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I remember laughing when I read this article last year because Gandy referred to Geno as “staff.” I suppose it’s just how an Irish kid would refer to any coach. But it was funny.Gandy is a raw talent because she started playing later than most Div I girls, at about age 12 and she didn’t play seriously until about age 15. She came to the U.S. 3-4 years ago where she’s received superior coaching compared to her tutelage in Ireland. Her development has been rapid her in the U.S., since I began watching her a few years ago
How Gandy Malou-Mamel went from no-name Irish prospect to UConn commit
The newest Husky only started playing when she was 12 and didn't begin to seriously develop until she arrived in the United States last summer.www.uconnwbbweekly.com
I’m sometimes dinged here for my exuberant optimism and I’m okay with that. And I am optimistic about Gandy. The most recent video I’ve seen was from the FIBA games. It didn’t look like the Irish coaches really knew how to use her very well. But there were a couple of recurring themes also visible in videos of her high school games. She runs the court really well. You don’t often see 6’6” inch women running the floor like that. In fact, I can’t think of another one since A’ja Wilson, who’s a little smaller. Stewie ran the floor like that at UConn. Obviously, Gandy’s not the scorer or rebounder or defender either of them were. And she may not develop into anything remotely like they are in only 4 years at UConn. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see her find success at the next level.
Gandy’s learning curve started later than most prospects. Can she catch up in time to be of use to Geno? I think so, but primarily in these senses: she can become an effective rebounder and a rim protector, she may eventually learn some effective low post scoring moves, and she may learn to finish in transition. This would be the profile of what Kiah was able to give Geno, which is why the two are often compared.
People often observed in Kiah’s early years that when she was in the game there were only 4 scoring options on the floor. We are sure to hear the same thing about Gandy, and we already here it about Ice. It’s also the sort of thing USC fans say about Rayah Marshall. Victaria Saxton was often criticized for her lack of scoring at SC. I mention them because they were important rotation players or starters on good, even great teams. I don’t think Gandy will start in her time at Storrs. But I think she can be a useful contributor.
I suspect Jana will start, perhaps not until her junior year, but maybe sooner. Her scoring will improve as will her other skills, perhaps more quickly than Gandy’s. This is my optimism speaking again. Things could still go wrong for her. But I don’t want to waste my time in worst case speculation.
In Sarah’s time at UConn she’ll play next to Ice Jana and Gandy in the frontcourt, maybe even the Big O. This is a formula Geno knows how to work with.
I don’t know where my reflections are leading me. But one thing Gandy’s interviews show is a young woman who is keen on being coached and getting better. In a recent one from the summer (I think) she said she wanted to work on court awareness and positioning. This is what a kid who listens to her coach carefully says. I took this as a very promising sign.
If we think we need more scoring from the low post, Gandy may not solve this problem, though I think Jana and Sarah will. But Gandy may give Geno another rim protector and 5 more fouls to work with.
