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Blanca Quiñonez Commits to UConn

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From Canada said:
This is the translated version of an article written two years ago. She had just turned 16. The link to the original version follows the article.

Move (Autor: Felipe Núñez , August 07 2022)
Blanca Quiñónez, the basketball player from Milagro who plays in Italy



The young athlete migrated to Europe when she was 13 years old and is the greatest exponent of Ecuadorian women's basketball. Blanca Quiñonez has become the revelation of Ecuadorian basketball. The Guayasense has had a rapid rise in her career and, at just 16 years of age, she is already rubbing shoulders with the best players in her category worldwide.


At her young age, the Milagro-born player already has three years of experience playing abroad, and eight more years excelling in the sport. Basketball has been the life of this young athlete, who has already attracted the attention of the JR NBA and dreams of playing in the big leagues. She is also a proud member of the Ecuadorian national team and has stood out at the continental level representing the country.


A great talent from a very young age


Blanquita was five years old when she started playing basketball. It was in a vacation course of the Milagro league along with her twin and older brother. “During my first games I was always put last, to defend inside the area because I was the tallest, I stood completely still,” she recalls in a chat with PRIMICIAS.


However, as she learned about technique and fundamentals, the young athlete stood out and showed herself to be one of the most skilled in her province. At the age of 11, she competed in the National Under-15 Games and stood out as the best athlete of the tournament, which earned her first call-up to the Ecuadorian national team. In 2018 she competed in the FIBA U15 South American Championship of the category in Chile and led Ecuador to place second, which secured her place in the FIBA U16 Americas Championship. In that tournament, played in 2019, the Tricolor team only reached fifth place, but the Guayasense shone again and attracted the attention of teams abroad.

Finally it was the Italian club La Molisana Magnolia that managed to convince her, and at the age of 13 the Ecuadorian left for the old continent.


A tough start in Italy


Blanquita describes those first days away from her family as “the hardest moment of her career”. It was a very complicated stage emotionally. She confesses that it took her up to two months to get used to her new environment and that she hardly ate during that period. In addition, she did not play for the whole of the first year, as she was in her training stage. The change in level from Ecuador to Italy was also a challenge. “I quickly understood that it was a high-intensity league. They also demanded a lot more of me, because there was a limited quota for foreign players.

And there was one more detail; she immediately had to learn the language because she had to enter school, where she was on scholarship thanks to her team. Despite all these challenges at the age of 13, Blanquita managed to advance and began to play, excelling in numerous commitments. The game she remembers most was on September 25, 2021, in a EuroCup qualifier. The Ecuadorian scored 17 points and four rebounds, and was key to her team's close 65-64 victory over Spain's Durán Maquinaria.


Watched by the JR NBA


Blanquita is a player watched worldwide and has caught the attention of the NBA. The Ecuadorian has already lived two experiences in the Academy Games program, which brings together the best youth basketball players worldwide. The first was in 2020, in Mexico, where she was chosen as the MVP of the edition. “Quiñonez has the quality to score, filter in the area, make baskets, help in defense and get out quickly,” said Jennifer Azzi, her instructor. The Miracle player repeated this experience in July 2022, in Atlanta, United States. “It was very nice and I shared with great people. They taught us new moves and game readings”. Upon her return to Ecuador, Blanquita describes this experience as “unique” and believes that it was the perfect opportunity to learn how to play the game.

In August, the Guayasense represented the country at the South American Championship in San Luis, Argentina, where the national team did not make it past the group stage. After this, Blanca Quiñonez will return to Italy to play her fourth year at Magnolia, the last of her contract. The young basketball player is still uncertain about her future, but she already knows what her long-term goal will be.

“My goal is clear: to play in the big leagues. But I have to take it step by step, I have to concentrate, give my best now that I'm in Italy and improve every day,” says the promising national basketball player.



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


www.primicias.ec

Blanca Quiñónez, la basquetbolista de Milagro que juega en Italia

La joven deportista migró a Europa cuando tenía 13 años y es la mayor exponente del básquet femenino ecuatoriano. Recientemente participó en un programa de la NBA.
www.primicias.ec www.primicias.ec
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A VERY NICE SUMMARY, Thank you for posting it and the LINK! Z
 
Zarathustra said:
I saw this reference in the article written by Gabreilla Lewis in "THE NEXT". It was buried deep in the article and was a comment made by theCoach of Blanca's "RED TEAM". The coach was Betty Lennox who was the 2000? WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR and a many years player in the WNBA. Part of Coach Lennox's statement was ( I believe ): " The overall tournament's standout player is 15 year old Blanca Quinones, 6' 3". etc. etc." You can GOOGLEthe article yourself and read the comments for more clarification: google: "The World's Best Prospects take on the NBA ACADEMY". You may also have to add: "THE NEXT"or Gabreilla Lewis's name to the search.

I think the actual statement, to my memory, was that Ms. Quinonez would succeed in the WNBA, maybe not exactly that she is now "ready" for the WNBA. Note the article was incorrect stating the Ms. Quinonez was 15 years old. She is now 18 years old and was
17 at the time of the 2024 Women's Academy Game(s) in Atlanta Georgia on July 10 - 16 ? , 2024 at HOLY INNOCENT'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL in Atlanta. Also, as previously noted on the BONEYARD, Ms. Quinones is rated by FIBA as 6'0" (2022 data), and by her Magnolia La Molisana WBB team as just over 6 ' 1" (186 cm) (2024 data).

Blanca's Ecuadorian team was in the FIBA SOUTH AMERICAN WOMEN's Championship in August 2022 which was won by Brazil. The Brazilian team included such players as Kamilla Cardoso of the Gamecocks and Stephanie Soares of Iowa State. Blanca did not play in all the tournament games. The league in which Blanca is now playing, has Sara Scalia, formerly of Indiana U, on her team and players like Marina Mabrey and, Rhyne Howard on SCHIO team roster, another team in the league.

The sponsoring company for the Magnolia La Molisana WBB team is a pasta company. The town is about 150 miles southeast of ROME (should you plan a visit ,to see her play!). The company sponsor multiple WBB teams in various league play: Blanca was on their "A1 / youth" team in 2020-2021 and on their A1 Euro cup team in 2021-2022 and on their A1 Italian Cup team during 2022-2023. These teams and tournaments were NOT of the same caliber of the team that she is now on. It would be misleading to say that she has been playing against WNBA and European professionals for the whole 3 + years that she has been affiliated with the Campobasso town WBB squads. Sorry about the long answer. There are many possible areas for potential misinterpretation and misinformation. In brief, IMHO, UCONN is very fortunate to have Blanca Francheska Quinones! GO UCONN!!! WELCOME Blanca!
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The article saying Blanca was 15 is from July 2022

Search for The world's best prospects take on NBA Academy from The Next
 


Here's the video of the U17 Italy 2023 U17 National Final held in June 203 (#11 black). Blanca won the MVP title. She was not yet back in Ecuador in the summer of 2023, in which case she would certainly have participated in the South American U17 Championship (Ecuador finished 6th and did not place), which gave access to the 2024 Americas U18 Championship. On the South American side and for the Central Americas, there are U15 and U17 FIBA championships giving access the following year to the Americas U16 or U17 championships. On the North American side, Canada and the USA automatically qualify.
 
donalddoowop said:
Is her name Bianca or Blanca? We need to spell the name of UConn recruits correctly. Just saying.
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Speaking of correct spelling, here is a quick and dirty lesson in Spanish orthography.

Her name is pronounced Key NYOWN ace. The ñ is like the ny in canyon. Because her last name ends with a “z”, the next to last syllable, the penultimate, requires an acute accent: Blanca Quiñónez.

If it were to end with an “s”, it wouldn't need the accent, and the pronunciation would remain the same. That's because Spanish words ending in a vowel or the letters “n” and “s” have the penultimate syllable accented in speech. Words ending in consonants have the emphasis on the final syllable, unless another syllable has a written accent.

The article posted by @Zarathustra, and originally by @From Canada above, has it written correctly in the headline, but screws it up in the translated text.

“Blanca Quiñónez, la basquetbolista de Milagro que juega en Italia”

So, to answer @donalddoowop's question, her first name is
Blanca. Her last name, with two diacritics, is Quiñónez.

Feel free to copy and paste. ñ ó
 
From Canada said:


Here's the video of the U17 Italy 2023 U17 National Final held in June 203 (#11 black). Blanca won the MVP title. She was not yet back in Ecuador in the summer of 2023, in which case she would certainly have participated in the South American U17 Championship (Ecuador finished 6th and did not place), which gave access to the 2024 Americas U18 Championship. On the South American side and for the Central Americas, there are U15 and U17 FIBA championships giving access the following year to the Americas U16 or U17 championships. On the North American side, Canada and the USA automatically qualify.
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I've got the wrong match, here's the final match. You can see at the end 2:35:18 his interview with his Ecuador flag on his shoulders.
 
Sifaka said:
Speaking of correct spelling, here is a quick and dirty lesson in Spanish orthography.

Her name is pronounced Key NYOWN ace. The ñ is like the ny in canyon. Because her last name ends with a “z”, the next to last syllable, the penultimate, requires an acute accent: Blanca Quiñónez.

If it were to end with an “s”, it wouldn't need the accent, and the pronunciation would remain the same. That's because Spanish words ending in a vowel or the letters “n” and “s” have the penultimate syllable accented in speech. Words ending in consonants have the emphasis on the final syllable, unless another syllable has a written accent.

The article posted by @Zarathustra, and originally by @From Canada above, has it written correctly in the headline, but screws it up in the translated text.

“Blanca Quiñónez, la basquetbolista de Milagro que juega en Italia”

So, to answer @donalddoowop's question, her first name is
Blanca. Her last name, with two diacritics, is Quiñónez.

Feel free to copy and paste. ñ ó
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I looked up the translation of "Blanquita" used in the article from "Primicias" (an Ecuadorean
"digital media outlet "). The best translation is (to my way of thinking) is " Little Blanca " i.e.
a diminutive form of Blanca.
One should be careful however to use the term as Blanca is no longer "Little" and there was
a note of a slang usage of the term in Ecuador, i.e.. "little white" meaning cocaine. The article also
refers to Blanca as "the Guayasian " which refers to her because she is from the city of
Milagro which is in the province/district/canton of Guayas (I think that I spelled that
correctly). Milagro is about 5 hours, 232 miles South Southwest of Quito. Blanca's next game in
Italy is on Sunday.
 
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NycUcWbbFan said:
Both.

Plus a light-bulb finally clicked with him that a vast reservoir of international talent is uniquely available to him.
  • Geno and players who played for him at UConn are very well respected internationally and by US players that play FIBA basketball on international teams;
  • So, if Geno reciprocates interest in a presumably great international recruit — which U.S. recruiting services typically ignore — who want to be trained by the best, Geno has a great shot at getting them;
  • Gandy, Blanca, hopefully Lara, hopefully Olivia are arguably recent Geno recruiting predilections;
  • we should thank Morgan Valley for the focused recruiting work she has done;
  • we should also thank Nika, Lou, Aaliyah and Dorka for the recent deep impressions they left with Geno.
It takes a special player to appreciate being part of a deep roster that focuses on practice-driven development. Geno is finding enough recruits he really wants by also tapping internationally. (Hopefully, there will be no more reprise of departures from recent classes).
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I think the main driver of the expanding roster is the transfer portal, with the secondary being the rash of injuries. I think every coach is aware of what a mess the transfer portal makes of their long term planning and has had to adapt. Geno also isn't likely to do a deep dive into the portal like some have - so far the transfers he has taken are grad transfers - Dorka was unusual in that she graduated in three years so he had her for two years.

As far as 25/26 classes - I suspect he has a good idea of who is leaving when and there may be more scholarships opening up. But two 4 player classes in a row would by necessity shrink following classes, if every one stays.
 
UcMiami said:
I think the main driver of the expanding roster is the transfer portal, with the secondary being the rash of injuries. I think every coach is aware of what a mess the transfer portal makes of their long term planning and has had to adapt. Geno also isn't likely to do a deep dive into the portal like some have - so far the transfers he has taken are grad transfers - Dorka was unusual in that she graduated in three years so he had her for two years.

As far as 25/26 classes - I suspect he has a good idea of who is leaving when and there may be more scholarships opening up. But two 4 player classes in a row would by necessity shrink following classes, if every one stays.
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True, the portal and NIL was the paradigm shift;
  • The plague and dipping in the international pool spurred Geno’s innovations in recruiting to deal with it.
I think the past few years’ plague revealed:
  • Geno’s previous roster limit (11-12), to avoid chemistry issues, is untenable;
  • Geno doesn’t much care for emergency portal shopping;
  • Geno would rather have earlier recruited a player for contingencies;
  • He would avoid chemistry issues by filling his roster with the player that he wants, when he wants such a player, and such a player who is really enthused with the four-year practice culture driven development program.
As Dawn is finding out, and Geno avoided being bitten, there will be down U.S. recruiting years for major programs;
  • 2025 could have been such a year with Geno;
  • but he got Gandy when he wanted an agile post at this time, when posts seem to gravitate to other programs;
  • Geno probably looked at 2025 and 2026 wings, decided he wants one wing in 2025, and had quality plans A, B, C, etc. until he got Blanca from the international pool;
  • Geno could have settled on Brynn McGaughy but he is holding out for Lara.
Having a deeper pool by proactively harnessing the international pool which he has unique access to, Geno is better able to deal with the portal/NIL — getting recruits he wants, when he wants them, who will be less likely to avail of the portal.

The portal is still available to him for non-emergency team-enhancing transfers that fit his program.
 
NycUcWbbFan said:
Am really excited about Blanca whom Geno really wanted.
  • As many have opined, Blanca’s skills (other than 3 point shooting which she is working on) and attributes are remarkable;
  • She’s comparable to Jana to me in immediate team impact — a big fish in a small pond (Ecuador’s national teams) who then played in a European professional league where she learned fundamental physical basketball for her base development playing with more advanced players;
  • A poster remarked that Agot Makeer has poor fundamentals, which shouldn’t be the case for Blanca.
Doggedly pursuing a wing (Blanca) and a forward (Lara) this year — both of whom he seemingly really wants — is a window into his seeming preference for developing recruits rather than relying on the portal.

There are three remaining slots for all of 2025 (recruits and transfers) and 2026 recruits:
  • Geno seems to really want Olivia Vukosa for 2026;
  • Geno hasn’t had a 1-player class in a while;
  • this seems to point to him pursuing at least a 2-player 2026 class, say with Jerzy Robinson, a versatile scoring point guard;
  • one 2025 slot seems reserved for Lara Somfai (whom he visited at their school with Kellis) if she wants it;
  • I doubt, given what he currently has and what he wants for 2026, that he will pursue a generic 2025 transfer;
  • Geno seems to be increasingly comfortable with 13-15 player rosters. And his practice-driven development culture and usual type of recruits with goals on making it the next level, make it work.
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Who said Agot has poor fundamentals? I don't see how a top 5 player in her class that's a Wing can have poor fundamentals. For me Agot is now the next priority then followed by Somfai. OFC would like both. UCONN has Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Gandy and Sarah in the forntcourt for next season excluding possiblities of smaller "PF's." Right now UCONN would have 3 Centers ahead of Somfai for next season. And frankly, next season over 90% if not 95% or more Sarah can play center after she gets one year under her belt. Blanca looks scary good at a variety of spots. Morgan is also scary good and can probably play a smaller PF.

As we saw with Iowa beating SOCar once and giving them trouble the 2nd time, UONN has more talent than what they had for this year and the next few..
 
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Zarathustra said:
Milagro is about 5 hours, 232 miles South Southwest of Quito
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Correct. It's also just a bit over 20 miles from Guayaquil,the biggest city in Ecuador.

IMG_2360.jpeg
IMG_2362.jpeg
 
hoophuskee said:
Who said Agot has poor fundamentals? I don't see how a top 5 player in her class that's a Wing can have poor fundamentals. For me Agot is now the next priority then followed by Somfai. OFC would like both. UCONN has Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Gandy and Sarah in the forntcourt for next season excluding possiblities of smaller "PF's." Right now UCONN would have 3 Centers ahead of Somfai for next season. And frankly, next season over 90% if not 95% or more Sarah can play center after she gets one year under her belt. Blanca looks scary good at a variety of spots. Morgan is also scary good and can probably play a smaller PF.

As we saw with Iowa beating SOCar once and giving them trouble the 2nd time, UONN has more talent than what they had for this year and the next few..
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I have to disagree! Somfai is definitely a higher priority than Agot! We have a surfeit of 6’1”& 6’2” players! Somfai at 6’4” is the more important recruit, especially in light of Blanca’s committment!
 
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hoophuskee said:
Right now UCONN would have 3 Centers ahead of Somfai for next season. And frankly, next season over 90% if not 95% or more Sarah can play center after she gets one year under her belt. Blanca looks scary good at a variety of spots. Morgan is also scary good and can probably play a smaller PF.
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I’m with @Cuango on this. Geno does not have 3 centers ahead of Lara for next season. We have 1 center and one very promising ‘project’ at center in Gandy. Don’t get me wrong, I have very high hopes for Gandy and think she can become a dominant center by her junior year. If Lara commits, she’ll probably be ahead of Gandy on the depth chart, so to speak. I expect Geno will occasionally play a twin towers lineup too, rotating all three in that role. Lara and Gandy will be a formidable pair in their senior season, probably the best frontcourt in D1. And the Big O will be right behind them, if all goes well.

What Geno will also have is a bunch of power forwards in Ice Ayanna and Sarah, and a fleet of small forwards (or wings?) in Blanca, Q, Allie, Morgan, maybe Caroline too. This looks like the most crowded position for next season.

I think this definitely puts Lara higher on the wishlist than Agot.

.
 
hoophuskee said:
Who said Agot has poor fundamentals? I don't see how a top 5 player in her class that's a Wing can have poor fundamentals. For me Agot is now the next priority then followed by Somfai. OFC would like both. UCONN has Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Gandy and Sarah in the forntcourt for next season excluding possiblities of smaller "PF's." Right now UCONN would have 3 Centers ahead of Somfai for next season. And frankly, next season over 90% if not 95% or more Sarah can play center after she gets one year under her belt. Blanca looks scary good at a variety of spots. Morgan is also scary good and can probably play a smaller PF.

As we saw with Iowa beating SOCar once and giving them trouble the 2nd time, UONN has more talent than what they had for this year and the next few..
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The attribution of the statement on Agot is a hyperlink.

Whether Geno prefers Agot vs Lara at this point, I think he prefers Lara.
  • Sarah says Geno can place her wherever she wants, but it seems she prefers to be a 3/4 for the pros;
  • With Agot, Sarah may be used more as a 4; the same with Ice;
  • With Lara, Sarah and Ice can take turns with varying percentages at the 3 and the 4 with Morgan and Blanca;
  • The 3/4/5 will be a particular UConn strength; it seems we may be witnessing what it looks like to add South Carolina’s strength to UConn’s beautiful basketball.
 
Bone Dog said:
I’m with @Cuango on this. Geno does not have 3 centers ahead of Lara for next season. We have 1 center and one very promising ‘project’ at center in Gandy. Don’t get me wrong, I have very high hopes for Gandy and think she can become a dominant center by her junior year. If Lara commits, she’ll probably be ahead of Gandy on the depth chart, so to speak. I expect Geno will occasionally play a twin towers lineup too, rotating all three in that role. Lara and Gandy will be a formidable pair in their senior season, probably the best frontcourt in D1. And the Big O will be right behind them, if all goes well.

What Geno will also have is a bunch of power forwards in Ice Ayanna and Sarah, and a fleet of small forwards (or wings?) in Blanca, Q, Allie, Morgan, maybe Caroline too. This looks like the most crowded position for next season.

I think this definitely puts Lara higher on the wishlist than Agot.

.
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I agree but wanted to make one additional point. Gandy and Somfai have totally different traits. To that extent they can be complimentary.
Gandy with defense and rebounding, perhaps a Kia Stokes type, and Somfai with a versatile offensive skill set. depending on game needs Geno could go either way.

But that is looking at both as C's, which is appropriate for Gandy, but Somfai may be more 4 than 5, with some possibility at the 3, which could be true of Sarah as well. Right now I would consider Somfai ahead of Gandy, Ice, and Ayanna. A higher rated recruit than Gandy, and ahead of the other two because at least thus far, they have under-performed their HS rankings.

I thought we only needed one wing from Davidson, Makeer and Prawl, and I didn't know about Blanca, but I think she now feels that need. At this point the question marks upfront are still greater IMO. Plenty of talented players big and small, but pretty much no proven upfront talent except for Aubrey at the 4 when she returns. Do I think both Jana and Sarah will be the real deal? Yes! but with Gandy, Ice and Ayanna I am not so sure.
 
NycUcWbbFan said:
True, the portal and NIL was the paradigm shift;
  • The plague and dipping in the international pool spurred Geno’s innovations in recruiting to deal with it.
I think the past few years’ plague revealed:
  • Geno’s previous roster limit (11-12), to avoid chemistry issues, is untenable;
  • Geno doesn’t much care for emergency portal shopping;
  • Geno would rather have earlier recruited a player for contingencies;
  • He would avoid chemistry issues by filling his roster with the player that he wants, when he wants such a player, and such a player who is really enthused with the four-year practice culture driven development program.
As Dawn is finding out, and Geno avoided being bitten, there will be down U.S. recruiting years for major programs;
  • 2025 could have been such a year with Geno;
  • but he got Gandy when he wanted an agile post at this time, when posts seem to gravitate to other programs;
  • Geno probably looked at 2025 and 2026 wings, decided he wants one wing in 2025, and had quality plans A, B, C, etc. until he got Blanca from the international pool;
  • Geno could have settled on Brynn McGaughy but he is holding out for Lara.
Having a deeper pool by proactively harnessing the international pool which he has unique access to, Geno is better able to deal with the portal/NIL — getting recruits he wants, when he wants them, who will be less likely to avail of the portal.

The portal is still available to him for non-emergency team-enhancing transfers that fit his program.
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I don't believe there's been any holding out for Somfai. Along with their size, both kids were recruited and had offers at the same time for their versatility and their F/W skills and shooting ability. McGaughy made her own decision to stay home but had she wanted in, I believe Auriemma would have been pleased to take them both. I think McGaughy's decision coupled with Taliyah Henderson also declining his subsequent summer offer raised the priority level to go after Quinonez. I do think that Quinonez is better than any of the pure wings that were available in the 2025 US class other than possibly Davidson.
 
NycUcWbbFan said:
The attribution of the statement on Agot is a hyperlink.

Whether Geno prefers Agot vs Lara at this point, I think he prefers Lara.
  • Sarah says Geno can place her wherever she wants, but it seems she prefers to be a 3/4 for the pros;
  • With Agot, Sarah may be used more as a 4; the same with Ice;
  • With Lara, Sarah and Ice can take turns with varying percentages at the 3 and the 4 with Morgan and Blanca;
  • The 3/4/5 will be a particular UConn strength; it seems we may be witnessing what it looks like to add South Carolina’s strength to UConn’s beautiful basketball.
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Where is the hyperlink? In regard to fundamentals also note Dailey once said, "We don’t want to have to worry about matching up to other teams, we want to force them to match up to us." Moriah Jefferson was moslty recruited because she was "fast" that's what the staff told Geno about her. Agot with Blanca and KK - and Kelis and Q - there is a development of "fast." While Agot can have deficiencies in some fundamentals I highly doubt it's poor for a #4 ranked recruit. Thus her elite athletcism would/could overcome that. I'm guessing that's why she's rated 4th. Her fundamentals probably aren't "poor."

Looks like I'm in a minority here. :)With respect to all that disagree with me - and the excellent I and I mean excellent posters that do disagree with me--on this thread (you are excellent Cuango and Bonedog as are you are Nyc :)) (I thought it best to reply to the last post made to me by you rather than individually post to all 3.) - imo height is extremely overrated. Iowa beat SoCar once and played them pretty close this past year. Who were Iowa's "Centers" during these times? How tall were they and how tall in comparison vs their opponent?)? If they were able to compete (and win) with such smaller lineups at the Center position then there is no way UCONN can't win with their group of 3+ Bigs. UCONN has three that should be very capable of defending the post with another year .

Geno might prefer Somfai I don't know. But Geno also loves to play small and play fast. He loves to run. He doesn't want to play slow-ball. To further this, If UCONN gets Agot added with Blanca and with all the posts and guards UCONN has - then all the talk of pressing and/or variation of ball pressure etc is highlighted with freak athletes UCONN would have with Blanca and Agot. **I do understand that with his offers in 2026 to smaller plays in the 6 foot range" that it sems he could be fine with a preference of a Big because the 2026 6'0 players are also terrific. So maybe they can be content in terms of preference because they have "enough." . But with that said, that’s why I'm saying UCNN already has enough Bigs too. So instead they could just look to get the better player rather than be so focused on height. Agot looks like a freak athlete. Maybe she isn't I don't know. But she looks terrific. Anyhow, in Geno I trust. :)

As far as Sarah wishing to play, her favorite player was Maya Moore. Other than her frosh year in which she was mostly the SF and under duress her sr year when Stef got into foul trouble, Maya was UCONN's PF yet she played the same style she did in the WNBA in which she was predominantly the SF. IMo there is no reason to believe that Sarah can't be a PF on Offense and Defense and play the game like a Stretch 4 but also be a hammer in the paint. Thus her game easily would transition to the WNBA without UCONN having to force themselves to play "Big" if the talent is more with the smaller Wings/Guards. In addition, UCONN has had stars play in different positions in College than in the pros. Gabby is more a guard now. Swin Cash was inside but in WNBA at her peak was a big-time slasher. And late in her career she had a 3pt shot. Morgan Tuck played a lot on the inside and guarded more of the bulkier centers; she wasn’t going to do that in the pros.

As for the lineups, why go "Big" with Sarah at the SF with Lara and Ice as the PF (assume Jana is the Center) next year if the Guards and Wings are better, and just keep Sarah at the 4? (This all assumes ofc Sarah is terrific). WHo knows at this point. Just fun discussion.
 
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.-.
hoophuskee said:
Where is the hyperlink? In regard to fundamentals also note Dailey once said, "We don’t want to have to worry about matching up to other teams, we want to force them to match up to us." Moriah Jefferson was moslty recruited because she was "fast" that's what the staff told Geno about her. Agot with Blanca and KK - and Kelis and Q - there is a development of "fast." While Agot can have deficiencies in some fundamentals I highly doubt it's poor for a #4 ranked recruit. Thus her elite athletcism would/could overcome that. I'm guessing that's why she's rated 4th. Her fundamentals probably aren't "poor."

Looks like I'm in a minority here. :)With respect to all that disagree with me - and the excellent I and I mean excellent posters that do disagree with me--on this thread (you are excellent Cuango and Bonedog as are you are Nyc :)) (I thought it best to reply to the last post made to me by you rather than individually post to all 3.) - imo height is extremely overrated. Iowa beat SoCar once and played them pretty close this past year. Who were Iowa's "Centers" during these times? How tall were they and how tall in comparison vs their opponent?)? If they were able to compete (and win) with such smaller lineups at the Center position then there is no way UCONN can't win with their group of 3+ Bigs. UCONN has three that should be very capable of defending the post with another year .

Geno might prefer Somfai I don't know. But Geno also loves to play small and play fast. He loves to run. He doesn't want to play slow-ball. To further this, If UCONN gets Agot added with Blanca and with all the posts and guards UCONN has - then all the talk of pressing and/or variation of ball pressure etc is highlighted with freak athletes UCONN would have with Blanca and Agot. **I do understand that with his offers in 2026 to smaller plays in the 6 foot range" that it sems he could be fine with a preference of a Big because the 2026 6'0 players are also terrific. So maybe they can be content in terms of preference because they have "enough." . But with that said, that’s why I'm saying UCNN already has enough Bigs too. So instead they could just look to get the better player rather than be so focused on height. Agot looks like a freak athlete. Maybe she isn't I don't know. But she looks terrific. Anyhow, in Geno I trust. :)

As far as Sarah wishing to play, her favorite player was Maya Moore. Other than her frosh year in which she was mostly the SF and under duress her sr year when Stef got into foul trouble, Maya was UCONN's PF yet she played the same style she did in the WNBA in which she was predominantly the SF. IMo there is no reason to believe that Sarah can't be a PF on Offense and Defense and play the game like a Stretch 4 but also be a hammer in the paint. Thus her game easily would transition to the WNBA without UCONN having to force themselves to play "Big" if the talent is more with the smaller Wings/Guards. In addition, UCONN has had stars play in different positions in College than in the pros. Gabby is more a guard now. Swin Cash was inside but in WNBA at her peak was a big-time slasher. And late in her career she had a 3pt shot. Morgan Tuck played a lot on the inside and guarded more of the bulkier centers; she wasn’t going to do that in the pros.

As for the lineups, why go "Big" with Sarah at the SF with Lara and Ice as the PF (assume Jana is the Center) next year if the Guards and Wings are better, and just keep Sarah at the 4? (This all assumes ofc Sarah is terrific). WHo knows at this point. Just fun discussion.
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The attribution was contained in this bullet — the word “remarked” is a hyperlink.
  • A poster remarked that Agot Makeer has poor fundamentals, which shouldn’t be the case for Blanca.
Your rationale for Agot is reasonable. And Geno does still have offers to both Agot and Lara.

===

Yeah, I marvel at the different ways you, Bonedog, Oldude and others (including on the General Board) articulate your thoughts. It made the wait for this season, which I am probably anticipating more than many other seasons, bearable. :)

As to height, I agree with you. I did a post on how UConn teams can win while losing the rebounding battle.
  • of course, it would be easier with the depth that UConn seems to be amassing with players that can play at the 3/4/5;
  • Geno has the collection of players that it is easy to see him making (more) use of specialist lineups such as a shooting lineup, a big lineup, a disruptive defensive lineup;
  • in contrast to other years where Geno has a starting lineup and rotations that yielded a lineup that played functionally the same way as the starting lineup, Geno’s many available lineups offer him not just a competitive weapon, but also a savvy way to utilize his many players;
  • Geno’s schemes and methods do prepare his players to be forever students of basketball; players are better prepared in their entry to the pros and for evolving their play in the pros.
 
Diana's championship teams were not huge. Neither were Maya's. The good runs Iowa had the last two season had a similar structure -- very stable lineups, good defense, no super-bigs, and one great guard who could cary the team. [Don't fuss at me about whether Maya or Diana were guards. They certainly weren't centers or power forwards.] The Gabby-Katie Lou-Phee teams seem like the epitome of the small ball philosophy. Even though they didn't win an NC, they were dominating teams, and they did it through speed, crisp passing, and fierce defense.

The coming seasons will show us a different style of dominance, the sort we saw with Stewie's teams, power and speed and precise execution. But unlike those teams, Geno will have a cadre of speedy medium-bigs like Morgan, Blanca, Q, and another cadre of perimeter shooters in Ash, Allie and Sarah, and speedy PGs in KK and Kelis. And his bigs -- Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Sarah -- may not be as skilled or as quick as Stewie [we'll have to wait and see], they will be fleet of foot compared to the general run of D1.

There is definitely room for Agot in this vision of the future, as there is for Lara, too. Neither of them is necessary for Geno to have a shot at another NC, but either of them would be wonderful to watch fit into his system. I just like the idea that Geno show us yet another way to build a championship team.

And in case anyone wonders, from the clips I've seen, Blanca looks to be at least as quick as Agot, quite a bit stronger, and a better finisher at the rim.
 
Do we know that Agot and Somfai are the only two hanging out there with 2025 offers? Any others?
 
.-.
oldhusky said:
I agree but wanted to make one additional point. Gandy and Somfai have totally different traits. To that extent they can be complimentary.
Gandy with defense and rebounding, perhaps a Kia Stokes type, and Somfai with a versatile offensive skill set. depending on game needs Geno could go either way.

But that is looking at both as C's, which is appropriate for Gandy, but Somfai may be more 4 than 5, with some possibility at the 3, which could be true of Sarah as well. Right now I would consider Somfai ahead of Gandy, Ice, and Ayanna. A higher rated recruit than Gandy, and ahead of the other two because at least thus far, they have under-performed their HS rankings.

I thought we only needed one wing from Davidson, Makeer and Prawl, and I didn't know about Blanca, but I think she now feels that need. At this point the question marks upfront are still greater IMO. Plenty of talented players big and small, but pretty much no proven upfront talent except for Aubrey at the 4 when she returns. Do I think both Jana and Sarah will be the real deal? Yes! but with Gandy, Ice and Ayanna I am not so sure.
Expand ...
I would agree she (Somfai) is definitely ahead of Gandy & Yanna. I’m not so sure about Ice. I think we are all going to be (pleasantly) surprised with Ice’s play this season. I’d have to say that Ice is a better player (especially with the experience she got last season) than Somfai. Will that always be the case? I think so, but Somfai certainly has the tools to be a very good player.
 
Blanca was not in uniform yesterday in her team's victory. Here's the first paragraph of news from the league about yesterday's game. The original link in Italian follows as an attachment. The league calendar is also attached. You can click on squadre at the top right to open the drop-down menu and click on La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso to get the schedule of its team only. The next game is next Sunday, October 13.

Two out of two in the roster of a contest, basketball-wise, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Without bothering Stevenson's pen, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso threads its second consecutive success (in as many games played) and maintains its position at the top of the Techfind Serie A1 of women's basketball, going to conquer Tortona and imposing nine on Derthona of the former Marangoni and Premasunac in the novo of a contest in which - after a first half with some highs and lows cost dearly - between the third and fourth periods the defensive intensity rises again and also the attack shines a very intense light, so much so as to send as many as five elements in double figures on the score sheet closed with miss 'double-double' Kunaiyi top scorer with 21 points and ten rebounds, a twenty for Polish Zięmborska, thirteen points apiece for the Sara tandem (Madera and Scalia) and ten points coming off the bench for captain Trimboli. All this, by the way, on a night when the #fiororidacciaio were without Ecuador's 'starlet' Blanca Quiñonez, who remained in Campobasso due to a swollen knee.

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

www.legabasketfemminile.it

La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso, due su due nella sfida contro Derthona

La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso, due su due nella sfida contro Derthona
www.legabasketfemminile.it
www.legabasketfemminile.it

Lega Basket Femminile

www.legabasketfemminile.it
 
Welcome to the UConn Family, Blanca. While being a student at the Basketball Capital of the World, you’ll be given the opportunity to do great things. You will have the best teachers of the game to guide you, some of the best teammates to help you navigate college life in the USA, and the best BB fans, here on the Boneyard. We, the Boneyarders, have already adopted you as our own, and we will shower you with love. Welcome again, and we wish you all the best with your career.
 
From Canada said:
Blanca was not in uniform yesterday in her team's victory. Here's the first paragraph of news from the league about yesterday's game. The original link in Italian follows as an attachment. The league calendar is also attached. You can click on squadre at the top right to open the drop-down menu and click on La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso to get the schedule of its team only. The next game is next Sunday, October 13.

Two out of two in the roster of a contest, basketball-wise, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Without bothering Stevenson's pen, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso threads its second consecutive success (in as many games played) and maintains its position at the top of the Techfind Serie A1 of women's basketball, going to conquer Tortona and imposing nine on Derthona of the former Marangoni and Premasunac in the novo of a contest in which - after a first half with some highs and lows cost dearly - between the third and fourth periods the defensive intensity rises again and also the attack shines a very intense light, so much so as to send as many as five elements in double figures on the score sheet closed with miss 'double-double' Kunaiyi top scorer with 21 points and ten rebounds, a twenty for Polish Zięmborska, thirteen points apiece for the Sara tandem (Madera and Scalia) and ten points coming off the bench for captain Trimboli. All this, by the way, on a night when the #fiororidacciaio were without Ecuador's 'starlet' Blanca Quiñonez, who remained in Campobasso due to a swollen knee.

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

www.legabasketfemminile.it

La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso, due su due nella sfida contro Derthona

La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso, due su due nella sfida contro Derthona
www.legabasketfemminile.it
www.legabasketfemminile.it

Lega Basket Femminile

www.legabasketfemminile.it
Expand ...
More injuries?
 
.-.
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