espnW --The 10 best women's basketball recruits regardless of class

[Go/huskies]

Azzi seems more like a combo guard, not sure you want her playing forward in college, but the sky is definitely the limit for that kid.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I can't see ranking a player in the 2023 class over players in the Top 5/10 in the 2020 Class.

 

[DefenseBB]

I can't see ranking a player in the 2023 class over players in the Top 5/10 in the 2020 Class.

Well, I could see maybe ranking 1 or possibly two players like a Fudd or a Bueckers, who as Freshman did overshadow upperclassman. You're right that a Freshman in HS has so much change to endure vs. what a Senior has already accomplished. Simply put, the freshman are too raw and you are relying mostly on potential for them to achieve what you think the will be whereas the Senior and to a slightly lesser extent, a Junior has already shown that transition. So to put 3 Freshman in the Top 10 is extreme especially when I consider how strong the 2020 and 2021 classes are.

 

[Charliebball]

In 2019, Paige got better, and Azzi got hurt. It's hard to say who was better in 2020. Who do you think was better--Maya or Diana? No real consensus there.

Player comparison for Rivers: Michael Jordan. Way closer than Diamond.

I'd say Azzi is the better shooter but PB has extra value because she makes her team better at both ends of the floor whether she scores two points or twenty..........

 

[MilfordHusky]

I don’t really see either. Neither have the ball handling skills she has. Maya is more of sf/pf, Kaleena is a wing and Azzi is a sg/sf. I don’t underestimate Kaleena, she’s actually one of my favorite players, graduated the same year of high school that I did so I followed her a lot. I’ve been waiting for her to go to a new team so maybe now being with the Sun will allow her to get more playing time. Maybe you’re saying they have similar shooting strokes, I’m not sure. Accuracy she’s comparable, but playing style, no. — Azzi can do everything offensively, I don’t think she can be stopped.

Azzi has much better ball-handling skills than Maya. I think she's a little better than Kaleena. I agree that Azzi is a SG who can play PG in a pinch. She can also play some wing. I think her style is somewhat like that of Kaleena, especially when K was at Mater Dei. But the primary comparison is in terms of shooting. Azzi, Kaleena, and EDD are probably the best shooters in the past 15 years.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'd say Azzi is the better shooter but PB has extra value because she makes her team better at both ends of the floor whether she scores two points or twenty..........

Paige is a really good shooter. Azzi is an historically good shooter.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Paige is a really good shooter. Azzi is an historically good shooter.

Bueckers might not be as lethal from three but her variety of shots inside the arc is pretty much unmatched. Obviously, Fudd is a machine at the jumpshot. They get things done in different ways.

 

[Charliebball]

Bueckers might not be as lethal from three but her variety of shots inside the arc is pretty much unmatched. Obviously, Fudd is a machine at the jumpshot. They get things done in different ways.

and what a deadly combination that would be..............

 

[Scud49]

Azzi is Azzi but is this maybe a bit disrespectful to Paige?? Paige did improve dramatically in many areas.

The only reason Fudd, the 2019 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, isn't No. 1 is because she missed most of this past season due to an injury.

I picked up on that too.....but it'll all be a moot point pretty soon I think.

Paige and Azzi are almost like #'s 1 and 1a in my book.

 

[hoophuskee]

Other than "swagger" I don't see nay similarity between DT and Paige. They might happen to be pg/sg's but imo they are very different.

DT was a shot maker that could pass and make plays.
PB is playmaker that can shoot.

DT played with a sense of power. IE she could back down a player.
PB uses quickness and athleticism to beat a player.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

DT was a shot maker that could pass and make plays.
PB is playmaker that can shoot.

Not sure I see the difference. I'd suggest Bueckers is more finesse but every bit the shot-maker DT was if not more so.

 

[JordyG]

Some reason Fudd reminded me of Ray Allen when I saw Fudd sinking those jumpers for the first time. Just so smooth and floating so lightly!

It seems little odd to say Fudd is the next big thing since BS after saying PB could be one of the greatest.

The thing that Azzi does that Ray Allen didn't is her incredible pull up. The only player I've seen that had her kind of pull up is Maya Moore. That full speed, stop on a dime, body under full control, soft shot is ridiculous.

 

[JordyG]

Bueckers might not be as lethal from three but her variety of shots inside the arc is pretty much unmatched. Obviously, Fudd is a machine at the jumpshot. They get things done in different ways.

Paige's layup where she gives you the ball, takes it away and gets the scoop to go is a beautiful shot.

 

[hoophuskee]

Not sure I see the difference. I'd suggest Bueckers is more finesse but every bit the shot-maker DT was if not more so.

I kind of thought you might reply to this.
Please don't take this the wrong way. You and I can easily agree when we see greatness or poor play-- you and I have completely opposite views on nearly everything else. So it's not surprising we don't see eye-to-eye.


How I see it- DT was born to score form 3. Her jersey even read "3" despite the fact she loved to pass and made a point of publicly speaking of it. But if you as the defender wasn't very close to her off a pick for example, unless someone was wide open underneath, DT was firing up a 3. And as they say when you come in as frosh try to do what you do best. Nearly 65% of DT's shots as a frosh were from 3. DT just averaged 3.3 assist per game her frosh year even though her team was stacked.

Give Paige DT's frontline back in 00-01, Paige is going to average quite a bit more than 3.3 assists per game. She is much more comfortable getting in or near the lane or near to pass or score vs DT who would look briefly inside or just fire away.

I can't remember DT doing very many pick-and-rolls in college to the extent PB does. Players do what they are comfortable with the majority of the time when under duress in close games and overall etc.. Paige is more comfortable getting close and making "pass or shot decisions." DT is also comfortable doing it - but much more comfortable bombing away from 3. Never going to see Paige ever being comfortable taking 65% of her shots from 3 like DT did. Paige can shoot from 3 very well but more comfortable slashing. Her career is not going to be 50% of her attempted shots from 3 either like DT's was unless she never averages much above 11 ppg or similar.

For example-- wasn't there a game I think vs Australia or Romania (a close game) in the summer last year that Team USA didn't take one 3 for much of the game? If DT was the same 17-18 year old-- that wouldn't happen unless she missed a few first.

That's because DT during her time / era DT was a 3pt shot maker.
On the flip side- Paige is going to look to pass much more or take shots closer inside the 3 pt line. You see when her team was pressed (close game) during AAU- imo she wasn't looking to go bombs away from 3.

In other words imo DT always believed she was the best scorer on the court while Paige believes she is the best passer on the court. Unless someone is wide open inside DT is mostly firing up a 3 pt shot. Paige is much more comfortable getting closer and being more 50-50 of 2 pt shot or pass.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

In other words imo DT always believed she was the best scorer on the court while Paige believes she is the best passer on the court. Unless someone is wide open inside DT is mostly firing up a 3 pt shot. Paige is much more comfortable getting closer and being more 50-50 of 2 pt shot or pass.

It's possible their play will differ due to some of the things you mention, but I believe that Bueckers' offensive skill set is at least at DT's level. Taurasi settled a bit for the three in college which I doubt Bueckers will do. I'm also of the opinion that Bueckers is at least as good a shooter.

 

[Orangutan]

The thing that Azzi does that Ray Allen didn't is her incredible pull up. The only player I've seen that had her kind of pull up is Maya Moore. That full speed, stop on a dime, body under full control, soft shot is ridiculous.

Ray Allen didn't have a pull up jumper? Really?

 

[JordyG]

Ray Allen didn't have a pull up jumper? Really?

Ray could come off screens, catch and shoot off the curl. Ray could knock down the kick out. But dribble down court full speed, someone on his shoulder, and stop on a dime pull up? That wasn't his best shot.