First Night Recruits?

[Rings R Us]

With the 'First Night' festivities being a week away, has anyone heard of any recruits that will be attending?

 

[MilfordHusky]

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.

 

[Alydar]

Right now we got a post, a wing and a pg. Sounds like a KFC 3 piece.

I love the relative anonymity of non-US players. My kind of October surprise.

 

[donalddoowop]

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.

How tall is Makeer and is she a guard?

 

[visitingcock]

How tall is Makeer and is she a guard?

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?

 

[cancontent]

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?

Good question. Not sure but I've been of the opinion that its for guards and wings.

 

[Skeets]

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?

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.

 

[UcMiami]

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.

 

[Stagnant]

Somfai and Vukosa. The two that have always been the top targets for 2025 and 2026. They are the two uncommitted that would make sense to me.

 

[DaddyChoc]

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.

Hello

 

[HuskyNan]

How tall is Makeer and is she a guard?

REVISED Recruiting - Players of interest 10.08.24

the-boneyard.com

 

[Tonyc]

Im hoping Somfai and The Big O make their appearance

 

[Bone Dog]

Im hoping Somfai and The Big O make their appearance

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.

 

[hoopsfan22]

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.

Dynasty territory is over.

 

[Stagnant]

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.

 

[Cuango]

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!

 

[Stagnant]

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.

 

[Bone Dog]

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!

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.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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.

It's about time you guys came around to my way of thinking.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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.

 

[Zanzman]

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.

First night is for the students not the people who want to keep everyone off there lawn

 

[RockyMTblue2]

First night is for the students not the people who want to keep everyone off there lawn

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.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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.

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