Ezi Magbegor and Assorted Topic Drifts

[HopJim]

Getting home from UConn would mean a 3hr ride from Storrs to NYC and then a 23 hr flight to Australia with at least an hour layover. Total time minimum 27hrs

Getting home from UCLA would mean a 15min ride from Westwood to LAX and then a non stop 14hr flight.
Total time minimum. 14hrs 15min.

Yes, I consider 12hrs 45min a factor.

Anyone who has made this flight would agree its rough. Still believe UConn a better landing spot, particularly since I believe she would not have to do this travel the usual 4 years. No one has mentioned playing with Z as an asset but she appears to have a skill set Ezi aspires to and would be a great mentor for a year.

 

[DefenseBB]

well I'd very very happy to hear one way or another by March 21st....her decision may have an impact on future recruiting so the sooner she decides the better

Brake squeak....errrr umph. Wait, what? Are you intimating that if we get Ezi, we might not get Baby Bru?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

While people are kvetching about Z and next year, I think Ezi might find it encouraging to look at Z's development under Geno et al and consider it a plus to have Z around to push her and bring her along next year, not to mention having ONO to go through it with and spell each other going forward.

 

[DefenseBB]

Getting home from UConn would mean a 3hr ride from Storrs to NYC and then a 23 hr flight to Australia with at least an hour layover. Total time minimum 27hrs

Getting home from UCLA would mean a 15min ride from Westwood to LAX and then a non stop 14hr flight.
Total time minimum. 14hrs 15min.

Yes, I consider 12hrs 45min a factor.

Having done the trip from Connecticut, your math is wrong. The main issue is getting to LA to fly directly to Sydney or Melbourne, which you did note correctly as 14 hours. Storrs to Boston to LA is the time to consider and that’s like 7-8 hours with the layover at LA waiting for the flight. Now as for your 15 minute ride to LAX, umm I don’t think so unless it’s at 3 AM. Nothing in LA is 15 min ride.

 

[Charliebball]

Brake squeak....errrr umph. Wait, what? Are you intimating that if we get Ezi, we might not get Baby Bru?

no I doubt that...................I was thinking more about post players like Amihere and Boston

 

[DefenseBB]

no I doubt that....I was thinking more about post players like Amihere and Boston

Whew, ok, I feel better now. I am fine with trading Amihere/Boston for Ezi. We've had a Canadian recently, so give me the down-under (Aussie/NZ) for change of pace!

Just don't jeopardize my Baby Bru hopes to go along with Azzi/Paige...

 

[DEpup]

So as a scientist, I've worked through the years with many foreign folks and in my experience it isn't always proximity to home but proximity to the nearest family member that makes the difference. The reality is the even being in LA, she won't be able to go home for every holiday but she could in CT more easily hook up with her brother who also can't go home for every holiday. I believe the 2.5 h flight to the older brother in GA will weigh into the family's decision.

 

[NewCorn]

I've gone from thinking UConn was a really really long-shot to thinking it's 75% - 25% UConn.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Getting home from UConn would mean a 3hr ride from Storrs to NYC and then a 23 hr flight to Australia with at least an hour layover. Total time minimum 27hrs Getting home from UCLA would mean a 15min ride from Westwood to LAX and then a non stop 14hr flight.
Total time minimum. 14hrs 15min. Yes, I consider 12hrs 45min a factor.

It is not like she would be doing this very often!

 

[pacific 44]

SB is not worried about any of Ono,Ezi,Amihere,or Boston being recruited in front of her.In fact she has said she enjoys playing with Boston and would like to do so again.She would be more concerned with a swiss army knife type player like Haley Jones who can be a star at four different positions.The best positions for both of them would probably be at small forward.If SB continues to shoot as well as we all think she can she would be in the lineup somewhere though.I see her as at least nearly as good as Samuelson as she progresses through her four years at Uconn. She seemingly would be a good fit if she went with THAT coach at N.D. and has shown some interest there,so here's to hoping that she realizes how good she is and comes to Uconn regardless of who else chooses the best destination in all of wcbb.

 

[oldude]

I used to fly overseas frequently on business. When I was young, it never really bothered me. As I got older, that changed. Now that I'm retired, any time I have to fly, no matter how long the flight is, it's seems like a hassle.

Ezi is young. She's already traveled all over the world as a result of her basketball prowess. At this point in her life, I suspect that the length of flights back home are not a major concern for her.

 

[JoePgh]

Here are a couple of questions which I consider more interesting, even if the answers are just as unknowable to us:

1. Do you think Ezi knows as of today where she will be attending college next year?

2. Do you think that Geno knows that, as of now?

 

[meyers7]

...and what's wrong with Storrs, Connecticut, cows and snow? How about comparing Storrs to earthquakes, fires, mudslides, I-405 traffic bottlenecks and drought? Those cows look pretty good now, at least she'll be able to reap the reward for them, cows.

Ozzie was talking about "pulls" for UCLA.

 

[TitleTown]

Having done the trip from Connecticut, your math is wrong. The main issue is getting to LA to fly directly to Sydney or Melbourne, which you did note correctly as 14 hours. Storrs to Boston to LA is the time to consider and that’s like 7-8 hours with the layover at LA waiting for the flight. Now as for your 15 minute ride to LAX, umm I don’t think so unless it’s at 3 AM. Nothing in LA is 15 min ride.

Really, we are going to quibble over 1 hour difference? I said NYC to Australia was 23 hrs, you said Bos to LA was 8 + 14 to Australia from LAX = 22 hrs.

 

[DefenseBB]

Really, we are going to quibble over 1 hour difference? I said NYC to Australia was 23 hrs, you said Bos to LA was 8 + 14 to Australia from LAX = 22 hrs.

No, you said the total time was 27 hours from Storrs and then equated it to 14+15 min=14h15 and 12h45 min difference of which it is not. Let's agree on 14 hour flight. Your drive from Westwood to LAX is not 15 min on the 405. Now your drive from Storrs to Boston is 90 minutes plus 6:30 for flight plus 1 hour between arriving and departing in LAX is 22 hours vs. min of 14:30 so that is 8h30min max, not 12h45 min as you purveyed. That's my point so it isn't a quibble.

 

[oldude]

Here are a couple of questions which I consider more interesting, even if the answers are just as unknowable to us:

1. Do you think Ezi knows as of today where she will be attending college next year?

2. Do you think that Geno knows that, as of now?

Interesting questions. Lets consider what we know.

• It's been well over a week since Ezi returned to Australia. She presumably has all the information she needs from UCLA and UConn, and would have had ample time to discuss her decision with parents, friends and coaches.
• An article from a local Australian paper that was posted here on the BY indicates that Ezi's team in Canberra is both fearful that she's leaving for the US, and has already signed another player to potentially replace Ezi.
• National signing day begins on April 17 and runs through May.

Based on what we know, here's my speculation.

• If Ezi were remaining in Australia as a pro, we would already know it.
• If she hasn't already decided which of the 2 schools she wants to attend, she's probably leaning one way or the other.
• It's likely that Geno has called Ezi by now to follow up, and he knows exactly what she's thinking.

The closer we get to April 17, without knowing what Ezi plans to do, the better I feel about her decision. If UConn runs the table for their 12th National Championship during the interim, that's the "cherry on the sundae" in my mind in convincing Ezi that she belongs in Storrs.

 

[Bama fan]

"Magbegor is set to move to the United States to play college basketball having visited the University of Connecticut and the University of California, Los Angeles in the past fortnight."

Canberra Capitals rookie Ezi Magbegor Commonwealth Games-bound but leaving WNBL

May the best team win.

Like the post. Love the dog!

 

[DEpup]

Here are a couple of questions which I consider more interesting, even if the answers are just as unknowable to us:

1. Do you think Ezi knows as of today where she will be attending college next year?

2. Do you think that Geno knows that, as of now?

Yes to both....its been established recently that modern recruit announcements are quite choreographed ahead of time.

 

[JoePgh]

Interesting questions. Lets consider what we know.

• It's been well over a week since Ezi returned to Australia. She presumably has all the information she needs from UCLA and UConn, and would have had ample time to discuss her decision with parents, friends and coaches.
• An article from a local Australian paper that was posted here on the BY indicates that Ezi's team in Canberra is both fearful that she's leaving for the US, and has already signed another player to potentially replace Ezi.
• National signing day begins on April 17 and runs through May.

Based on what we know, here's my speculation.

• If Ezi were remaining in Australia as a pro, we would already know it.
• If she hasn't already decided which of the 2 schools she wants to attend, she's probably leaning one way or the other.
• It's likely that Geno has called Ezi by now to follow up, and he knows exactly what she's thinking.

The closer we get to April 17, without knowing what Ezi plans to do, the better I feel about her decision. If UConn runs the table for their 12th National Championship during the interim, that's the "cherry on the sundae" in my mind in convincing Ezi that she belongs in Storrs.

It seems possible that she has made a decision and has informed Geno and Cori Close, but for some reason the decision is not yet being made public. That would make more sense if she was trying to keep it secret in Australia (perhaps to avoid demoralizing current teammates as they pursue some title), but now that the cat is out of the bag that she is not staying Down Under, I can't come up with a good reason to withhold an announcement if the decision has been made.

That makes me think that she hasn't made a decision. From UConn's perspective, I don't think that is a good thing. It seems that in the past, most players who visit either decide quickly that the UConn basketball environment is what they want and they make a commitment, or they remain undecided and usually don't come. (Megan Walker would be an exception to that.)

I'm not sure why you think that a delay until on or about April 17 makes it more likely that she will choose UConn. What would she be waiting for?

 

[uconnfan68]

Getting home from UConn would mean a 3hr ride from Storrs to NYC and then a 23 hr flight to Australia with at least an hour layover. Total time minimum 27hrs

Getting home from UCLA would mean a 15min ride from Westwood to LAX and then a non stop 14hr flight.
Total time minimum. 14hrs 15min.

Yes, I consider 12hrs 45min a factor.

You have way too much time on your hands. It was just sarcasm.

 

[oldude]

One more fact that I left out of my prior assessment. The 2018 Commonwealth games are scheduled to be held in Australia from April 5 - 15. It appears that Ezi will be a member of the Australian WBB team that will compete in those games.

Two days after the end of the games is the start of the National Signing period for WBB.

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[oldude]

It seems possible that she has made a decision and has informed Geno and Cori Close, but for some reason the decision is not yet being made public. That would make more sense if she was trying to keep it secret in Australia (perhaps to avoid demoralizing current teammates as they pursue some title), but now that the cat is out of the bag that she is not staying Down Under, I can't come up with a good reason to withhold an announcement if the decision has been made.

That makes me think that she hasn't made a decision. From UConn's perspective, I don't think that is a good thing. It seems that in the past, most players who visit either decide quickly that the UConn basketball environment is what they want and they make a commitment, or they remain undecided and usually don't come. (Megan Walker would be an exception to that.)

I'm not sure why you think that a delay until on or about April 17 makes it more likely that she will choose UConn. What would she be waiting for?

See my post on the Commonwealth Games schedule. Likely that Ezi doesn’t want her decision to attend college in the US to be a distraction to her teammates on the Australian National team.

 

[WLT1717]

See my post on the Commonwealth Games schedule. Likely that Ezi doesn’t want her decision to attend college in the US to be a distraction to her teammates on the Australian National team.

Speculation, but there are merits to waiting until after the Games to make her announcement as between UCONN and UCLA, which seems where this is tending.

 

[JRRRJ]

What I find encouraging is that it is an either/or situation. For some reason, UCLA is the "or." But we have absolutely no idea whether she prefers being closer to home, likes Westwood more than Storrs, sun more than snow, etc. That's just us talking here.

What we do know is that there are unspoken considerations that make UCLA the "or" as opposed to Baylor, TX, SC, ND, etc--the usual suspects in competition with UConn.

That it has come down to only two and precisely these two is her recognition that the difference in coaching and overall basketball experience between UConn and UCLA is sufficiently large to counter-balance whatever intangibles she's liking about UCLA.

It doesn't mean she'll necessarily choose UConn. But it does suggest that if she chooses UCLA she'll be fully aware of what she's sacrificing.

Note that Canberra, where she's playing now, is not a warm place. The linked article says it doesn't get heavy snow often because "it's too cold".

 

[RockyMTblue2]

See my post on the Commonwealth Games schedule. Likely that Ezi doesn’t want her decision to attend college in the US to be a distraction to her teammates on the Australian National team.

How do you think this cuts? Her being in The Games, or for that matter with the Opals internationally, should be OK if she comes to the US for college. I'd think that for all concerned when she is certain she should spit it out.

 

[oldude]

How do you think this cuts? Her being in The Games, or for that matter with the Opals internationally, should be OK if she comes to the US for college. I'd think that for all concerned when she is certain she should spit it out.

Here’s a better scenario. UConn wins it’s 12th National Championship in Columbus, OH in early April. A few weeks later, Ezi helps the Opals win the Gold Medal in the Commonwealth Games. A few days later in Canberra, Australia, Ezi holds a press conference. Flanked by her parents, she announces that she will attend the University of Connecticut and play for the greatest WBB coach of all time.

 

[meyers7]

Note that Canberra, where she's playing now, is not a warm place. The linked article says it doesn't get heavy snow often because "it's too cold".

"It's too cold" must be relative.

Average Highs in Canberra in June/July/August are 54F/53F/56F. Average Lows are 34F/32F/34F.

 

[cbraarj]

Ask her what school did she buy the most swag from,lol!

 

[Golden Husky]

Interesting questions. Lets consider what we know.

• It's been well over a week since Ezi returned to Australia. She presumably has all the information she needs from UCLA and UConn, and would have had ample time to discuss her decision with parents, friends and coaches.
• An article from a local Australian paper that was posted here on the BY indicates that Ezi's team in Canberra is both fearful that she's leaving for the US, and has already signed another player to potentially replace Ezi.
• National signing day begins on April 17 and runs through May.

Based on what we know, here's my speculation.

• If Ezi were remaining in Australia as a pro, we would already know it.
• If she hasn't already decided which of the 2 schools she wants to attend, she's probably leaning one way or the other.
• It's likely that Geno has called Ezi by now to follow up, and he knows exactly what she's thinking.

The closer we get to April 17, without knowing what Ezi plans to do, the better I feel about her decision. If UConn runs the table for their 12th National Championship during the interim, that's the "cherry on the sundae" in my mind in convincing Ezi that she belongs in Storrs.

So can we deduce anything by how fervent UConn is in its pursuit of Aliyah Boston, who, I believe, plays the same position as Ezi?

 

[oldude]

So can we deduce anything by how fervent UConn is in its pursuit of Aliyah Boston, who, I believe, plays the same position as Ezi?

I see Ezi as a 3 or 4 and Boston as a 4 or 5. Plenty of room in Storrs for both of them.