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I just returned from the Blair-Paterson girls basketball game (as per CocoHusky's recommendation), and junior Andra Espinoza-Hunter really impressed me. Blair's starting point Honesty Scott-Grayson didn't show, so AEH had to play the point. She is obviously not a lead guard but did her best with it. What she is is a shooting guard and a helluva good one.
Andra didn't look terribly comfortable handling the ball so much and didn't show great passing skills (but she was a willing passer), and she did try to get her teammates involved offensively. While it is clear that her strength is as a catch-and-shoot guard, she drives to the basket with enthusiasm. She has a really sweet shot with beautiful form, a very quick release and tremendous range- it really was a thing of beauty. She played hard on both ends, diving for loose balls and going head-to-head defensively against a big, physical opponent.
Andra was the vocal leader on the floor, encouraging and directing her teammates. In the third quarter, Andra took a nasty spill, getting slammed to the floor in the paint. She remained down for a few minutes, holding her right knee in pain, had it iced and wrapped on the bench, and reentered after 3-4 minutes. Tough kid. With another year to grow, get stronger and improve her skills, Andra is going to fit in nicely and definitely contribute at UConn.
As far as the two 6'9" kids- MEH. They were both legit 6'9" but they are major projects. Aieyotan is obviously new to the game- she was pretty clueless on the court, often smiling sheepishly when she threw the ball away or when she allowed a 5'7" kid to drive the lane and score in her face. Andra constantly had to position her, telling her where to go. Several times Aiyeotan 'ran' to the wrong end of the court, she extended her arms vertically on defense but never left her feet. She was a passive defender who never took advantage of her length and maybe blocked 2 shots all game. She is slow afoot and shuffled up and down the court like she was on ice. She preferred to position herself offensively at the elbow rather than get down low. And she was pushed around by kids half her size.
She'd drive Geno crazy.
The much younger Pat-East kid Aquino played a grand total of 5-6 minutes. Though really skinny and in desperate need of a few happy-meals, she was more athletic and coordinated than Aiyeotan and seemed to have more of an idea of how to play the game. Both kids have incredible length and might be worth the significant investment of time and coaching they'll need to play at the next level. But they have tons to learn, and they are years away (I think) from becoming effective D2 basketball players.
Andra didn't look terribly comfortable handling the ball so much and didn't show great passing skills (but she was a willing passer), and she did try to get her teammates involved offensively. While it is clear that her strength is as a catch-and-shoot guard, she drives to the basket with enthusiasm. She has a really sweet shot with beautiful form, a very quick release and tremendous range- it really was a thing of beauty. She played hard on both ends, diving for loose balls and going head-to-head defensively against a big, physical opponent.
Andra was the vocal leader on the floor, encouraging and directing her teammates. In the third quarter, Andra took a nasty spill, getting slammed to the floor in the paint. She remained down for a few minutes, holding her right knee in pain, had it iced and wrapped on the bench, and reentered after 3-4 minutes. Tough kid. With another year to grow, get stronger and improve her skills, Andra is going to fit in nicely and definitely contribute at UConn.
As far as the two 6'9" kids- MEH. They were both legit 6'9" but they are major projects. Aieyotan is obviously new to the game- she was pretty clueless on the court, often smiling sheepishly when she threw the ball away or when she allowed a 5'7" kid to drive the lane and score in her face. Andra constantly had to position her, telling her where to go. Several times Aiyeotan 'ran' to the wrong end of the court, she extended her arms vertically on defense but never left her feet. She was a passive defender who never took advantage of her length and maybe blocked 2 shots all game. She is slow afoot and shuffled up and down the court like she was on ice. She preferred to position herself offensively at the elbow rather than get down low. And she was pushed around by kids half her size.
She'd drive Geno crazy.
The much younger Pat-East kid Aquino played a grand total of 5-6 minutes. Though really skinny and in desperate need of a few happy-meals, she was more athletic and coordinated than Aiyeotan and seemed to have more of an idea of how to play the game. Both kids have incredible length and might be worth the significant investment of time and coaching they'll need to play at the next level. But they have tons to learn, and they are years away (I think) from becoming effective D2 basketball players.
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but they were never rude, obnoxious or out of line. I've been to high school games where the students' antics were disgusting and their language scorched the paint off the walls it was so nasty.
