Azzi Confirms Return

[boontonbomber]

She is already very close. She has marketing deals with Under Armour, Chipotle, Buick, Nerf, Biosteel sports drink, Bose and American Eagle.

The Under Armour Deal is enormous! They will launch a female CurryBrand shoe, now presumably in March '26 with Azzi as the 'face of the franchise.'

There is always yapping that her deals are based on her hs reputation. Well now this year we have seen her also performing in ncaa at that level. Knock on wood, with continued good health, she can really get there in 25-26.

One other huge benefit of not going pro this year is also simply the calendar. Going pro meant ncaa, draft, WNBA season, unrivaled season.

Not going pro means ncaa, rest period, summer strength&flexibility work, skills development, finish yr 2 of her masters, 25-26 UConn season. This option she chose is much better for her to continue rehabbing from her injuries, rather than entering gauntlet of year round pro play.

Mr. Under Armour, Kevin Plank, is a local D.C. area guy, and has probably had his eye on Azzi since she was in high school.

 

[huskyd]

Yep. Geno will build next year's team with a core of KK, Azzi, Ashlynn, Sarah, with Jana/Ice holding down the 5 spot. Not a bad way to kick off your off-season rebuild knowing you have an upperclassmen laden starting five that have played a ton of minutes together with a pretty deep and versatile bench.

Still wouldn't mind having a real 5 with experience and upside. Ice may have more to give, so let's hope.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

That same analysis applies to Paige, though last night she gave every indication that she was done.

I suspect that sponsor money goes up for a player like Paige ( name one) on entering the WNBA and she might pick up a couple of new ones.

 

[CL82]

I suspect that sponsor money goes up for a player like Paige ( name one) on entering the WNBA and she might pick up a couple of new ones.

I'm not sure, but I think you may be right. I also think that for other people leaving college might cause sponsor money to decrease.

 

[Bald Husky]

Regarding Jana, the team should hire an experienced center, ala Lisa Leslie, to work with Jana during the summer.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm not sure, but I think you may be right. I also think that for other people leaving college might cause sponsor money to decrease.

I can see that. Some may have a large regional draw that dissipates as the player joins a WNBA team halfway across the country. A number of factors involved. Some players move on with a strong national identity.

 

[StarMan]

Hooray!!!!!

 

[oldude]

Regarding Jana, the team should hire an experienced center, ala Lisa Leslie, to work with Jana during the summer.

Jamelle (AKA the Post Whisperer) is about as good as it gets developing centers.

 

[DefenseBB]

Jamelle (AKA the Post Whisperer) is about as good as it gets developing centers.

Not being mean but where is this evidence? Who, exactly has she developed and if she developed someone, what were they developed into? ONO, Piath, Ice, Jana, Ayanna? Dorka was already a 2 time All Big 10 first team selection that couldn’t achieve first team Big East. That leaves Aaliyah Edwards. So that is 1 for 7. Not exactly great accolades….

 

[Centerstream]

Mr. Under Armour, Kevin Plank, is a local D.C. area guy, and has probably had his eye on Azzi since she was in high school.

Didn't he graduate from the University of Maryland?

 

[Blue Huskie]

Not being mean but where is this evidence? Who, exactly has she developed and if she developed someone, what were they developed into? ONO, Piath, Ice, Jana, Ayanna? Dorka was already a 2 time All Big 10 first team selection that couldn’t achieve first team Big East. That leaves Aaliyah Edwards. So that is 1 for 7. Not exactly great accolades….

Not sure how we got here in a tread talking about Azzi coming back but.... Jamelle's been around for a while. - Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams, 2009 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Tina Charles

 

[oldude]

Not being mean but where is this evidence? Who, exactly has she developed and if she developed someone, what were they developed into? ONO, Piath, Ice, Jana, Ayanna? Dorka was already a 2 time All Big 10 first team selection that couldn’t achieve first team Big East. That leaves Aaliyah Edwards. So that is 1 for 7. Not exactly great accolades….

Beg to differ. Liv was not the typical “big bodied post,” but her development relative to defense, rebounding, passing from the post was excellent. When Dorka transferred from tOSU, she was largely an outside shooter with little to no low-post game. Under Jamelle, Dorka developed a solid low-post game. You mention Aaliyah who struggled when she first arrived. By her senior year, she had developed an excellent low-post game, earning AA honors in the process.

Ayanna is a “incomplete” until she has a healthy season under her. Ice has struggled, but let’s see if a light turns on. I am confident that Jana will get there. But why would you leave out Sarah? Do you assume that she’s so good that she doesn’t need coaching?

 

[DefenseBB]

Not sure how we got here in a tread talking about Azzi coming back but.... Jamelle's been around for a while. - Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams, 2009 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Tina Charles

Jamelle left and then came back so..what has she done lately? I once coach a baseball team to the state finals 22 years ago but that means nothing now. Again, I like Jamelle but don’t make it like we have awesome post play, year in and year out when it has been our biggest weakness otherwise why did we look at Beers last year and want Serah Williams this year in the portal.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Beg to differ. Liv was not the typical “big bodied post,” but her development relative to defense, rebounding, passing from the post was excellent. When Dorka transferred from tOSU, she was largely an outside shooter with little to no low-post game. Under Jamelle, Dorka developed a solid low-post game. You mention Aaliyah who struggled when she first arrived. By her senior year, she had developed an excellent low-post game, earning AA honors in the process.

Ayanna is a “incomplete” until she has a healthy season under her. Ice has struggled, but let’s see if a light turns on. I am confident that Jana will get there. But why would you leave out Sarah? Do you assume that she’s so good that she doesn’t need coaching?

I rarely disagree with you, oh wise one, but I have to here. Not about Jamelle; I know nothing about that. But since before Jamele's time a weakness in our recruiting has been bigs and it is still the case. Jana is here because of that. This board counts people as bigs who should not be and when Geno uses them as bigs it distracts from the developement of their core competencies. Anyone who tries to tether Sarah to the hoop would be a fool. Gabby Williams was used as she was largely because there was no other alternative and she devloped much of her now dazzling game after she left UConn. Why are we unable to attract highly rated true bigs? This has vexed me for a long time.

 

[mainerhuski]

I am swimming upstream here but i think the decision took awhile to get to.

She is healthy, has her undergraduate degree and a consensus top ten WNBA pick. Seeing what happened to JuJu I bet gave her pause to reconsider.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled she is back but there were definitely pros and cons to whatever she decided IMO.

I think she’s halfway through a master’s program.

 

[oldude]

I rarely disagree with you, oh wise one, but I have to here. Not about Jamelle; I know nothing about that. But since before Jamele's time a weakness in our recruiting has been bigs and it is still the case. Jana is here because of that. This board counts people as bigs who should not be and when Geno uses them as bigs it distracts from the developement of their core competencies. Anyone who tries to tether Sarah to the hoop would be a fool. Gabby Williams was used as she was largely because there was no other alternative and she devloped much of her now dazzling game after she left UConn. Why are we unable to attract highly rated true bigs? This has vexed me for a long time.

My comment has nothing to do with recruiting talented posts and everything to do with taking whatever talent you have and making it better.

As for Sarah, she can play anywhere on the court, and when Geno goes small, Sarah is his center. As for Sarah’s development as a post player, I watched every HS video I could find of Sarah and never once observed her putting up a baby hook shot.

Fast forward a few games into her UConn career and she all of a sudden has one of the prettiest baby hook shots I’ve seen in WBB. Where did that shot come from? Was it sitting in her bag until she needed it in college….or maybe one of the UConn coaches who works with post players helped her develop it? Just sayin.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

My comment has nothing to do with recruiting talented posts and everything to do with taking whatever talent you have and making it better.

As for Sarah, she can play anywhere on the court, and when Geno goes small, Sarah is his center. As for Sarah’s development as a post player, I watched every HS video I could find of Sarah and never once observed her putting up a baby hook shot.

Fast forward a few games into her UConn career and she all of a sudden has one of the prettiest baby hook shots I’ve seen in WBB. Where did that shot come from? Was it sitting in her bag until she needed it in college….or maybe one of the UConn coaches who works with post players helped her develop it? Just sayin.

And my post was about recruiting because I am tired of UConn having to make do with "whatever talent you have." I know your post did not deal with recruiting. I'm saying these discussions should lead to examining the weakness of UConn bigs recruiting. I guess I drifted a bit.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Jamelle left and then came back so..what has she done lately? I once coach a baseball team to the state finals 22 years ago but that means nothing now. Again, I like Jamelle but don’t make it like we have awesome post play, year in and year out when it has been our biggest weakness otherwise why did we look at Beers last year and want Serah Williams this year in the portal.

Oh you’re one of those “what have you done for me lately” people. In case you haven’t noticed we haven’t gotten too many top of the class post players lately so it’s hard to churn out first round draft picks without the material. But like oldude said Liv is doing quite nicely. And apparently you choose not to think Dorksgot any better while here. I guess your approach would also put Geno on the hot seat not getting an NC for a few years. Anyway this headed for a lock cause we’re way off topic.

 

[hookshot]

My comment has nothing to do with recruiting talented posts and everything to do with taking whatever talent you have and making it better.Doesn't

As for Sarah, she can play anywhere on the court, and when Geno goes small, Sarah is his center. As for Sarah’s development as a post player, I watched every HS video I could find of Sarah and never once observed her putting up a baby hook shot.

Fast forward a few games into her UConn career and she all of a sudden has one of the prettiest baby hook shots I’ve seen in WBB. Where did that shot come from? Was it sitting in her bag until she needed it in college….or maybe one of the UConn coaches who works with post players helped her develop it? Just sayin.

Doesn't everyone have a "hookshot" - LOL - reincarnation possibly

 

[boontonbomber]

Didn't he graduate from the University of Maryland?

His mother was mayor of Kensington,MD, he actually went to Azzi's school, St. John's Prep, until they thought he would be better off at a different school. Went to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, ending up at Maryland, where he walked onto the football team. Oh, and created his first " under garment" while there, and now a few billion later........ I got to know more about him after he hired one of my sons to manage a golf course he bought.