Blanca Quiñonez Commits to UConn

[Dugway]

....
A link to her stats in her first 8 games. Keep in mind that this is a pro team with most players well into their 20's. One player was a SEC DPOY and there's someone named Mabrey on the team.

OT a little bit here, but it is absolutely amazing to me the transformation of the NCAA policies. There was a story from years back, about a University of Colorado student athlete who had his scholarship revoked and was no longer allowed to play for the football team (kicker maybe), because he was deemed to be a professional skier! Giant slalom maybe, possibly the Downhill, I don't know for certain, and it doesn't real matter for the point here. It was not the same sport, yet he was still a professional athlete, and as such was not eligible to participate in any NCAA Sport because he had lost his amateur status.

In contrast, next August when she starts school at UConn, Blanca will be 19-yrs old, and will have played five years in a professional basketball league? I'm all in favor of UConn getting the best players available, but oh my, have things sure changed! Lebron James didn't play in college at all; does he still have four years of eligibility once he decides to retire from the NBA?

 

[sun]

I saw something about Blanca having tendonitis affecting her knee 2 years ago.
Hopefully it's not chronic.

 

[BobbyJ]

OT a little bit here, but it is absolutely amazing to me the transformation of the NCAA policies. There was a story from years back, about a University of Colorado student athlete who had his scholarship revoked and was no longer allowed to play for the football team (kicker maybe), because he was deemed to be a professional skier! Giant slalom maybe, possibly the Downhill, I don't know for certain, and it doesn't real matter for the point here. It was not the same sport, yet he was still a professional athlete, and as such was not eligible to participate in any NCAA Sport because he had lost his amateur status.

In contrast, next August when she starts school at UConn, Blanca will be 19-yrs old, and will have played five years in a professional basketball league? I'm all in favor of UConn getting the best players available, but oh my, have things sure changed! Lebron James didn't play in college at all; does he still have four years of eligibility once he decides to retire from the NBA?

Two different situations. Quinones, like most all of the younger players, doesn't get paid a salary to play. She plays for the somewhat advanced competition and only receives a living stipend similar to a scholarship in the US. She still has amateur status. James immediately became a pro with his first paycheck from Cleveland so he has no amateur status.

 

[DEpup]

I would say that is common for foreign players since our highschool system of having extracurricular things like sports is not universal.

 

[Kat]

Head coach Geno Auriemma and assistant coach Morgan Valley spent part of their September checking out 6-foot-1 wing Blanca Quiñonez in Italy. Just two days into October, Quiñonez announced her commitment to the UConn Women’s Basketball team.

With her Instagram post and a “Go Huskies” caption, Connecticut unofficially added their third recruit to a class that could help with the program’s reload. Redshirt senior Paige Bueckers has expressed that the 2024-25 season will be her last as a Husky. Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin are both exercising their final year of eligibility. Azzi Fudd, who will be 22 next month, could declare for the Women’s National Basketball Association draft in the spring. --Cole Stefan • UConnReport. WBB and FB Beat Writer

 

[Alydar]

OT a little bit here, but it is absolutely amazing to me the transformation of the NCAA policies. There was a story from years back, about a University of Colorado student athlete who had his scholarship revoked and was no longer allowed to play for the football team (kicker maybe), because he was deemed to be a professional skier! Giant slalom maybe, possibly the Downhill, I don't know for certain, and it doesn't real matter for the point here. It was not the same sport, yet he was still a professional athlete, and as such was not eligible to participate in any NCAA Sport because he had lost his amateur status.

In contrast, next August when she starts school at UConn, Blanca will be 19-yrs old, and will have played five years in a professional basketball league? I'm all in favor of UConn getting the best players available, but oh my, have things sure changed! Lebron James didn't play in college at all; does he still have four years of eligibility once he decides to retire from the NBA?

Blanca, like Juste Jucete, has played on a pro team but has retained her college eligibility because she does not get paid. All she gets are expenses. Makurat played on a Polish pro team before UConn.
I think that it's great experience. She plays against older players who know all the tricks and fine points and she plays more sophisticated systems than in US high schools.
There's a French guard also on UConn's radar.

Could this be the New World Order I hear so much about?

 

[From Canada]

Good news, Blanca will be playing tomorrow. Here's the translated part of the article about her. The original article is attached below.

BLANCA IN THE GROUP On the strictly physical side overall, “the group is well,” adds the coach, “and we tried to prepare for the contest as best we could, also trying to fully manage the workloads with those who had more minutes in their legs. We are ready and we should also recover Quiñonez, who has sustained the last few sessions with the team. She should go on the scoreboard, as well as Emma Giacchetti who, however, will not be risked, complicit with some small problems.”

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

LA MOLISANA MAGNOLIA, SI TORNA SUBITO SUL PARQUET: ALL’ARENA ARRIVA ALPO - Magnolia Basket Campobasso

Non cambia il mood sul versante rossoblù. Coach Sabatelli: «Difendere forte per correre ed ottenere canestri facili». Prima ufficiale assoluta per i #fioridacciaio contro le neopromosse venete. Rientra in gruppo Blanca Quiñonez

www.magnoliabasket.it

 

[Bone Dog]

My knowledge of Italian is sketchy at best. But I think when they write “sostenuto” in this context it means something like “sat out” or “supported.” That is, she supported her teammates from the sidelines.

 

[Sifaka]

My knowledge of Italian is sketchy at best. But I think when they write “sostenuto” in this context it means something like “sat out” or “supported.” That is, she supported her teammates from the sidelines.

Correct.

sostenere vtr	figurato (parteggiare per) (figurative)	support⇒, back⇒, endorse⇒ vtr
	Io sostengo il candidato dell'altro partito.
	I back the candidate of the other party.

 

[From Canada]

Here's today's box score. A good match for her, with an efficiency statistic of 21.

FIBA LiveStats

Lega Basket Femminile, Serie A1 Femminile, Check out the full statistics here

fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com

 

[oldude]

Here's today's box score. A good match for her, with an efficiency statistic of 21.

FIBA LiveStats

Lega Basket Femminile, Serie A1 Femminile, Check out the full statistics here

fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com

I only see a +/- of +10. Still not bad. I like the 5/6 inside the arc. Not so much the 0/4 outside the arc. I like the 7 rebounds and I really like the 5 steals!!!

 

[Alydar]

I only see a +/- of +10. Still not bad. I like the 5/6 inside the arc. Not so much the 0/4 outside the arc. I like the 7 rebounds and I really like the 5 steals!!!

It's her defense that gets the raves, along with her athleticism. The fact that she has been training in Europe is reason to think she could contribute right away. They learn team skills over there.

 

[Alydar]

She had 1 foul and was fouled 4 times. 5 steals and 1 TO. 7 boards & 2 blks. This is a 17 year-old playing in a pro league. Physically she is dominating a bunch of 20-somethings.

 

[Bone Dog]

She had 1 foul and was fouled 4 times. 5 steals and 1 TO. 7 boards & 2 blks. This is a 17 year-old playing in a pro league. Physically she is dominating a bunch of 20-somethings.

It’s those long arms and pasty hands along with her natural aggressiveness that gets all this steals and blocks. If she’s playing next to our bigs next year, I suspect she’ll get a lot more blocks as opponents try to avoid Jana Sarah Ayanna and Gandy.

 

[BobbyJ]

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/blanca-quinonez-class-of-2025-recruit-huskies-19836679.php

 

[DEpup]

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/blanca-quinonez-class-of-2025-recruit-huskies-19836679.php

Let's hope there a lots of young players watching the WNBA finals and saying I want to go to UConn and be good like Pheesa and Stewie!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

It’s those long arms and pasty hands along with her natural aggressiveness that gets all this steals and blocks. If she’s playing next to our bigs next year, I suspect she’ll get a lot more blocks as opponents try to avoid Jana Sarah Ayanna and Gandy.

Okay @Bone Dog , I've tried hard to figure this out, but ... "pasty hands" is really?

 

[Scud49]

Okay @Bone Dog , I've tried hard to figure this out, but ... "pasty hands" is really?

Yea, me too. I'm guessing soft, Randy Moss style, never miss kinda mitts...?

 

[Bone Dog]

Okay @Bone Dog , I've tried hard to figure this out, but ... "pasty hands" is really?

It was autocorrected from pesky hands. Stupid phone!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

It was autocorrected from pesky hands. Stupid phone!

Gotcha ... I always forget to check my text before hitting send. You can get in trouble with that!

 

[Staven]

From what I have read and heard Blanca can be a real difference maker for Geno. She has the size and speed and is super aggressive when driving to the basket. I watched a couple clips of her outside shooting that seems to need a little work but overall she's a solid player. I'd be shocked if she is relegated to the end of bench. I've also read that she is mature for her age with comparisons to several successful WNBA players but that is just talk. Time will tell. I trust Geno and his staff know what they are doing.

 

[From Canada]

Yesterday's box score - 6pts, 5 rebs, efficiency 9

FIBA LiveStats

Lega Basket Femminile, Serie A1 Femminile, Check out the full statistics here

fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com

Blanca played only 9:22 yesterday, suffering from a sprained left ankle, and went off early in the 3rd quarter. The injury was to be assessed in the hours following the game, and the coach hoped it was nothing serious. Even with only 9:22 to play, she was still the player on whom their opponent committed the most fouls with 4. The original article is just below.

LA MOLISANA MAGNOLIA CALA IL POKER: ANCHE BATTIPAGLIA CEDE ALLE CAMPOBASSANE - Magnolia Basket Campobasso

L’analisi del tecnico dei #fioridacciaio Mimmo Sabatelli: «Una gara di grande sostanza all’insegna di tanta intensità». Scalia una sentenza dall’arco dei tre punti. Al 40’ le rossoblù hanno la meglio di 56, bissando l’exploit delle junior

www.magnoliabasket.it