February Recruiting Thread | Page 7 | The Boneyard

February Recruiting Thread

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Latest Charlie Crème Bracketology projection places UNC with us in Bridgeport, presuming both teams advance. A decisive H2H victory may impact C’s evaluation.
 
Huskie02 said:
If C opts for North Carolina who is our next best option?
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There are three very good alternatives Chloe Kitts, Justus Jocyte and Madison Booker. Prospects nation actually has Kitts ranked higher than Toomey and she is the same size. Before you start talking about alternatives and is that we need to come to grips with a projected position for Toomey. Toomey is being tracked by both ESPN and Prospects Nation as a post player. I don't envision Toomey as pure college post. I envision her as a big guard and a stretch 4 in the mold of KLS/Ann Strother and Stewie -with the ability to play all over the floor and occasionally going into the post. C envisions herself this same way as she indicated in her last video posted here ( google: getting to know Cierra Toomey). This does not make @Cuango answers of Cunningham, Del Rosario, Vasconcelos wrong because that answer would lead me to believe that he views C as being a post. BTW I don't envision Vasconcelos as a UCONN level talent and I have not read or seen anything in performance that would make me change my mind.
 
If Toomey does choose UCONN, is there room for a post out of the portal? I don't pay close attention to all those spreadsheets you pass around. For certain scenarios UCONN needs a bruiser at the 5 with a mentality that "no contact" is the "worst contact". lol
 
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LwrcasefaN said:
If Toomey does choose UCONN, is there room for a post out of the portal? I don't pay close attention to all those spreadsheets you pass around. For certain scenarios UCONN needs a bruiser at the 5 with a mentality that "no contact" is the "worst contact". lol
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Toomey is class of 23. When she arrives on campus she will come into a team that includes Amari, Piath, Ice, Ayanna, & Aliyah. If UCCONN "needs" a portal post at that point we are really in trouble. It would have to be someone very worthy in the portal or UCONN has had another (subject we are not supposed to speculate on) for there to be "room".
BTW @BRS24 is the one that does those spreadsheets give him a follow to stay up to date. The spreadsheets were last updated with the Shade commitment.
 
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mudcat said:
A 6'3" or 6'4" Nika would be frightening.
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Even at 5-10 Nika is 2 iron fists who can sometimes be wearing velvet gloves and when the horn blows to start the game, off come the gloves. Time for fun.
 
CocoHusky said:
Toomey is class of 23. When she arrives on campus she will come into a team that includes Amari, Piath, Ice, Ayanna, & Aliyah. If UCCONN "needs" a portal post at that point we are really in trouble. It would have to be some very worthy in the portal or UCONN has had another (subject we are not supposed to speculate on) for there to be "room".
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Thanks for typing this out for me. I had the same immediate thought.
 
CocoHusky said:
There are three very good alternatives Chloe Kitts, Justus Jocyte and Madison Booker.
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CH, what are UConn’s realistic chances of getting Jocyte? I’ve read that she is already an elite teenage pro talent that can easily make big money in Europe without the opportunity cost of playing D1 college ball, even here.
CocoHusky said:
Prospects nation actually has Kitts ranked higher than Toomey and she is the same size.
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Bold type surprising. Kitts looks like a true 6’2” wing while Toomey now 6’4” hybrid wing/stretch 4/post.

C’s shooting & versatility would be tough to miss on— but Ice, Amari, & Ayanna all should offer effective front court shooting/spacing as they develop. And Aliyah will refine her shot to be more consistent as well. She hit a 3 against the Vols & has made a few midrange J’s this season.

FYI— Recent male practice players UCTV interview revealed that Amari has the prettiest shot of any UConn big. That is encouraging for her/team’s future.
 
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CocoHusky said:
There are three very good alternatives Chloe Kitts, Justus Jocyte and Madison Booker. Prospects nation actually has Kitts ranked higher than Toomey and she is the same size. Before you start talking about alternatives and is that we need to come to grips with a projected position for Toomey. Toomey is being tracked by both ESPN and Prospects Nation as a post player. I don't envision Toomey as pure college post. I envision her as a big guard and a stretch 4 in the mold of KLS/Ann Strother and Stewie -with the ability to play all over the floor and occasionally going into the post. C envisions herself this same way as she indicated in her last video posted here ( google: getting to know Cierra Toomey). This does not make @Cuango answers of Cunningham, Del Rosario, Vasconcelos wrong because that answer would lead me to believe that he views C as being a post. BTW I don't envision Vasconcelos as a UCONN level talent and I have not read or seen anything in performance that would make me change my mind.
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Vasconcelos is, imo, the most overrated of the 2023 recruits on the Hoopgurlz list.
 
TeamFirst! said:
Really should be Betts and not even close.
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Just looked Betts up on Maxpreps, the team record ain't that great but she is a force. Also noticed she has a freshman little sister (6'3" 175lbs) who averages as good as Lauren or better in most categories, scary! Let's hope there's enough sibling rivalry that Sienna Betts will want to go to the opposite coast that her sister went to, lol.
 
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123me said:
I remember in an Azzi Slam(?) vid, Delaney Thomas (2023 6’2” F) said her dream program was Connecticut. Azzi’s mom said if she works hard Delaney can get a UConn offer. Delaney also came with Azzi to be dropped off in storrs. I really feel for the kid who has the heart to play here. Sure hope she does get a UConn offer! Haven’t heard any buzz on her final teams tho.
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Recycling this prospect post for informed input/evaluation.

Hoopgurlz has Delaney Thomas #22 nationally with 4-star rating. Apparent size for wing position.

Thoughts?
 
nomdoux said:
CH, 1) what are UConn’s realistic chances of getting Jocyte? I’ve read that she is already an elite teenage pro talent that can easily make big money in Europe without the opportunity cost of playing D1 college ball, even here.

Bold type surprising. 2) Kitts looks like a true 6’2” wing while Toomey now 6’4” hybrid wing/stretch 4/post.

3) C’s shooting & versatility would be tough to miss on— but Ice, Amari, & Ayanna all should offer effective front court shooting/spacing as they develop. And Aliyah will refine her shot to be more consistent as well. She hit a 3 against the Vols & has made a few midrange J’s this season.
4) FYI— Recent male practice players UCTV interview revealed that Amari has the prettiest shot of any UConn big. That is encouraging for her/team’s future.
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1) What you may not have read about Jocyte is that she is American born and as things stand right now she is not WNBA eligible until she turns 22 which will not be until 2027. She is already an elite talent and the chances of her playing college basketball are very slim. But let's keep hope alive that she wants to play college ball and suit up as a UCONN Husky.
2) Again it all depends on how you envision the players being utilized. Between Booker, Kitts, Jocyte and Toomey there is a maximum height difference of 1.5 inches=not significant. Among the players Kitts has a slighter build but I'm not too concerned. Within the UCONN offensive any of the 4 players could be a devastating wing (KLS) featured forward (Maya, Stewie, Napheesa, Caroline lately ) or primary offensive facilitator (Gabby Williams) because all 4 have exceptional ball handling, passing and shooting skills.
3) The key part of this sentence "as they develop". Caroline, Ice, Ayanna and even Amari will bring adequate shooting to the front court. However, IMO they will not develop to the point of having the overall combination of ball handling, passing and shooting skills to be a featured forward primary facilitator that these 4 players have the potential to provide.
4) Amari does have a nice stroke. I've seen it up close at an AAU practice before. That stroke is not what is going to determine Amari's future at UCONN. The key to her development is to understand that there is a pace and quickness of execution that she must achieve and maintain to be successful at UCONN. Amari briefly achieve that pace and quickness of execution in the Georgia Tech game. I though that was going to be a spring board- it wasn't. I'm looking forward to Amari getting back to that place. Practice is a great place for her to start but I really don't care how pretty her shot is in practice she needs to be making more of her shot in the game=she currently 2 of 15 (13%).
 
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nomdoux said:
Recycling this prospect post for informed input/evaluation.
Hoopgurlz has Delaney Thomas #22 nationally with 4-star rating. Apparent size for wing position.
Thoughts?
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Very solid all around player that does everything well but nothing at what I would consider an elite level, her nickname is the "big fundamental". Don't see the quickness, ball handling or deep shooting to be able to play on the wing at the next level.
 
123me said:
Also, her mom likes UNC tweets significantly more than any other program. Obviously we will see but I am guessing UNC is pretty high in her top 8.
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Who cares about her mom's top 8.

I'm reminded of a picture several years ago with Bueckers and about every other top recruit at a N Dame football game wearing gear and smiling. I think we lost a dozen posters that day to heart attack/stroke. :)
 
Alydar said:
Who cares about her mom's top 8.

I'm reminded of a picture several years ago with Bueckers and about every other top recruit at a N Dame football game wearing gear and smiling. I think we lost a dozen posters that day to heart attack/stroke. :)
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I hear what you are saying and agree with you.
This wasn't mom's top 8 though, it was Cierra's top 8.
1644362848932.png
 
CocoHusky said:
1) What you may not have read about Jocyte is that she is American born and as things stand right now she is not WNBA eligible until she turns 22 which will not be until 2027. She is already an elite talent and the chances of her playing college basketball are very slim. But let's keep hope alive that she wants to play college ball and suit up as a UCONN Husky.
2) Again it all depends on how you envision the players being utilized. Between Booker, Kitts, Jocyte and Toomey there is a maximum height difference of 1.5 inches=not significant. Among the players Kitts has a slighter build but I'm not too concerned. Within the UCONN offensive any of the 4 players could be a devastating wing (KLS) featured forward (Maya, Stewie, Napheesa, Caroline lately ) or primary offensive facilitator (Gabby Williams) because all 4 have exceptional ball handling, passing and shooting skills.
3) The key part of this sentence "as they develop". Caroline, Ice, Ayanna and even Amari will bring adequate shooting to the front court. However, IMO they will not develop to the point of having the overall combination of ball handling, passing and shooting skills to be a featured forward primary facilitator that these 4 players have the potential to provide.
4) Amari does have a nice stroke. I've seen it up close at an AAU practice before. That stroke is not what is going to determine Amari's future at UCONN. The key to her development is to understand that there is a pace and quickness of execution that she must achieve and maintain to be successful at UCONN. Amari briefly achieve that pace and quickness of execution in the Georgia Tech game. I though that was going to be a spring board- it wasn't. I'm looking forward to Amari getting back to that place. Practice is a great place for her to start but I really don't care how pretty her shot is in practice she needs to be making more of her shot in the game=she currently 2 of 15 (13%).
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All good points. And regarding #4 DeBerry was able to develop and use that smooth shot at her own somewhat relaxed pace throughout HS. 6-5 kids get very little challenge on shots outside the paint or even inside. Now with bigger, quicker posts in her face she’s having a problem having to speed up the whole decision making and shooting process. And this applies to her whole game, she’s a couple beats slow and is trying to rush to compensate and it’s obviously not happening in practice or she’d probably be getting at least limited PT. Auriemma doesn’t just sit 6-5 kids that can really play. This will be her major adjustment to make going forward through the summer or she’ll continue to sit.
 
CocoHusky said:
There are three very good alternatives Chloe Kitts, Justus Jocyte and Madison Booker. Prospects nation actually has Kitts ranked higher than Toomey and she is the same size. Before you start talking about alternatives and is that we need to come to grips with a projected position for Toomey. Toomey is being tracked by both ESPN and Prospects Nation as a post player. I don't envision Toomey as pure college post. I envision her as a big guard and a stretch 4 in the mold of KLS/Ann Strother and Stewie -with the ability to play all over the floor and occasionally going into the post. C envisions herself this same way as she indicated in her last video posted here ( google: getting to know Cierra Toomey). This does not make @Cuango answers of Cunningham, Del Rosario, Vasconcelos wrong because that answer would lead me to believe that he views C as being a post. BTW I don't envision Vasconcelos as a UCONN level talent and I have not read or seen anything in performance that would make me change my mind.
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I was in no way comparing skill levels, merely pointing out the three highest ranked posts after C. I think of the three Cunningham is really good while the others might be more hit or miss. Vasconcelos especially I don’t know much about while DelRosario was highly praised but has perhaps slipped a little. I’m thinking C and/or Cunningham. If neither comes, we wait for “24 or perhaps find a strong transfer. Who knows though, Geno may surprise us. After all, there are diamonds in the rough out there.
 
Cuango said:
I was in no way comparing skill levels, merely pointing out the three highest ranked posts after C. I think of the three Cunningham is really good while the others might be more hit or miss. Vasconcelos especially I don’t know much about while DelRosario was highly praised but has perhaps slipped a little. I’m thinking C and/or Cunningham. If neither comes, we wait for “24 or perhaps find a strong transfer. Who knows though, Geno may surprise us. After all, there are diamonds in the rough out there.
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I wouldn’t anticipate Cunningham, Oregon and UCLA each have one of her former HS teammates and I think she’ll be staying out west. And I have doubts that Del Rosario has the skills or athleticism needed to play at UConn’s level. But we’ll see.
 
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I don't see any better big options than Toomey and I agree with Coco in that she's clearly a stretch 4 rather than a post player but the way we use ONO is setting picks at the top of the key a lot and using her as a passer, I can see Ice or Toomey as our post but Toomey as more of a 4. i keep saying it but I really like Jadyn Donovan, a very athletic 3 or 4 who is scoring 16.7 points per game and over 8 rebounds per game in about 15 minutes of PT. She's scoring over a point a minute played and a rebound for every 2 minutes played. She's a junior and would be in the same class as Toomey. Not as big but a terrific athlete who can run, defend, rebound and score.
 
CocoHusky said:
3) The key part of this sentence "as they develop". Caroline, Ice, Ayanna and even Amari will bring adequate shooting to the front court. However, IMO they will not develop to the point of having the overall combination of ball handling, passing and shooting skills to be a featured forward primary facilitator that these 4 players have the potential to provide.
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Fair point, but based on their HS tape, both Ice & Amari are good passers & shooters from the high post; Ice also has good handles for a big. Ayanna has the handle & shooting form to be an effective spacing big, but her passing is unproven.
CocoHusky said:
4) Amari does have a nice stroke… That stroke is not what is going to determine Amari's future at UCONN. The key to her development is to understand that there is a pace and quickness of execution that she must achieve and maintain to be successful at UCONN… I really don't care how pretty her shot is in practice she needs to be making more of her shot in the game.
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… I would add significantly improved strength/fitness, greater focus, & a more physical, aggressive mindset to initiate/absorb body contact. All should come over time. Not unusual for young college bigs to struggle with major D1 adjustment. I recall Liv being being resistant to contact early in her UConn tenure, though she was in better shape. Same with Azura Stevens, who is the better Amari comp as a finesse-oriented, stretch-capable post.
 
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