There is one New Kid on the block that is worth every penny and then some --this fits 2 or more Uconn standouts--but I speak of Stewie. SHe is hitting the floor running and scoring--I expected it but few meet expectations--Stew shines brightly.
Another Uconn, super good non-star, is out shining others and beating the expectations of some if not many---Kiah Stokes--a value pick.
Sometimes a new coaching staff tries hard to change a College now pro player and it ruins them--I read a bit about KML being required to lose weight. If you follow Geno he rarely messes with a kids shooting style --unless they are missing more than making. Often a good "leaving alone" works wonders.
Completely agree on Stokes. Kiah is slowly coming around. Her UConn pedigree is evident. Liberty head coach Bill Laimbeer (like Jerry West) can see potential talent when others don't. West saw Kobi Bryant's potential when Kobi was still in high school. Kobi was
the first guard to ever be taken out of high school. Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall
draft pick by the
Charlotte Hornets in 1996. West traded for Bryant right after the draft.
If you remember, trader Bill traded UP to get Kiah in the first round last year. He had already made
Brittany Boyd (Cal) the 9th pick in the first round. He drafted Kiah two picks later at #11.
Kiah usually plays more minutes than several of the starters. Laimbeer depends on her now.
Stokes has earned his trust. Carolyn Swords starts the game at the 5, but Kiah finishes it. She's
always in the game at the end. Stokes has become Laimbeer's chief "rim protector" (CRP).
Kiah is better than she was at this time last year, but she's not as good as she will be this time next year. She keeps getting better every day. I watched the entire Liberty/Mercury game yesterday. Kiah is doing things offensively that she did not do at UConn.
She's 7th in the league in
rebounds with
8.1. She's third in the league in
blocks behind Elizabeth Williams and Brittany Griner with
2.1 (She leads the team with 31.Tthe next closest player has 9).
She's 3rd on the team (behind Charles & Rogers) in total minutes with 404. She's averaging
7.9 points a game. She's gaining and maturity and confidence with every game. Her points/rebound numbers are increasing. She's had several double-doubles already this season. I expect Kiah to average a double-double in two more years. At 23 years old, she is a
long way from peaking athletically. Kiah's stock (and popularity) is definitely on the rise in the BIG apple.
Stay tuned.
