Kiah Stokes

[VAMike23]

Just thought I would start a thread on Kiah since she's flying a bit under the radar in most of the discussions.

Besides the fact that she looks a *lot* stronger in the upper body, I really liked what I saw from her in the IUP game:

- Much less hesitation in her overall movement and decision-making in all phases
- Increased confidence in her face-up game and her jump shot (last year she clearly looked more comfortable with her back to the basket)
- A bit more tenacity in the paint on defense, in terms of both blocks and (perhaps more importanly) rebounds

While there are some things that you just cannot tell against such an overmatched opponent, players' attitudes and tendencies are still clear. In a short amount of time on the floor Kiah showed me that she is bringing a much more confident approach to the game this year, a "been there / done that" look that puts freshman year Kiah firmly in the rearview mirror. This is definitely the new and improved version. I'm psyched!
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[HuskyFan1125]

Great post!!

Kiah definitely looked stronger and agile around the basket. She will see playing time. She has a strong body and her and Stewart in the post could cause the 1st 5 rows at Gampel and XL dodging basketballs!

 

[EricLA]

Good stuff. She truly is an elite center and the beauty of it all is that she won't have ALL the pressure on her at the 5 spot till she's actually a senior. There's a reason she was rated 14 by BS, 9 by ASGR and 6 by Peach State. Only HG was the crazy outlier putting her at #42.

 

[VAMike23]

Good stuff. She truly is an elite center and the beauty of it all is that she won't have ALL the pressure on her at the 5 spot till she's actually a senior. There's a reason she was rated 14 by BS, 9 by ASGR and 6 by Peach State. Only HG was the crazy outlier putting her at #42.

And this year she looks much more comfortable at forward! Yet more flexibility for Geno. Last year, she just never looked comfortable (to me) facing up.

So excited about the possibilities...

 

[VAMike23]

And of course my extra enthusiasm for Kiah has *nothing* to do with the fact that her high school is less than 3 miles from where I grew up, in the 'suburb' next door...

 

[UConnChapette]

I was pretty impressed with Kiah last year. Though a little rough around the edges, there were some games where her talent was obvious. I can't wait until Wednesday night to see the even better Kiah in person.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Kiah may be a little rusty because of her recovery from surgery. It seemed that she did fine on Friday.

 

[Sonny44]

Plus the prettiest smile on the team. She should get a chance to use it a lot this year.

 

[VAMike23]

Plus the prettiest smile on the team. She should get a chance to use it a lot this year.

I think Moriah gives her a run for her money in that department, but Kiah does have a great smile for sure

 

[Olde Coach]

I love Kiah's athleticism.(As much as her smile)

I think she will be a force this year --- as UConn's #2 Center. There are many plays that Kiah can make with ease that Steph simply cannot execute.

I am hopeful that Kiah will get a LOT of playing time this year -- in both the blow-out games and the most difficult games.

You go, Kiah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Replicant]

UConnChapette said: "I was pretty impressed with Kiah last year. Though a little rough around the edges, there were some games where her talent was obvious..."

Remember the Duke game? The much heralded (and rightfully so) Elizabeth Williams was completely shut-down by Kiah. And to think that Kiah is gonna have one amazing partner-in-swat this year in Breanna. Can't wait to see those twin pillars defending the lane together. This is gonna be fun, fun, fun!

 

[VAMike23]

UConnChapette said: "I was pretty impressed with Kiah last year. Though a little rough around the edges, there were some games where her talent was obvious..."

Remember the Duke game? The much heralded (and rightfully so) Elizabeth Williams was completely shut-down by Kiah. And to think that Kiah is gonna have one amazing partner-in-swat this year in Breanna. Can't wait to see those twin pillars defending the lane together. This is gonna be fun, fun, fun!

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[triaddukefan]

Remember the Duke game? The much heralded (and rightfully so) Elizabeth Williams was completely shut-down by Kiah. !

 

[alexrgct]

With Stef, Kiah, and Buck, UConn has phenomenal depth at the five spot this year. Given who the primary competition is going to be for the NC, that's going to be absolutely critical.

 

[winlots]

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View attachment 1671
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VAM - as you know, I like this image every time you put it up...always get a grin. The other day when thinking about it a bit, I small light began to dawn: is this the guy who was known for "you must pay the rent!!" Or something else? And in what context did he usually appear. Certainly very familiar.

 

[winlots]

As for Stokes, as noted in my notes on Ex Game 1: she can be as good as she wants to be. Someone in this thread already noted her ability to be an antidote to Griner....agreed.....if she wants to be. Sky seems the limit.

 

[VAMike23]

VAM - as you know, I like this image every time you put it up...always get a grin. The other day when thinking about it a bit, I small light began to dawn: is this the guy who was known for "you must pay the rent!!" Or something else? And in what context did he usually appear. Certainly very familiar.

His name is Snidely Whiplash, arch-enemy of one Dudley Do-Right from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show (not the Dudley DoRight of this board!).

Truly a sinister character.....

 

[VAMike23]

I love Kiah's athleticism.(As much as her smile)

I think she will be a force this year --- as UConn's #2 Center. There are many plays that Kiah can make with ease that Steph simply cannot execute.

I am hopeful that Kiah will get a LOT of playing time this year -- in both the blow-out games and the most difficult games.

You go, Kiah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Kiah has the potential to continue upping her physical presence in the lane to where she becomes a very strong, "space-eating" type of player inside. She has not only a very strong upper body with wide shoulders but also a pretty strong base that will only get stronger with time. I am not sure that Stewart will ever have quite that type of profile, which is fine because she does so many things well--or make that very, very well.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

I was pretty impressed with Kiah last year. Though a little rough around the edges, there were some games where her talent was obvious. I can't wait until Wednesday night to see the even better Kiah in person.

She showed great potential against Duke, outplaying Elizabeth Williams, demonstrating strong positioning for rebounds, and showing an ability to not let a big game or national stage rattle her.

 

[Icebear]

She showed great potential against Duke, outplaying Elizabeth Williams, demonstrating strong positioning for rebounds, and showing an ability to not let a big game or national stage rattle her.

She is pretty special. Hopefully, Williams and Stokes both recover fully from their foot issues to long healthy careers.

 

[Tonyc]

Kiah looked really improved. Ball handleing, dribbling with her head up looking for teammates, hitting the outside shot, hitting the boards. When you look at Kiah Stef and Stewart thats alot of big time shot blockers and alot of intimadation, and alot of scoring inside and out, and alot of high low, and higher and higher and low. The options this season are really unbelieveable. Take into consideration that UConn keeps getting better and better, and keeps raising the bar higher and higher. It will be very difficult to beat them. UConn can beat themselves, but I dont think (barring injuries) that any team can beat them for at least this season and next, and most likely beyond. They are at a whole different level.

 

[JRRRJ]

Kiah looked really improved.

After finally getting to watch the game from archive (apparently I have a firewall, or cookie, or other configuration problem with CSTV on my primary computer) the things that left the strongest impression were:
1. The half-court offense is unbelievably good for this stage in the year with so many Frosh & Sophs that see significant minutes. They moved, talked & put their hands up, hit the open teammate -- and played an entire half sans a turnover. Even if they can't reproduce it immediately, they know what it looks like.
2. Kiah is an incredible defender at the point of the 1-2-2. Her lateral movement kept her in front of IUP's guards on the perimeter.
3. I am absolutely thrilled to see Kelly looking for her shot.
4. Nobody looked like a freshman.

Re: 2, everyone was committed to full-speed defense for most of the game, and it was mostly well-executed (watching Heather get picked twice and yet roll to the basket in time to block/bother her assignee's shot each time was very cool!) but I was surprised by Kiah's mobility compared to what I saw last year.

 

[VAMike23]

After finally getting to watch the game from archive (apparently I have a firewall, or cookie, or other configuration problem with CSTV on my primary computer) the things that left the strongest impression were:
1. The half-court offense is unbelievably good for this stage in the year with so many Frosh & Sophs that see significant minutes. They moved, talked & put their hands up, hit the open teammate -- and played an entire half sans a turnover. Even if they can't reproduce it immediately, they know what it looks like.
2. Kiah is an incredible defender at the point of the 1-2-2. Her lateral movement kept her in front of IUP's guards on the perimeter.
3. I am absolutely thrilled to see Kelly looking for her shot.
4. Nobody looked like a freshman.

Re: 2, everyone was committed to full-speed defense for most of the game, and it was mostly well-executed (watching Heather get picked twice and yet roll to the basket in time to block/bother her assignee's shot each time was very cool!) but I was surprised by Kiah's mobility compared to what I saw last year.

Great post - Also, the points in blue re: Kiah were welcome sights to my eyes as well. Her movement seemed waaaay better on a lot of levels. Much more assured. Couldn't be more pleased.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Spot-on, succinct words from JRRJ:

Nobody looked like a freshman. Indeed!