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Message: [QUOTE="Cuango, post: 4396135, member: 3834"] I have every confidence Azzi will be a great player for us. I believe her name will be on the wall. I’m certainly not ready to buy that she is lacking in “heart”! However, I also believe that there’s a lot of hyperbole going on about both her and Nika. Let’s face it, we have only seen tantalizing tidbits of Azzi so far. That is obviously not her fault as she was never fully healthy in her freshman season. I must say though, these comparisons to Paige are imo waaay over the top. Paige is on a different level! I see her in the same light as Maya, Dee, and Stewie (and she wouldn’t be last on [B]that[/B] list either)! I realize there is a school of thought that she (Paige) can never be fully a part of that group unless she wins a championship and I even understand that pov. However, in terms of being a basketball player, with all that implies; handle, shooting, passing, instinct, heart, love of the game, and the ability and willingness (eagerness) to step up when things aren’t looking good, I’m not sure I’ve [B]ever[/B] seen anyone like Paige! My all time favorite basketball player is Larry Legend. To me, he personified how this game should (and very rarely, could) be played. I never thought I would say this about what is essentially a sophomore college player but I think Paige comes from the same bloodlines as Bird, Magic, Jordan etc. She simply has something that other “mere mortals” don’t. So, I have to say, when I hear that Azzi [B]is[/B] as good as Paige right now, or that Nika is as good a passer (or anything else on a basketball court) as Paige I have to wonder what I’m missing. I’m not saying (at all) that Azzi, specifically, will not be a truly great player (perhaps even a “Rushmore” player, only that we haven’t seen that from her yet. As for Nika, yes she’s an asset, she’s a strong defensive presence, has a winning attitude, is a competent point guard, but (again, IMO) she is not and will likely never, be on Paige’s level at [B]anything[/B] on the basketball court. I say all this, not to be hurtful or because I don’t like or respect Azzi and Nika, but rather because I don’t think some people fully appreciate just how special Paige really is! She is imo, even as an injured junior, already the best women’s player I’ve ever seen! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach