Jana El Alfy to UConn | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Jana El Alfy to UConn

And Coach FINALLY listened to me ( that’s a joke…really…)
Not only a top flight fearsome foresome of new talent, but also lengthening the bench and guarding against the injury bug.
We lose two top players at seasons end, reducing our roster from 12 to 10.
This infusion of talent brings it up to 14 uber talented players, which will represent a blending of new faces and experienced veterans.
PLUS one seat open, for a possible late term recruit or portal addition.
Masterfully done.
 
She is too short. If her finger tips cannot touch the top of the rim while she is standing, she does not have the height.:)Good to see that she is aboard, but, honestly, we need big, wide, over 6feet 7inches who clears the floor on rebounds and just make layups like crazy.
:):):):):)
 
Zarathustra said:
About January.... I was very happy to see Jana on the UCONN team. My thought is would
an early semester if UCONN practices be appropriate for smoothing out the rough edges
that would make her and the team better next fall? I just rewatched some of the 2022
FIBA U 18 Women's African Championships (from Madagascar). Jana did well, but there
is a HUGE stylistic difference between African and the USA College scene. The Jewel will
need some polishing (IMO). Welcome, Jana!
Expand ...
All the jewels that come to UCONN will need polishing to optimize their potential at some point. Regarding this particular jewel note Geno's comments on what she is bring to the table.

"I think the skills Jana has are skills that translate well into the way basketball is played today. She's a big kid who's athletic and can play on the perimeter. She can score, she can rebound. She's played a lot of basketball growing up. Her father is the national team coach, so she really understands the game. "
 
.-.
bantamlaker said:
Geno goes the international route again. This news should bring joy to the BY.
Expand ...
Ya think?!? :eek: I'd say the mood in the yard today is "festive" to say the least, and we have a right to be. :p Geno signed 4 ballers that can play!! No projects here. All of them should be able to come in and help to some extent right away!!! I'm extremely happy with this class. I look forward to watching them grow, develop and mature during their stay. A skilled BIG that has handles and a motor and plays hard. What's not to like? :rolleyes:
 
In terms of immediate impact, El Alfy may be the most important of the 2023 recruits. KK, Ashlyn and Q are players that are more needed down the road, but can still provide help their first year. The C candidates for next year were Ice and Amari. One we expect to be good in Ice, but she will be recovering from injury, and Amari has shown nothing thus far, making her a big question mark even as a limited minutes backup C.

It would be a shame if in Paige and Azzi's first and maybe last year playing healthy together, one position was a weak link in their championship pursuit. It wasn't a huge one, but having to rely on Amari for starter or backup minutes next year until she proves something, could have been the most unsettling factor heading into next year.

Now we add another player to the mix, that even as a raw freshmen, can probably raise the floor and the ceiling for that position. If Amari doesn't make a major move upward, she won't have to play at all. Without El Alfy it is possible Geno would have had to use her far more than he wanted to.

Yes the lack of experience is still a factor, and Ice and Jana should be much better players later in their careers, but at least now we can throw two talented players at the position and not have to rely on a big question mark.
 
.-.
Without question this is one of the best recruiting classes UCONN has ever had!
 
Watched the Madagascar game. Jana is athletic and she is well coached. She made 2 smooth 3 pointers and she passed well. She keeps it simple when possible and sets up just in front of the basket and has decent moves. Several times she was triple teamed. My sense is she is a solid team mate who sincerely roots for others. I like her handle for a big but she's not a guard. She has the makings of a power forward with some scoring skill. She runs the floor well but is going to need some breaks in PT. She can play post but will be scored on in top level competition. Not a big jumper. A Larry Bird type big. She's still very young though and has potential. She has one of the best handles I've seen for a post player. Ideally she's a power forward, certainly in the pros. Very likeable. Competitive. Sometimes almost goal hung as she likes to run. Someone should offer her team mate Salmon a division 1 scholarship also as she can play. Decent post player. They were Africa's twin towers.

I gotta say it was refreshing to see the kids from Madagascar signing in the stands during the game. There was a sense of community you don't often see in America. African culture is very special in so many ways. Everyone happy and positive.
 
.-.
oldhuskie said:
In terms of immediate impact, El Alfy may be the most important of the 2023 recruits. KK, Ashlyn and Q are players that are more needed down the road, but can still provide help their first year. The C candidates for next year were Ice and Amari. One we expect to be good in Ice, but she will be recovering from injury, and Amari has shown nothing thus far, making her a big question mark even as a limited minutes backup C.

It would be a shame if in Paige and Azzi's first and maybe last year playing healthy together, one position was a weak link in their championship pursuit. It wasn't a huge one, but having to rely on Amari for starter or backup minutes next year until she proves something, could have been the most unsettling factor heading into next year.

Now we add another player to the mix, that even as a raw freshmen, can probably raise the floor and the ceiling for that position. If Amari doesn't make a major move upward, she won't have to play at all. Without El Alfy it is possible Geno would have had to use her far more than he wanted to.

Yes the lack of experience is still a factor, and Ice and Jana should be much better players later in their careers, but at least now we can throw two talented players at the position and not have to rely on a big question mark.
Expand ...
Exactly! We also will have Edwards and Patterson and maybe Aubrey. That should be enough to hold it down on the post because our guards and wing spots will be crazy DEEP! I’m not sure of everyone else roster next year but if we don’t win it all next year, then we may never win it again. Barring injuries of course.
 
It might be fun to play the national anthem of one of the foreign players at home games.

Great for international relations.

Also, foreign players could think that it would be cool for that to happen for them.
 
.-.
Does anyone know about where she might be ranked if the rating services included overseas players? Top 10, top 50, etc?
 
Great get for UConn, she doesn't shy away from the basket. It looks to me like her shooting technique from outside is a push from the shoulder, kind of like a shot put, but then again I haven't see a whole lot of video. What a recruiting class this has been!
 
I expect Jana to succeed and quickly find her comfort zone. UCONN players not only accept foreign players, but they embrace them from Day One. There is ony a short acclimation period before a new foreign recruit is "one of the gals".
 
uconnever said:
Exactly! We also will have Edwards and Patterson and maybe Aubrey. That should be enough to hold it down on the post because our guards and wing spots will be crazy DEEP! I’m not sure of everyone else roster next year but if we don’t win it all next year, then we may never win it again. Barring injuries of course.
Expand ...
The ESPN Top 25 Women's Basketball Recruiting Classes article, which ranked UConn as #3, referred to El-Alfy as a "finesse forward." Can anyone who has seen her play comment on her ability to "hold down the post?" Stewie was somewhat of a finesse player but with some encouragement from Geno, did great in the post. Hoping El'Alfy is a "Stewie!"
 
I suggested above that she’s quite a bit like Stewie. Not quite as mobile, but still very mobile, not quite the perimeter shooter, but has good range, not quite the wingspan but can block shots. She has good handles, though I wouldn’t want her regularly bringing the ball up the floor. I can imagine using her to break presses occasionally. I think she may be a bit stronger than Stewie was a freshman.
 
VA Huskie said:
Does anyone know about where she might be ranked if the rating services included overseas players? Top 10, top 50, etc?
Expand ...
I think you have to rank her ahead of ADR. Maybe roughly where folks thought Cunningham belonged, if not higher.
 
.-.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,305
Messages
4,562,317
Members
10,457
Latest member
caw2


Top Bottom