April recruiting thread

[darrell]

KK Arnold & Ashlynn Shade and POIs Toby Fournier & Madina Okot playing in the Nike Hoop Summit on NBATV.

 

[darrell]

“Diced up the defense” is probably the best description of KK.

 

[UcMiami]

Interesting to see that even Nike and USA basketball can't hire good officials.

 

[darrell]

If Toby Fournier is the last player we get in the ‘24 class, I’ll be completely fine with that.

Stewie-lite is the best way I can describe her. She is a work horse on both ends of the floor and will make some Coach really happy.

 

[darrell]

 

[dtbtbtb]

Geno, can we get Toby F.? she is very impressive in this game against players much bigger then her...

 

[darrell]

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Kk and Toby are 2 of the most impressive players in this game so far, NGL. I also like Booker and Donovan a lot. Not sure I get the Williams and Hidalgo hype.

 

[Zarathustra]

UConnCat posted the social media clip of these recent Morgan Cheli AAU highlights in a Cheli thread. This is the full expanded video.

Morgan Cheli is RELENTLESS! A great video post. Morgan and Ashlynn and KK
are going to make great BB music together. Such energy, passing, team play.

 

[BobbyJ]

That's why I've been talking about her recently. Tough, relentless, and impacts the game in many ways. From getting out and easily staying with wings on D to nullifying 6-6 Del Rosario inside. And non stop on the O-boards. She just finds ways to score. And how many fouls does she draw? A female Dennis Rodman without the baggage. Sign her up.

 

[RoadMaster]

Interesting to see that even Nike and USA basketball can't hire good officials.

Got that right

 

[Sluconn Husky]

If Toby Fournier is the last player we get in the ‘24 class, I’ll be completely fine with that.

Uh, no.

Strong, Berry, Smith, and Carlton are still out there.

 

[uconnever]

Uh, no.

Strong, Berry, Smith, and Carlton are still out there.

Yeah I’d like Strong but Fournier is GOOD.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Uh, no.

Strong, Berry, Smith, and Carlton are still out there.

Hard pass on strong for me.

 

[darrell]

Uh, no.

Strong, Berry, Smith, and Carlton are still out there.

I’m just being a realist. With Ziebell and Cheli already committed, I don’t know how likely it is we get Berry or Smith. I also don’t know how likely it is that Strong leaves the Carolinas or Carlton leaves Texas.

I’m all for “the more, the merrier”, but after today, Fournier is at the top of my list. Easily the best player on the floor against an older class than hers and the best the US had to offer.

 

[rvwsleep]

Uh, no.

Strong, Berry, Smith, and Carlton are still out there.

I agree with you. While Fournier did show a lot of ability (runs the floor well, blocks shots and rebounds well), she doesn't shoot very well from more than 10 feet from the basket (4 of 10 free throws. A couple of terrible misses from 15 ft.)

 

[oldhusky]

I agree with you. While Fournier did show a lot of ability (runs the floor well, blocks shots and rebounds well), she doesn't shoot very well from more than 10 feet from the basket (4 of 10 free throws. A couple of terrible misses from 15 ft.)

I think that is true, shooting is relatively weak, but I do see a little of Rodman in her like BobbyJ and I think with her mobility and good handles she might be kind of a garbage scorer with a decent percentage on very close range shots.

 

[UcMiami]

I think that is true, shooting is relatively weak, but I do see a little of Rodman in her like BobbyJ and I think with her mobility and good handles she might be kind of a garbage scorer with a decent percentage on very close range shots.

Or a Gabby Williams who builds her shooting from inside to outside, while being a defensive pest from the paint to the arc.

 

[darrell]

I agree with you. While Fournier did show a lot of ability (runs the floor well, blocks shots and rebounds well), she doesn't shoot very well from more than 10 feet from the basket (4 of 10 free throws. A couple of terrible misses from 15 ft.)

Not every player on the floor has to take/make those shots. Gabby and Aaliyah are examples of improving as you move along, it’s something that she can develop.

In terms of hustle, rebounding, defense, running the floor, speed, she had advantage over any of the other Forwards UConn are looking at. This game made me a believer.

 

[dtbtbtb]

To my eyes, Toby is a rough diamond. That needs polishing and Geno is the right coach to do it. Her upside is ridiculously high (with the right coaching)...

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Hard pass on strong for me.

You don't like players with off-the-charts basketball IQ's, skills, passing abilities, and Barkley-like rebounding qualities?

 

[darrell]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I agree with you. While Fournier did show a lot of ability (runs the floor well, blocks shots and rebounds well), she doesn't shoot very well from more than 10 feet from the basket (4 of 10 free throws. A couple of terrible misses from 15 ft.)

I wasn't suggesting those players over Fournier who I like quite a bit. I'm saying no to just one more player.

Fournier is raw offensively but has some great tools to work with and gives maximum effort.

 

[Bone Dog]

I like Fournier a lot, even with her poor shooting. She manages to score inside, she’s a ball hawk and a fierce defender. And in game tapes, it’s clear she carries her team — that’s an important quality and an unusual one. She’s not afraid of the pressure.

I also really like Strong for similar reasons, and she may be an even better rebounder and passer and have more court savvy. Either one would be great gets, but the pair would become the core of a tremendous team going forward. And I share the opinion of some that she maybe willing to go away from the Carolinas.

 

[cancontent]

If Toby Fournier is the last player we get in the ‘24 class, I’ll be completely fine with that.

Stewie-lite is the best way I can describe her. She is a work horse on both ends of the floor and will make some Coach really happy.

This is the best I've seen her play since she came on the scene. Definitely easier to see the development compared to OSBA and AAU where the teams she's faced were inconsistent competition-wise.

How she defended Del Rosario erases my concerns about strength. Once that outside shot becomes more consistent, ooooh boy.