Bird-Cash-Williams & Jones ...Where Were They Ranked?

[malevocalist#]

My goodness I can't even find this information for the likes of me anywhere. Not on Google's or any archives for that matter. I want to know for personal reasons only.

If anyone here knows know or have the answer I appreciate it and thank you in advance.

My question is: (Where were these players ranked individual coming out of high school among the Top 25 High School Girls Basketball?) How many of them were top 5 or top 10 players? Thank you sincerely.

 

[EricLA]

It went something like this...

1 - Williams
2 - Cash
4 - Jones
15 - Walters
21 - Bird

Bird might have been 17 or so - it was Blue Star who at the time was about the only service that was ranking the kids. However, in fairness, most people knew Bird was a top 5 kid, however, she chose not to play for Mike Flynn's team (I think it was him) in AAU and so she was "punished" in the rankings.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think Eric is right. Tamika was 1 and Swin was 2. Asjha was about 4. Sue was 20-ish, which was a joke.

 

[malevocalist#]

It went something like this...

1 - Williams
2 - Cash
4 - Jones
15 - Walters
21 - Bird

Bird might have been 17 or so - it was Blue Star who at the time was about the only service that was ranking the kids. However, in fairness, most people knew Bird was a top 5 kid, however, she chose not to play for Mike Flynn's team (I think it was him) in AAU and so she was "punished" in the rankings.

Wow! They had bird ranked that low? This must of been one of the best recruting classes geno ever had. And then bringing in D the following year. My goodness.

I don't remember the Walters girl. She must not have made a lot of noise. Especially being amongst that group. Thank you a lot.

 

[EricLA]

Wow! They had bird ranked that low? This must of been one of the best recruting classes geno ever had. And then bringing in D the following year. My goodness.

I don't remember the Walters girl. She must not have made a lot of noise. Especially being amongst that group. Thank you a lot.

Kiersten Walters was the starting PG before Sue on the team but she had a series of knee problems that prevented her from ever playing hoops. She had a lot of potential tho. The recruiting class ended up being called the TASSK force... Shortened later to "TASS" because poor Kiersten was unable to contribute from a hoops perspective

 

[FairView]

Wow! They had bird ranked that low? This must of been one of the best recruting classes geno ever had. And then bringing in D the following year. My goodness.

I don't remember the Walters girl. She must not have made a lot of noise. Especially being amongst that group. Thank you a lot.

She never got a chance to learn where she could go due to injuries. This article tells the story pretty well.

http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2011/12/18/decison-to-walk-away-was-difficult-for-walters/

 

[malevocalist#]

With the exception of improperly ranking bird. Because she was definately a top five in my eyes (Giving she was taking #1 in the draft)...Geno basically had (4) players in the top 5.

Wonder if he could pull something like that off again in his coaching career. Definitely came close to it in the 2012 class. Tuck is top 5 I don't care where Olson had her.

Not to mention geno tried to bring in loyd as well. Wooooo. Could one imagine what type of team this had of been if loyd came? I think a few teams would have pulled a Tennessee. There would have been a protest for sure.

 

[Vowelguy]

I think Eric is right. Tamika was 1 and Swin was 2. Asjha was about 4. Sue was 20-ish, which was a joke.

That matches my recollection of the Blue Star ratings.

 

[malevocalist#]

She never got a chance to learn where she could go due to injuries. This article tells the story pretty well.

http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2011/12/18/decison-to-walk-away-was-difficult-for-walters/

Wow....That is news to me. I feel for what she had to undergo. So sad.

 

[JS]

I don't remember the Walters girl. She must not have made a lot of noise.

Minor corrections:

Keirsten Walters was ranked 14th
Sue was ranked 19th

Walters was really good; it wasn't clear at all in the early going that Sue would see more playing time.

Walters' other distinction was that she was the organizer who got all these high school stars to agree to go to UConn together.

Unfortunately, her career ended in injury during her freshman year, before it ever got off the ground. But she'll always have a place in the hearts of longtime UConn fans.

 

[Vowelguy]

Actually Swin was #3
http://uconnhooplegends.com/womensledgends/CashSwin.html

 

[Aluminny69]

Minor corrections:

Keirsten Walters was ranked 14th
Sue was ranked 19th

Walters was really good; it wasn't clear at all in the early going that Sue would see more playing time.

Walters' other distinction was that she was the organizer who got all these high school stars to agree to go to UConn together.

Unfortunately, her career ended in injury during her freshman year, before it ever got off the ground. But she'll always have a place in the hearts of longtime UConn fans.

On the Geno Show, Swin said she was the one who said they should all go to UConn.

It's not unusual, really. Several top players went with Parker to Tenn. DeSheilds got several of her friends to go to UNC ( before she left.) And Langhorne talked her friend Harper(?) to not go to UConn, but Maryland instead. And this cohesion is probably why we got next year's class, all three have played together for several years.

Not unique to Women either. Four All Americans went with Lew Alcindor to UCLA.

 

[malevocalist#]

Minor corrections:

Keirsten Walters was ranked 14th
Sue was ranked 19th

Walters was really good; it wasn't clear at all in the early going that Sue would see more playing time.

Walters' other distinction was that she was the organizer who got all these high school stars to agree to go to UConn together.

Unfortunately, her career ended in injury during her freshman year, before it ever got off the ground. But she'll always have a place in the hearts of longtime UConn fans.

I appreciate those facts. Didn't know she was that good only to be shut down by injuries. I knew of the recruits at that time from what i saw with my eyes. But I wasn't following closely to details back then. And didn't really start following the numbers & ranks etc. til 10 years ago.

I am sure it hurted to have a dream crushed. Hopefully God had better things in-stored for Walters.

 

[Aluminny69]

BTW, who was the player who started point guard by default, due to injuries to Sue Bird and others, then left the following year in a controversy, because she wasn't going to start. I kinda remember the story, but not the name.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yeah, I became a fan in about 2000, so I know Keirsten's story only vaguely. She was a talent. She, Nicole Wolff, and Jackie Gemelos are examples of kids with substantial potential who never realized it due to injury.

The recruiting class of Strother, Wolff, Turner, Crockett, and Goring looked good on paper. In fact, it was a good group, but Nicole was never the same after injury. She was the starting PG and put up double-digit points to start her career. It was all downhill after that. Will was up and down throughout her career and became known as "Miss March" for her stellar tourney play. Gillian didn't meet the academic requirement and went elsewhere. Ann was a solid player, as was Barb Turner, a very undersized power forward.

The group of Stewie, Morgan, and Moriah is outstanding. I think you have to include Jewell Loyd at the top, but we had 3 of the top 4 or so. They have 2 NCAA titles in 2 years, so they could be known as the best group ever, despite being only 3 in number.

Then there was the Maya Moore and Lorin Dixon class. Lorin certainly had her moments, especially late in her career, but Maya would make any class stellar.

We'll see about the 2015 group, but if they play like EDD, Maya, and Jess Moore, they will be great.

 

[Vowelguy]

BTW, who was the player who started point guard by default, due to injuries to Sue Bird and others, then left the following year in a controversy, because she wasn't going to start. I kinda remember the story, but not the name.

Marci Glenney from NFA.
Transferred to Clemson.

 

[Aluminny69]

Keirsten Walters Checks In About Her Circumstances

Here is her note to me (John Altavilla):

"I had 6 knee surgeries and a shoulder surgery and was not able to play. I definitely did not have a hard time with expectations or the pressure, etc. I went to UConn because of the high level of expectations from the coaches and being pushed to be the best player I could be. Sadly, after all of my surgeries I was not able to play and that was devastating."


Decision To Walk Away Was Difficult For Walters

Walters, who is married and slated to give birth to her first child in January, currently works with kids on individual basketball skills and is the head coach/director of the Colorado Elite club basketball team. She still experiences swelling in her knees on long runs. But it has not stopped her from competing in an Ironman triathlon, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon run, and numerous Half Ironman triathlons.



http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2011/12/18/decison-to-walk-away-was-difficult-for-walters/

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_womens_basketball/2011/02/keirsten-walters-checks-in-abo.html

 

[malevocalist#]

It is always good news to hear of someone doing good and not allowing past failures to dampen their spirit. Though I am sure that little voice creeps up now and then when they watching the game. And they ponder their thoughts of what could have been if not for the injuries.

Another great talent comes to mind is Brittany Hunter. I think had she been totally healthy Maya & company takes care of Stanford in that final 4 game and give Tennessee a go at it for sure. If I am not mistaking Hunter was a player of the year coming out of high school.

She showed flashes of her potential with two bad knees. Should of headed straight to Uconn and never attended Duke.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It is always good news to hear of someone doing good and not allowing past failures to dampen their spirit. Though I am sure that little voice creeps up now and then when they watching the game. And they ponder their thoughts of what could have been if not for the injuries.

Another great talent comes to mind is Brittany Hunter. I think had she been totally healthy Maya & company takes care of Stanford in that final 4 game and give Tennessee a go at it for sure. If I am not mistaking Hunter was a player of the year coming out of high school.

She showed flashes of her potential with two bad knees. Should of headed straight to Uconn and never attended Duke.

Brit Hunter was close to Maya and Candace in terms of talent level--think Tina Charles. Yes, with a healthy Kalana, Mel, and Brit, the 2008 championship was ours.

 

[Paul1969]

Tamika William's FG % was monstorous. Does anyone if she holds the highest FG% at UConn? Just curious. It seemed like she never missed.

 

[hoophuskee]

BTW, who was the player who started point guard by default, due to injuries to Sue Bird and others, then left the following year in a controversy, because she wasn't going to start. I kinda remember the story, but not the name.

Was it Kennitra Johnson?

 

[JS]

On the Geno Show, Swin said she was the one who said they should all go to UConn.

Swin also shot the ball into the wrong basket, so she was probably confused about this too.

 

[hussybulldog]

It went something like this...

1 - Williams
2 - Cash
4 - Jones
15 - Walters
21 - Bird

Bird might have been 17 or so - it was Blue Star who at the time was about the only service that was ranking the kids. However, in fairness, most people knew Bird was a top 5 kid, however, she chose not to play for Mike Flynn's team (I think it was him) in AAU and so she was "punished" in the rankings.

I guess with a class like that, no development was needed. Only injury would prevent them from winning a couple of NCAA. Geno was not that exceptional after all. Summit could win a couple as well with a class like that! wink wink

 

[bballnut90]

On the Geno Show, Swin said she was the one who said they should all go to UConn.

It's not unusual, really. Several top players went with Parker to Tenn. DeSheilds got several of her friends to go to UNC ( before she left.) And Langhorne talked her friend Harper(?) to not go to UConn, but Maryland instead. And this cohesion is probably why we got next year's class, all three have played together for several years.

Not unique to Women either. Four All Americans went with Lew Alcindor to UCLA.

Minor correction--I think Parker was actually the last to commit to Tennessee. SWG was the 1st, Hornbuckle committed early, and not sure when Dosty/Fuller/Anosike all committed but as far as I know, Parker was the last one or 2nd to last. That said, knowing she had 4 (in reality 3) years of playing with that group of players might have been the difference between Tennessee at Duke. No inside info, but I'm guessing had Parker chosen Duke, it would've been harder for GG to leave the program knowing she had one more year coaching Candace Parker, rather than bolting after losing All-Americans Harding and Bales.

 

[HuskyNan]

Keirsten Walters Malave now runs the Colorado Elite AAU basketball program. You go, Keirsten!

P.S. Please ditch the grey font on your website.