John A. on Wilson | Page 3 | The Boneyard

John A. on Wilson

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"She doesn't seem like a strong enough person"

Six people who like doggydaddy's post seem to think otherwise. I doubt you have any idea how strong a person she is or is not.
 
Based on what I've read and heard, both Wilson and White have made it known where they do and don't want to play. White said she doesn't want to play center, though presumably is okay with playing the power forward. Wilson doesn't seem to even want to play power forward, saying she thinks of herself as a wing. I do wonder what difference Wilson sees between the wing and a stretch-4 (power forward), for example. Does she not want to spend any time in the lane? Does she have difficulty seeing herself playing like Breanna plays at UConn?

I guess it was only a matter of time before being labeled a center or post player became a dirty word in girls'/women's basketball. It's happened on the men's side, where big kids see themselves as the next Kevin Durant or Dirk Nowitzki rather than the next Hakeem Olajuwon or Roy Hibbert. It seems that some young players (male and female) view playing center or in the post as somehow restricting them to playing with their back to the basket and getting banged around by defenders. There's no glamour to playing in the post. Young players no matter their size seem to want to play more finesse, showing off their dribbling and long-range shooting skills.

The women's game has certainly evolved to where big players' skills and athleticism are allowing them to be able to play and score in a variety of different ways and from all areas of the court. Geno has certainly been at the forefront of college coaches in moving his big players all over the court and utilizing their various offensive skills. Still, I do think young players are too hung up on position labels and what those labels mean. I also think some big kids don't understand how important it will be for them to be able to score in the paint, even if they also have the ability to make perimeter shots. Candace Parker is most dangerous when she gets the ball in the lane. Remember what Mulkey reportedly told her team before the UConn game: "I'm okay with Breanna Stewart shooting perimeter shots." It's not good for 6-0 wings to simply float around the perimeter (ask Kaleena and Maya) and it's less good for 6-4 kids to do so.

Wherever Wilson ends up I suspect she'll come to understand that her success will be less about what position label is next to her name and more about figuring out how and where she can be most successful and help her team. That will undoubtedly include being able to play effectively in the lane.
 
mrmojack said:
2015 center 6-6 Kalani Brown, from La. Geno had an in home this fall.
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I'm not sure I would consider her another Dolson. Stef was more under the radar than Kalani Brown. And her Dad didn't experience NBA success like Kalani's, so she arrived with far less fanfare than Kalani would if she chooses UConn. And of course Kalani would have to develop very well to achieve the success Stef has experienced while at UConn.
 
Under the radar or not is pretty much irrelevant. What is important is the skills she has and the ones she doesn't. Not sure any of the things you note are pertinent in any way to a player arriving at UCONN.
 
When I see comments from recruits who say they only want to do this or that, it makes me wonder if they have the temperament to play at UCONN. Kids naturally like to do the things they are already good at (for which they get praise). And because they like to do it, they practice at it more and get even better (positive feedback and all). However, when you practice the things you don't like to do, you improve more. Geno knows this. He makes Stewie and KML bang on the inside instead of only floating on the perimeter. He make Bria dribble with her left hand more. He had Maya do pull-up jumpers off the glass, and so on. All this in an effort to make his players better all-around basketball players and not one-dimensional. I believe this is the reason I see more year-to-year improvement in UCONN players than I see with other teams. So if a recruit wants to make the most most of her abilities, then she should come to UCONN. If she doesn't like some aspect of the game and wants to keep doing what she has been doing, I suggest another institution would be a better fit.
 
Icebear said:
Under the radar or not is pretty much irrelevant. What is important is the skills she has and the ones she doesn't. Not sure any of the things you note are pertinent in any way to a player arriving at UCONN.
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Irrelevant to what? Posters were fretting about whether or not Wilson will choose UConn and RockyMTBlue lamented that "Meanwhile, somewhere out there, there is another Stef Dolson that Geno missed."

mrmojack quoted RockyMt's post and wrote: "2015 center 6-6 Kalani Brown, from La. Geno had an in home this fall."

So I was pointing out that the situation is not entirely analogous.
 
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Jim said:
When I see comments from recruits who say they only want to do this or that, it makes me wonder if they have the temperament to play at UCONN. Kids naturally like to do the things they are already good at (for which they get praise). And because they like to do it, they practice at it more and get even better (positive feedback and all). However, when you practice the things you don't like to do, you improve more. Geno knows this. He makes Stewie and KML bang on the inside instead of only floating on the perimeter. He make Bria dribble with her left hand more. He had Maya do pull-up jumpers off the glass, and so on. All this in an effort to make his players better all-around basketball players and not one-dimensional. I believe this is the reason I see more year-to-year improvement in UCONN players than I see with other teams. So if a recruit wants to make the most most of her abilities, then she should come to UCONN. If she doesn't like some aspect of the game and wants to keep doing what she has been doing, I suggest another institution would be a better fit.
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I think it's unfair to suggest this speaks to her temperament. I don't thinks it's about temperament at all. Part of it is what young players watch on TV (the NBA). It's also about what kids are hearing from their coaches. Some learn how to play the game earlier than others based on who is teaching it.

Remember what Wilson's AAU coach said after her USA Basketball experience:

" I thought the USA team hurt her game because they only had her play by the basket and when I had her during the summer, I had her playing the 2. I missed having her the whole July because she was with a USA team and they had her playing the 4 and 5, I had her playing the 1, 2 and 3. It helped because she got the experience but it hurt because the other girls shot the 3's and took players to the basket, that part of the game she didn't even display and that is the best part of her game. She knows she can do all of that, she knows she could have dominated the game but she decided to play team ball and pass the ball to her teammates because she could have scored 50 points in that game."

Contrast that with what Samuelson's HS coach Kevin Kiernan recently said: But Monarchs coach Kevin Kiernan said Samuelson has taken her game to a new level this season. “She’s really improved. Last year she was mostly a three-point shooter. She has incredible range and a great shot. This year she’s rebounding and she’s playing really well inside."

Also, this is what Samuelson recently said: “I need to work on posting up more, trying to get stronger and be able to make moves in the post."
 
UConnCat said:
Based on what I've read and heard, both Wilson and White have made it known where they do and don't want to play. White said she doesn't want to play center, though presumably is okay with playing the power forward. Wilson doesn't seem to even want to play power forward, saying she thinks of herself as a wing. I do wonder what difference Wilson sees between the wing and a stretch-4 (power forward), for example. Does she not want to spend any time in the lane? Does she have difficulty seeing herself playing like Breanna plays at UConn?
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The big question to me is the desire to play on the wing about offense or is about not wanting to have to defend post players and be physical. If it's about not wanting to be limited to be a post player offensively then that can be done at UConn. If it is about wanting to not have to bang then that isn't going to fly.
 
cferraro04 said:
I hate to speculate on whether or not a recruit will go here or there. They are just kids and things are constantly changing in these kids lives. Think how many times you changed your mind about things when you were 17 years old. I really don't think that anybody leads at the moment. I think Wilson is just taking visits, waiting to see how the season shakes out, will talk with her family and she will decide what she and her family think is best for her. Either way I don't worry about it...I remember feeling sick to my stomach when Baylor got Griner and I thought crap they are going to win 4 championships with her...and guess what they only got one and Geno got two during the Griner years. I am more worried about Gabby Williams and her recent knee injury...and if it will impact her UConn career.
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I never changed my mind at age 17. Mainly, because I had no mind at that time, thus no ability to to change it.

Regarding the ongoing debate on how good a school UConn is vs. other schools - All schools are stronger in specific disciplines and weaker in others. These micro differences hardly affect the overall rating. A student may choose a school because that school is strong in their interest. For a female student interested in playing professional basketball, or who has career interest that would benefit from national celebrity, there is no doubt that UConn is the by far the best school in the nation. These kids get a prestige diploma in their chosen interest plus a solid overall education. No doubt a resume showing "UConn national basketball champion" on a resume will attract attention.
 
Bestiarius said:
I never changed my mind at age 17. Mainly, because I had no mind at that time, thus no ability to to change it.

Regarding the ongoing debate on how good a school UConn is vs. other schools - All schools are stronger in specific disciplines and weaker in others. These micro differences hardly affect the overall rating. A student may choose a school because that school is strong in their interest. For a female student interested in playing professional basketball, or who has career interest that would benefit from national celebrity, there is no doubt that UConn is the by far the best school in the nation. These kids get a prestige diploma in their chosen interest plus a solid overall education. No doubt a resume showing "UConn national basketball champion" on a resume will attract attention.
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Especially when your desired employer is the WNBA.
 
arch said:
UNC is one of the premier public universities in the country. UConn aspires to be a UNC. But agree UNC would be a mistake for a kid looking for championships.
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Plus it's really easy for athletes.
 
arch said:
You mean the only university that failed to qualify its men's basketball team for the NCAAs last year is a quality academic institution. Interesting theory.
Of course neither of these occurrences has anything to do with overall quality of these institutions.
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You have no idea what the APR is, do you? Where is upstater when you need him...
 
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USNews rankings have UNC at 30 and UCONN at 57 not a huge difference. PSU at 37 in between. So it isn't like UNC is walking on water.
 
I just want to fall asleep and wake up in April. :rolleyes:
 
jsloanjr said:
The kid is under too much pressure to make a final choice and I am not sure she wants all the pressure of coming to UCONN..USC is probably the right choice for this kid hearing what she is saying..My father use to tell me either your in or our out...Shut down all interviews on colleges until to make a choice. Have fun!!
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Yes, people in her home state would like her to stay there, but every good player has that. Look at how many kids go elsewhere. Think nobody in Georgia wanted Maya to stay at home. She seems to do pretty well under pressure (see playing for team USA). If she doesn't like pressure don't go to USC since she would be under the watchful eyes of an entire state to carry them to a level they have never been to before. At Uconn she would start out with 4 other players who play at different levels for team USA, and one member of team Canada. I believe if she chooses Uconn that maybe a catalyst for players in the next class like Durr, and Lou. She would be a GREAT addition to the Uconn team That included players she knows and admires. Uconn would give her the chance to play for Geno, which his track record proves, gives her a greater chance to win a NC, and he has proven he can make players grow their games like nobody else. USC means she gets to be closer to home, and play with a solid core group of players and there is nothing wrong with that. She may even take them to that place she wants to be if she is as good as some think.
 
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FASTEDDY said:
Unfortunately, I think she's headed to South Carolina. She doesn't seem like a strong enough person to not swuccumb to the pressure to stay in state.
Actually, I think UCONN is in 3rd position because if not USC then I think it'll be UNC as they are right next door to SC and she can be a building block with title potential.

If she chooses either USC or UNC, she will be making a HUGE MISTAKE as she will be going to lesser academic universities than UCONN and also not gainign the benefits of COach AQ and the UCONN staff and the tremendous players in the program / family.
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Please! Our kidding me ???? UNC is one of the top 5 State Universities along w UVA, Cal B, and Umich. Uconn is a good school, but not even close in terms of overall academics to UNC - CH.
 
Fightin Choke said:
Irrelevant to what? Posters were fretting about whether or not Wilson will choose UConn and RockyMTBlue lamented that "Meanwhile, somewhere out there, there is another Stef Dolson that Geno missed."

mrmojack quoted RockyMt's post and wrote: "2015 center 6-6 Kalani Brown, from La. Geno had an in home this fall."

So I was pointing out that the situation is not entirely analogous.
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Choke, I was not going for lament... more a wistful reverie. :p
 
Tonyc said:
Good points Also remember UNC is Diamonds team and Tenn with all their talent is struggling. What makes you think that having A'ja or anybody else will make them a contender. That's why so many people say SC is leading and UConn is a very close second.
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I disagree on this comment. I think that McDaniel is proving to be the leader on that team, not Diamond.
 
USC is going to be a tremendous team if they land Wilson. Coates is a really good center and it sounds as if White will be at the 4 spot and Wilson would be at the 3 spot. That is a LOT of size!
 
My gut says Wilson will go to South Carolina. I think she will do good wherever she goes but she would reach her greatest potential at UCONN. Best of luck to her wherever she chooses.
 
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Of course UConn is the best place to go if what she wants is a guaranteed national championship. It's also probably the place she'd have to work the least hard to get one, since she'd be playing with at least 2 other #1 recruits, including the best player in the sport in Stewart.

But has anyone else noticed that USC is ranked #10 in the nation this year, and not one of their top 6 players is a senior? Their best player is a sophomore, and their freshman center could be scary good. And Staley can coach---for people looking for examples of players who she turned from potential to all stars, see WNBA All Star Candice Dupree. I don't know how good Wilson is, but it seems plausible to me she could take them to Final Four level.
 
DMW88 said:
Please! Our kidding me ???? UNC is one of the top 5 State Universities along w UVA, Cal B, and Umich. Uconn is a good school, but not even close in terms of overall academics to UNC - CH.
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UNC-CH is OVERRATED! Not in the class of UVA or Berkeley.

UCONN -STORRS IS FAST RISING & IS QUICKLY GETTING TO PUBLIC IVY STATUS.
 
bbsamjj said:
Of course UConn is the best place to go if what she wants is a guaranteed national championship. It's also probably the place she'd have to work the least hard to get one, since she'd be playing with at least 2 other #1 recruits, including the best player in the sport in Stewart.

But has anyone else noticed that USC is ranked #10 in the nation this year, and not one of their top 6 players is a senior? Their best player is a sophomore, and their freshman center could be scary good. And Staley can coach---for people looking for examples of players who she turned from potential to all stars, see WNBA All Star Candice Dupree. I don't know how good Wilson is, but it seems plausible to me she could take them to Final Four level.
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I believe UConn is the place she'd have to work hardest to get a national championship -- that's one of the reasons the Huskies win national championships.
 
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Since South Carolina has beaten just 1 top 10 team all year so I would slow down a little on thoughts of a Final Four or National Championship.
 
UConnCat said:
Based on what I've read and heard, both Wilson and White have made it known where they do and don't want to play. White said she doesn't want to play center, though presumably is okay with playing the power forward. Wilson doesn't seem to even want to play power forward, saying she thinks of herself as a wing. I do wonder what difference Wilson sees between the wing and a stretch-4 (power forward), for example. Does she not want to spend any time in the lane? Does she have difficulty seeing herself playing like Breanna plays at UConn?

I guess it was only a matter of time before being labeled a center or post player became a dirty word in girls'/women's basketball.
Still, I do think young players are too hung up on position labels and what those labels mean.
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Im trying to keep PG SG SF PF and C alive... 1 thru 5!
 
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