Full Court has updated their 2014 rankings.

[Fightin Choke]

LINK

Blue Star also updated their 2015 rankings recently: LINK

 

[meyers7]

Wow Full Court with Eckmark at 32??? That's off from the other services.

 

[John Glass]

Azura Stevens Duke commit;

Full Court #7 and Blue Star # 59

quite a difference

 

[Sonny44]

I don't get too excited over rankings. They seem to be all over the place. I am much more attuned to whether or not Geno et.al. are getting our share of the recruits they are going after. Lately that seems to be a concern.

 

[doggydaddy]

I don't get too excited over rankings. They seem to be all over the place. I am much more attuned to whether or not Geno et.al. are getting our share of the recruits they are going after. Lately that seems to be a concern.

Not a concern.

 

[Fightin Choke]

Azura Stevens Duke commit;

Full Court #7 and Blue Star # 59

quite a difference

What Sonny said, John. (Except the part about Geno not getting his share of recruits, as UConn is doing exceptionally well! Best class in 2012 and so far the best class in 2014.)

Either don't really worry about the variation in rankings, or split the difference. Besides 7th in Full Court and 59th in BlueStar, Azura Stevens is 25th in ASGR, 28th in Hoopgurlz, and also 28th in Prospects nation. That gives her an average rank of 29th. Or we could throw out the best (7th) and worst (59th) ranking and her mean rank is 27th.

Ekmark is 32nd in Full Court, 7th in Hoopgurlz, 8th in ASGR, 13th in BlueStar, and 16th in Prospects Nation: overall mean = 15th, throwing out the highest and lowest ranking = 12th. Either one looks pretty good to me. And most importantly, wouldn't you trust Geno's judgement over these evaluators?

I asked Clay Kallam (one of 5 committee members who created the rankings) about Full Court's low score for Ekmark, and this was his reply: "As for Ekmark, the feeling is that she's basically a shooter, and so far hasn't shown much else. I guess other services think she can do more, or think that if UConn recruits her, she must be really good. I think she just fits in really well with UConn -- she can stand out there and make threes, and really help that team. On other programs, I'm not so sure." LINK.

 

[John Glass]

Which rankings have the best reputation ?

You probably could have said KML was just a shooter a few years ago.

 

[Icebear]

Which rankings have the best reputation ?

You probably could have said KML was just a shooter a few years ago.

Exactly my thought. "Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis: Can shoot a bit."

 

[connboy77]

I guess Full Court is going to have to find out for themselves in two years just how good Courtney Ekmark is! UCONN Fans will not disappointed.

 

[doggydaddy]

Just watch the peach state video, Clay, and see how much more than a shooter she is.

She is not JUST a shooter and to say that is feeling of the voters doesn't say much for their ability to analyze players.

Shooting is what she does best, but she can handle the ball like a guard, find teammates with sharp passing and has excellent leadership skills.

 

[UConnCat]

Just watch the peach state video, Clay, and see how much more than a shooter she is.

She is not JUST a shooter and to say that is feeling of the voters doesn't say much for their ability to analyze players.

Shooting is what she does best, but she can handle the ball like a guard, find teammates with sharp passing and has excellent leadership skills.

She isn't just a shooter and it's inaccurate to say that "she'll just stand out there and make threes." I've said before that UConn is a good fit for Ekmark. She's not blessed with quickness and athleticism, but she has shown the ability to come of screens and get her shot off pretty quickly. She'll be playing for a team that knows how to screen and get open shots for its best shooters. She's also learning how to put up shots off the dribble and her size should help her with that. She's also a very good passer who will be playing for a program that puts a premium on being able to pass the ball well (this past season's results notwithstanding). I think Geno also likes her size, her intelligence, and her understanding of team basketball. She'll struggle on defense (she doesn't possess Kelly's athleticism) so she'll have to learn how to compensate by playing angles and relying on her teammates, etc.

 

[easttexastrash]

Glad to see Ariel Atkins get recognized. I watched her in the Texas Class 5A championship game and was blown away. An incredible athlete.

Was very surprised to see her commit to SMU.

 

[Fightin Choke]

Glad to see Ariel Atkins get recognized. I watched her in the Texas Class 5A championship game and was blown away. An incredible athlete.

Was very surprised to see her commit to SMU.

Atkins has verballed to Texas, not SMU. Someone needs some java (or fewer Shiner Bocks last night).

 

[easttexastrash]

Atkins has verballed to Texas, not SMU. Someone needs some java (or fewer Shiner Bocks last night).

Oops! Must have been one of her teammates. Great pickup for UT. Atkins is the real deal!

 

[easttexastrash]

Kiara Perry of Duncanville committed to SMU. One of the best leapers I've seen in a long time. Duncanville was loaded with Div I talent this past season.

 

[MarieYLee]

From what I have seen from Ekmark play a few times, she definitely isn't just a shooter. She's just a really smart players who does a lot of really nice things.

I haven't seen enough of other players in the 2014 class, but if 2014 is really deeper than past classes, comparing her to other "top 10" players, I wouldn't put her in the top 10. With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if she's end up being a more productive player than other higher rank players. I think...UConn is a great fit. I see her more as a 3rd or 4th option type of player who will play off a superstar. That won't be a problem as she'll have two years to play with Stewert, Tuck and Jefferson. I think if you want her to be your #1 option, I just don't see it.

 

[VAMike23]

Which rankings have the best reputation ?

You probably could have said KML was just a shooter a few years ago.

IIRC, she was also MD's leading rebounder - a pretty tough stat to ignore if one were going to try to peg her as a shooter only. Hence the #1-#2 ranking for KML. I trust in our staff's judgment and believe that Ekmark will bring plenty to the table.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Oops! Must have been one of her teammates. Great pickup for UT. Atkins is the real deal!

Got me all excited...!

 

[Purduke]

I asked Clay Kallam (one of 5 committee members who created the rankings) about Full Court's low score for Ekmark, and this was his reply: "As for Ekmark, the feeling is that she's basically a shooter, and so far hasn't shown much else. I guess other services think she can do more, or think that if UConn recruits her, she must be really good. I think she just fits in really well with UConn -- she can stand out there and make threes, and really help that team. On other programs, I'm not so sure." LINK.

This is why I find some of the suggested comparison to Kelly Farris so suspicious on several threads. If Kelly was anything coming out of high school it wasn't a shooter. If I was to think of Ekmark's game being similar to somebody with a UConn background it would be someone like Gemelos.

 

[slimmer56]

Courtney Ekmark is the PERFECT Geno UCONN recruit. Yes she is a shooter, but so much more than that. She is actually a playmaker. She makes plays, and she wants the ball in her hands. She has a sweet little finger-roll down the lane. Played with 5 players that would eventually sign Div. 1 scollies in her Soph year. That was the year they won the mythical high school championship.I think they have lost 3 games in 3 years. Kind of like Kaleena, and Kelly. Oh and whatever it's worth she was recruited by UNC in the 8th grade and Duke in the 9th.
I think by the end of her career at UCONN she will be a 1st team All -America.

 

[Tonyc]

I have friends who's daughters play AAU ball. They say Court will make her Mark at UConn. She is KML and Kelly in one. That's all Im hearing. Williams and Edwards are really good. Some kids will shy away from UConn because of who they have. But isn't that what we're facing every season.

 

[Kibitzer]

You probably could have said KML was just a shooter a few years ago.

Reminds me once again of immortal Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown (arguably the greatest ever) who, when criticized for not being a good blocker or pass catcher, responded:

"All Caruso could do ws sing."​

 

[willtalk]

Just checked the Blue Star 2015 rankings. Ohio had 14 in the top 101 and California had 3. Of course that makes sense in that California has never been known to produce much talent in WBB being that they have such a small population and not much talent to draw from. On the other hand Ohio is so filled with talent that it made sense for Blue Star to run their evaluation camp out of Chicago.