Kortney Dunbar ('14) commits to Tennessee

[Stray Cat]

Congratulations to Tennessee and Ms Dunbar.

How does this commitment fit into their current roster? What will she add to the Lady Vols?

First, Kourtney "Token" Dunbar will help the LV's meet EEOC requirements from their previous all-minority team. I kid, I kid...I grew up in the 70's watching "White Shadow"!

Second, she will continue the LV tradition of a three-point specialist who can't create her own shot or play defense (see Angie Bjorkland, Sydney Smallbone and Taber Spani).

Despite her #89 ranking the LV faithful are still ecstatic to get any player to join their program given how many other recruits appear to be shunning their program and how few elite recruits with interest in their program are left on the board.

The mantra "Still Tennessee" very much applies here...they just don't realize they don't have it anymore!

 

[sivad40]

I wonder what affect the Dunbar commitment have on the more heralded Tenn targets Gabby Green and Jamie Nared?

 

[Vowelguy]

First, Kourtney "Token" Dunbar will help the LV's meet EEOC requirements from their previous all-minority team. I kid, I kid...I grew up in the 70's watching "White Shadow"!

Saying "I kid" doesn't make a stupid comment become unstupid.

 

[Marie Diaz]

Tennessee also has a shot, I think, to add either Cuevas, or Calvert, and possibly Jatarie White.

don't be surprised if Cuevas goes to Ole Miss... new coach Insell has some good connections with Exodus

 

[Stray Cat]

Saying "I kid" doesn't make a stupid comment become unstupid.

Sorry you didn't like my comment Mr. PC!

 

[HuskyNan]

Second, she will continue the LV tradition of a three-point specialist who can't create her own shot or play defense (see Angie Bjorkland, Sydney Smallbone and Taber Spani).

Have you seen her play? I don't mean highlight clips, I mean entire games. If the answer is no, I would consider your assessment suspect.

I remind folks about the rule against trashing players of any team. The nastier LV fans may deserve a swipe or two but the LV players and recruits do not.

 

[LadyVolFan]

Stray Cat shooters can be extremely successful whether they excel at creating their own shot or not if you have a dominant player in the post. For example Charles or Parker who were double and triple teamed in college. Hence the success Bjorklund and Spencer had in their years with Parker. The key is getting the right players that compliment your 1 or 2 stars.

 

[Stray Cat]

Have you seen her play? I don't mean highlight clips, I mean entire games. If the answer is no, I would consider your assessment suspect.

I remind folks about the rule against trashing players of any team. The nastier LV fans may deserve a swipe or two but the LV players and recruits do not.

Yes, I have seen her play several times at tournaments in the Midwest and South. And for the record, I will add a "soft" 6'2" to my description -- now part of that may be due to the fact she has played more on the wing due to her skill. She is pretty much a "2" with good size. Might be an effective zone player on defense but can't stay with the more athletic types. Again, not trying to be mean...just being honest...like Bjorkland, Smallbone and Spani, Dunbar will be a liability on defense. I would say her UConn equivalent is similar to Cassie Kerns -- good height 6'3" and good shooter in HS, but pretty much a face to the basket player, with limitations with regard to quickness to guard on the perimeter and the strength to play inside.

 

[Fightin Choke]

Jessica Moore was ranked #34 (ASGR) as was Kelly Faris (HoopGurlz).

Despite her ranking in Hoopgurlz, I wouldn't consider Kelly Faris as a recruit under the radar. A McDonald's AA coveted by Muffet, at one point it appeared to be down to ND and Purdue, but then Geno came calling.

And Stefanie Dolson was ranked 39th in Hoopgurlz. That turned out pretty well for UConn and Stef.

Glancing at the 2009 Hoopsgurlz ranking, these players were pretty impactful given their ranking:

Adia Mathies (65th)
Layshia Clarendon (67th)
Kamiko Williams (75th)

 

[doggydaddy]

Despite her ranking in Hoopgurlz, I wouldn't consider Kelly Faris as a recruit under the radar. A McDonald's AA coveted by Muffet, at one point it appeared to be down to ND and Purdue, but then Geno came calling.

And Stefanie Dolson was ranked 39th in Hoopgurlz. That turned out pretty well for UConn and Stef.

Glancing at the 2009 Hoopsgurlz ranking, these players were pretty impactful given their ranking:

Adia Mathies (65th)
Layshia Clarendon (67th)
Kamiko Williams (75th)

Well done. You never know.

 

[triaddukefan]

The reason we may not get top 10 talent this year is the same reason you didn't last year. After a class with a number 1 or top 5 player, top kids see a depth chart to get past. .

Thats not always the case.....

 

[Fightin Choke]

Thats not always the case.....

Maybe VolFan is on to something here, triad, and the reason Coach P cannot get many guards to commit is Jones and Greenwell, who were both top 5. Poor McCallie is forced to fill her recruiting quota with posts and forwards (as Williams will be moving on soon). I mean it's either that or McCallie is going through her wish list by height...

 

[triaddukefan]

Maybe VolFan is on to something here, triad, and the reason Coach P cannot get many guards to commit is Jones and Greenwell, who were both top 5. Poor McCallie is forced to fill her recruiting quota with posts and forwards (as Williams will be moving on soon). I mean it's either that or McCallie is going through her wish list by height...

But what about Jones committing knowing that Gray would be the starting PG her first two years of college?

 

[Fightin Choke]

But what about Jones committing knowing that Gray would be the starting PG her first two years of college?

Good point. Duke has gotten so many top recruits lately that it's difficult to keep up. But Jones also knew that she could play the 2 as well! And she probably also knew that Gray would get injured 2/3 of the way through the season, letting her shine as the starting PG, too!

 

[sarals24]

It's one thing to have depth, like Duke. It's another thing to actually put it to use. Remind me where Duke has ended the season for the past couple of years?

Lots of teams would, of course, love to have the type of seasons that Duke does. But with the talent level they have, they should be a Final Four team every year.

 

[triaddukefan]

It's one thing to have depth, like Duke. It's another thing to actually put it to use. Remind me where Duke has ended the season for the past couple of years?

.

 

[VolFan]

Tennessee has got plenty of players in 2014 who have the capability of being the stars. This class is about adding complement players, versatility and depth. We'll have Russell, Graves, and Harrison locking it down inside. Massengale and Carter will be the primary guards, and Burdick is the go-to on the wing. Then you add players like Middleton who can play the 1, 2, or even 3 in a small lineup, and Dunbar, who can play the 3, a stretch four, and possibly the 2 pending her ballhandling as role players who could step up and be developed into stars by their Junior or Senior years. When you have such a strong post presence, the goal is to add versatile shooters to stretch the floor and draw defenders out. That is the need for this class, and it is smartly being filled. Every recruit doesn't have to be Top 5 to build a successful team, and we have our fair share of Top 10 talent already. As to why Dunbar is ranked so low. Easy, she is one dimensional. She is a shooter. She has good size, but doesn't play a lot inside or use her size a lot. However, I firmly believe Dean Lockwood is one of, if not the premier post coach in the country and she will develop more facets to her game in college. This is definitely the possibility for a diamond in the rough player. Whether she reaches her full potential or not, nobody can judge. But this class is already an upgrade to what we have. We trade 1 Top 25 SG for 1 Top 25 CG and 1 Top 100 SF. That is a net gain in terms of sheer talent as well as roster depth and versatility. Not to mention that we are still in the mix for several more top talents in the country. So let's not sell this class down the river because Holly has chosen to pick shooters over maybe athleticism and playmaking to fill a specific need.

 

[doggydaddy]

we have our fair share of Top 10 talent already.

We trade 1 Top 25 SG for 1 Top 25 CG and 1 Top 100 SF. That is a net gain in terms of sheer talent and depth.

There is a huge difference between top 10 college talent and top 10 HS talent. For both Massengale and Burdick, their top 10 HS talent hasn't come close to top 10 college talent. Russell hasn't done anything on the college level. Graves is your best bet at top 10 talent. Love her game.

Middleton is equal to Simmons? As little as I think of Simmons game, talent wise, it's not even close. Net game in sheer talent by adding a top 100 player? Wishful thinking.

I guess it's a gain in depth being 1 player leaves and 2 arrive.

You won't find many here agreeing with your assessment and your "you have as good a chance as anyone" comment is pretty funny.

 

[Icebear]

Responses in Vol Land at the moment sound more like whistling in the graveyard. TN has had talent for the last half decade but have not been getting production from them. When they prove they can return to the FF then their arguments will have more the ring of truth.

The 5 seed, Louisville, that took them out last year returns healthier and deeper this year along with MD, Duke, UCONN, ND, among others. So I 'm not sure there is room at the FF yet whatever the talent on this TN if they don't produce for the coaching staff.

 

[stwainfan]

 

[Suebird10fan]

That is just not true. There is a big difference in the talent of players in the top 25 and players 50-100. The talent pool is just not big enough.

If Dunbar is one of the top ten shooters in the country, she would be ranked higher.

Dead on Doggy. If your goal is to be a top 5 team you have to focus on the top 25 and players ranked outside of the top 50 rarely make a significant contribution.

Of course maybe Tn needs to set its sights lower

 

[VolFan]

So Saniya Chong is just underrated because UConn got her. Tennessee gets someone outside the Top 50 and she is not going to make an impact and practically a useless recruit. You guys can be overconfident all you want about this National Championship, but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

 

[UConnCat]

You guys can be overconfident all you want about this National Championship, but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

Well, that didn't take long.

 

[Stray Cat]

... but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

This is highly improbable as Meighan Simmons has had as many big games against elite opponents in her collegiate career as the LV's have Final Four appearances in the last five years...NONE!

 

[UConnCat]

Dunbar reminds me of Bonnie Samuelson although not as tall and not as polished a player.

 

[Phil]

So let's not sell this class down the river because Holly has chosen to pick shooters over maybe athleticism and playmaking to fill a specific need.

This is interesting in light of Clay Kallam's recent comments about the SEC preferring athleticism over skill.

Does this mean Holly is breaking from that that? Or is it just a one-off?

 

[Icebear]

So Saniya Chong is just underrated because UConn got her. Tennessee gets someone outside the Top 50 and she is not going to make an impact and practically a useless recruit. You guys can be overconfident all you want about this National Championship, but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

No, that is probably because she was named Parade POY for high school and chose not to play as much elite AAU where she would get maximum evaluation. There are concrete reasons for her underevaluations and and significant evidence of how good she was as a high school player.

It is, also, vastly more likely that Simmons shoots the Lady Vols to a loss in the round of 16 or 8 as it is that she manages to carry the Lady Vols anywhere near the FF. Too often she needs to be seated because she isn't getting it done and is disrupting the TN offense.

 

[Vowelguy]

This is interesting in light of Clay Kallam's recent comments about the SEC preferring athleticism over skill.

Does this mean Holly is breaking from that that? Or is it just a one-off?

Given that the once-most-dominant conference in wcbb hasn't put a team in the final four since 2008, a change in strategy might not be a bad thing.

 

[Bestiarius]

So Saniya Chong is just underrated because UConn got her. Tennessee gets someone outside the Top 50 and she is not going to make an impact and practically a useless recruit. You guys can be overconfident all you want about this National Championship, but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

We are as susceptible to irrational exuberance as Lady Vol fans. It's just that in the time period spanning the probable lifetime personal basketball memories of 2014 recruits, our effervescence has proved to be more based on reality than Tennessee's.

Regarding Simmons, we love her and are excited when she comes into the game. How often do you see a player pass when she should shoot and vise versa? How often do you see a player forget everything she ever learned about basketball if she happens to make her first shot in a game? As you, Ball State, and recently, chattanooga suggested, we will not whine should your scenario come true.

I'm trying to recall - what happened the last time the final four was held in Tennessee (1990 at Thompson Boling East)? I'll bet that one was fun to watch for Vol players and fans.

 

[doggydaddy]

So Saniya Chong is just underrated because UConn got her. Tennessee gets someone outside the Top 50 and she is not going to make an impact and practically a useless recruit. You guys can be overconfident all you want about this National Championship, but don't whine when Meighan Simmons leads the Lady Vols past UConn in the NC game against UConn in Bridgestone aka Thompson Boling West.

Saniya Chong was selected Parade player of the year, joining past winners and Uconn players Maya Moore and Tina Charles along with EDD. And many other stars. She was also selected the National HS Coaches player of the year. She was also selected for the WCBA all star game at the final four weekend and had a nice game.

So, yes, she was underrated.

And please stop overstating what has been said about Dunbar. It has nothing to do with her selecting Tennessee. It has everything to do being ranked 81. Well outside the top fifty. Players ranked in that range rarely contribute to a top 10 team.

And you were being such a nice guest. Did you expect Uconn fans to agree with you on everything?