unstoppable. Moriah career 3PT FG% =42% : KML career 3PT FG% =45% . And just to put that into context Moriah was shooting 26% prior to that Christmas break of her Sophomore year.

Thanks - had forgotten about Coombs being here two years, and didn't remember more than thinking she just wasn't getting the system at either end of the floor. I think the fact Geno was sticking with Moriah through the first month of her sophomore year was a clear indication he was fixed on her, because her shooting was dreadful, but her gym time was actually the summer before where she was doing two or three 4 hour sessions every day. (She had a slow start as a junior as well.) And she still holds the second highest 3 Pt % season behind Sue at Uconn - and probably the highest Jan/Feb career 3% as she seemed unable to miss in those months. Paige gave her a run this year.

 

[CTisballers]

Yeah if she wants to come off the bench her whole career that qpuld be fine. If she wants to compete for stsrting and get over 20 minutes a game then she needs to expand her game. It's up to her.

With the talent Uconn is getting she will never be a starter. Which isn’t a bad thing. She can still play on the WNBA as a player coming off the bench

 

[BobbyJ]

This kid’s growing on me.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

With the U16 trials beginning next month I've nailed down 19 of the 20 invitees. There will be only 30 total players trying out due to Covid restrictions.

Known UConn POI bolded:

Delaney Thomas
Madison Booker
Zoe Brooks
Riley Stack
Olivia Anderson
Aubrey Shaw
Mary Ashley Groot
Chloe Spreen
KK Arnold?
Jada Williams
Judea Watkins
Jayden Donovan
Tatum Greene
Milaysia Fulwiley
Corey Allen
Kendall Dudley
Breya Cunningham
Kennedy Ume
Taliyah Parker

 

[oldhusky]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

I think Aubrey and Mir are misunderstood as weak offensive players, or needing to develop their outside game at the SF position to get meaning-full playing time. I disagree with both of those assessments.

Yes they may not be good shooters, and are a little out of place in the structured offense, but both make significant offensive contributions, they just do it in other ways. Both for example score at not a little better, but a way better rate than someone like Anna who is clearly at another level from them as a shooter. Both score at a rate as good or better than the average college player, and more in Aubrey's case at a more efficient rate as well.

Those may be relatively easy put backs off offensive rebounds, but the ability to get offensive rebounds and then some easy shots as a result of getting an extra opportunity is very much part of the offense. You can have one player that doesn't really factor in the offensive flow when you have plenty of other options that do, think Chicago Bulls with Dennis Rodman.

Having said that, as for playing time their best chance is by performing very well as an undersized backup PF, that is what they are on this team. To their fans that is not a very encouraging diagnosis, but it is what it is. I think Aubrey will get regular but limited minutes as Aaliyah's backup. Even then she will face some potential competition from Dorka and Amari if we go very big at the 4. So she may not even get close to all the backup minutes there. Mir unfortunately is one further step away in the potential rotation. She needs to move ahead of one of the players already mentioned, a very high hurdle indeed.

If we had nothing on the wing, maybe Aubrey or Mir could do well enough away from their natural position to get time there, but clearly that is not the case. The argument for who gets minutes from Paige, Azzi, Christyn, Evina, Nika, Carolyn, and Saylor is just as intense. And those players can handle the ball and shoot the three at least at a passable level.

Now if Geno does open up to pressing a great deal, Aubrey and Mir could get some burn in that scenario and I could see both used on a defensive unit at the end of a quarter, or if the opponent has the ball for the last shot. In that case Aubrey or Mir might be put on the other teams SF or SG for example.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Ashlynn Shade posting up a taller defender and shooting a fadeaway over her last weekend.