Breanna Stewart a "national treasure"

[HuskyNan]

But we already knew that

National treasure Stewart will play for fifth U.S. basketball team

 

[HGN]

This can't do anything but help develop her experience and skill-set....The most Internationally experienced girl to ever play at UConn and she is not even 18 yet.

 

[connboy77]

I can't wait to watch her play for UCONN. She is as complete a player that has ever played women's basketball. I know she hasn't played a single college game yet, but I would be shocked if Breanna doesn't meet, or exceed expectations that everyone has for her.

 

[Chloe]

This can't do anything but help develop her experience and skill-set....The most Internationally experienced girl to ever play at UConn and she is not even 18 yet.

I don't know, I think Sveta had some international experience by the time she arrived at the age of 17. Junior Worlds etc.

 

[Vowelguy]

National treasure? Ugh. Overzealous headline writer.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I don't know, I think Sveta had some international experience by the time she arrived at the age of 17. Junior Worlds etc.

Sveta had far more experience with Russian basketball than did Breanna Stewartalova.

 

[HuskyNan]

Sveta had far more experience with Russian basketball than did Breanna Stewartalova.

I believe Svet was on the Sr. Russian National team as a high schooler.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I believe Svet was on the Sr. Russian National team as a high schooler.

A precocious baller! What a pick-up by Geno et al.!

 

[doggydaddy]

National treasure? Ugh. Overzealous headline writer.

Based on her "national" team experience and being USA women's basketball player of the year, I disagree with you. It was a very appropriate headline.

 

[EricLA]

has there ever been a HS player coming out with more hype and expectations than her? i mean, you can go back and look at some of the incredible #1 players and what was expected, and how many accolades they got, etc...but i've never seen anything like this for Bree. National Treasure? wow...

Taurasi, Parker, Charles, Ogwumike (X2), Griner, Moore, EDD, KML, etc etc. it's hard not to go overboard with praise/expectations, but fortunately Stewart seems really grounded and has a great head on her shoulders. AND she won't have to carry the team from day 1 so she'll have plenty of time to "grow" into her college WCBB experience...

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

has there ever been a HS player coming out with more hype and expectations than her? i mean, you can go back and look at some of the incredible #1 players and what was expected, and how many accolades they got, etc...but i've never seen anything like this for Bree. National Treasure? wow...

Parker came in with more hype and expectations. She won the McDonald's Dunk Contest. She had been featured in ESPN The Magazine. She even made her announcement to attend Tennessee on ESPN News.

 

[speedoo]

Parker came in with more hype and expectations. She won the McDonald's Dunk Contest. She had been featured in ESPN The Magazine. She even made her announcement to attend Tennessee on ESPN News.

Right. And as someone else put it, Stewart signed her LOI on the trunk of a car. Probably an exageration, but the point is made.. Stark contrast, thank goodness.

 

[doggydaddy]

Right. And as someone else put it, Stewart signed her LOI on the trunk of a car. Probably an exageration, but the point is made.. Stark contrast, thank goodness.

Not an exageration. She really did.

 

[doggydaddy]

Parker came in with more hype and expectations. She won the McDonald's Dunk Contest. She had been featured in ESPN The Magazine. She even made her announcement to attend Tennessee on ESPN News.

She won the slam dunk competion. That's true. But she won because the guys missed their last dunks. Her final dunk with covering her eyes with her off arm (wink wink) was not really that impressive. Stewarts one handed slam off an alley oop pass was more impressive.

Maybe more hype, but not more accolades.

 

[sarals24]

I would take two (at least) NCs and maybe a dunk on Tennessee's court, if we are keeping up the Candace comparisons...

 

[EricLA]

Right. And as someone else put it, Stewart signed her LOI on the trunk of a car. Probably an exageration, but the point is made.. Stark contrast, thank goodness.

that is a great point and why i mentioned about Bree being so humble. But Cam is right technically - i forgot that Parker had an ESPN press conference to announce.

and hey - can't take away winning the dunk contest back in the day. of course, the little dribbles she and Leslie pushed over the rim pale in comparison to the literal slams that Griner has thrown down. 2-handed, 1-handed, dunks coming from standing still, or a single drop step - she (Griner) will be the one all future dunkers are now compared to IMHO...

 

[Vowelguy]

has there ever been a HS player coming out with more hype and expectations than her?

EDD is the most hyped player I can recall. She was already getting attention as a frosh, and was making best-of teams as a soph.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe more hype, but not more accolades.

Agreed.

[Am I really agreeing with DD again? Memo to self--don't get carried away! ]

 

[rjp172]

Based on her "national" team experience and being USA women's basketball player of the year, I disagree with you. It was a very appropriate headline.

Age group basketball didn't exist in its current form when most of the previous "greats" were age appropriate. If it did they would have just as much national team experience. She's been very fortunate to come of age in a time that included the inception of U16 Worlds etc.

 

[MilfordHusky]

EDD is the most hyped player I can recall. She was already getting attention as a frosh, and was making best-of teams as a soph.

Per Parade Magazine, Kaleena was the #4 player in the nation as a sophomore, #3 as a junior, and # 1 as a senior. Elena was very highly regarded, but I doubt higher than #4 as a sophomore. Elena may have gotten more recognition as an 8th and 9th grader than anyone. Part of it was her skill set combined with her height. She's 5" taller than Kaleena--at least.

 

[rjp172]

Per Parade Magazine, Kaleena was the #4 player in the nation as a sophomore, #3 as a junior, and # 1 as a senior. Elena was very highly regarded, but I doubt higher than #4 as a sophomore. Elena may have gotten more recognition as an 8th and 9th grader than anyone. Part of it was her skill set combined with her height. She's 5" taller than Kaleena--at least.

I think another component is her appearance. She's beautiful and was obviously going to be very attractive.

 

[Bestiarius]

National treasure? Ugh. Overzealous headline writer.

I think the intent of the headline is related to the subject of the article - the fact that she has been on a lot of national teams, not that she an actual national treasure like the Liberty Bell.

 

[arty155]

I would take two (at least) NCs and maybe a dunk on Tennessee's court, if we are keeping up the Candace comparisons...

-It would take one (at least) USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award for Parker to catch up where Stewart already is now in high school (…freaking High School ??!!!). Maybe finally in 2012? It could happen…
USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year
2006 Taurasi
2007 Wiggins
2008 Smith
2009 Charles
2010 Taurasi
2011 Stewart
-Well, one thing is certain, as soon as they enter games in that USA uniform this summer, we’ll be the ones totally ‘hyped’ up, cheering for them all like crazy – no question all Team USA is our national treasure that hour.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

She won the slam dunk competion. That's true. But she won because the guys missed their last dunks. Her final dunk with covering her eyes with her off arm (wink wink) was not really that impressive. Stewarts one handed slam off an alley oop pass was more impressive.

Maybe more hype, but not more accolades.

"Impressive" was not the question. And while I thought Stewart's dunks were great, did she actually palm the ball? Her dunks were off passes.

Parker won every major award there was to win, including many as a junior.

And, to be fair, we were discussing hype and expectations, not necessarily accolades (though I would agree they could be considered part of "hype").

Parker was the only female to win the slam dunk competition. She was featured in national magazines as a freshman. She was the first female player to announce her decision on ESPN News (and, to date, might be the only one). There isn't much more "hype" than that.

 

[speedoo]

"Impressive" was not the question. And while I thought Stewart's dunks were great, did she actually palm the ball? Her dunks were off passes.

Parker won every major award there was to win, including many as a junior.

And, to be fair, we were discussing hype and expectations, not necessarily accolades (though I would agree they could be considered part of "hype").

Parker was the only female to win the slam dunk competition. She was featured in national magazines as a freshman. She was the first female player to announce her decision on ESPN News (and, to date, might be the only one). There isn't much more "hype" than that.

I am very happy to award Parker the most hyped award. "Winning" that slam dunk "competition" is her centerpiece.