Gabby Williams

[plastic]

You often hear that Gabby is the most athletic player on the team and maybe the the most athletic player that Geno has coached. I know Gabby can jump high but what else does she do on the the basketball court that would make her the most athletic compared to the many great athletes on this team??????. I would appreciate any insight as to why so many people are calling her the most athletic.

 

[pvdoggy]

I don't know what people see, but no way that Gabby is more athletic than Maya Moore, on the basketball court.

 

[Frodo]

When Gabby first signed with UConn I did some digging on her track and field background. I no longer have all the data so I can't quote exact figures, but Gabby's performance in several track events, including 100M hurdles, 100M, 200M, 4X100M relay, and 4X200M relay all put her in rather elite company when judged against U.S. high school girls, and she was only a sophomore at the time. Assuming some incremental improvement during her final two years of high school had she not had the knee injuries I determined that she could have been among the top ten high school girls in the country in virtually all of those categories by the time she graduated and perhaps better even that. I know that in a short sprint like a basketball half court drill she can't beat Jefferson, but based on her high school record as a sophomore I suspect she would blow away anyone on the UConn team in the 100M, 200M or the hurdles.

 

[Geno-ista]

She has gone up and snared long rebounds that would have bounded over most of our best players- with one hand. She has looked like Odel Beckham highlight reels on many rebounds. Only Stewie would be someone that would have handled those.
She appears to have large, great soft hands.

 

[plastic]

If people are referring to off the basketball athletic skills, then they should clarify that, so it is not confused with athletic basketball skills.

 

[sarals24]

CD said she is more athletic than Maya - that Maya had "slow feet". She can jump high (she was in the OLYMPIC TRIALS as a 15-year-old in the high jump and placed third, I think?) and she jumps quicker than any UConn player I've ever seen. She gets her hand on rebounds she has no business getting to at 5'10. She can run the floor like a gazelle. She's very quick laterally. She has amazing hands and really good touch around the basket. And she's playing a position she just started in college! I bet she's dynamite at any sport she plays, really.

 

[iri10]

Gabby is far more explosive than the average 5'11+ guard body type, while also being strong enough to not be pushed around by anything short of large forwards/centers. It's not just the high leaping, but also the ability to make the quick, darting movements needed to make a sudden steal, or accelerate down the court, etc.

Maya Moore, another very athletic player, is not quite as explosive. She's stronger though, and more importantly was more skilled in taking advantage of her physical gifts.

Gabby's kinda just scratching the surface, in that she's got lots of athleticism but a limited number of things to do with it. If she continues improving her skillset, decision making, handling, shooting, etc., it will become more apparent why people say she ranks near the top of UConn's athletes.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

. . . She can jump high (she was in the OLYMPIC TRIALS as a 15-year-old in the high jump and placed third, I think?) . . .

I believe she finished fifth. Had she finished third, she would have made the olympic team.

 

[Carnac]

Additional on Gabby Williams....In order to be a great rebounder, you have to have excellent "timing", in addition to having "hops"(Gabby has hops). The two go hand in hand.
You can be a good rebounder if you're lacking one of these attributes, but if you're blessed with both, along with a nose for the ball (which can't be taught, it's a gift), you'll be one heck of a rebounder.

A basketball player that exemplified all of these traits was DENNIS RODMAN. Another player was Darrell Griffith (Utah Jazz), also known by his nickname Dr. Dunkenstein. Griffith was only 6'4", but was widely regarded for his leaping ability, and his monstrous dunks. I would mention Michael Jordan here, but he's in a whole different class. He (along with Julius "Dr. J" Erving) personified "hops", and exhibiting "hang time".

 

[Kibitzer]

Additional on Gabby Williams....In order to be a great rebounder, you have to have excellent "timing", in addition to having "hops"(Gabby has hops). The two go hand in hand.
A basketball player that exemplified all of these traits was DENNIS RODMAN. Another player was Darrell Griffith (Utah Jazz), also known by his nickname Dr. Dunkenstein. Griffith was only 6'4", but was widely regarded for his leaping ability, and his monstrous dunks. I would mention Michael Jordan here, but he's in a whole different class. He (along with Julius "Dr. J" Erving) personified "hops", and exhibiting "hang time".

Add Lexie Brown's dad, Dee Brown, an incredible leaper with the Celtics .

At the top of this list of great rebonders/
leapers/defenders has gotta be Bill Russell. He spotted Wilt 4 inches (6'9" vs. 7'1") in head-to-head matchups for about a decade and we know who came out on top.

While we are discussing Gabby, how about that in bounds play (leap-catch-shoot) she narrowly missed vs. Cincy. We'll surely see that one again.

 

[Icebear]

While we are discussing Gabby, how about that in bounds play (leap-catch-shoot) she narrowly missed vs. Cincy. We'll surely see that one again.

That was her second attempt this year.

 

[iamcbs]

Additional on Gabby Williams....In order to be a great rebounder, you have to have excellent "timing", in addition to having "hops"(Gabby has hops). The two go hand in hand.
You can be a good rebounder if you're lacking one of these attributes, but if you're blessed with both, along with a nose for the ball (which can't be taught, it's a gift), you'll be one heck of a rebounder.

A basketball player that exemplified all of these traits was DENNIS RODMAN. Another player was Darrell Griffith (Utah Jazz), also known by his nickname Dr. Dunkenstein. Griffith was only 6'4", but was widely regarded for his leaping ability, and his monstrous dunks. I would mention Michael Jordan here, but he's in a whole different class. He (along with Julius "Dr. J" Erving) personified "hops", and exhibiting "hang time".

I don't know how old you are, but go to Youtube and type either Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins or both in the dialog box

 

[UcMiami]

All good responses and I would add two other traits - very good body control in the air, which i am sure comes partly from the high jump experience, which allows her to contort around post defenders to get her shot off cleanly; and great hand eye coordination which gives her surprising accuracy while contorted around those defenders on rather long lay-ups.

On most athletic Uconn players ... I think Moriah gets left out unfairly. She is blazingly fast, an incredible leaper, has very quick reflexes and quick twitch muscles, and stamina for days. I cannot remember anyone at Uconn who has covered as much ground all over the court and never stops and has done it consistently for 40 minutes or until Geno decides to have mercy on the opponent. She is shorter than the other candidates, and certainly doesn't have the strength of a Moore, but ...

 

[CocoHusky]

For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "

In the spirit of Charles Ives: What does dunking have to do with basketball?

 

[Carnac]

Add Lexie Brown's dad, Dee Brown, an incredible leaper with the Celtics .

At the top of this list of great rebonders/
leapers/defenders has gotta be Bill Russell. He spotted Wilt 4 inches (6'9" vs. 7'1") in head-to-head matchups for about a decade and we know who came out on top.

While we are discussing Gabby, how about that in bounds play (leap-catch-shoot) she narrowly missed vs. Cincy. We'll surely see that one again.

Gentlemen, for the sake of brevity, I kept my list of "skywalkers to a minimum. imcbs, I remember those two gentlemen. I saw them both play. Connie Hawkins had very large hands. The ball looked like a grapefruit when he palmed the ball. I remember Elgin more for his scoring ability than his leaping ability. This was in the days back when the Lakers played in the Sports Arena. BEFORE they moved to the Forum in Inglewood.

 

[Carnac]

Add Lexie Brown's dad, Dee Brown, an incredible leaper with the Celtics .

At the top of this list of great rebonders/
leapers/defenders has gotta be Bill Russell. He spotted Wilt 4 inches (6'9" vs. 7'1") in head-to-head matchups for about a decade and we know who came out on top.

While we are discussing Gabby, how about that in bounds play (leap-catch-shoot) she narrowly missed vs. Cincy. We'll surely see that one again.

You are correct sir. There were 2 players that gave Wilt Fits. One was Bill Russell, the other one was Nate Thurman (Golden State). He hated to play against those two.

 

[Bayareahusky]

ya state high jump champion..... that is why switch to forward at 5'10" and if any doubt, you can just see from her body that she is "built" for basketball

 

[cohenzone]

Gabby was close to world class in track and field. But I agree with tte mention of MoJeff. She's pretty much a world class athlete in her sport based on speed, quickness, accelerating, body control, gross and small motor coordination and instinct. Like all super athletes she had both natural gifts and developed skills.

 

[floridauconn]

You often hear that Gabby is the most athletic player on the team and maybe the the most athletic player that Geno has coached. I know Gabby can jump high but what else does she do on the the basketball court that would make her the most athletic compared to the many great athletes on this team??????. I would appreciate any insight as to why so many people are calling her the most athletic.

Why must we always put the players under a microscope. Just enjoy the talent that they have. I trust Geno's judgement and opinions.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Gabby was close to world class in track and field. But I agree with tte mention of MoJeff. She's pretty much a world class athlete in her sport based on speed, quickness, accelerating, body control, gross and small motor coordination and instinct. Like all super athletes she had both natural gifts and developed skills.

 

[lne001]

David Thompson 6' 4"

 

[MilfordHusky]

David Thompson was very much like Jordan, but 2" shorter. He had leg problems, however.

In college, Monte Towe would throw a lob pass near the top of the backboard and Thompson would dunk it. In fact, he dunked over Bill Walton of UCLA in a fabulous game.

 

[donalddoowop]

Thompson was one of the all time great college players.

 

[HuskyNan]

Why must we always put the players under a microscope. Just enjoy the talent that they have. I trust Geno's judgement and opinions.

A fan forum is for discussion and people enjoy discussing the UConn players. No one means any harm; it's just a way to keep a dialog going.