July recruiting thread

[Blakeon18]

Addison: a rising soph with those skills? An early offer from Geno....granted that is become more
frequent. From Missouri. We have read some speculation about The Big 12 pursuing UConn for membership.
We have had great recruiting success in the midwest despite our distance. I wonder IF we wound up in the Big 12 whether that success would uptick with many of our away games in that section of the country.

Just love her offensive versatility and athleticism for so young a player.

 

[Zarathustra]

Wow, Addison Bjorn looks phenomenal! Long- limbed, quick and aggressive. She will be in any discussion of a killer streak

It looks like Addison is going to fit right in! Nice Video!! Very athletic!

 

[Zarathustra]

I hate to compare players, but she looks like if Toby Fournier could shoot.

I love the passes, and her use of both hands..... smooth!!

 

[Crossover]

Listed as 6-2 on Prep Girls Hoops

I like the way she tips a rebound from her left hand to her right, then half-hooks the ball into the basket, all in one motion. The no look pass is also quite impressive.

 

[Crossover]

Yeah, she looks bigger than 6'0". I like how she helps the girl up after blocking her shot. She doesn't need cheap advantages to beat you.

What I like about the play is that Bjorn lifts up her opponent while barely breaking stride, and while keeping her eyes focused up court. However, even if Bjorn had not helped the other player up, I don't think that the 5 on 4 advantage would be "cheap" or "unfair". Do you think that a player who breaks her opponent's ankles (figuratively speaking) with a crossover dribble should wait until the opponent gets up before shooting?

 

[darrell]

 

[uconnever]

UConn offered Addison Bjorn. #8 in 2026, 6-0 G. Was on the USA U16 team
View attachment 89699

Can’t remember the last time seeing a player that looks this good. She is a must get. Generational type it looks like.

 

[Zarathustra]

What I like about the play is that Bjorn lifts up her opponent while barely breaking stride, and while keeping her eyes focused up court. However, even if Bjorn had not helped the other player up, I don't think that the 5 on 4 advantage would be "cheap" or "unfair". Do you think that a player who breaks her opponent's ankles (figuratively speaking) with a crossover dribble should wait until the opponent gets up before shooting?

I saw that "Pick me up" also. Nice gesture. I ' m sure that it did not affect the outcome of the game!
Nice going Addison!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Question: Does the fact that Juste Jocyte played Pro Ball in Europe disqualify her for playing NCAA women's basketball at UCONN?

If not, recruiting her during the U19 Worlds would be at the top of my list....

 

[MilfordHusky]

Question: Does the fact that Juste Jocyte played Pro Ball in Europe disqualify her for playing NCAA women's basketball at UCONN?

If not, recruiting her during the U19 Worlds would be at the top of my list....

I think it does not. As I understand it, she is playing as an unpaid amateur on a professional team. I've loved Juste for about 3 years now. The question is: Does she want a U.S. college degree and WCBB experience before turning pro?

 

[Huskee11]

I don`t follow recruiting as closely as some, but I am trying to figure out where were are in the 2024 - 2026 classes. Here is what I have:

2024 - verbal commitments from Allie Ziebell 6'0" (or 5'10", take your pick) and Morgan Cheli 6'2"
POI/offers- Sarah Strong 6'2", Kate Koval 6'4", Justice Carlton 6'2", Amari Berry 5'10" (do we know if Koval and Carlton have offers?)

2025 - verbal commitment from Kelis Fisher 5'9"
offers - Dee Alexander 6'0", Brynn McGaughy 6'3"
are we involved with Addison Deal 6'0"? There is a recent post above about her. Don`t know much about her but she looks very good and is from Mater Dei.

2026 - offers - Olivia Vukosa 6'4", Addison Bjorn 6'0"
are we involved with McKenna Woliczko 6'2"? (Certainly hope so!)

Who am I missing? What did I get wrong?

 

[BobbyJ]

I don`t follow recruiting as closely as some, but I am trying to figure out where were are in the 2024 - 2026 classes. Here is what I have:

2024 - verbal commitments from Allie Ziebell 6'0" (or 5'10", take your pick) and Morgan Cheli 6'2"
POI/offers- Sarah Strong 6'2", Kate Koval 6'4", Justice Carlton 6'2", Amari Berry 5'10" (do we know if Koval and Carlton have offers?)

2025 - verbal commitment from Kelis Fisher 5'9"
offers - Dee Alexander 6'0", Brynn McGaughy 6'3"
are we involved with Addison Deal 6'0"? There is a recent post above about her. Don`t know much about her but she looks very good and is from Mater Dei.

2026 - offers - Olivia Vukosa 6'4", Addison Bjorn 6'0"
are we involved with McKenna Woliczko 6'2"? (Certainly hope so!)

Who am I missing? What did I get wrong?

3 bolded:
1- Yes on Carlton. Can't find any evidence of an offer to Koval. It's possible but I don't think there's a lot of mutual interest. If there was it seems she would have made or scheduled at least an unofficial visit by now as she has with several other schools she has interest in.
2- No evidence of an offer to either yet although McGaughy has stated her interest in UConn publicly. Deal is a pure wing and over the next couple years UConn is recruiting several so there's a lot of moving parts here but who knows? Maybe they will be involved at some point.
3- There's probably some UConn interest but Woliczko and her dad especially are huge ND fans and were ecstatic last month when she received her offer from Coach Ivey. This might be a longshot.

 

[UConnCat]

2- No evidence of an offer to either yet although McGaughy has stated her interest in UConn publicly.

McGaughy had ankle surgery recently. Injury (fracture and dislocation) occurred at the end of June.

 

[BobbyJ]

McGaughy had ankle surgery recently. Injury (fracture and dislocation) occurred at the end of June.

Ouch, I've been through that and the pain at the time of injury is excruciating. Long rehab ahead and I hope she can be fully ready for her winter HS season.

 

[NC28604]

I think Vukosa is likely, Strong slightly less so, but Koval? I’m not feeling it. I hope I’m wrong, of course, but I just haven’t seen much that leads me to think Koval is seriously considering us. If we can just get Strong and Vukosa though, I think I can probably survive the terrible los of Koval

Geno has been down here (Sanford, NC) to see Strong.

 

[Purchase1]

Seems Morgan Valley has been heavy into the international recruiting market. She just recent followed Australian Lara Somfai.

 

[UConnCat]

Seems Morgan Valley has been heavy into the international recruiting market. She just recent followed Australian Lara Somfai.

16 year old 6-3 (FIBA lists as 6-4). Very intriguing prospect. Class of 2025.

 

[BobbyJ]

16 year old 6-3 (FIBA lists as 6-4). Very intriguing prospect. Class of 2025.

Very good open court skills, footwork, and shooter. Watch the spin move at the end of this video.

 

[UConnCat]

Somfai just played in the Asia U16 championships. She was sick and missed the early round games but recovered to play in the semis and finals which Australia won. She scored 24 pts in she semis and 8 points in the finals today.

 

[HopJim]

Used to travel with work frequently to Australia and saw several women's games. My impression was that the game was more physical than the European leagues. Have no knowledge of Lara Somfai but in addition to the shooting and driving skills seen in the video, at 6'3" she likely knows how to bang underneath. Would be curious what level she plays at.

 

[BobbyJ]

Somfai just played in the Asia U16 championships. She was sick and missed the early round games but recovered to play in the semis and finals which Australia won. She scored 24 pts in she semis and 8 points in the finals today.

Just off a couple of videos she looks as good or better than the forwards Australia has in the U19 tournament.

 

[DEpup]

Seems Morgan Valley has been heavy into the international recruiting market. She just recent followed Australian Lara Somfai.

I wonder if scouting the international players is her responsibility. I'm sure they divide and conquer.

 

[HuskyNan]

There is no mention of UConn in this article on Joyce Edwards from June 19

https://www.thestate.com/sports/high-school/article276469146.html

 

[UConnCat]

Just off a couple of videos she looks as good or better than the forwards Australia has in the U19 tournament.

I bet she is.

Somfai is coached/trained by Jelena Todorovic, a former Serbian player who is one of the up and coming coaches/trainers in Europe and Australia. She helped coach Giannis and the Greek National Team (men's) during a FIBA tournament. She said this about Somfai:

I have coached many young men but nothing comes close to this amazing young woman… she is only 16 years old but is one of the biggest professionals I have ever seen. I’ve seen her compete against boys and grown men in many of my trainings, I’ve seen her put in countless hours in the gym and everything always with a smile . . . She is the best young player in the WHOLE of Australia.

 

[UConnCat]

Lauren Jackson has her in her clutches . . . literally.