Brunelle To ND

[JS]

In this instance, I absolutely believe that UConn made an offer to Brunelle in 2016, pulled that offer early this year, and it had nothing to do with Brunelle’s basketball ability.

Old Dude, you're a great poster, but I think you've adequately pushed your "incident" theory in multiple posts.

No known basis for it, other than your puzzlement over the course of events, which seem illogical to you. No problem stating it, but you seem on a mission. Let it rest, please.

 

[Orangutan]

on a related note - did Mikayla Vaughn get a red-shirt this year ? She appears to be a true post, while Brunelle looks more like a stretch 4.

Yes. Her injury happened early enough that she will qualify for a "medical redshirt".

 

[oldude]

Old Dude, you're a great poster, but I think you've adequately pushed your "incident" theory in multiple posts.

No known basis for it, other than your puzzlement over the course of events, which seem illogical to you. No problem stating it, but you seem on a mission. Let it rest, please.

Sorry if I’ve beaten a dead horse on this issue, but I was a bit confused this morning when my original post/thread on this subject was deleted for being “speculation.”

 

[Orangutan]

There's obviously something strange about Sam's recruitment and decision-making. It sounds as if there was far more drama than in a normal recruitment.

How so? I really fail to see how there was any "drama". She took some unofficials. She put out a list of finalists. She had some coaches in for home visits. She made a choice. She set up a little event to make the announcement and thank those that supported her. That's all pretty standard.

 

[CocoHusky]

How so? I really fail to see how there was any "drama". She took some unofficials. She put out a list of finalists. She had some coaches in for home visits. She made a choice. She set up a little event to make the announcement and thank those that supported her. That's all pretty standard.

I guess that depends on what we can call drama:
The appearance of Dalphan (sp) on this board claiming to be an insider was very "dramatic".
The change in plans (time frame) for a decision was "dramatic". Original plan was to down select from ~8 to 4 over the summer, make official visits, and make a decision by the early signing period.
The lack of official visits by Samantha was "dramatic".
Samantha's commitment on 4/15/18 represents the earliest commitment of ANY #1 prospect in the last decade.
The denial of a UCONN offer which appeared in the paper 15 minutes after Samantha's announce was very "dramatic".
The appearance of Azzi Fudd in ND gear at Samantha's announcement was very "dramatic".
Samantha has USA basketball trials at the end of the month and will be sharing the gym with about a 1/2 dozen UCONN/ND potential recruits over several days=the drama will continue.

 

[bballnut90]

I guess that depends on what we can call drama:
The appearance of Dalphan (sp) on this board claiming to be an insider was very "dramatic".
The change in plans (time frame) for a decision was "dramatic". Original plan was to down select from ~8 to 4 over the summer, make official visits, and make a decision by the early signing period.
The lack of official visits by Samantha was "dramatic".
Samantha's commitment on 4/15/18 represents the earliest commitment of ANY #1 prospect in the last decade.
The denial of a UCONN offer which appeared in the paper 15 minutes after Samantha's announce was very "dramatic".
The appearance of Azzi Fudd in ND gear at Samantha's announcement was very "dramatic".
Samantha has USA basketball trials at the end of the month and will be sharing the gym with about a 1/2 dozen UCONN/ND potential recruits over several days=the drama will continue.

I don’t see how this is dramatic compared to the announcement of any other highly touted recruit. She had a friend there supporting her and decided on her school toward the end of her junior season. A little different than A’ja Wilson who made a big deal with her decision in April as a senior, or Megan Walker who also had a press conference and made comments about wanting to develop her brand.

Sure she didn’t sign on her car hood like Stewart, but I have zero problems with any top recruit holding a press conference and having an announcement ceremony. Great way to bring some publicity to the sport and celebrate making a huge decision with friends and family. Congrats to Sam on her decision to attend ND. Let’s see what magic Muffet can create with her first #1 recruit.

 

[Dillon77]

Dillon, you are one of the most knowledgeable posters that I read. Notre Dame now has two commits for 2019. Do you know how big a class they will bring in? UCONN is currently recruiting Jones(plays same position as Sam), Boston, the girl from Canada, and one or two guards. Since Jones plays the same position as Brunelle; do you think ND is still strongly recruiting her?

Hey there:
McGraw's Bench is having quite a conversation on this topic. I'll try to bullet-point it for you and if Orangutan or Fightin' Choke wants to add, please join in:
- Muffet McGraw (MM) likes to have a roster of about 12.
- Based on that, she could bring in a class of up to 5 people to get to that number. However, many "Benchers" think four (4) is more of a realistic number, in part because: some of the other target prospects are so highly sought after (Jones, Amihere, perhaps Boston, among them); Muffet's recent insistence that she is only going after recruits that have strong "mutual interest" in each other (no settling either way, if possible); and, the 2020 class is loaded, so if you can't get the one you want in 2019, refocus.
- My gut says MM will still go after Haley Jones hard in that Jones is so versatile that she'd fit in a number of positions for the Irish. BTW, IMHO, I see Brunelle at the high post in the Irish offense (that's where Kat Westbeld played) while I see Jones at the wing (where Jackie Young plays). While Young is probably a guard playing a bit up, she is 6'0" tall and Jones is 6'1".
- As said, other possible prospects include Laeticia Amihere and Fran Belibi at forward and possibly Aliyah Boston at post, who is keeping her list tight and right.
- Lastly, MM and staff (Niele Ivey) keep this pretty close to the vest, so there may be others that they're scouting/talking to.
As I say, Stay tuned!

 

[HuskyNan]

Any further harmful speculation about the motives or thought process of Samantha or any relative will be deleted and the poster banned permanently. Why do I have to keep repeating myself on the his?