Marisa Watched Asia Durr (2015) Last Night

[UcMiami]

Starting as a freshman at Uconn usually means there was not a viable alternative on the team already. It happens, but not often and seldom at the start of a season.

 

[UcMiami]

That's my point. If UCONN was the overwhelming choice she would have blown off her plan. We would have to be overwhelming to lure her so far from home.
Also, who says any team has not been eliminated? She isn't talking.
We'll have to wait and see. Like I said I hope I'm wrong.

It is hard to be the overwhelming choice in a vacuum - she hasn't visited a lot of schools and seems to have been a bit restricted in her travel compared to other recruits, so ... she is waiting to compare Uconn vs. those she has yet to visit. At that point, maybe Uconn does stand out as the 'overwhelming' choice and maybe it doesn't.

 

[Godfather]

Please don't put too much stock in the rating services Geno doesn't, they base everything on scoring not skills, and some are copycats, the staff thinks the best player for them may not be what we think, they have the there 2015 top 5 in a completely different order than the rating services,

I have watched the players we have as top 5 in person and more than once,

Which one of these 3 players would be more important,

player-has height,long,versatile,fast,handles,use off hand as well as dominate hand,good rebounder, good passer,score inside and outside,good 3pt shooter, good IQ,

Player-has height,long,Good shooter, good 3pt shooter,good scorer, good handles,doesn't use off hand, good IQ

Player-has height,good scorer from anywhere on the floor,good handles,doesn't use off hand, good passer, good IQ

 

[EricSD]

Starting as a freshman at Uconn usually means there was not a viable alternative on the team already. It happens, but not often and seldom at the start of a season.

That was my point. As you said, you can always go back and find exceptions where a player started as a freshman. But it was based on the needs of the team. Most of the all time UCONN greats did not start as freshmen - Sales, Taurasi, Moore, KML, etc.

My other point is - if a kid wants to be a super star or wants guarantees to start as a freshman, UCONN is not the place for her. I mean this not as picking on Diamond, but as an example - clearly she did not like the team first approach and player development that Geno and co. employ at UCONN and she wanted to go to a place where she could do her own thing. UCONN was not the right fit for her. But no matter how good UNC is and how many NCAA's they go to in her 4 years, looking at talent and rosters now, it's unlikely they will be winning the NC ahead of UCONN, and several others.

I know we've said it a lot on here, but UCONN is not for everyone. HOWEVER, if your primary goals in college are to possibly win multiple NC's, be taught and pushed to be the very best you can be (even better than you ever thought), and to play on a team that treats you like family, then UCONN is really the only choice.

 

[Icebear]

Durr has said that as recently as July that she wants to play SG, Aja Wilson was told that she would have to play the PF but she wants to play SF,

In Geno's system those are most often meaningless labels. Watch the motion and resulting positioning in the UCONN offense. Look how often Stef is outside as our center. She ends up with threes for gosh sakes and numerous available shots from the top of the key the foul line and yes, in the low post. That diversity is what A'ja needs to be pursuing because it is what will make her a better basketball player overall. Look where Stewie plays, inside and outside with plenty of time of the perimeter just like Stef because that is how the offense moves and flows. Look at Morgan Tuck in game film and see where her shots come from. And yes, Kiah, too. Inside and outside, too. Get the picture? Labeling position within the UCONN offense is a meaningless endeavor because of the tremendous movement.

If A'ja wants to become the very best basketball player she can be and is willing to play for a coach that will demand the best she has to give and not cheat her talent she will come to UCONN. If not, then it doesn't really matter because that will not happen at South Carolina and someone else will step up and get the benefits of all that at UCONN. Odds are much better that the one who gets the opportunity a UCONN will play for and probably win a National Championship than someone at SC or every other school in the US. 7 NCs since 2000, that is 50% of the titles over that period. The handwriting is on the wall quite literally. One can see them every time one sits in Gampel.

The same applies to Durr and the guard rotation she will be at the 1, 2 and the 3 and even will post up players in the UCONN offense when the opportunity presents itself. MoJet is the predominant PG when on the court but Bria is out front many times and Saniya Chong is, too.

 

[wallman]

You gotta laugh as there are some posters on here who seem to want the top player in the 2014 class and the 2 top players in the 2015 class to go elsewhere

 

[Buzzyboy]

Geno and his staff are going to have a real problem juggling this talented line-up. A lot of guards, a lot of talent and it will require kids who are willing to put the team first of playing time, not sure in this day and age if that is realistic. If we don't get bigs soon you can see we will be in trouble. The below scenarios depend on Wilson and Durr deciding on UConn. There is rumor regarding Katie Samuelson...she is 6'2" so, we will have to insert her at the SF position. If for some reason A'ja Wilson decides to attend somewhere other than UConn then our need for quality bigs becomes even more imminent. There are a few assumptions here that Asia Durr will be that good that she will be the heir apparent to Moriah Jefferson's starting position. Also that Kia Nurse will also be that good that she will slide into the SG starting positions as soon as there is an opening. Gabby Williams is supposed to be the most athletic of the three other sophomore guards, so her being able to play up to the small forwards position is an assumption. I am also assuming that Breanna Stewart will play Center in her senior year and Tuck will move to the starting PF position. Saniya may have to move over to the point in her senior year. I am also going off the assumption that Geno likes to start his seniors. Courtney is still growing and rumors have her at 6'1" so, I also assumed that she could step up to the small forward position. This leaves me with the problem of having a talented player like Sadie Edwards and not being able to move her into a staring position even in her senior year. Just don't understand how we can hold down all this talent at the guard positions. Maybe someone else could take a stab at how Geno and his staff might balance out all this talent.

2015

PG - Starting, Moriah Jefferson - Sr; First off the bench - Asia Durr - Fr., Tierney Lawlor - Jr., Brianna Pulido - Sr.
SG - Starting, Saniya Chong - Jr.; First off the bench - Kia Nurse - So., Sadie Edwards - So.
SF - Starting, Gabby Williams - So.; First off the bench - Courtney Ekmark - So.,
PF - Starting, Morgan Tuck - Sr.; First off the bench - ????????
C - Starting, Breanna Stewart - Sr.; First off the bench - A'ja Wilson - So., ????????


2016

PG - Starting, Saniya Chong - Sr.; First off the bench - Asia Durr - So.
SG - Starting, Kia Nurse - Jr.; First off the bench - Sadie Edwards - Jr.
SF - Starting, Gabby Williams - Jr.; First off the bench - Courtney Ekmark - Jr.,
PF - Starting, ?????????
C - Starting, A'ja Wilson - Jr.; First off the bench - ????????

Possible 4 guard line-up in 2016, depends on who gets recruited.

You wrote "Katie Samuelson is 6'2" so therefore we will have to insert her at the forward position" and I was struck by the fact that you implied we would get her (anything but automatic) and that she was automatically locked in at forward. I seem to remember Magic Johnson coming out of Michigan State and he was something like 6'8" or bigger and no one automatically decided he has to be a forward. Someone 6'8" back in the 70's was comparable to someone 6'10" or bigger today and my point is he you can't automatically pigeon hole someone based strictly on their height. EDD seemingly would have been a center based on her height but she played much more of a perimeter game and that's how she was utilized. Time will tell about Samuelson but I would hope that she does decided to attend UConn because she does sound amazing.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I see a lot of panic type concern,about getting big girls as top priority.I am sure the coaching staff would love to have them all,that are on the interest list,and I am sure they would be happy with one,two or three,if not all.However,if it happens that they get zero commitments from girls with good height,I would still feel comfortable with whichever girls do commit to the team.Why?Well,this team has something many teams do not have,a coach and his assistants,that know how to get the best out of each girl,who know how to set a game plan from the type of talent and size that they have,and expectations of the girls that are higher than most teams have.When Kelly Faris was bought in,not too many believed she would be one of the best defensive players in college hoops.Again,I say and believe,that the coaching staff will figure this all out,and bring excellence on the court,as has happened time and time again,no matter who is on the team.Trust in them,there are no better for the tasks ahead in women's basketball.

I agree with what you're saying that even in the worst case scenario Geno and Chris would manage to adjust and make this team highly successful despite a lack of height. However, that is certainly not a scenario that Geno is striving for. His and Chris's work would be so much easier if they have a couple of big gals in the middle to utilize in various situations. That is the thrust of most people's remarks and concerns regarding big girls. Not only that, you really don't want to have a major imbalance on your team where every girl seems to be exactly the same. If potential recruits looked at UConn's roster and it seemed that everyone UConn presently had was exactly the same size and played exactly the same positions that you strived for, why wouldn't a recruit look elsewhere where they felt that there was more of a need for their services and more of a chance for them to contribute.

 

[Forty_four]

You wrote "Katie Samuelson is 6'2" so therefore we will have to insert her at the forward position" and I was struck by the fact that you implied we would get her (anything but automatic) and that she was automatically locked in at forward. I seem to remember Magic Johnson coming out of Michigan State and he was something like 6'8" or bigger and no one automatically decided he has to be a forward. Someone 6'8" back in the 70's was comparable to someone 6'10" or bigger today and my point is he you can't automatically pigeon hole someone based strictly on their height. EDD seemingly would have been a center based on her height but she played much more of a perimeter game and that's how she was utilized. Time will tell about Samuelson but I would hope that she does decided to attend UConn because she does sound amazing.

Because he was a point guard in college and the best passer of his time.

 

[ndmb]

I'm confused by your post. I never said that the signed guards are better than Durr. And what exactly would I or anyone take back after watching Katie Lou Samuelson, Boykin, Kalani Brown and A'ja Wilson play? At least 2 of the above will be AAs before they're done playing college ball so I doubt anyone would take anything back when all is said and done. Signing Durr and the 1 or 2 of the others are not mutually exclusive in any event.

I misread your post. I thought that you were saying that any of those players would be better for UConn (because of positional need) than Durr. Sorry.

 

[Tonyc]

I am really excited about thought of having Durr on our team surrounded by a bunch of multi talented players who can play the wing and guard positions. Many interchangeable players. We once again will be deep in talent at the guard and wing positions and the possibility of having Aja Wilson play along side of Breanna and Morgan is really over the top. Looking at this years roster a lot of kids getting a lot of minutes including the walk on s. If you look at our avg score per game in the other thread and you see we are averaging approx. 88 pts per game that's a little misleading. Don't forget Geno is taking off the press and fastbreak and clearing the bench early as not to run up the score any more then it has to. All said and done over the next few seasons we are positioned to do some pretty fantastic stuff.

 

[wbfree]

Many feel the 2014 guards UConn just signed will hurt its chances with Durr, but UConn remains in the hunt.

Brandon Clay ‏@BrandonClayPSB 20h
#TeamPN: @UConnWBB Asst @marisamoseley is here for '15 G @A_Hooper25. Durr lists the Huskies http://www.prospectsnation.com/story/durr-top-her-game-recruiting… pic.twitter.com/lzvdPzeaBX

Has anyone seen her play. I'm sure she's got some real game, however the only video I've seen of her ,she looked rather slow. April Sykes?

 

[meyers7]

Has anyone seen her play. I'm sure she's got some real game, however the only video I've seen of her ,she looked rather slow. April Sykes?

Slow? No, that's not how I would describe her.

 

[Sonny44]

Slow? No, that's not how I would describe her.

K

I think Durr's a level above that. And I've heard Williams is going to be very good, and I think Edwards is going to be very good.


I hope we are "all in" for Durr. I would pass on Wilson to get Durr. Not that they are similar. But if I was given a choice, even knowing we need height, if given the choice you can only have one, Durr in a heartbeat.

I can't agree. Geno is going to have a tough time as it is keeping all the guards happy. Best is a steady influx of all the skills needed.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

K

I can't agree. Geno is going to have a tough time as it is keeping all the guards happy. Best is a steady influx of all the skills needed.

Surely news Geno needs to know...you can reach him at Geno #cluelessrecruiter.

 

[Sonny44]

Geno and his staff are going to have a real problem juggling this talented line-up. A lot of guards, a lot of talent and it will require kids who are willing to put the team first of playing time, not sure in this day and age if that is realistic. If we don't get bigs soon you can see we will be in trouble. The below scenarios depend on Wilson and Durr deciding on UConn. There is rumor regarding Katie Samuelson...she is 6'2" so, we will have to insert her at the SF position. If for some reason A'ja Wilson decides to attend somewhere other than UConn then our need for quality bigs becomes even more imminent. There are a few assumptions here that Asia Durr will be that good that she will be the heir apparent to Moriah Jefferson's starting position. Also that Kia Nurse will also be that good that she will slide into the SG starting positions as soon as there is an opening. Gabby Williams is supposed to be the most athletic of the three other sophomore guards, so her being able to play up to the small forwards position is an assumption. I am also assuming that Breanna Stewart will play Center in her senior year and Tuck will move to the starting PF position. Saniya may have to move over to the point in her senior year. I am also going off the assumption that Geno likes to start his seniors. Courtney is still growing and rumors have her at 6'1" so, I also assumed that she could step up to the small forward position. This leaves me with the problem of having a talented player like Sadie Edwards and not being able to move her into a staring position even in her senior year. Just don't understand how we can hold down all this talent at the guard positions. Maybe someone else could take a stab at how Geno and his staff might balance out all this talent.

2015

PG - Starting, Moriah Jefferson - Sr; First off the bench - Asia Durr - Fr., Tierney Lawlor - Jr., Brianna Pulido - Sr.
SG - Starting, Saniya Chong - Jr.; First off the bench - Kia Nurse - So., Sadie Edwards - So.
SF - Starting, Gabby Williams - So.; First off the bench - Courtney Ekmark - So.,
PF - Starting, Morgan Tuck - Sr.; First off the bench - ????????
C - Starting, Breanna Stewart - Sr.; First off the bench - A'ja Wilson - So., ????????


2016

PG - Starting, Saniya Chong - Sr.; First off the bench - Asia Durr - So.
SG - Starting, Kia Nurse - Jr.; First off the bench - Sadie Edwards - Jr.
SF - Starting, Gabby Williams - Jr.; First off the bench - Courtney Ekmark - Jr.,
PF - Starting, ?????????
C - Starting, A'ja Wilson - Jr.; First off the bench - ????????

Possible 4 guard line-up in 2016, depends on who gets recruited.

Agree strongly. And don't forget. Counting on Morgan Tuck as a power forward is a strong assumption given her continuing knee problems. If she goes down we're in even deeper you know what.

 

[mrmojack]

On Geno's radar screen-2015 center 6'6" Kalani Brown, Slidell, La.
She is the only center on the screen at the moment. What a
great opportunity for her to come in and have a chance to
get plenty of minutes as a Frosh. I like our chances with her.
I believe she has had an "in home".

 

[Tonyc]

Too much concern over recruits. We didn't get Diamond DeShields and EDD left and at the time many fans were concerned. We just kept winning. Im pretty sure Geno knows what he's doing and can figure it all out. Now if we don't get Wilson there are about 5 top bigs in the next class so we most likely get one or two of them. If we get Wilson then and we get one or two in the next class. We are set this season and next and not in to bad of shape the following season. Remember we are UConn the greatest womens program in college. We will get are share of bigs. As far as Durr goes. I think she is a must get. She is a leader and a game changer and there aren't many of those out there. Putting her in UConns lineup will allow her to showcase her skills.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Too much concern over recruits. We didn't get Diamond DeShields and EDD left and at the time many fans were concerned. We just kept winning. Im pretty sure Geno knows what he's doing and can figure it all out. Now if we don't get Wilson there are about 5 top bigs in the next class so we most likely get one or two of them. If we get Wilson then and we get one or two in the next class. We are set this season and next and not in to bad of shape the following season. Remember we are UConn the greatest womens program in college. We will get are share of bigs. As far as Durr goes. I think she is a must get. She is a leader and a game changer and there aren't many of those out there. Putting her in UConns lineup will allow her to showcase her skills.

Maybe all is not lost...

 

[cohenzone]

Couple of things. Sue Bird's frosh year was unusual. I'm pretty sure Kiersten Walters, same year as Sue, started until she got hurt. It was a frosh, but originally not Sue.
As far as being too deep, around my hs years, CCSU was a national power within its division. They were so deep that their coach had 2 teams that alternated in, I think, 10 minute waves. One team out, the other in. Worked great.

 

[UConnCat]

According to Carl Adamec, both Geno and Marisa were in Georgia to watch Durr this week: http://snyuconn.com/uconn/notebook-georgia-on-minds-of-coaching-staff/#more-9775

A couple of recruiting nuggets to wrap up Turkey Day …

While the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team took a two-day break after last Sunday’s win over St. Bonaventure, head coach Geno Auriemma and assistant Marisa Moseley headed to Georgia to watch guard Asia Durr, the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2015, in action.

Durr, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Douglasville, Ga., is averaging 23.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 blocked shots through four games for defending state Class AAA champion St. Pius X High in what her father, Terry, called “an extremely tough schedule to start the season.” St. Pius X opened with wins over Forest Park a week ago and Douglas County Saturday, but dropped back-to-back decisions on consecutive days Monday and Tuesday to Hillgrove and Tucker.

Durr does not have a short list of colleges yet and when one comes out don’t expect it to be that short.

“We are starting to discuss her short list but haven’t published it yet,” Terry Durr said. “But that day is soon as we are close to narrowing it down. It won’t be anything like a top five, more like a top 15 at this point and then we will go on from there to trim it some more.”

 

[Fightin Choke]

On Geno's radar screen-2015 center 6'6" Kalani Brown, Slidell, La.
She is the only center on the screen at the moment. What a
great opportunity for her to come in and have a chance to
get plenty of minutes as a Frosh. I like our chances with her.
I believe she has had an "in home".

Yup. Looks like a home to me!

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Yup. Looks like a home to me!
View attachment 4333

Thanks...

 

[Biff]

Yup. Looks like a home to me!
View attachment 4333

Wholy crap. Dad's gotta be 7' !!!

 

[meyers7]

K

I can't agree. Geno is going to have a tough time as it is keeping all the guards happy. Best is a steady influx of all the skills needed.

You don't pass on a player like Durr if you can get her. No matter who you have already.

 

[DavidinNaples]

Dad is P.J. Brown...6'11" played w/ Celtics and won NBA title...also played w/ Nets, Bulls and Miami Heat...went to college at Louisiana Tech, hence the Louisiana location..

 

[Sonny44]

Too much concern over recruits. We didn't get Diamond DeShields and EDD left and at the time many fans were concerned. We just kept winning. Im pretty sure Geno knows what he's doing and can figure it all out. Now if we don't get Wilson there are about 5 top bigs in the next class so we most likely get one or two of them. If we get Wilson then and we get one or two in the next class. We are set this season and next and not in to bad of shape the following season. Remember we are UConn the greatest womens program in college. We will get are share of bigs. As far as Durr goes. I think she is a must get. She is a leader and a game changer and there aren't many of those out there. Putting her in UConns lineup will allow her to showcase her skills.

Of course you are right Tony, but we all have to have a little fun playing coach.

 

[uconnfan68]

Dad is P.J. Brown...6'11" played w/ Celtics and won NBA title...also played w/ Nets, Bulls and Miami Heat...went to college at Louisiana Tech, hence the Louisiana location..

And it looks like he'd be happy if his little girl had a HOFer as a coach.

 

[boontonbomber]

According to Carl Adamec, both Geno and Marisa were in Georgia to watch Durr this week: http://snyuconn.com/uconn/notebook-georgia-on-minds-of-coaching-staff/#more-9775

A couple of recruiting nuggets to wrap up Turkey Day …

While the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team took a two-day break after last Sunday’s win over St. Bonaventure, head coach Geno Auriemma and assistant Marisa Moseley headed to Georgia to watch guard Asia Durr, the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2015, in action.

Durr, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Douglasville, Ga., is averaging 23.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 blocked shots through four games for defending state Class AAA champion St. Pius X High in what her father, Terry, called “an extremely tough schedule to start the season.” St. Pius X opened with wins over Forest Park a week ago and Douglas County Saturday, but dropped back-to-back decisions on consecutive days Monday and Tuesday to Hillgrove and Tucker.

Durr does not have a short list of colleges yet and when one comes out don’t expect it to be that short.

“We are starting to discuss her short list but haven’t published it yet,” Terry Durr said. “But that day is soon as we are close to narrowing it down. It won’t be anything like a top five, more like a top 15 at this point and then we will go on from there to trim it some more.”

i wonder why moseley would go to look at a guard, rather than shea ralph?

 

[meyers7]

i wonder why moseley would go to look at a guard, rather than shea ralph?

They may have just wanted another view? Or maybe just wanted to show presence?

Good question though.