January Recruiting Thread | Page 9 | The Boneyard

January Recruiting Thread

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1/20

'26 Bella Ragone: 21 points, 5 rebs


2026 6-1 W Bella Ragone – Mill Creek

The sky is the limit for the No. 1 ranked freshman in Georgia’s 2026 class. Coaches have raved about her do-everything ability and I mentioned back in June that she could immediately make Mill Creek relevant in her first year on campus.
 
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Jana reposted a couple of goodbyes on her IG stories. I know the semester officially started this week, but it looks like there may be a possibility of her enrolling early to join the team. Maybe she was wrapping up her basketball commitments at home?

If it’s true, I’d be shocked if they wasted a year of eligibility and played her, but the practice time would be fantastic.
 
Argonaut said:
Jana reposted a couple of goodbyes on her IG stories. I know the semester officially started this week, but it looks like there may be a possibility of her enrolling early to join the team. Maybe she was wrapping up her basketball commitments at home?

If it’s true, I’d be shocked if they wasted a year of eligibility and played her, but the practice time would be fantastic.
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I know I have no say in the game, I’d rather her get the few months under her belt but not play
 
I love this potential happening....practice court development and getting used to the UConn weight/nutrition/academic
program...getting to know her teammates off and on the court...a running/jumping headstart for November 2023...with a spot in the rotation available if she earns it. This will be a very good thing amidst our travails....albeit winning travails.
 
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Sluconn Husky said:
Morgan Valley following 2024 Zania Socka-Nguemen who seems to be a stock riser.


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1674337636753.jpeg
 
visitingcock said:
Sorry if already posted:

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Good post moves, quick and efficient. She can handle the ball in and around the paint. She's improved this part of her game this year.

Her jump shot has a low release point. She'll need to work on that.
 
Video of a game on Saturday between the reigning club champions of all of Africa and some other historic club in that country:


#2 in red gets into the game around the middle of the second quarter. This is the highest level of adult play available there with professionals involved and not a youth competition. A teammate even played in the WNBA.
 
awhom111 said:
Video of a game on Saturday between the reigning club champions of all of Africa and some other historic club in that country:


#2 in red gets into the game around the middle of the second quarter. This is the highest level of adult play available there with professionals involved and not a youth competition. A teammate even played in the WNBA.
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Thanks for finding this. Hard to tell much about Jana from this since she only plays about the last 5 minutes of the second quarter, but the level of play here, vs. in her under 18 competition is like night and day. At this level the abilities and decision making is totally different, so it is good experience for Jana.

In the U18 Africa competition her guard teammates couldn't get the ball to her or even run a basic offense, so in some games she had to come out to the perimeter to get the ball, and then showed good handles and ability to take it to the basket from there. At this high club level with older and professional level players at least in their region, it is much better.

Anyway her days of playing against weak competition are over as soon as she arrives on campus, and whether she sees game time this season or not, going against Dorka, Aaliyah, Amari and Ayanna in practice will be extremely valuable to her future development.
 
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Bone Dog said:
Good post moves, quick and efficient. She can handle the ball in and around the paint. She's improved this part of her game this year.

Her jump shot has a low release point. She'll need to work on that.
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At her size, most of her jump shots will already have a higher release point than the competition and similar to Edward's midrange game this year, will come relatively unguarded. Love her hustle - with UConn's motion offense and fast break tendencies, this is critical for any Huskie big.
 
BobbyJ said:
Already understands how to get up, shield with her body, and extend with one arm/hand better than many college players. A big, all around wing. Sign her up.
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Been watching her. A great athlete, she's incredibly quick and nimble, moves effortlessly. She can create havoc defensively and be a force in transition. Already has some lowpost moves, and she moves well without the ball. They run backdoor alley oop plays for her that you just don't see in high school. An unknown is her jumper but she rarely has to take any. Plus her FT form is really good. Also seems to have a high BB IQ.

I don't know if UConn would take her and ZaKiyah Johnson but both are at the top of my '25 list.
 
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Sluconn Husky said:
Been watching her. A great athlete, she's incredibly quick and nimble, moves effortlessly. She can create havoc defensively and be a force in transition. Already has some lowpost moves, and she moves well without the ball. They run backdoor alley oop plays for her that you just don't see in high school. An unknown is her jumper but she rarely has to take any. Plus her FT form is really good. Also seems to have a high BB IQ.

I don't know if UConn would take her and ZaKiyah Johnson but both are at the top of my '25 list.
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Even if they would I doubt that they'll have to make that decision. They'd be more than happy to get either. Both those kids will be big time players. There seems to be 2-3 outliers in every class now and these kids are two of them. Hard to find combination of elite talent and complete confidence in both of them without the attitude of Reese or Barker from last year for example.
 
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