Jovana Popovic is a Husky!

[From Canada]

2025 Nike Hoop Summit World Team Measurements.

https://cdn.flowpage.com/images/68264561-279a-4652-8f06-e82bd8759160-pdf?m=1717170243

Here are two documents that contradict each other somewhat. First, Jovana's measurements taken last year at the Nike Hoop Summit. Second, you have the measurements and combine tests from the 2024 BWB NBA Academy Europe camp, for which Jovana was named MVP. I don't know how much importance to give to this, as in some places it's not the same at all, for example in terms of hand size. It's worth noting that the first attachment also includes Big O and the second Sara Okeke at #45. Jovana is listed at #22, while Sara Okeke is listed on FIBA websites as 1.93 m (6'4“) and here as 6'5.5”, so which is correct?

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[Alydar]

and morgan

I keep thinking up future UConn "rotation lists" that seem great until I realize I forgot about a couple of players who also need to be on the list. UConn's roster has gotten insanely deep lately.

 

[Bone Dog]

2025 Nike Hoop Summit World Team Measurements.

https://cdn.flowpage.com/images/68264561-279a-4652-8f06-e82bd8759160-pdf?m=1717170243

Here are two documents that contradict each other somewhat. First, Jovana's measurements taken last year at the Nike Hoop Summit. Second, you have the measurements and combine tests from the 2024 BWB NBA Academy Europe camp, for which Jovana was named MVP. I don't know how much importance to give to this, as in some places it's not the same at all, for example in terms of hand size. It's worth noting that the first attachment also includes Big O and the second Sara Okeke at #45. Jovana is listed at #22, while Sara Okeke is listed on FIBA websites as 1.93 m (6'4“) and here as 6'5.5”, so which is correct?

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

I think the number for Okeke must be a must be a typo. FIBA data seems more trustworthy. But I’m more interested in how Jovana outweighs Makeer by 10+ pounds. And it’s surprising that they published weights at all. I have a feeling she’ll be a tough nugget, as they say.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[DefenseBB]

Way too early to speculate about next year with certainty, but I fully believe Jovana is a top 5 US recruit (or would be were she American). I think she's that good. Just like we have seen that Blanca is one of the very top freshmen in the country. So IMHO we are getting 2 top 5 recruits.

I think starters will be KK, Ash, Blanca, Sarah, and Jana. BUT we've seen Geno put KK and Kayleigh or Kayleigh and Kelis on the floor together. Just like Paige and Nika started - both are tremendous PG's. Jovana will be a freshman, but I expect her to be part of the "core" group - however many that is.

As for Allie, I've watched her closely at times. She's not the defender KK or Azzi is, but she has quick feet and moves well laterally. I see her as a Marina Mabry type player and I think Marina is tough and quick enough as we've seen in the WNBA.

Aside from the starters I mentioned, I believe Kayleigh, Olivia, Jovana, Allie, and Morgan will all be part of the core group. If we add Okeke, add her in and that makes 11. Really too many from Geno's perspective. I think Ice and Ayanna will be on the outside looking in, so they will have some decisions to make.

Huh? Nothing in all the videos I have seen suggests she’s a top 5 recruit. Go rewatch her GAMES and then go look at the HoopGurlz rankings and their games. She is not a top 5 recruit by any stretch. She foul be top 20 and possibly 15 but that is stretching it. I am not sure if you are drastically over valuing her competition that makes you think she’s that good or are severely discounting the HoopGurlz and US FIBA teams who are comprised of the top 20 players. Either way, you need to re-evaluate.

I still see a stacked roster next year where she may be able to find playing time if she “ups” her defensive intensity and doesn’t take plays off. Go and watch the full Serbia-Spain game and isolate on her. She’s #13 with the black knee sleeve. Yes, she scored 20 pts but only had 2 assists and 2 rebounds against another squad her age (U-18) but she was not always putting in an effort. That can’t happen at UConn.. She’s talented, no doubt but NOT top 5 talented.

 

[Bone Dog]

Huh? Nothing in all the videos I have seen suggests she’s a top 5 recruit. Go rewatch her GAMES and then go look at the HoopGurlz rankings and their games. She is not a top 5 recruit by any stretch. She foul be top 20 and possibly 15 but that is stretching it. I am not sure if you are drastically over valuing her competition that makes you think she’s that good or are severely discounting the HoopGurlz and US FIBA teams who are comprised of the top 20 players. Either way, you need to re-evaluate.

I still see a stacked roster next year where she may be able to find playing time if she “ups” her defensive intensity and doesn’t take plays off. Go and watch the full Serbia-Spain game and isolate on her. She’s #13 with the black knee sleeve. Yes, she scored 20 pts but only had 2 assists and 2 rebounds against another squad her age (U-18) but she was not always putting in an effort. That can’t happen at UConn.. She’s talented, no doubt but NOT top 5 talented.

I share your skepticism and it’s entirely about her defensive focus and toughness. And I agree that the level of competition makes it difficult to judge how she’ll stand up to D1 teams. I hope she’s the equivalent of a top 15 recruit. Could she be significantly better than this? Maybe, and Geno may think so… or he may simply have recognized that he is out of the running for the top US guard prospects.

It’s tempting to compare her to what Nika was at this point. She’s got more offensive skills than Nika did when she arrived. But Nika was already a tenacious defender and all around court presence even as a freshman and only got fiercer over four years. And Nika developed a lot as a passer. If that’s the potential Geno sees, then maybe we’ll look back at this commitment in a few years and rank her more highly. I’m in no position to make this judgment now, and certainly not on the basis of the videos I’ve seen.

The most optimistic forecast I can make for her is that she will become Kelis’s running mate by her junior year, maybe crack the starting lineup. Of course this assumes Geno doesn’t sign Kaleena in the meantime. And until then, she looks to be pretty far down the depth chart.

 

[Stronga12]

I think people are quite simply overrating the level of some US recruits. Both Kate Harpring and Jerzy Robinson for example have looked very underwhelming in FIBA competitions where Popovic has usually played very well. Robinson in particular is a very weak defender and has still not developed any consistent jump shooting ability.

Kate Harpring had a FIBA game against France last year where she had 0 points on 0/6 shooting, 1 rebound and 2 assists in 20 minutes.

"She had only 2 rebounds and 2 assists" so she must be lazy is a disrespectful statement to make. After looking it up she averaged 9 rebounds and 7 assists per36 minutes in the tournament.

 

[Zarathustra]

I share your skepticism and it’s entirely about her defensive focus and toughness. And I agree that the level of competition makes it difficult to judge how she’ll stand up to D1 teams. I hope she’s the equivalent of a top 15 recruit. Could she be significantly better than this? Maybe, and Geno may think so… or he may simply have recognized that he is out of the running for the top US guard prospects.

It’s tempting to compare her to what Nika was at this point. She’s got more offensive skills than Nika did when she arrived. But Nika was already a tenacious defender and all around court presence even as a freshman and only got fiercer over four years. And Nika developed a lot as a passer. If that’s the potential Geno sees, then maybe we’ll look back at this commitment in a few years and rank her more highly. I’m in no position to make this judgment now, and certainly not on the basis of the videos I’ve seen.

The most optimistic forecast I can make for her is that she will become Kelis’s running mate by her junior year, maybe crack the starting lineup. Of course this assumes Geno doesn’t sign Kaleena in the meantime. And until then, she looks to be pretty far down the depth chart.

"In Geno, I Trust". Z

 

[Bone Dog]

"In Geno, I Trust". Z

Me, too. I don't mean to criticize Jovana. I'm very high on her prospects. I'm just not as sure as others how she'll measure up against other recruits initially. My natural reaction is to think that Geno saw something in her -- something people like me aren't nearly as good at spotting -- and he'll know how to develop it.

I also think the depth chart will not tilt in her favor until her junior year. That seems pretty obvious, as is the natural next question: what will she be able to make of herself with Geno's help by then? If long history is anything to go by, he'll make her into a feisty relentless defender. Geno has guessed wrong occasionally with HS bigs, but I can't remember the last time he misjudged a HS guard. I suspect by junior year, she'll either be a starter or a central rotation player.

 

[From Canada]

I think people are quite simply overrating the level of some US recruits. Both Kate Harpring and Jerzy Robinson for example have looked very underwhelming in FIBA competitions where Popovic has usually played very well. Robinson in particular is a very weak defender and has still not developed any consistent jump shooting ability.

Kate Harpring had a FIBA game against France last year where she had 0 points on 0/6 shooting, 1 rebound and 2 assists in 20 minutes.

"She had only 2 rebounds and 2 assists" so she must be lazy is a disrespectful statement to make. After looking it up she averaged 9 rebounds and 7 assists per36 minutes in the tournament.

I don't think Kate Harpring or Jerzy Robinson are overrated. You seem to be forgetting that both players participated in the U19 World Cup when they were U17 age. Robinson and Harpring were born in 2008, while the oldest players in the tournament were born in January 2006. For Robinson, it's even more significant, as she was born on September 11, 2008. In several states, she would have started kindergarten the following year and would still have another year of high school left.

The FIBA U19 World Cup is the most competitive age-group championship. Jovana was more successful, it's true, but the competition was not the same; it was the U18 European Championship, which is a continental championship. That doesn't take anything away from Jovana, but Serbia didn't qualify for the U19 World Cup, so she couldn't participate. The FIBA youth rankings (attachment) show 11 European countries in the top 15. The European championships are undoubtedly the most interesting of the continental championships. There is much more parity between the different teams. Last year, France failed to qualify for the U17 World Cup, which will take place next summer. Europeans place a lot of importance on their European championships. Last year, Spain chose to have Okeke play in the U18 championship instead of the U19 World Cup, and France did the same with Tournebize. This year, Robinson and Harpring could well play for the US U18 team at the U18 Americas Championship in June, where they would face players of the same age.

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[Cuango]

Allie will continue off the bench due to her difficulty with speed of the game. Morgan will play off the bench as she needs a year to regain her fitness. My concern is where will Azzi's points come from?

I think there’s a pretty decent chance Allie starts next season. Certainly if she doesn’t start she will play a lot off the bench. There is so much talent on this roster! I notice some are penciling in K9 as a starter but I think she will play one more year off the bench and then start when KK graduates. I’m thinking a lot will depend on Jana’s development the rest of this year. (I thought she had really turned a corner before this last injury setback)

There are so many options! Morgan is yet another very talented player Geno will need to find time for. Hard to see Blanca not starting. Just how good is Jovana! Wouldn’t surprise me at all if K9 comes back next season shooting 38% from three. (she’s clearly already improved just since she’s been here)

Yet another thing to ponder is whether our 6’5”-6’6” secret weapon will have become someone who is now able to force Geno to play her. Gandy has been sort of out of mind in terms of actual playing time but I have little doubt that she has been improving daily under CD’s guidance and at some point she will (hopefully) become too big and too skilled to be sitting on the bench! Anyway, I suppose we’ve got way too much left in this season to get sucked into the “ What’s gonna happen next year” quagmire. Sorry!

 

[Charliebball]

I think there’s a pretty decent chance Allie starts next season. Certainly if she doesn’t start she will play a lot off the bench. There is so much talent on this roster! I notice some are penciling in K9 as a starter but I think she will play one more year off the bench and then start when KK graduates. I’m thinking a lot will depend on Jana’s development the rest of this year. (I thought she had really turned a corner before this last injury setback)

There are so many options! Morgan is yet another very talented player Geno will need to find time for. Hard to see Blanca not starting. Just how good is Jovana! Wouldn’t surprise me at all if K9 comes back next season shooting 38% from three. (she’s clearly already improved just since she’s been here)

Yet another thing to ponder is whether our 6’5”-6’6” secret weapon will have become someone who is now able to force Geno to play her. Gandy has been sort of out of mind in terms of actual playing time but I have little doubt that she has been improving daily under CD’s guidance and at some point she will (hopefully) become too big and too skilled to be sitting on the bench! Anyway, I suppose we’ve got way too much left in this season to get sucked into the “ What’s gonna happen next year” quagmire. Sorry!

The good news is that Geno has become a bit more willing to use his bench in order to maintain the press throughout the game........I don't want to speculate on how much playing time Jovana will get, but if she proves she can score within the offensive scheme and plays decent defense, she should get some minutes as a freshman

 

[Vowelguy]

"In Geno, I Trust". Z

That is a statement with many interpretations.

I think some people see that and think that every player Geno recruits is an all star. But that is not the case. He recruits not just for talent , but chemistry, effort, being a good teammate, etc.

Was Molly Bent a good recruit? I think Geno would say so. I think he knew what he was getting with her and he got that.

Just because Geno recruits someone doesn’t mean they are a top 5 talent. They may have another role to play.

I trust that Geno has found a player to fit what the team needs. Whether that’s another Bent or another Nurse, we shall see.

 

[pvdoggy]

That is a statement with many interpretations.

I think some people see that and think that every player Geno recruits is an all star. But that is not the case. He recruits not just for talent , but chemistry, effort, being a good teammate, etc.

Was Molly Bent a good recruit? I think Geno would say so. I think he knew what he was getting with her and he got that.

Just because Geno recruits someone doesn’t mean they are a top 5 talent. They may have another role to play.

I trust that Geno has found a player to fit what the team needs. Whether that’s another Bent or another Nurse, we shall see.

Was Molly a recruit at all? I thought she was a walk-on when the team needed bodies, but I concur with the gist of your points.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Was Molly a recruit at all? I thought she was a walk-on when the team needed bodies, but I concur with the gist of your points.

Bent was a recruit.

Pulido and Lawlor were the emergency walk-ons.

 

[pvdoggy]

Bent was a recruit.

Pulido and Lawlor were the emergency walk-ons.

Oh yeah, I misremember. You are correct. My apology. I swear, I cannot even picture Molly in my head right now.

I looked her up on the Huskies page and remember her baby face now.

 

[ConnMotors]

I think there’s a pretty decent chance Allie starts next season. Certainly if she doesn’t start she will play a lot off the bench. There is so much talent on this roster! I notice some are penciling in K9 as a starter but I think she will play one more year off the bench and then start when KK graduates. I’m thinking a lot will depend on Jana’s development the rest of this year. (I thought she had really turned a corner before this last injury setback)

Everyone will be going through next seasons starting lineup top to bottom after the national championship game. Allie may start because she is a shooter and Azzi will be playing in the WNBA if they get their together.

There are three guarantee spots that are not up for grabs. KK will be at the point; Ashlynn will be at the two. Sarah at the three or four. Blanca is 99.9% certain to be the other three or four. I will get heat for this but I don’t think that Jana will be our starting center.

Currently we have room for one more player. I know that we have Olivia as a post player and she will get minutes in the paint. But she also likes to shoot from the outside. Will that last open seat on the bench be filled from someone out of high school, overseas or from the portal?

 

[IndyMark]

Everyone will be going through next seasons starting lineup top to bottom after the national championship game. Allie may start because she is a shooter and Azzi will be playing in the WNBA if they get their together.

There are three guarantee spots that are not up for grabs. KK will be at the point; Ashlynn will be at the two. Sarah at the three or four. Blanca is 99.9% certain to be the other three or four. I will get heat for this but I don’t think that Jana will be our starting center.

Currently we have room for one more player. I know that we have Olivia as a post player and she will get minutes in the paint. But she also likes to shoot from the outside. Will that last open seat on the bench be filled from someone out of high school, overseas or from the portal?

I would like to see that open spot be Sara Okeke.

 

[Alydar]

That is a statement with many interpretations.

I think some people see that and think that every player Geno recruits is an all star. But that is not the case. He recruits not just for talent , but chemistry, effort, being a good teammate, etc.

Was Molly Bent a good recruit? I think Geno would say so. I think he knew what he was getting with her and he got that.

Just because Geno recruits someone doesn’t mean they are a top 5 talent. They may have another role to play.

I trust that Geno has found a player to fit what the team needs. Whether that’s another Bent or another Nurse, we shall see.

Muhl played with an attitude and UConn has missed that. I think Popovic was described somewhere as playing with a little chip on her shoulder. As for her defense, who knows. I'm no judge. But a lot of high school scorers were given easy defensive assignments to save their energy. Bueckers for one. Popovic seems to fit that role. In any case I love how Geno surprises with his Euro's.

I'll join the "trust Geno" group.

 

[Zarathustra]

Bent was a recruit.

Pulido and Lawlor were the emergency walk-ons.

Molly Bent was from Cape Cod and eventually finished school
at TABOR ACADEMY where she was a star. I lived on Cape
Cod for years and followed her closely and enjoyed the UCONN
Bench antics when Molly did her "guard action stuff" and some-
times, hit three pointers. After Conn she did some sort of
Christian (Sports?) ministry work? I think that was at the
University of Penn (or maybe it was just in Philly?)? The memory
is foggy on the details.