Kendall Cooper to Duke

[doggydaddy]

I wouldn't really call this a blow to Tennessee. The addition of Russell pretty much addressed any issues we had in the paint. Izzy is a very capable backup center. We were just missing that dominant low post scorer. With Graves and Burdik splitting time at the 4 spot, another post would have given us a logjam in the paint.

Duke also has a strong frontline, but injuries to Henson, Heckman, and now Williams leave some question marks there that Chidom and now Cooper do more than address.

I think Tennessee is likely done in this class. Of course, Tennessee wouldn't turn down Scaife, and I think she would put is a top of the class rankings, but this group of 3 is a great first class for Holly and Co.

If she would have created a logjam, then why was she being recruited?

A top class (probably #3)without her, but it was a miss for Holly.

 

[Icebear]

Plus, DD, with the Lady Vols recent history of injuries to posts having another cannot hurt.

 

[doggydaddy]

Plus, DD, with the Lady Vols recent history of injuries to posts having another cannot hurt.

Very true. No need to minimize the effect on the team.

I see Russell's impact as more of a "Snow" as opposed to a "Parker". But I've been wrong before...lol.

 

[Tonyc]

Tony

I'm talking about next year, not 2014. UConn will have 9 talented players on the roster with the addition of Chong.

Looking at Duke's roster of 13 players, they lose one to graduation and have a recruiting class of 4 players. If my math is correct that's a roster of 16 players. Duke Roster - Link I'm sure it will be straighten out if it needs to be. However with that said they'll have 14/15 talented players on their roster, much deeper then UConn.

Just found out that Jenna Frush is a walk on for this year and not on scholarship.

Thanks for posting the Roster . Looking at Dukes roster its very impressive. Alot of height, experience, and top players. The UConn Duke game for the next 4 years will get national exposure. With that said I still like UConns chances...alot. Im thinking after this season its UConn Duke and everybody else. That could change with recruiting but one thing is for sure. Teams like Duke UNC TN have rosters that are almost full. UConn has room for players like Turner Wilson and Caldwell and more. With open spots on the roster UConn should be very attractive for recruits over the next few seasons.

 

[EricLA]

Very true. No need to minimize the effect on the team.

I see Russell's impact as more of a "Snow" as opposed to a "Parker". But I've been wrong before...lol.

Agreed to an extent. I think she'll be better than Snow, at least in college and as far as her impact goes, but we will see. If you look at the US National team she played on this summer, she was only the #4 scorer on the team behind Greenwell, Reimer and Deshields. She was even 2nd on the team in rebounding to Greenwell, not what you would expect from an uber-elite center, and certainly not the kind of performances Stewart has consistently put up in international play.

I have no doubt that Tennessee fans will wholeheartedly disagree, but to think Russell will have an impact in college like Fowles, Charles, or any other truly elite center isn't born out by the stats she put up on the elite teams she played on. This is not to say she can't develop, and there's nothing wrong with being a Kia Vaughn or Michelle Snow during her 4 years. But to hear some Tennessee fans talk about her addition meaning 2 NC's, I just had to laugh.

 

[Tonyc]

Gotta agree. UConn Duke and even UNC are loaded. Lville and Stanford are in the picture too. Tenn has a long way to go. Russell and Graves is a good start but Tenn is in the rebuilding mode which means to me that they will need to develop chemistry and that takes time. I could see them if they get the right players making the FF in Russells junior or senior year.

 

[EricLA]

Gotta agree. UConn Duke and even UNC are loaded. Lville and Stanford are in the picture too. Tenn has a long way to go. Russell and Graves is a good start but Tenn is in the rebuilding mode which means to me that they will need to develop chemistry and that takes time. I could see them if they get the right players making the FF in Russells junior or senior year.

In her sophomore year, they will have Massengale/Burdick as seniors, Graves/Carter as juniors, and Russell/Tucker as sopohomores. you have to imagine starters of Massengale, Carter/Tucker, Burdick, Graves and Russell. On PAPER, that's a terrific starting 5. then again, on paper, Massengale, Simmons, Stricklen, Johnson and Baugh looked great, but they still went down to Baylor by 20 (actually I think they started Bass and Manning over Simmons and Massengale).

I keep reading that the tennessee coaches want the team to run and that it's built to run. That's great. But what kind of offense and half court execution will they have if teams take the run away from them? I saw a poll that had them at #7 (or maybe it expected them to be the #7 team this year). It will be interesting to see how that pans out...

 

[tnvolfan65]

Cooper was being recruited because up until a week or so ago, Tennessee still lacked an elite center and she is the second best in the class. As I said, Russell's commitment addresses that need.

I don't know of anyone claiming Tennessee is now going to win multiple titles, but it wouldn't be the first time a Tenn or Uconn fan has made a bold and brash proclamation after landing a good recruit.

As far as USA ball goes, Russell shot 64% this summer and was 7th on the team in shots attempted. She made 1 shot less than Greenwell and 11 less than Deshields yet took 35 and 58 less shots, respectively. She led the team in blocks and was second in rebounds-a stat line that speaks of an elite center on a team of elite players IMO.

On pretty much the same team, sans Deshields, the summer before she was second on the team in scoring and set tournament records with her 11.4 rebounds per game and 4 blocks per game.

If you want to judge her based on these 13 total games, I would think Russell has more than established herself as an elite center prospect.

 

[EricLA]

Cooper was being recruited because up until a week or so ago, Tennessee still lacked an elite center and she is the second best in the class. As I said, Russell's commitment addresses that need.

I don't know of anyone claiming Tennessee is now going to win multiple titles, but it wouldn't be the first time a Tenn or Uconn fan has made a bold and brash proclamation after landing a good recruit.

As far as USA ball goes, Russell shot 64% this summer and was 7th on the team in shots attempted. She made 1 shot less than Greenwell and 11 less than Deshields yet took 35 and 58 less shots, respectively. She led the team in blocks and was second in rebounds-a stat line that speaks of an elite center on a team of elite players IMO.

On pretty much the same team, sans Deshields, the summer before she was second on the team in scoring and set tournament records with her 11.4 rebounds per game and 4 blocks per game.

If you want to judge her based on these 13 total games, I would think Russell has more than established herself as an elite center prospect.

as for multiple titles, it was on your board. not sure how many thought so, but there it was. and no one is saying she's not elite. but will she be elite like Charles or Fowles, or elite like Snow or Vaughn or Bone? that remains to be seen.

she's rated 98 by HG and is one of the top 2 or 3 recruits in the nation (Blue Star has her at #2). it's not like she's the runaway superstar of the class like Stewart was in 2012. and it's not like she dominated on every team she played on like Stewart did. she's an excellent elite center with a lot of potential. she's a top 3 kid for a reason. in general, however, we don't think she's as elite as tennessee fans. and the empirical data tends to bear that out.

 

[wallman]

Forget the stats, did you watch her play?

As with most high school kids going to the next level means they are going to have to learn how to play defense and that includes Russell, regardless of her ranking.

Plus international competition is not even equal to some elite club level in US.

 

[Rb335]

All of a sudden only 5 top 100 prospects according to HG are still available. Uconn is only in the running for mccall who announces tomorrow. Her announcement will make only 4 top 100 players available. Time to move onto 2014 as 2013 was somewhat of a bust for uconn.

 

[tnvolfan65]

as for multiple titles, it was on your board. not sure how many thought so, but there it was. and no one is saying she's not elite. but will she be elite like Charles or Fowles, or elite like Snow or Vaughn or Bone? that remains to be seen.

she's rated 98 by HG and is one of the top 2 or 3 recruits in the nation (Blue Star has her at #2). it's not like she's the runaway superstar of the class like Stewart was in 2012. and it's not like she dominated on every team she played on like Stewart did. she's an excellent elite center with a lot of potential. she's a top 3 kid for a reason. in general, however, we don't think she's as elite as tennessee fans. and the empirical data tends to bear that out.

No telling who said that on the Summitt or in what context, but again...not surprising or an uncommon reaction from either fanbase.

And I've said on both boards that I think Stewart is the top prospect out of high school since Griner. I'm not sure how Russell not perfoming like Stewart proves anything other than just that or that they have very different playing styles. Also not sure what empirical data you're referring to because the only setting all these girls play in now days are USA ball, and as I said Russell put up very good "data."