Ezi Magbegor In The News

[RockyMTblue2]

but when you add in the smog and traffic congestion,

And there is the whole feces and used needles So Cal phenomenon.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Probably not. She just decided to fly in from Australia to catch the game tonight.

I missed that, I guess.

She seems like a top 20 prospect.

 

[CocoHusky]

I missed that, I guess.
She seems like a top 20 prospect.

Top 20?

 

[pacific 44]

If she was from the U.S. she would probably be in the top one.

 

[dtbtbtb]

top 1 or top 5 at worst...this player is considered the future of Australian basketball which is pretty good

 

[Carnac]

Trying to read the tea leaves here. Somewhere along the way Ezi figured out that if she's willing to work hard, there is no better coach and program to fully develop her basketball talent than Geno and UConn. UCLA is closer to home and there's already an Aussie in the program. Maybe the weather is better in SoCal, but when you add in the smog and traffic congestion, I'll take Storrs any day of the week.

On Saturday, Ezi was at Senior Day for UCLA. Billings, Canada & Hayes were all honored. UCLA also honored the AIAW champions of 40 years ago? with Anne Meyers speaking. While Billings and Canada both had big games for the Bruins, UCLA struggled with unranked Utah, before winning in OT. Aussie import Chantel Horvat ended up with 0 points. Attendance at Pauley Pavilion was 3866.

I assume that Ezi showed up in Storrs yesterday. Hopefully dinner at the Auriemmas was on the schedule. After hanging out with the team yesterday and today, Ezi will get to attend her 2nd straight Senior Day, but this time it will be "UConn style." There will be a packed house at Gampel. In addition to honoring two of the most beloved Huskies ever, Gabby's banner will be unveiled. Of course Ezi will have seen all the other AA banners as well as the eleven championship banners. Then she'll watch the undefeated, #1 ranked Huskies, face the nationally ranked USF Bulls on national TV, a team loaded with outstanding international players. If the game goes the same way it has gone in each of the last 4 meetings, UConn will give USF yet another lesson in how basketball is supposed to be played.

Afterwards, Ezi will have a long trip back to Canberra to consider her future. I really like UConn's chances.

Great minds thing alike, me too! If one were to compare the two programs side by side, it's not close (no pun intended). It has to be UConn. Forget the non-stop flights, and the near perfect local weather most of the time. Focus on what's really important here.

Sometimes one must endure a little hardship (freezing winter weather and connecting flights) to attain that which is desired and hoped for. If you really want to be transformed into the absolute best basketball player and person you can be, you go to the place where champions are made. UConn has one of the best track records going of turning out "world class" players/people. Their record (and former players) speaks for itself. No one can argue (though some would like to) the 11 championship trophies in their trophy case, or his graduation rate.

 

[Carnac]

Is UConn still recruiting her after signing Nelson-Ododa?

I sure hope so. It's been said that one should never put all of your eggs in one basket. There is always the possibility of a temporary or season ending injury. It's always smart to have a "backup" post player, and a backup plan. You never want the injury bug to strike your program, so if there's a chance you can hedge your bet against it, you do it. Regardless, there will be plenty of playing time for both!!!

 

[oldude]

Great minds thing alike, me too! If one were to compare the two programs side by side, it's not close (no pun intended). It has to be UConn. Forget the non-stop flights, and the near perfect local weather most of the time. Focus on what's really important here.

Sometimes one must endure a little hardship (freezing winter weather and connecting flights) to attain that which is desired and hoped for. If you really want to be transformed into the absolute best basketball player and person you can be, you go to the place where champions are made. UConn has one of the best track records going of turning out "world class" players/people. Their record (and his former players) speaks for itself. No one can argue (though some would like to) the 11 championship trophies in their trophy case, or his graduation rate.

Agreed. If Ezi decides to attend UCLA, it would indicate that she wants to spend a few years in the US, have some fun and play a little basketball.

On the other hand, if Ezi decides on UConn, it would indicate her desire to become both a champion as well as the absolute best basketball player she can be.

Another BY’er suggested that her decision would come down to remaining in the Australian pro league or attending UConn. I tend to agree.

 

[LoTrader]

Ideally a coach would be good in both categories, but that's fairly rare. If I had to choose one or the other I'd take the coach 'em up approach. But of course you have to have some talent, even if it's of the under the radar diamond in the rough variety.

I don't recall if Marie Gulich was recruited by any other schools other than Oregon State. Talk about "coaching em up"! This kid is playing as well as anyone in the country right now. Her progression from her freshman year, heck, even last year, is just unreal. Oregon State coaches know how to develop talent.

 

[Bama fan]

And there is the whole feces and used needles So Cal phenomenon.

 

[hardcorehusky]

If you want to be an international team star - you go with the program that develops them. More than anyone else. And with the coach that has developed them, coached them on the international level and can talk about international competition. The question is: can she handle what is going to be asked of her? If so, then and she wants to come to the US to play college ball, there isn't much of a choice here.

 

[Bama fan]

I missed that, I guess.

She seems like a top 20 prospect.

Seriously? I'll be a blue nosed gopher!

 

[nwhoopfan]

"UCLA is a good program"? In the immortal words of Ricky Watters " for who for what"? Has the UCLA program ever developed an Olympic caliber women's basketball player besides Ann Meyers back in the day? Chantel not exactly ripping things up for UCLA either. Chantel playing 16 minutes per game and shooting only 38% for UCLA on the season.

UConn is obviously a better program w/ better coaching staff than UCLA. Do you REALLY want to try to point out how a freshman was utilized at UCLA this year? Think about how many minutes UConn's freshman class played and how productive they were. If you didn't know anything about UConn's history and just looked at the freshmen this year, Storrs is probably the last place any top recruit should choose to go to.

 

[UConnCat]

UConn is obviously a better program w/ better coaching staff than UCLA. Do you REALLY want to try to point out how a freshman was utilized at UCLA this year? Think about how many minutes UConn's freshman class played and how productive they were. If you didn't know anything about UConn's history and just looked at the freshmen this year, Storrs is probably the last place any top recruit should choose to go to.

Right, because history has shown that for top recruits who choose UConn it's so downhill after their freshman years.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Right, because history has shown that for top recruits who choose UConn it's so downhill after their freshman years.

Try using some context for what I posted. Look at the post I quoted.

 

[UConnCat]

Try using some context for what I posted. Look at the post I quoted.

I did.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

In women's basketball we're not used to having players bolt for the pros after
one or two years. I could envision that as a scenario for Ezi, although she
would have to play a year in Australia before coming to the WNBA. I would
think that an offer from Geno would be contingent upon a four year commitment.

Personally, I think that it's unlikely that she will come to Connecticut, and even
less likely that we would have her for four years.

 

[HuskylnSC]

UConn is obviously a better program w/ better coaching staff than UCLA. Do you REALLY want to try to point out how a freshman was utilized at UCLA this year? Think about how many minutes UConn's freshman class played and how productive they were. If you didn't know anything about UConn's history and just looked at the freshmen this year, Storrs is probably the last place any top recruit should choose to go to.

Every recruit that has gone to Storrs over the last 20 years has heard the phrase "cow town" more that once. Except for ice cream and basketball (and the 18th ranked public university) who would want to go to Storrs?

 

[CocoHusky]

UConn is obviously a better program w/ better coaching staff than UCLA. Do you REALLY want to try to point out how a freshman was utilized at UCLA this year? Think about how many minutes UConn's freshman class played and how productive they were. If you didn't know anything about UConn's history and just looked at the freshmen this year, Storrs is probably the last place any top recruit should choose to go to.

Yes I do. Actually, I think I just did.
Good thing I know my UCONN history and so do the top recruits which is why they keep coming to Storrs.

 

[ochoopsfan]

I still say have the UConn band play this during a time out and you got her for 4 years.

 

[nwhoopfan]

This is kinda funny. How many threads have UConn fans started this year fretting about the production of the freshmen class? More than one, that's for sure. The good news is next year they will be sophs and they might all improve dramatically. This year they were disappointing given their recruiting rankings. There's no way to sugar coat it. You all know it.

Horvat's stats aren't eye popping but she had her moments. Fellow UCLA Fr. Michaela Onyenwere was a fairly significant contributor for them.

I clearly stated in my post UConn is a better program w/ a better coaching staff. I would expect McBegor would develop more there than if she chose UCLA. I was merely pointing out the irony of being critical of the production of a UCLA freshmen given the production of all of Uconn's highly touted freshmen. Take off the blinders for a second folks.

 

[CocoHusky]

In women's basketball we're not used to having players bolt for the pros after
one or two years. I could envision that as a scenario for Ezi, although she
would have to play a year in Australia before coming to the WNBA. I would
think that an offer from Geno would be contingent upon a four year commitment.
Personally, I think that it's unlikely that she will come to Connecticut, and even
less likely that we would have her for four years.

This concept of Geno asking any player to stay until thier eiligibility is exhausted has been floated here before. Just don't think that's the way Geno or UCONN WCBB operates. It sure was not the case with Morgan Tuck. I think Geno operates the program by a much simplier motto: Stay as long as you are happy & regardless of how long you stay you are preparing for your next challenge-which is called real life and will likely have nothing to do with basketball.

 

[CocoHusky]

This is kinda funny. How many threads have UConn fans started this year fretting about the production of the freshmen class? More than one, that's for sure. The good news is next year they will be sophs and they might all improve dramatically. This year they were disappointing given their recruiting rankings. There's no way to sugar coat it. You all know it.

Horvat's stats aren't eye popping but she had her moments. Fellow UCLA Fr. Michaela Onyenwere was a fairly significant contributor for them.

I clearly stated in my post UConn is a better program w/ a better coaching staff. I would expect McBegor would develop more there than if she chose UCLA. I was merely pointing out the irony of being critical of the production of a UCLA freshmen given the production of all of Uconn's highly touted freshmen. Take off the blinders for a second folks.

UCONN top freshmen recruit played pretty well against UCLA if I remember correctly so she must be doing ok.

 

[oldude]

This is kinda funny. How many threads have UConn fans started this year fretting about the production of the freshmen class? More than one, that's for sure. The good news is next year they will be sophs and they might all improve dramatically. This year they were disappointing given their recruiting rankings. There's no way to sugar coat it. You all know it.

Horvat's stats aren't eye popping but she had her moments. Fellow UCLA Fr. Michaela Onyenwere was a fairly significant contributor for them.

I clearly stated in my post UConn is a better program w/ a better coaching staff. I would expect McBegor would develop more there than if she chose UCLA. I was merely pointing out the irony of being critical of the production of a UCLA freshmen given the production of all of Uconn's highly touted freshmen. Take off the blinders for a second folks.

While I don’t disagree that this year’s freshmen class has underperformed so far, it is in fact something of an aberration as far as UConn freshmen classes performance in general.

Last year, while not spectacular, Crystal started several games and had a solid year as the 1st player off the bench. Two years ago Lou was a sharp-shooting starter from about mid-season on, and Pheesa was a key reserve during the tournament.

The year before that, Kia became a starter after the 2nd game of the season and was solid from then on. Two years before that, Stewie was the MOP in the National Championship with Tuck also playing a key role.

It goes on and on with players such as KML, Steph, Bria, Maya, DT and many others making major contributions to UConn WBB as freshmen.

 

[bags27]

Going into Gampel early, hoping to get a look at Ezi. I won’t give her a “welcome Ezi” banner.

 

[oldude]

Going into Gampel early, hoping to get a look at Ezi. I won’t give her a “welcome Ezi” banner.

If you run into Ezi be sure to tell her, “Gadday” from her future fan club here on the BY.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Well stated oldude, nice post.

 

[nwhoopfan]

UCONN top freshmen recruit played pretty well against UCLA if I remember correctly so she must be doing ok.

Walker obviously has talent. Somewhere down the road she may very well be an All-American and one of the best players in the country. She had several good games this year, and many games in which she didn't contribute very much.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

It's possible Magbegor would take a lot of time to get acclimated to UConn's pace and system as is the case with nearly all freshmen. It's also possible her extreme talent and time with Australian pros will accelerate her learning curve. Either way, if she turns into a monster for just her last 2-3 years I don't think anyone will mind.

 

[JordyG]

Anyone spot Ezi in the crowd at tonight's game yet?