Jana the Secret Weapon?

[pvdoggy]

Jana is intense!

 

[Majic Hands]

Jana is intense!

​

 

[Bone Dog]

Jana is intense!

She’s “Big Nika.” That’s what we should call her.

 

[Geew1992]

Amazing vid. Takeaways: Jana and Ice r both cold. Lol at go under the screen when defending KK. As much as I can debate about which player is better etc, who should start, they really do battle in practice so they probably know what's what. Seems like a connected team.

my question is… was it Aubrey or yana running?? Either one is a good sign

 

[Majic Hands]

She’s “Big Nika.” That’s what we should call her.

I was thinking along those lines as well…
Nika, just a whole lot bigger!

 

[Dugway]

my question is… was it Aubrey or yana running?? Either one is a good sign

Looks like Patterson’s on the Red Team and Griffin’s on the Black Team.

 

[Dugway]

I saw some YouTube short clip, TicToc or some dang thing, where they were at the apartment goofing around. Aubrey was dancing, doing some squat moves and I thought, “Don’t you dare Hurt Yourself!”

 

[Cuango]

I’m so excited at the sheer size of Jana! What a luxury to finally have a player that is big & strong enough to where she’s able to bang with anyone we’re likely to face! Add to that the fact that she is highly skilled, aggressive, and desperately wants to be good, and you’ve got a player who could make us forget these past few years of undersized frontcourts struggling against superior size and numbers.
Another thing that made me sit up and take notice, was how good Ice Brady is looking! She looks fitter, quicker and much more assured in the (admittedly) limited video I’ve seen of her. Sometimes I forget that she was the #5 rated player in her class and the second best big. (After Betts) I think we’re going to see her come into her own this season and remind us all just how good she is! I love that she’s a lefty! I’m not sure why, but I really like that about her!
I’ll spare you all any more breathless superlatives about Sarah as I think I’ve already made my position on that subject quite clear. Let’s just say this, our front-court no longer needs to game-plan from an inferior position! As long as we can stay healthy, I believe our front-court is going to force other teams to game-plan for us! Go Huskies!

 

[Bone Dog]

… and you’ve got a player who could make us forget these past few years of undersized frontcourts struggling against superior size and numbers.

I’m totally with you on this. The days of undersized frontcourts are over. I may not be a “true” fan, so I won’t claim Jana is going to be great right away. There’s going to be a learning curve. But she really wants to be great. You can’t miss this about her. And she wants everyone else to be great too.

Your post made me think of SC in Boston’s first two seasons — before Kamila — and nobody thought they were undersized. And their frontcourt consisted of Boston at 6’5” and Saxton at 6’2”. Amihere at 6’4” was really a wing not 4 or a 5. Boston and Saxton were strong and couldn’t be outmuscled. That’s what made them big and not merely being tall.

This season, as Jana learns her craft, Geno will have her at 6’5” along with Ice at 6’3”. That’s plenty big enough. Add in a bunch of strong 6’2” players and Geno has a lineup that’s as big as it needs to be. They aren’t all as strong as Jana and Ice, though Ayanna surely is, and they have a lot offensive craftiness.

The first time Jana pulls out her up-and-under move in the low post, I predict we’ll all be left gasping. Or barrels down the lane on a layup. Or rips a rebound away from an opposing big. Or scares the living daylights out of an opposing guard on a high hedge. Paige and KK and Kaitlyn and Sarah are going to love finding creative ways to get her the ball in the half court offense.

Cameron Brink was pretty good as a freshman but she was great as a sophomore. Part of her success was due to how good Stanford’s perimeter shooters were. As Rebecca Lobo commented at the time, “she always has a clean lane.” Picture Jana with a clean lane.

This is why I predict Jana will start in November. She’ll make a ton of mistakes, get lots of fouls called on her, miss defensive switches, struggle with her outside shot. In January, once the conference schedule is underway, she’ll have lots of opportunities to find her confidence and hone her skills.

Geno has 80 minutes to give to Jana Ice Sarah and Ayanna. I predict that by March Jana will regularly get 30 of them. He’ll want her on the floor not merely because she’s big. It will be like with Nika: “the team is better with her in the lineup.” He’ll want to have her fire out there as much as possible.

 

[cancontent]

I personally wouldn’t be disparaging comparing Jana against Aaliyah. Aaliyah was a 4 playing as a 5 against the toughest schedule GA could get.

As much as I’m excited about Jana actually checking into a game. She has never checked in at UConn. Hopefully Jana can perform at a high level as a 5 for UConn. Perhaps, even pulling the big girls out because she’s a threat out to the 3? Don’t know. Jana has never checked into a game.

IMO Aaliyah only had one off year and that was as a sophomore.

I actually have felt bad for her. Spending 4 years playing out of position. Going pro playing in her natural position and on day one is 4 years behind. But, I’m confident that if she wants to climb a mountain… She will.

I get the sentiment but I don't think she's 4 years behind. Yes she played out of position but she's worked being a 4 with Canada Basketball and her shooting range improved while at UConn. Being drafted by the Mystics also helps when compared to other rosters because of the time she's getting on the court and the players she gets to train with.

I'm looking forward to seeing Jana on the court too. She's a smart and passionate player with a well rounded game coming into Storrs. With guards like the ones on this roster, the inside-out and pick-and-roll action should be a lot of fun to watch.

 

[Majic Hands]

I get the sentiment but I don't think she's 4 years behind. Yes she played out of position but she's worked being a 4 with Canada Basketball and her shooting range improved while at UConn. Being drafted by the Mystics also helps when compared to other rosters because of the time she's getting on the court and the players she gets to train with.

I'm looking forward to seeing Jana on the court too. She's a smart and passionate player with a well rounded game coming into Storrs. With guards like the ones on this roster, the inside-out and pick-and-roll action should be a lot of fun to watch.

Ya. It’s all good.

But, you & most everyone else understood my point regarding her development being behind as a 4 player, playing 4 years as a 5 compared with where she would be having played 4 years as a 4. AT UCONN.

Since you brought it up… Aaliyah‘s sophomore year when she struggled was following the summer spent with the Canadian team. Practicing as a four?

No one will see any post or comments from me comparing Aaliyah’s performance with/against Jana. I think it’s disrespectful in the context to the post I replied to.

Jana, has the potential to own the paint and maybe more for UConn. That has zero reflection on what Aaliyah Edwards brought and gave to UConn.

 

[cancontent]

Ya. It’s all good.

But, you & most everyone else understood my point regarding her development being behind as a 4 player, playing 4 years as a 5 compared with where she would be having played 4 years as a 4. AT UCONN.

Since you brought it up… Aaliyah‘s sophomore year when she struggled was following the summer spent with the Canadian team. Practicing as a four?

No one will see any post or comments from me comparing Aaliyah’s performance with/against Jana. I think it’s disrespectful in the context to the post I replied to.

Jana, has the potential to own the paint and maybe more for UConn. That has zero reflection on what Aaliyah Edwards brought and gave to UConn.

That assumption is too simplistic. The situation then was more complex due to COVID and Canada Basketball's limitations when it came to training. Most fans weren't aware of the team's restrictions and that training was very limited in comparison to a typical training camp. That's an aspect that doesn't get taken into consideration enough in my opinion.

 

[Blond D.]

She’s “Big Nika.” That’s what we should call her.

I'm gonna have to see her on the court before I give her the nickname "Big Nika". I mean I see that Jana is intense but Nika took it too a whole other level!

 

[Majic Hands]

I'm gonna have to see her on the court before I give her the nickname "Big Nika". I mean I see that Jana is intense but Nika took it too a whole other level!

It’s fun in the early discussions to associate a kids intensity with previous players. An easy way to making a point or observation that’s easily understood.

In fun I referenced Jana a really big version of Nika…

In reality I’ll be referring to Jana as Jana.

Who knows. Come December we may find ourselves referring to Nika as Jana lite.

 

[Alydar]

I’m totally with you on this. The days of undersized frontcourts are over. I may not be a “true” fan, so I won’t claim Jana is going to be great right away. There’s going to be a learning curve. But she really wants to be great. You can’t miss this about her. And she wants everyone else to be great too.

Your post made me think of SC in Boston’s first two seasons — before Kamila — and nobody thought they were undersized. And their frontcourt consisted of Boston at 6’5” and Saxton at 6’2”. Amihere at 6’4” was really a wing not 4 or a 5. Boston and Saxton were strong and couldn’t be outmuscled. That’s what made them big and not merely being tall.

This season, as Jana learns her craft, Geno will have her at 6’5” along with Ice at 6’3”. That’s plenty big enough. Add in a bunch of strong 6’2” players and Geno has a lineup that’s as big as it needs to be. They aren’t all as strong as Jana and Ice, though Ayanna surely is, and they have a lot offensive craftiness.

The first time Jana pulls out her up-and-under move in the low post, I predict we’ll all be left gasping. Or barrels down the lane on a layup. Or rips a rebound away from an opposing big. Or scares the living daylights out of an opposing guard on a high hedge. Paige and KK and Kaitlyn and Sarah are going to love finding creative ways to get her the ball in the half court offense.

Cameron Brink was pretty good as a freshman but she was great as a sophomore. Part of her success was due to how good Stanford’s perimeter shooters were. As Rebecca Lobo commented at the time, “she always has a clean lane.” Picture Jana with a clean lane.

This is why I predict Jana will start in November. She’ll make a ton of mistakes, get lots of fouls called on her, miss defensive switches, struggle with her outside shot. In January, once the conference schedule is underway, she’ll have lots of opportunities to find her confidence and hone her skills.

Geno has 80 minutes to give to Jana Ice Sarah and Ayanna. I predict that by March Jana will regularly get 30 of them. He’ll want her on the floor not merely because she’s big. It will be like with Nika: “the team is better with her in the lineup.” He’ll want to have her fire out there as much as possible.

Agree with everything but El Alfy starting. Even if her defense is good enough her aggressive style reminds me very much of Muhl's freshman season. Her minutes were limited because of her fouling. El Alfy is just as aggressive and will be playing mostly inside where it's a lot easier to foul. Having depth inside Geno can afford to let El Alfy and the others be aggressive even if they foul out in 20 minutes but not his starter if he can help it.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Jana is the secret weapon--for now--because after 5-6 games EVERYONE will know about her. Jana is the biggest and strongest on the team-by far. Jana has moves that most UConn players don't use enough--FAKES! **Watch the video again with 1 on 1 with Ice. When she backs in and gets planted she has a smooth --fake left-fake right/maybe twice even. She then puts up a very pretty baby hook. She did that spin move so quick and effortless. Jana also has the quickest one step/first step.. Much quicker first step than Ice. Jana had 18 months of watching UConn practice and play. She is very smart with a top BB IQ. She had more European type training than USA. She can play and has played in every position. I agree totally with other posters that Jana is an "Egyptian Rendition" of Stewie. Her handle is top level for a big! She is vocal and can take over a game. That's what she did for years in Egypt. Her father coached her well. Get the skills of a point guard (including the 3 pt shot) and then add big girl skills.
Give me an aggressive, intense and smart big girl. Can you say POTENTIAL!

 

[hoophuskee]

Jana is the secret weapon--for now--because after 5-6 games EVERYONE will know about her. Jana is the biggest and strongest on the team-by far. Jana has moves that most UConn players don't use enough--FAKES! **Watch the video again with 1 on 1 with Ice. When she backs in and gets planted she has a smooth --fake left-fake right/maybe twice even. She then puts up a very pretty baby hook. She did that spin move so quick and effortless. Jana also has the quickest one step/first step.. Much quicker first step than Ice. Jana had 18 months of watching UConn practice and play. She is very smart with a top BB IQ. She had more European type training than USA. She can play and has played in every position. I agree totally with other posters that Jana is an "Egyptian Rendition" of Stewie. Her handle is top level for a big! She is vocal and can take over a game. That's what she did for years in Egypt. Her father coached her well. Get the skills of a point guard (including the 3 pt shot) and then add big girl skills.
Give me an aggressive, intense and smart big girl. Can you say POTENTIAL!

Not arguing but have questions. No way am I arguing. more than anything - "thrilled" if her and Sarah’s hype come to fruition.

1--- Never saw the video with her vs Ice, Do you have the video? Was it a scrimmage?

2--- You think she can hold position in the paint?

3-- I rarely see baby hooks. The way teams collapse to the paint once a big puts the ball on the floor, you think she makes the move with force/power and secondly has the vision that she can pass off of it?

All the things you mentioned imo are also Sarah Strong. So if Jana and Sarah live up to the hype then this duo is going to be off-the-charts amazing.

1--- As you mention about low post and being planted. See the link below for the game in which Sarah's team played against Joyce Edward's team in which Sarah outplayed Joyce. Notice at about 2:15 mark she is just about to set up position and then knocks Edwards off a bit before establishing herself. Then once established notice how smooth and effortless and efficient her move is. She has the type of build that you can't knock her off. And same link at 51 second mark she is being guarded by a guard, still able to put the ball on the deck like a guard and under control gets fouled while finishing going toward the basket.

2--- Then look at 2nd link the spin move she makes vs Blanca Thomas. Look at Blanca after Sarah finishes at around 3:13 - 3:16. She is smiling while taking the ball out and it seems like she is thinking "How the heck do I stop that?" By the way, Sarah was fouled on that play too.

 

[Bone Dog]

1--- Never saw the video with her vs Ice, Do you have the video? Was it a scrimmage?

I think the video referred to is in post #40 in this thread.

 

[Bone Dog]

1--- As you mention about low post and being planted. See the link below for the game in which Sarah's team played against Joyce Edward's team in which Sarah outplayed Joyce. Notice at about 2:15 mark she is just about to set up position and then knocks Edwards off a bit before establishing herself. Then once established notice how smooth and effortless and efficient her move is. She has the type of build that you can't knock her off. And same link at 51 second mark she is being guarded by a guard, still able to put the ball on the deck like a guard and under control gets fouled while finishing going toward the basket.

2--- Then look at 2nd link the spin move she makes vs Blanca Thomas. Look at Blanca after Sarah finishes at around 3:13 - 3:16. She is smiling while taking the ball out and it seems like she is thinking "How the heck do I stop that?" By the way, Sarah was fouled on that play too.

Here's a longer clip from the second game against Charlotte Catholic and Blanca Thomas. It's interesting to see Sarah matched up against a taller player. Against Blanca she gives up about 3 inches and it's clear Sarah can't stop Blanca in the low post without a little help... and she gets none. It's even more clear that Blanca can't stop Sarah in the low post even with help. At one point Sarah holds off Blanca with one hand and catches a high lob with the other then scores. At another point Sarah corrals a loose ball behind her with one hand and bounces it between her legs to the other hand and then goes up for an easy score. That's how strong and clever her hands are. At yet another point, Blanca has screened Sarah off to free a guard for an outside shot and Sarah blocks it over Blanca's shoulder. My point is Sarah knows how to play against taller competition. Now, I don't think Blanca is going to be a great post player this season, but she may become a pretty good one, sort of like Kennedy Brown was at Duke. She may make a formidable pair playing next to Alyssa Utsby or Ciera Toomey at UNC. Kate Koval looks like a better prospect at ND, but I digress.

It's a similar situation in the first game against Joyce Edwards. Sarah gives up at least an inch to Joyce, who is a classic power forward with quick strong moves in the low post and a decent midrange game. Interestingly, they generally weren't matched up against each other, in part because so much of Sarah's offensive game takes place at the top of the key where she runs the offense from. Joyce doesn't look like she could defend Sarah out there, which leaves a smaller guard on her and also means she is free to shoot 3s unimpeded. I expect this is going to be a feature of Sarah's game at UConn, too. Geno is likely to place her at the top of the key just as he did with Liv, only Sarah is a much more serious offensive threat from there. This leaves opponents with a hard choice -- either put a big on her out there and leave Ice or Jana with single coverage, or put a guard on her and she'll pick them apart with 3s and passes. Now picture the offense with Sarah at the top and Paige and Azzi (or Ash and Allie and Caroline and Q and Morgan) on either wing and things begin to look a bit scary.

 

[hoophuskee]

Here's a longer clip from the second game against Charlotte Catholic and Blanca Thomas. It's interesting to see Sarah matched up against a taller player. Against Blanca she gives up about 3 inches and it's clear Sarah can't stop Blanca in the low post without a little help... and she gets none. It's even more clear that Blanca can't stop Sarah in the low post even with help. At one point Sarah holds off Blanca with one hand and catches a high lob with the other then scores. At another point Sarah corrals a loose ball behind her with one hand and bounces it between her legs to the other hand and then goes up for an easy score. That's how strong and clever her hands are. At yet another point, Blanca has screened Sarah off to free a guard for an outside shot and Sarah blocks it over Blanca's shoulder. My point is Sarah knows how to play against taller competition. Now, I don't think Blanca is going to be a great post player this season, but she may become a pretty good one, sort of like Kennedy Brown was at Duke. She may make a formidable pair playing next to Alyssa Utsby or Ciera Toomey at UNC. Kate Koval looks like a better prospect at ND, but I digress.

It's a similar situation in the first game against Joyce Edwards. Sarah gives up at least an inch to Joyce, who is a classic power forward with quick strong moves in the low post and a decent midrange game. Interestingly, they generally weren't matched up against each other, in part because so much of Sarah's offensive game takes place at the top of the key where she runs the offense from. Joyce doesn't look like she could defend Sarah out there, which leaves a smaller guard on her and also means she is free to shoot 3s unimpeded. I expect this is going to be a feature of Sarah's game at UConn, too. Geno is likely to place her at the top of the key just as he did with Liv, only Sarah is a much more serious offensive threat from there. This leaves opponents with a hard choice -- either put a big on her out there and leave Ice or Jana with single coverage, or put a guard on her and she'll pick them apart with 3s and passes. Now picture the offense with Sarah at the top and Paige and Azzi (or Ash and Allie and Caroline and Q and Morgan) on either wing and things begin to look a bit scary.

I expect UCONN will have Sarah score inside and out. Liv just didn't like to low post. If I recall Geno saying once that Liv just doesn't want to do that. I believe Sarah wil want to do both as well as Geno will want her doing both. She's too good to not also take advantage of ability to score inside in addition to pass from the inside - out to the perimeter. . Loved the poitns you made during the game. She's gonna be really good.

 

[MSGRET]

Jana is the secret weapon--for now--because after 5-6 games EVERYONE will know about her. Jana is the biggest and strongest on the team-by far. Jana has moves that most UConn players don't use enough--FAKES! **Watch the video again with 1 on 1 with Ice. When she backs in and gets planted she has a smooth --fake left-fake right/maybe twice even. She then puts up a very pretty baby hook. She did that spin move so quick and effortless. Jana also has the quickest one step/first step.. Much quicker first step than Ice. Jana had 18 months of watching UConn practice and play. She is very smart with a top BB IQ. She had more European type training than USA. She can play and has played in every position. I agree totally with other posters that Jana is an "Egyptian Rendition" of Stewie. Her handle is top level for a big! She is vocal and can take over a game. That's what she did for years in Egypt. Her father coached her well. Get the skills of a point guard (including the 3 pt shot) and then add big girl skills.
Give me an aggressive, intense and smart big girl. Can you say POTENTIAL!

Jana is the biggest, but I don't know about her being the strongest. Last year Ash was lifting and pressing more than AE and others during workouts.

 

[JellyBean]

Jana is intense!

I got good vibes about Jana. She just as that inner confidence and with the experience of being around the program for a minute, she just has that "IT' factor. I can't wait for the season!

 

[jdote33]

I do kinda expect Sarah and Jana to be pretty good from jump. I wonder if Jana will shoot threes next season. Dorka would shoot it a little even though she wasn't the most efficient shooter. I'm also interested to see if Jana will be a shot blocker.

 

[Bone Dog]

I do kinda expect Sarah and Jana to be pretty good from jump. I wonder if Jana will shoot threes next season. Dorka would shoot it a little even though she wasn't the most efficient shooter. I'm also interested to see if Jana will be a shot blocker.

That moment when Ice and Jana go at it one-v-one looked very promising to me. They each score one, then Jana gets a block and (I think) scores once more. I guess I think Ice matching up against Jana every practice has to be good for her confidence. Same for Jana, practicing against Ice and Sarah. This look very promising indeed.