Assuming We Have a Season, Who Will Be Our All-American(s) This Year?

[BBallF]

Excellent post!

I just want to add - Evina (if Evina is a very good pg) and Paige are going to have very good assist numbers. We expect to beat an elite team or two etc, and if that happens, one or both are going to have highlighted assist numbers.

Thus there is a strong chance these two will be the highlighted "playmakers" for this team. The ball will more than likely be mostly in their hands moreso than others in big games. They can/will get in the lane with an option to either pass or score. They will be the decision makers to pass or score in these circumstances. These two players - pg's - are very unique vs what UCONN has had in a long time. Play after play they have an equal option to pass or score in the lane. And to further that, because Paige is such a gifted passer - there may be more teams that challenge her to score in the lane. In other words, "prove it." Because we know with Danger and then with MoJeff - if they penetrated in halfcourt sets- teams would play them for the pass.

The reason I bring this up is that with CWill - she is "just" a scorer. OFC she can make some plays off the dribble. But Evina and Paige possibly can penetrate and pass or score off the dribble (they can slash better I think?) . But ofc CWill could become a tremendous scorer. Then if that's the case she becomes awesome.

The thing is Paige is going to score too. UCONN is that much tougher to defend when your pg can do both at a high efficiency. And if you are going to put your worst perimeter defender on her - she is going to more than likely punish that defender - more than just passing. That's why I lean towards Paige as an Honorable Mention A/A to possibly an A/A. And it's why I think her 3pt shot is important. If she can't shoot it well ofc her efficiency/effectiveness drops to non-A/A status depending on her fg% efficiency from the perimeter. OFC she'll still be hard to defend but teams would be able to sag more when they defend her - at least at the point of 3 pt range. There is no reason to try to defend her like teams did with KLS - if Paige can't shoot 3's well. Though imo you have to be super-elite to get into Paige's face at the 3pt line. To do that if you are the defense - you might as well beg her to try to drive into the lane. I don't think that's a good strategy overall.

If Paige is " dishing and swishing" to such an extent that she is Honorable AA worthy, that will mean that the offense remains high powered or gets even more powered during substitutions, something that we haven't had in years. Under those circumstances, several things happen. First, Anna gets more open 3s because of the drive and pass by Paige. Second, CW or Evina get more open 3s or openings for passes that lead to moves or closer shots. Third, Aubrey gets open underneath because she has a great instinct to find the open seam under the basket which she showed last year. Fourth, and more importantly, there is no let up on the "push" and in fact the opposite occurs. Now there is a second wave of transition and fast breaking, very difficult to contain on defense. Against BE teams, the games will be over sooner rather than later. Against the top 5 teams, we have to see. If it impacts those games significantly or even moderately, there is no limit. My only reservation is that Paige will be playing against other players who are three years older, bigger and more experienced and we will have to see if the strength factor becomes an issue. If she is that good that it doesn't matter, I'm liking the number XII a lot.