Fun Paige / Azzi Video | The Boneyard

Fun Paige / Azzi Video

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Talk about your full court presses. There isn't a chance in the world that any booster, alumni or fan of UConn could pitch Geno with any more fervor than Paige. I have to think this a daily event. The kid is heaven sent.
 
I’ve never ascribed to the theory that top players go somewhere because of a good friend, HS, AAU or USA basketball teammate. It may happen every now and then (Pheesa & Lou). More often, there is a great deal of speculation, like when a bunch of players on the under 18 team were going to come to UConn, or follow SB to ND, and everyone went their own way. Most players make decisions based on a number of factors, and where their friends go to school is usually way down the list.

Hopefully, in this case, Paige and Azzi are the exception. But I must confess that other than their obvious love of basketball, it’s hard to imagine two friends who’s personalities are more different than Paige & Azzi.

Paige is an extrovert who never stops talking. Yes, she is the 2nd coming of DT. Azzi is quiet and thoughtful. In this latest video, Azzi, who is the child of mixed race parents, makes the amusing comment that Paige is “more black” than she is. Friendship is a wonderful thing, but It might be a good idea for Paige to give Azzi some space to make her decision.

I don’t think Azzi has made up her mind yet. At a minimum, she hasn’t told Paige or we would all know where she’s heading. I think Geno has established a strong relationship with Azzi’s two parents, both of whom were outstanding basketball players in their own right.

Azzi’s HS, St Johns Prep is a very good private, catholic school with strong academics. Azzi hasn’t put out a final list of schools, and maybe she never will. I’m just speculating, but imo MD, SC, Baylor and even ND are unlikely to be among her finalists for a number of reasons.

I think Azzi’s decision may come down to 3 schools: UConn, Oregon & Stanford. Of the 3, Stanford is the school I am most concerned with. It is my sincere hope that when all is said and done, Azzi chooses to follow her loquacious friend to Storrs.
 
If she does matriculate great..if not there are a lot of other good players in her class to look at..
 
bluedevil said:
If she does matriculate great..if not there are a lot of other good players in her class to look at..
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Yes, but in the same way that Paige is head and shoulders above the class of 2020, Azzi is head and shoulders above the class of 2021. Azzi is quite simply a jump shooting machine. If she were to end up on the court with Paige and her future UConn teammates, in Geno’s offense, Azzi would get great open looks and the ball would find her time after time.
 
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Paige is a true connoisseur of basketball and the way UConn plays. With the right talent, the UConn style is just breathless and Paige know this. I am sure she is keenly aware of what Sue Bird / Diana Taurasi did to advance WBB and perfect Geno's vision. She is just trying to get her best friend to see (and feel) this.

Perhaps Azzi feels she wants to run her own show and not share the stage?? but the lights of UConn and an appreciative fanbase are bright enough to support 2 incomparable guards advancing the sport again.
 
Of course it would be great if Azzi went to UConn. But I’ll be happy to see DeBerry, and I can’t wait to see Saylor Poffengarger. If it’s a class of those two, I’ll be content.
 
Azzi has a long vertical scar on both knees. Two ACLs?? or something else. ThevApril 2019 ACL/MCL injury is all I find. Did they take some patellar tendon from the other knee for repair??
 
One other telling moment (to me) in that video- at one point Azzi's Dad mentions something about calling Geno - and he said it quickly and without reservation. My sense is he's very comfortable in talking with Geno and would probably love further developing that relationship in the future.
 
oldude said:
I’ve never ascribed to the theory that top players go somewhere because of a good friend, HS, AAU or USA basketball teammate. It may happen every now and then (Pheesa & Lou). More often, there is a great deal of speculation, like when a bunch of players on the under 18 team were going to come to UConn, or follow SB to ND, and everyone went their own way. Most players make decisions based on a number of factors, and where their friends go to school is usually way down the list.

Hopefully, in this case, Paige and Azzi are the exception. But I must confess that other than their obvious love of basketball, it’s hard to imagine two friends who’s personalities are more different than Paige & Azzi.

Paige is an extrovert who never stops talking. Yes, she is the 2nd coming of DT. Azzi is quiet and thoughtful. In this latest video, Azzi, who is the child of mixed race parents, makes the amusing comment that Paige is “more black” than she is. Friendship is a wonderful thing, but It might be a good idea for Paige to give Azzi some space to make her decision.

I don’t think Azzi has made up her mind yet. At a minimum, she hasn’t told Paige or we would all know where she’s heading. I think Geno has established a strong relationship with Azzi’s two parents, both of whom were outstanding basketball players in their own right.

Azzi’s HS, St Johns Prep is a very good private, catholic school with strong academics. Azzi hasn’t put out a final list of schools, and maybe she never will. I’m just speculating, but imo MD, SC, Baylor and even ND are unlikely to be among her finalists for a number of reasons.

I think Azzi’s decision may come down to 3 schools: UConn, Oregon & Stanford. Of the 3, Stanford is the school I am most concerned with. It is my sincere hope that when all is said and done, Azzi chooses to follow her loquacious friend to Storrs.
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Sorry. ND as a catholic school is my pick as her number 2. Paige's comment of only playing each other once a year also seems to confirm this.
 
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JordyG said:
Sorry. ND as a catholic school is my pick as her number 2. Paige's comment of only playing each other once a year also seems to confirm this.
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Second only to my general belief that recruits don’t pick a school just because that’s where their friends go, is my belief that recruits don’t pick ND just because they went to a catholic HS. I heard that same argument about Haley Jones who attended Archbishop Mitty, and as we all know, she didn’t end up at ND. I would also point out that Lou went to Mater Dei, another Catholic HS, and ND wasn’t even a factor in her final decision.

IMO, far more important to Azzi and her parents than the Catholic affiliation of St Johns Prep, is the academic excellence it offers. That’s why I view Stanford as UConn’s major competition.

In addition, I don’t think ND will be all the way back next year. The Irish will certainly be better, but I believe that Azzi wants to step into a situation where she can compete for championships, and ND doesn’t necessarily fit the bill.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
You should view South Carolina, ND, and Maryland as UConn's competition for her.
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Time will tell. But as I indicated, my opinion is that Azzi will head out west or she will end up at UConn.
 
oldude said:
Time will tell. But as I indicated, my opinion is that Azzi will head out west or she will end up at UConn.
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There haven't been any reports linking her to Oregon and it's been quite a while since Stanford has been mentioned.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
There haven't been any reports linking her to Oregon and it's been quite a while since Stanford has been mentioned.
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Are there recent reports linking her to SC, ND & MD?
 
oldude said:
Are there recent reports linking her to SC, ND & MD?
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IMO, they are all in second place. With her long term aspirations, there's no way she'll pass up the UConn opportunity to develop to reach her goals. If she's really as close to Bueckers as they maintain, she'd be looking over her shoulder every year wondering what they could have accomplished together if she didn't take the challenge.
 
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If UConn was the sure landing spot for Fudd as many seem to think, why hasn't she committed? We already have players committed that are younger than she is.
 
hoopsfan22 said:
If UConn was the sure landing spot for Fudd as many seem to think, why hasn't she committed? We already have players committed that are younger than she is.
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Maybe she committed but just didn’t make it public. It’s really not our business when/how she commits. Everyone is different. We get too caught up into these kids personal lives it’s a shame. Whenever/whatever she decides, we’ll just have to wait until the time comes!
 
Scud49 said:
One other telling moment (to me) in that video- at one point Azzi's Dad mentions something about calling Geno - and he said it quickly and without reservation. My sense is he's very comfortable in talking with Geno and would probably love further developing that relationship in the future.
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I understand that the family has a great relationship with Geno. That is not a problem in the least. I hope other things--whatever they may be--are sufficient to get Azzi to decide on UConn.
 
hoopsfan22 said:
If UConn was the sure landing spot for Fudd as many seem to think, why hasn't she committed? We already have players committed that are younger than she is.
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Maybe because she's in no rush and doesn't feel the need. And quite possibly, the coach where she's going already knows. None of the schools recruiting her are going to rush her, they can wait for probably the best guard in the country next year. Do you remember when Williams and ONO publicly committed?
 
oldude said:
Second only to my general belief that recruits don’t pick a school just because that’s where their friends go, is my belief that recruits don’t pick ND just because they went to a catholic HS. I heard that same argument about Haley Jones who attended Archbishop Mitty, and as we all know, she didn’t end up at ND. I would also point out that Lou went to Mater Dei, another Catholic HS, and ND wasn’t even a factor in her final decision.

IMO, far more important to Azzi and her parents than the Catholic affiliation of St Johns Prep, is the academic excellence it offers. That’s why I view Stanford as UConn’s major competition.

In addition, I don’t think ND will be all the way back next year. The Irish will certainly be better, but I believe that Azzi wants to step into a situation where she can compete for championships, and ND doesn’t necessarily fit the bill.
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I agree that elite players don't choose a college because their friends go there, but if the kids both value and seek the same things--which can be part of the basis for their friendship--their decisions may be the same. The school that best meets the needs of one may also be the school that best meets the need of the other. I believe that may well be true for Paige and Azzi with regard to UConn.
 
oldude said:
Are there recent reports linking her to SC, ND & MD?
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I don't know.

Maryland has the benefit of being the local school and allowing her friends and family to watch Azzi in person. Their arena is very nice, the roster is loaded, and Brenda is an accomplished coach.

Azzi has been to N.D. to support her friend Sam Brunelle. She also attends the same prep school that Marissa Coleman (Maryland) and Lindsay Allen (N.D.) attended.

South Carolina has the obvious attractions of Dawn, the current USA Coach, recent success, a loaded roster, and great attendance.
 
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