Fair question about Boston from a UCONN fan perspective

[TCC Kid]

Something to chew on for a Monday - I have a question about Aliyah Boston. This is speculation only. It's NOT about her being a generational player, it has to do with her being the best post in the country and the NPOY. I'm preferencing my question by acknowledging this WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!

IF Boston was to transfer to UConn for her senior year, would that make UConn the prohibitive favorite to win the NC next year? A dominate post that routinely posts a double double and protects the rim without fouling, That would also mean Boston would not be playing for SC.

I understand that right now, there is some uncertainty at the post position for UConn next season. I am in the camp that thinks UConn could use another "seasoned" 6'5" post player if one can found in the portal to replace Piath Gabriel on the roster. A player that could come in and give Geno 12-18 minutes a game and hold her own. As I write this comment, we don't know if 6'5" Sophomore Amari DeBerry or incoming 6'4" freshman Isuneh "Ice" Brady can/will claim and hold the starting post position this coming season.

If either one does, it would answer a lot of questions and solve the mystery of who will replace Nelson-Ododa who was the starting post player for UConn the last 4 years. Does Geno go with one of these post players, or will he resort to using an undersized
Aaliyah Edwards (6'3") or 6'5" Dorka Juhasz neither of whom are post players?

I would like to comment on 2 of your paragraphs. The hypothesis that should Boston Transfer to Uconn would that (I'm injecting a word) ALONE be enough to make Uconn an NC winner. Yes and No. Not alone she won't but with the supporting cast now at Uconn --just mail the trophy to Storrs.
I agree Uconn needs an immovable force with talent. Undersized Edwards is worth every pound of her but 6 ft 5 she isn't.
Dorka like ONO were both Forwards and not Centers and extremely good in that position. Azure was a very talented forward but not anywhere near a good post. To counter a Griner or Boston you need size in every meaning of the word. I wasn't a fan of Griner but I bow to Bostons advancement of her skills set.
'Geno I believe will send out runners to search high and low for a talented, special, anti-Boston player I say that because De Berry is lacking in girth and especially in Division 1 game time experiences, and too Geno needs a back up or 3 for that position.

 

[visitingcock]

Well, Under Armor Considers her "generational." ALIYAH BOSTON IS TURNING HER SUCCESS INTO HER LEGACY

“Aliyah Boston is a once-in-a-generation talent and someone who inspires us all with her dedication and willingness to stop at nothing to achieve her dreams. This has been a huge year not just for Aliyah, but for the University of South Carolina, and all who support, play, and work within women’s sports. Teaming up with Aliyah will help in increasing access to basketball for young women around the world.”

 

[TCC Kid]

Yup. Definitionally you can’t have a “generational player“ in every high school class.

I agree with you that Boston isn’t quite there yet. But she clearly is a very very good college player, probably the best in the country last year. That’s a pretty good start.

(The same can be said about Paige but she hasn’t achieved all that Boston has.)

That may be true. But they'd all be of the same generation. But the real question is how do you determine a Generational player while still within that generation? Other adjectives seem appropriate.

 

[CL82]

That may be true. But they'd all be of the same generation. But the real question is how do you determine a Generational player while still within that generation? Other adjectives seem appropriate.

I agree. But like the term “blueblood” it seems to have devolved into a fungible term meaning whatever anyone wants it to mean in the moment.

 

[visitingcock]

That may be true. But they'd all be of the same generation. But the real question is how do you determine a Generational player while still within that generation? Other adjectives seem appropriate.

I agree for the most part but . . .

Were Magic and Bird "generational?"

 

[TCC Kid]

I agree for the most part but . . .

Were Magic and Bird "generational?"

I'm not sure about Magic but not Sue. They were both very good players, in the times they played. Maybe just me but I don't buy into very or extremely good players like DT or Sue or Boston or Griner or 3 dozen other players being generational or transcendental. The game is played essentially as it was, with lots of tinkering with shot clock, 10 second clock, fouls--the powers that be changed the game, no player I have seen actually changed the game I didn't actually see Pistol Pete.. If lobo in her day went up against Boston in her day--whose day would it be?

 

[visitingcock]

I'm not sure about Magic but not Sue. They were both very good players, in the times they played. Maybe just me but I don't buy into very or extremely good players like DT or Sue or Boston or Griner or 3 dozen other players being generational or transcendental. The game is played essentially as it was, with lots of tinkering with shot clock, 10 second clock, fouls--the powers that be changed the game, no player I have seen actually changed the game I didn't actually see Pistol Pete.. If lobo in her day went up against Boston in her day--whose day would it be?

Magic and LARRY Bird played for the national championship their senior year of college and multiple times for NBA Championships. Each winning several. Were they generational?

 

[TCC Kid]

Magic and LARRY Bird played for the national championship their senior year of college and multiple times for NBA Championships. Each winning several. Were they generational?

I remember Larry Bird going against Sidney Moncirth (sp) and J.R. Reed of Arkanasa--I was an Arkansas fan, Larry was good but there were college players as good or better--the answer for both is NO. Like you, adjectives have to be earned, not anointed. Sue and every top UCWBB player was extraordinary but still within the human classification. Generational to me means you'd better have changed the game significantly. To date I don't believe one player changed the game. Coaches have, officials, the NCAA has. The 4 corners got the shot clock. Fan support wanting a faster game got the 10 second clock, shooting after 5 fouls was, I believe, and NCAA fix--What fix resulted from a specific WOMAN player? The NBA inspired speed, dunking. A Uconn game 2 hours long at half time without the shot clock was (I think) 7 to 8, Yankee Conf Championship against R.I. (jam the rams). I listened to the whole game on the radio. Without 2 or 3 stars Uconn won.

 

[Mdoggie]

Yes, Boston is the generational player of this era. She clearly is. No one else is more dominant. She would be most people's first pick in a draft situation. Let's give credit where credit is due. I can't believe how many people are still debating it. If not her then who else is?

Kinda like Williams being a Wooden Award candidate? Some people are so right until they are proven wrong. Lol

 

[Mdoggie]

Well, Under Armor Considers her "generational." ALIYAH BOSTON IS TURNING HER SUCCESS INTO HER LEGACY

“Aliyah Boston is a once-in-a-generation talent and someone who inspires us all with her dedication and willingness to stop at nothing to achieve her dreams. This has been a huge year not just for Aliyah, but for the University of South Carolina, and all who support, play, and work within women’s sports. Teaming up with Aliyah will help in increasing access to basketball for young women around the world.”

That writer gets paid well to do his/her job. That’s all.

 

[visitingcock]

That writer gets paid well to do his/her job. That’s all.

The writeris her NIL sponsor's PR guy. Motivation? Bucks.

 

[Mdoggie]

The writeris her NIL sponsor's PR guy. Motivation? Bucks.

And employment.

 

[baggerbob]

Wilson had Coates, Mitchell, Gray and Davis. None of Boston's teammates seem particularly likely to get as good of pros or as talented as any of the listed above. I do think Wilson may be a better pro but Boston has been the clear better collegiate player through 3 years IMO.

A'ja had to play against Uconn with Stewie for two years, a big difference. That Uconn team went 76-1 and dominated everyone. There is no team like that in college now.

 

[bballnut90]

A'ja had to play against Uconn with Stewie for two years, a big difference. That Uconn team went 76-1 and dominated everyone. There is no team like that in college now.

True, but SC never even advanced far enough to meet with UCONN those years. SC, particularly in 2020 and 2022, was far stronger than any version of SC from 2015-2018 and the biggest reason why is Boston.

 

[cbraarj]

Generational players Holdsclaw, Taurasi, Parker, Moore, Stewart and Miller!

 

[CONN78SEJ]

When Boston was a freshman many South Carolina fans said she was a "generational" player. The response here was...no, she hasn't proved anything yet. I consider many of the UCONN players generational but above all Stewie.....I know Boston is not in Stewie's league yet but would you now consider her a generational player ?

​

She’s big and takes up space, rebounds, think Steph Dolson or Courtney Paris. Generational player? No. She will never be in Stewie’s league or Candace Parker’s league.

 

[bballnut90]

She’s big and takes up space, rebounds, think Steph Dolson or Courtney Paris. Generational player? No. She will never be in Stewie’s league or Candace Parker’s league.

Much closer to Stewart/Parker in terms of collegiate impact than Paris/Dolson. She doesn't have the same perimeter skills but is dominant defensively and has a polished offensive skill set for a center.

Dolson was never a space eater either....she often played in the high post and specialized in setting huge screens rather than dominating down low. Paris was the epitome of a space eater and struggled defending opposing bigs with good post moves.

 

[Bone Dog]

Boston? No. But she is a tremendous player. But is she the defining talent of this generation? I don't think so, though she does set a standard of work and energy that everyone should aspire to. She also seems to be a very nice person.

I would have said Paige is a generational player after last year. But for the injury, we might have seen if she could really develop into the signal player of her generation. If she can avoid injury for two more years, who knows what she can show us, especially surrounded by a lot of talent.