Azzi's "Home Town" Paper Gives Us More Insight

[RockyMTblue2]

“I think everything that transpired this year, Kobe and all those kids passing way; there was a kid that she went K through 8 with who passed away in December … I think she just realized life is really short,” Katie says. “And so Paige is up there, but everybody is like, ‘Paige, Paige, Paige,’ she’s best friends with Caroline Ducharme, and one of her best friend from St. John’s is up there. So it’s like three of them that she could be with for three years, four years with one, three years with the other. When are you gonna get that chance to be around these people that you know you love? Not that [she] wouldn’t make great friends elsewhere, but it just feels like life is short and all the boxes are saying yes on that side. So let’s go.”

“It’s something not many people have the opportunity to do,” Fudd adds, “and especially after this year, losing a lot of people, it’s just been kind of like a really special opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.”

"And then of course, there’s the basketball factor.

"The Huskies, under coach Geno Auriemma, have been a powerhouse for decades and produced some of the best pro players in the sport’s history, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart.


“Their players are always ready for the next level and Olympic teams and whatnot. And that’s where I want to be,” Fudd says. “So I know that they’re going to develop me and get me ready for the next level.”

For Azzi Fudd, Friendships Made a Difference in Choosing UConn

Azzi Fudd, the top-ranked girls' basketball player in the country, will join close friends at UConn next year.

washingtoncitypaper.com

 

[eebmg]

Still hard to understand how the decision was so hard and specifically with UCLA

Sounded like one of those 99 boxes vs 1 box checked decisions??

 

[oldude]

I have generally discounted “friendship” as a key factor for recruits choosing a particular college. Remember when everyone on the U17 team was supposedly heading to ND because SB announced her decision to go there? In this instance, friendship does appear to have been a key factor for Azzi.

At the same time, having family nearby, whether it was mom & dad (MD) or aunt, uncle & cousins (UCLA), did not ultimately sway Azzi’s decision. This was similar to Boston’s decision to move away from her aunt’s family in MA to attend SC.

In any event, trying to get inside the head of a 17-year old can be a frightening prospect.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Still hard to understand how the decision was so hard and specifically with UCLA

Sounded like one of those 99 boxes vs 1 box checked decisions??

It seems like the draw was the facilities at UCLA. She specifically mentioned that she had no opportunity to get a feel for the team. UCLA can be looked on as an up and comer, but that gets a little old after a while. I agree @eebmg, it is hard to understand why the decision was so hard. I feel the process of making a decision was hard because Azzi doesn't like making decisions, but when she sat down to take a hard look the decision became clear.

As her mom Katie said "all the boxes are saying yes on that side. So let’s go.”

 

[CL82]

It seems like the draw was the facilities at UCLA. She specifically mentioned that she had no opportunity to get a feel for the team. UCLA can be looked on as an up and comer, but that gets a little old after a while. I agree @eebmg, it is hard to understand why the decision was so hard. I feel the process of making a decision was hard because Azzi doesn't like making decisions, but when she sat down to take a hard look the decision became clear.

College choice, especially D1 athlete on scholly, is a big decision. Literally the biggest the decision of their lives to date. Most 17 year olds don't have much, if any, decision making experience. Is it any wonder that some struggle to pull the trigger and others are a little too quick? (At least by middle aged adult standards.)

 

[RockyMTblue2]

College choice, especially D1 athlete on scholly, is a big decision. Literally the biggest the decision of their lives to date. Most 17 year olds don't have much, if any, decision making experience. Is it any wonder that some struggle to pull the trigger and others are a little too quick? (At least by middle aged adult standards.)

In the abstract I agree. Specifically in Azzi's case she was blessed with 2 Div 1 basketball parents and she knew what she wanted: winning, NCAA championships, WNBA and Olympics. What program has the proven track record for developing people who achieve those goals?

Appropos of nothing much, did you notice her mother seems to say Paige's notoriety was a negative?

 

[eebmg]

So are we concerned she can't make quick decisions?

 

[RoadWarrior]

“I think everything that transpired this year, Kobe and all those kids passing way; there was a kid that she went K through 8 with who passed away in December … I think she just realized life is really short,” Katie says. “And so Paige is up there, but everybody is like, ‘Paige, Paige, Paige,’ she’s best friends with Caroline Ducharme, and one of her best friend from St. John’s is up there. So it’s like three of them that she could be with for three years, four years with one, three years with the other. When are you gonna get that chance to be around these people that you know you love? Not that [she] wouldn’t make great friends elsewhere, but it just feels like life is short and all the boxes are saying yes on that side. So let’s go.”

“It’s something not many people have the opportunity to do,” Fudd adds, “and especially after this year, losing a lot of people, it’s just been kind of like a really special opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.”

"And then of course, there’s the basketball factor.

"The Huskies, under coach Geno Auriemma, have been a powerhouse for decades and produced some of the best pro players in the sport’s history, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart.


“Their players are always ready for the next level and Olympic teams and whatnot. And that’s where I want to be,” Fudd says. “So I know that they’re going to develop me and get me ready for the next level.”

View attachment 61466

For Azzi Fudd, Friendships Made a Difference in Choosing UConn

Azzi Fudd, the top-ranked girls' basketball player in the country, will join close friends at UConn next year.

washingtoncitypaper.com

Sluconn posted this article last Friday in the Azzi To UCONN thread. Thanks for extracting it again and creating a separate thread for those who may not have seen there.

 

[Rings R Us]

In the abstract I agree. Specifically in Azzi's case she was blessed with 2 Div 1 basketball parents and she knew what she wanted: winning, NCAA championships, WNBA and Olympics. What program has the proven track record for developing people who achieve those goals?

Appropos of nothing mush, did you notice her mother seems to say Paige's notoriety was a negative?

I think her mom just meant people may have assumed that her decision just came down to having Paige at Uconn, however she also has 2 other very good friends there as well which helped make the decision easier.

 

[AmeriConn]

I think her mom just meant people may have assumed that her decision just came down to having Paige at Uconn, however she also has 2 other very good friends there as well which helped make the decision easier.

So, it’s Paige, Caroline and who is the third friend up there from St Johns? I assumed it was from St Johns high school team, but it’s SJU?

 

[CL82]

In the abstract I agree. Specifically in Azzi's case she was blessed with 2 Div 1 basketball parents and she knew what she wanted: winning, NCAA championships, WNBA and Olympics. What program has the proven track record for developing people who achieve those goals?

Appropos of nothing much, did you notice her mother seems to say Paige's notoriety was a negative?

Good point, although I suspect neither of them saw the attention that Azzi did.

No, I didn't seem the mom's comment regarding Paige. Any more context or a link?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Good point, although I suspect neither of them saw the attention that Azzi did.

No, I didn't seem the mom's comment regarding Paige. Any more context or a link?

Mom's comment is in the first paragraph quote in the lead post above @CL82.

 

[CL82]

Mom's comment is in the first paragraph quote in the lead post above @CL82.

Interesting. I wondered if that would be a consideration. That's okay next year everyone will be Azzi, Azzi, Azzi.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Don't think the comment about Paige meant anything. Of course everyone was talking about Paige. She's the #1 recruit in this past year's class that also happened to live with the Fudds for a month, so of course that is going to get the spotlight.

 

[eebmg]

So, it’s Paige, Caroline and who is the third friend up there from St Johns? I assumed it was from St Johns high school team, but it’s SJU?

Colleen Coch is apparently the UConn WBB team manager who was part of Azzi's SJC basketball team for two seasons before getting to UConn.

 

[AmeriConn]

Colleen Coch is apparently the UConn WBB team manager who was part of Azzi's SJC basketball team for two seasons before getting to UConn.

Thank you!

 

[Steelerone]

I have generally discounted “friendship” as a key factor for recruits choosing a particular college. Remember when everyone on the U17 team was supposedly heading to ND because SB announced her decision to go there? In this instance, friendship does appear to have been a key factor for Azzi.

At the same time, having family nearby, whether it was mom & dad (MD) or aunt, uncle & cousins (UCLA), did not ultimately sway Azzi’s decision. This was similar to Boston’s decision to move away from her aunt’s family in MA to attend SC.

In any event, trying to get inside the head of a 17-year old can be a frightening prospect.

I went through four of them Oldude and only one of them was a daughter. With the boys I'd just tell them to "Go out to the hill and straighten it out". With my daughter I'd just say "Duh" and yell for my wife.

 

[Go/huskies]

Colleen Coch is apparently the UConn WBB team manager who was part of Azzi's SJC basketball team for two seasons before getting to UConn.

Azzi and Colleen

 

[MilfordHusky]

As we know, Azzi is a fun kid.

Poor Colleen! My granddaughter still has no sense of taste after 2 months either.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Colleen Coch is apparently the UConn WBB team manager who was part of Azzi's SJC basketball team for two seasons before getting to UConn.

It's "Koch."