April 2021 Recruiting Thread | Page 10 | The Boneyard

April 2021 Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
DEpup said:
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.
Expand ...
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
 
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
 
CTisballers said:
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
Expand ...
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.
 
UcMiami said:
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.
Expand ...
You're mostly right, but wrong about Coombs. Her shot was, and still is broken, and it was notable from the moment she stepped onto the court.
 
.-.
CocoHusky said:
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.
Expand ...

Kiah Stokes averaged 4.5 points as a Junior and a Senior. Stokes offered almost nothing offensively other than rebounding and put backs. She was a key contributor due to her defense. Faris averaged 6.7 points, shooting 43% as a Junior playing 29 minutes a game. Griffin averages 6.2 points on 52% shooting.

Obviously we're way oversimplifying here but Griffin can absolutely be a high level contributor as a defensive and rebounding specialist if you want to call her that. It's baffling to me so many on this board are extoling the virtues of Muhl's intangible offensive contributions but thinks Griffin can't play basketball. Griffin is a much more dynamic defender for multiple positions and is actually a better fit with 3 offensive stars in Azzi, Paige and Williams than Muhl would be playing along side them.
 
visitor123 said:
Kiah Stokes averaged 4.5 points as a Junior and a Senior. Stokes offered almost nothing offensively other than rebounding and put backs. She was a key contributor due to her defense. Faris averaged 6.7 points, shooting 43% as a Junior playing 29 minutes a game. Griffin averages 6.2 points on 52% shooting.

Obviously we're way oversimplifying here but Griffin can absolutely be a high level contributor as a defensive and rebounding specialist if you want to call her that. It's baffling to me so many on this board are extoling the virtues of Muhl's intangible offensive contributions but thinks Griffin can't play basketball. Griffin is a much more dynamic defender for multiple positions and is actually a better fit with 3 offensive stars in Azzi, Paige and Williams than Muhl would be playing along side them.
Expand ...

One big difference is that final team Stokes was on was only about 6 deep. Harder to fit Griffin into a team that's about 10 deep.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
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
Expand ...


Taliah Scott appears to be the 20th invitee.
 
.-.
connboy77 said:
If there are no transfers and Westbrook coming back, and the possibility of signing a guard in the 2022 class, if my math is correct UCONN doesn't have any room to sign anyone else!
Expand ...
It’s the new math.
 
connboy77 said:
If there are no transfers and Westbrook coming back, and the possibility of signing a guard in the 2022 class, if my math is correct UCONN doesn't have any room to sign anyone else!
Expand ...
First that isn't really a problem. After getting Brady and Patterson I suspect the strategy is try for one from Rice and Bransford and call it a day. If we get one of those, we don't need the other. If Rice committed you might have to pull the offer to Bransford and visa versa. Then the other possibility is both go elsewhere. In that case there might still be a couple of more marginal prospects left, but rather than fill that last spot with someone who is unlikely to make a difference, I would leave it open.

The way the transfer portal has been going, I would probably rather have one spot to fill that way (only if needed) than a recruit rated outside of the top 20 or so. With so much turnover the strategy might be load up on all 15 assuming there will be attrition, and when that happens you can target the specific need in the transfer portal.
 
CTisballers said:
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
Expand ...

I understand your point but would add - if UConn has a significant improvement in outside shooting and scoring, by nature, wouldn't the need for the specialists that only rebound and shot block decrease? There were many quarters last season where the shooting went south and Geno put AG in. She helped to minimize the scoring from the opponent but didn't help much with offense efficiency. If better shooters are on the court more often, this need becomes much less of a necessity.
 
Calbysdad said:
I understand your point but would add - if UConn has a significant improvement in outside shooting and scoring, by nature, wouldn't the need for the specialists that only rebound and shot block decrease? There were many quarters last season where the shooting went south and Geno put AG in. She helped to minimize the scoring from the opponent but didn't help much with offense efficiency. If better shooters are on the court more often, this need becomes much less of a necessity.
Expand ...
You can rely on defense a lot more than offense - it is amazing how contagious bad shooting can become, one person misses a few and suddenly everyone is missing a few. And if Geno decides to put his pressure/trapping defense in place having long fast jumpers to rotate in is a nice thing.
 
.-.
BobbyJ said:
This is Jenica Lewis class of 2026. I'm just trying to process what I've seen here. Look at the court awareness and range on some of these 3s. And this kid is an 8th grader??
Expand ...

If you think that is crazy (and it is) peep her 6th grade video.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
 
Last edited:
Sluconn Husky said:
Ashlynn Shade posting up a taller defender and shooting a fadeaway over her last weekend.


Expand ...

She may call it the MJ, but that's the Allen Iverson fade, no doubt.
 
CocoHusky said:
If you think that is crazy (and it is) peep her 6th grade video.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
Expand ...
Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.
 
BobbyJ said:
Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.
Expand ...
Since she's so young she still has some development to do obviously but this little girl has some scary potential.
 
BobbyJ said:
Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.
Expand ...
I first saw Elena Delle Donne play when she was 11 she was doing all of this and much more.
 
.-.
BobbyJ said:
This is Jenica Lewis class of 2026. I'm just trying to process what I've seen here. Look at the court awareness and range on some of these 3s. And this kid is an 8th grader??
Expand ...

Gee with all those shots I would have enjoyed at least one jump shot. She has range, ball control, court awareness. I just cringe when all outside shots are two handed chest push shots. I hope someone helps her develop a real jump shot.
 
oldude said:
Actually, we already have a player like that. This past season Liv shot 27% from the arc. Dorka shot 20%.
Expand ...
DJ 2019-2020 numbers were much better. She shot around 40% from 3 and her 2 pt and free throw percentages were also significantly higher. This year she had to sit out twice because of injury and covid and never got into good shape or form. I think she's much better than this year's statistics indicate.
 
oldude said:
I think of Evelyn Adebayo last season. Evelyn was the best player on a mediocre Murray St team. Many of us thought she would be a contributor at UConn. Unfortunately, Evelyn struggled to learn the system at first and it was very difficult for her to adjust to being a role player off the bench after being the “go to” player at Murray St.

Dorka’s not coming to Storrs and she’s likely not on Geno’s radar. Anyone who believes so is fooling themselves.
Expand ...
This did not age well
 
Last edited:
No indication of interest in Maya Nnaji? She is a highly ranked big and already familiar to Paige?
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,493
Messages
4,578,301
Members
10,487
Latest member
husky62


Top Bottom