First Night Recruits? | The Boneyard

First Night Recruits?

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With the 'First Night' festivities being a week away, has anyone heard of any recruits that will be attending?
 
MilfordHusky said:
Nope! I assume at least Kelis and Gandy. I'm hoping for Lara Somfai at least. I think Makeer is visiting the following week. I'd like to see some underclassmen as well.
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How tall is Makeer and is she a guard?
 
donalddoowop said:
How tall is Makeer and is she a guard?
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6’1” and Athletic. Has good jumping ability with decent outside and good midrange. Decent quickness as a defender but raw(as are most high schoolers). Looks like a wing/3 to me in Dawn’s system but not sure in Geno’s.

Is a three/wing a guard or small forward or neither - being it’s own separate category? SF offensively but possible guard defensively? Position determined by opponent’s offense?
 
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visitingcock said:
6’1” and Athletic. Has good jumping ability with decent outside and good midrange. Decent quickness as a defender but raw(as are most high schoolers). Looks like a wing/3 to me in Dawn’s system but not sure in Geno’s.

Is a three/wing a guard or small forward or neither - being it’s own separate category? SF offensively but possible guard defensively? Position determined by opponent’s offense?
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Good question. Not sure but I've been of the opinion that its for guards and wings.
 
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visitingcock said:
6’1” and Athletic. Has good jumping ability with decent outside and good midrange. Decent quickness as a defender but raw(as are most high schoolers). Looks like a wing/3 to me in Dawn’s system but not sure in Geno’s.

Is a three/wing a guard or small forward or neither - being it’s own separate category? SF offensively but possible guard defensively? Position determined by opponent’s offense?
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Well, no definition is completely pure. Guards, wings, and SF are pretty much muddled especially in a positionless offense. Historically I would have said a wing is a shooting guard. DT was a wing and a shooting guard. I don't think you would label her a forward. Today? Who knows. 99 times out of a 100 a PG is not a power forward, but everything between those 2 positions is up for grabs.
 
Yeah - it used to be clearer: Center PF, SF, Off (Shooting) Guard, Point Guard.

True power forwards became much rarer as those players refined their shooting out to the arc, and true centers also started disappearing as those types also extended their range. And all that changed how a small forward was seen and people started using 'Wing' to define the small forward type of players, not as tall as forwards, and not as big as centers and with better ball skills. But guards got bigger so off/shooting guards could just as easily be called small forwards and got labeled 'wings' too.

As the idea of 'position-less' play took hold, and as defined positions became blurred, a lot of teams are better defined as 2 forward, 1 wing, 2 guards, or alternatively 2 forwards, 2 wings, 1 PG.

A true PF was a player who cleaned up the mess their teammates created, didn't expect to take the first shot, but scored on put backs after an offensive board. With only 4 true scoring threats it was easier on defenses. In the same way a true PG was considered a shooter of last resort, so a team with a PG and a PF was playing almost 3 on 5 on offense in half court sets. So a non-shooting PG is also becoming extinct as 'combo guard' becomes a more useful player - good shooter, good passer. The best teams now are probably 2 forwards, 2 combo guards and a cross over player defined as a wing.
 
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Tonyc said:
Im hoping Somfai and The Big O make their appearance
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Lara and Olivia are not make-or-break recruits. Jana, Gandy, Ice, Yanna will be plenty good for the next few years. But Lara and Olivia will propel the program a bit further, back into dynasty territory.
 
Next year by UConn’s standards looks like a rebuilding year to me. It is hard to totally say that since there are so many players we haven’t seen play a game at UConn yet. But the best case scenario is the team is talented but inexperienced.

So, I think more help is needed with this recruiting class. I would be disappointed if there are no uncommitted players at first night.
 
I would expect UConn to be in it’s usual position as a top five contender for the title next year! Yes, Paige’s apparent departure is going to be a blow but this roster, barring the dreaded I-word will have plenty of talent to keep us among the top echelon of true contenders. KK & Ash will be grizzled veterans, we will have a bevy of top players with experience, and we will have at minimum Blanca, Kelis, and Gandy coming in. I think it is likely we will get Somfai as well which would give us four players over 6’3” as well as four more in the 6”2” range. (That’s not counting Caroline) That’s also not counting Azzi, who could be a PoY candidate if she stays healthy!

Finally, I personally believe Sarah is going to blow everyone away with how good she is and it would not surprise me if this becomes her team next year! I believe she will be the best player on the team next season and will greatly lessen the angst of losing Paige! Paige and Aubrey cannot be replaced but we have more than enough talent to keep us among the top teams for the foreseeable future!
 
I don’t believe Azzi or Caroline will be here. At the very least; there is a good chance they won’t be. And then you have KK and Shade as the most experienced players on the roster.

Another freshman or two won’t help the experience level of the roster. But can provide more depth and more punch and more quality.
 
Cuango said:
I personally believe Sarah is going to blow everyone away with how good she is and it would not surprise me if this becomes her team next year!
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This is what the tea leaves in my crystal ball tell me, too. Also, the team will still be packed with leaders, kids who carried their HS teams and will do the same in Storrs. These include Ash (of course) Jana Morgan and Allie. Geno recruits kids like this for a reason. Lara will be another one. The Big O is another.

These are not just talented role players. They are the ones who know how to make their team win. It’s good to have more than one on the roster. The problem with the first three teams Paige carried through the tournament was that she was usually the only uninjured leader on the roster. This situation seems to have been corrected.
 
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Bone Dog said:
This is what the tea leaves in my crystal ball tell me, too. Also, the team will still be packed with leaders, kids who carried their HS teams and will do the same in Storrs. These include Ash (of course) Jana Morgan and Allie. Geno recruits kids like this for a reason. Lara will be another one. The Big O is another.

These are not just talented role players. They are the ones who know how to make their team win. It’s good to have more than one on the roster. The problem with the first three teams Paige carried through the tournament was that she was usually the only uninjured leader on the roster. This situation seems to have been corrected.
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It's about time you guys came around to my way of thinking. :rolleyes:
 
Speaking of First Night: Does anyone else long for the days when it wasn't so blaringly pyrotechnic and so dark it's like the entry to the bat cave? May work if you are in the stands, but from your sofa its a "who's that" kind of adventure. And when the lights do go up this mix and match thing on the court is just a mess to me. Actually, I have no idea what the fun and games are this year. Just no yoga balls please.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
Speaking of First Night: Does anyone else long for the days when it wasn't so blaringly pyrotechnic and so dark it's like the entry to the bat cave? May work if you are in the stands, but from your sofa its a "who's that" kind of adventure. And when the lights do go up this mix and match thing on the court is just a mess to me. Actually, I have no idea what the fun and games are this year. Just no yoga balls please.
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First night is for the students not the people who want to keep everyone off there lawn
 
Zanzman said:
First night is for the students not the people who want to keep everyone off there lawn
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Then don't televise it. I here this remark every year. It is the lawn chair people who buy most of the tickets. BTW I don't have a lawn, just praire short grasses, rattlesnakes and antelopes.
 
Repeat? Pardon. I just dug up the info on First Night and it should be a kick:

First Night will be a UConn student-focused, free event. Husky Athletic Fund donors and season ticket holders will be able to claim a selected number of tickets to the event. First Night will air locally on WFSB and will stream for free on UConn+ (UConnPlus.tv).

The event will kick off with a block party on Jim Calhoun Way. All are welcome to enjoy food trucks, carnival games, photobooths, a live DJ and more.

Players from both squads will be introduced as the Gampel faithful gets to meet the 2024-25 Huskies for the first time. The teams will compete in challenges including a coed 3-point shooting contest and a full-court, 5-on-5 scrimmage alternating between the women's and men's student-athletes. First Night will close with the Grand Finale Giveaway with thousands of prizes for fans in attendance.

​
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
Then don't televise it. I here this remark every year. It is the lawn chair people who buy most of the tickets. BTW I don't have a lawn, just praire short grasses, rattlesnakes and antelopes.
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I don’t watch first night and I don’t like people on my lawn just find it funny when every Will complain about quality of production
 
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Zanzman said:
I don’t watch first night and I don’t like people on my lawn just find it funny when every Will complain about quality of production
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Let me give you another chuckle, the sound quality is nearly as bad as the video. But I have joined you, I no longer watch as of last year.
 
The "production" is the work of the Student Activity Office, or whatever they call it now. I thought Geno was going to have a stroke when they couldn't move a basket. It seems like the players spend a lot of time milling around. Add in the strobes and roving spotlights and it reminds me of Shaboo at midnight. If only I still had the stamina, I had then.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
Let me give you another chuckle, the sound quality is nearly as bad as the video. But I have joined you, I no longer watch as of last year.
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I'm sure the replay will be streamed and you can FF to the scrimmages and shooting contest. You'll see who is healthy and who can shoot 3's.
 
Zanzman said:
I don’t watch first night and I don’t like people on my lawn just find it funny when every Will complain about quality of production
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I think the reason some of us (certainly me) complain about the quality of production, is because of the potential impact on recruits. I understand it is mostly for the students, and that it is run by student organizations not the athletic department. It could still be mostly for the students but put on by the athletic department IMO, resulting in a competent presentation.

As this thread implies, many are hoping potential future recruits will attend and be impressed, and that will help them decide that Uconn is the place for them. From the standpoint of fan support and the players themselves I think that largely happens, but every year these potential recruits also see many production mistakes, and what looks like a bad dress rehearsal for the real thing by the not ready for prime time players.

My main point is as long as First Night is used at least somewhat as a recruiting tool, then it should meet the high standards the program has in everything else the recruit is exposed to, and clearly that has not been the case for several years running. This year I hope it will be better, but the track record suggests that I should expect more cringe worthy moments.

What would make me most happy would be to say I was very pleasantly surprised, and that's more like it, after it is over.
 
Stagnant said:
I don’t believe Azzi or Caroline will be here. At the very least; there is a good chance they won’t be. And then you have KK and Shade as the most experienced players on the roster.

Another freshman or two won’t help the experience level of the roster. But can provide more depth and more punch and more quality.
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Curious as to why you think Azzi will not be here? Of course, Caroline is a question mark but if (miraculously) she were to be a contributing player this season and go through the season with no more health issues, I certainly would expect her to return! Now, that is obviously a big if but it is possible. As for Azzi, I see no reason she would not come back as well if she remains healthy. I would think she would do this for two reasons; first, to further demonstrate both her skills and her ability to play for an extended period with no health issues, and second, to establish a legacy here that has heretofore been compromised by repeated injuries. I think she will stay essentially because she has not really been able to have a college career!
However, even if I am dead wrong and both Azzi and Caroline leave at the end of this season, I believe we will still be a top five, contending team based on the tremendous roster that Geno has put together over the past three seasons! Yes, they would make us better, perhaps #1 as opposed to #3 or #4 but, make no mistake, barring some unforeseen event, this team has all the talent it needs to contend for the title over the next three years!
 
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