May recruiting thread

[Cuango]

Ki

Kiki, Breya, jada, Jáquez and possibly Juju would be a formidable force and add Lyndon Jones. Oh boy

Fortunately for all of the rest of WCB, Geno, Tara, Kim, and Dawn (and to a lesser degree, Jeff, Vic, Wes, and Carla are all coaching somewhere else!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Sarah Strong follows up her Saturday performance with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[HuskyNan]

I wish she were here already. Speed. Motor. Handles. Midrange. Crafty going to the rim. She is going to be a problem for defenders.

She drives with her head up. Too many kids are thinking flashy play and have their head down as they go right at the basket. The heads up gives her a chance to read the defense and pull up, pass, or drive.

 

[oldhusky]

Hard press for Booker and Rosario. I think Rosario has a beast inside that can be awakened!

In terms of 4's or 5's I think Rosario is the only elite one left for 2023 and I have no idea if we are high on her priorities or not. After that it appears you settle for a big in 2023, or wait for 2024 unless there is a foreign gem we are unaware of.

I still have hopes for another elite wing like Williams or Booker to complete a very good recruiting class, but it is starting to look like we might miss out on a top ranked big this year, and as I understand it, 2024 is weak for C size prospects beyond Blanca Thomas.

We also could find ourselves looking in the portal for a C type next year.

 

[Alydar]

The Huskies lose out on top recruiting targets almost every year. It's not a trend, it's normal. We got 2 top five front court players coming next season. Can that possibly have anything to do with losing a couple of 2023's?

 

[Zarathustra]

Is it just me or has she dropped some serious weight in just a year?

She looks a little like Caitlin Clark! Will she be on any USA U18 WBB teams??

 

[Charliebball]

The Huskies lose out on top recruiting targets almost every year. It's not a trend, it's normal. We got 2 top five front court players coming next season. Can that possibly have anything to do with losing a couple of 2023's?

What school doesn't lose out on some of its top recruiting targets? The trick is to get two or three top level recruits out of all your offers every year.........that's the best that can be expected as college WBB has become more competitive in the past five years.....

 

[Zarathustra]

Ashlynn is a verbal commit to UCONN. Let's trust that she will
be a signed commitment come November. Nice player! Go A. Shade!1

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Can that possibly have anything to do with losing a couple of 2023's?

I doubt it. Pretty clear UConn was runner up for Toomey and only her great experience and "special feeling" at Chapel Hill likely got in the way. Cunningham is more of a pure center than Brady or Patterson so I don't think that's a blocking issue either.

 

[Charliebball]

I doubt it. Pretty clear UConn was runner up for Toomey and only her great experience and "special feeling" at Chapel Hill likely got in the way. Cunningham is more of a pure center than Brady or Patterson so I don't think that's a blocking issue either.

I never sensed Cunningham was leaving the West Coast so didn't invest too much in her recruitment........Toomey was surely a disappointment but that's what can happen when a really good coach lands at an attractive major program like UNC.......

 

[Sluconn Husky]

ASGR evaluator's top-9 players from this weekend's event in Texas includes Chavez, Foy, and Clardy.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

ASGR evaluator's top-9 from an UA event late May. Williams, Edwards, Cambridge are the POI here.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Cal Hi Sports' California players of the year include Ice Brady on the First team and Kennedy Smith on the Second.


Large write-ups of all players in the link:

All-State Girls BB: Best of the Best 2022

Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year Juju Watkins plus State Senior of the Year Londynn Jones, State Sophomore of the Year Kennedy Smith and NorCal Player

www.calhisports.com

 

[LwrcasefaN]

She looks a little like Caitlin Clark! Will she be on any USA U18 WBB teams??

I can't see how she wouldn't. At least an invite!

 

[Bone Dog]

I've now watched video (including some whole games) of the California kids, as well as this year's McD's All Americans. It looks to me that the current 22 & 23 UConn commits (Ice, Ayanna, Ashlynn, and KK) represent a stupendous achievement for Geno and the staff. These look like Huskies all the way, as well as being excellent talents already. I hope we manage to get one more for 23, and there are other great prospects out there. But I don't see that any other schools have so far produced a better 2 year recruiting class. I may be missing something here -- I am rather shortsighted -- and wouldn't mind being corrected.

 

[TeamFirst!]

Solid overview on the California high school prospects, including Ice:

All-State Girls BB: Best of the Best 2022

Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year Juju Watkins plus State Senior of the Year Londynn Jones, State Sophomore of the Year Kennedy Smith and NorCal Player

www.calhisports.com

 

[CocoHusky]

Are we though? I mean UCONN isn’t for everyone and some kids just want to stay home or nearby because family is important. We do have a 6-3/4 post coming next season from San Diego and one of the most athletic prospects in the 22 class not to mention 2 great guards the following season. Maybe I’m just a glass half full kinda human. I dont know.
Cunningham will be a great college player but as I have stated on here multiple times she wasn’t leaving the West Coast. I realize I’m no @Sluconn Husky or @UConnCat or @CocoHusky but I’ve been around for a while do get some information from time to time. And while we are on that topic you can add Watkins to the “west coast” prospects because she is also expected to stay home although not with as much certainty as Cunningham. Bottom line we will be fine.

UCONN can't keep missing out on these quality post players and still hope to be fine. Cunningham would have been a good - it didn't happen so on to the next one. Del Rosario if she wants to come. I'm all in on Kate (The Great) Koval '24 as the next great UCONN post player from the Empire state none the less.

 

[AmeriConn]

UCONN can't keep missing out on these quality post players and still hope to be fine. Cunningham would have been a good - it didn't happen so on to the next one. Del Rosario if she wants to come. I'm all in on Kate (The Great) Koval '24 as the next great UCONN post player from the Empire state none the less.

I’m all in!

 

[HopJim]

Normally at this time of year, there are rumors of some 7-foot center from Australia or a 6'6" shooting guard from Lithuania. More seriously, suspect there are some bigs in eastern Europe that could help UConn. Any thoughts?

 

[TCC Kid]

Charlie, just hoping to be around to see anything in "25. At this time Ms. Chavez is low on my priorities list. If I still have a nearly full bag of marbles in 3 years unless Chavez is a Husky it won't matter to me. I will check back in 3 years and we can have a discussion on her if she is Husky pup.

I, have the same hopes/feelings. What I'd like to see is Geno WIN one more or 2 NC's. Geno has to dispel the negatives some are throwing around--i.e., Always a bridesmaid, (recently) never a bride. Winning the NC is about coaching but mostly about recruiting the right combinations of players. Geno has a superbly talented team at Uconn right now, those few coming in will make is much better, but ONE perfectly talented 6 ft 5, 7, 9 inches would guarantee his next NC.
I'd say his 15 FF's in a row, his 11 NC's with 12 NC appearances is nothing short of Amazing. Does he need more? NO! But we who believe in him want his final UConn years to end as they were in 1995 and early 2000's.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't want an NC for Geno -- and I doubt he thinks that way either at this point. I want an NC for Paige and Azzi and CD... and AG and AE and DJ and AD and Ice and AP and Lou. But most of all for Paige. It would be a shame to see such a transcendent talent not reach its fullest expression.

 

[oldhusky]

I've now watched video (including some whole games) of the California kids, as well as this year's McD's All Americans. It looks to me that the current 22 & 23 UConn commits (Ice, Ayanna, Ashlynn, and KK Arnold) represent a stupendous achievement for Geno and the staff. These look like Huskies all the way, as well as being excellent talents already. I hope we manage to get one more for 23, and there are other great prospects out there. But I don't see that any other schools have so far produced a better 2 year recruiting class. I may be missing something here -- I am rather shortsighted -- and wouldn't mind being corrected.

I don't think you are missing something, It is more a case of being close to another great recruiting year and maybe falling just short of that. Almost all programs would love to have Uconn's recruits for 2023 if it ended with KK and Ashlyn. Hopefully we add another impact player, but the standard here is not how we compare to most programs, but rather do the changes each year move us ahead of our most serious championship competitors.

Each of 4 recruiting years makes a difference for each team. We have 4 consecutive very good recruiting years if it ends with a class of 2 for 2023. 2021 and 2022 were great with the consensus number 1 pick each year, and 2022 and 2023 look on paper to be pretty good. So for Paige's senior year we should be loaded.

But this season we are still affected by one bad recruiting year. We came up short on last year's junior class, failing to get Boston or Jones, so not only did that hurt us, but also it helped our best challengers, and we wound up playing against the same players in the final four. They are both back for their senior years, so it is an issue this year as well. In 2023/24 the impact of those misses will finally be gone, and we should have 4 straight good recruiting classes for Paige's senior year.

So most of us know these are very good recruiting classes compared to most programs, and that keeps us in the hunt for a championship, but the standard may be can we put together a four class roster better than anybody else's, and there are lots of top programs pursuing the same exceptional players, and to a certain extent our loss sometimes winds up being their gain and visa versa.

 

[visitingcock]

I, have the same hopes/feelings. What I'd like to see is Geno WIN one more or 2 NC's. Geno has to dispel the negatives some are throwing around--i.e., Always a bridesmaid, (recently) never a bride. Winning the NC is about coaching but mostly about recruiting the right combinations of players. Geno has a superbly talented team at Uconn right now, those few coming in will make is much better, but ONE perfectly talented 6 ft 5, 7, 9 inches would guarantee his next NC.
I'd say his 15 FF's in a row, his 11 NC's with 12 NC appearances is nothing short of Amazing. Does he need more? NO! But we who believe in him want his final UConn years to end as they were in 1995 and early 2000's.

The main negative (PROBABLY) being thrown around is his age. Opposing coaches on the recruiting trail are probably mentioning his age and wondering aloud to recruits whether he will be around for more than a year or two during their potential UConn careers.

Every coach would like to retire a winner - at the top of his/her game. If Geno can pull off a championship in '23 or '24 with Paige, is it illogical to assert that he would consider retirement then? If so, the '24 prospects { rivals might assert} would never play for him.

I know of no instance where recruits have disclosed that such "negative recruiting" tactics are being used, but I would be completely unsurprised if it is happening. It certainly happens in football to older, successful coaches.

BTW, I hope he and Paige get one more NV (in '24).

 

[CocoHusky]

Normally at this time of year, there are rumors of some 7-foot center from Australia or a 6'6" shooting guard from Lithuania. More seriously, suspect there are some bigs in eastern Europe that could help UConn. Any thoughts?

Kate "The Great" Kovval is actually from Ukraine and playing HS basketball on Long Island. There are quite a few international post prospect 22-24 but none that are outstanding IMO. Even so those players tend to go straight to the WNBA or play professionally. That is yet another reason I'm banking on Kate because she is actually here in the US playing HS basketball. Ironically I think there are better "wings" internationally than anything else. Joycte, Kosu-Russian and Prosper Canadian all are sitting atop the '23 list for Premier Basketball international rankings.

2023

premierbasketballreport.com

 

[Gate81]

unfortunately it is likely a reality the same way that it is rumored that certain recruiters try to use the possible homosexuality of a female coach against them. people will abase themselves to attract recruits.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't think you are missing something, It is more a case of being close to another great recruiting year and maybe falling just short of that. Almost all programs would love to have Uconn's recruits for 2023 if it ended with KK Arnold and Ashlyn. Hopefully we add another impact player, but the standard here is not how we compare to most programs, but rather do the changes each year move us ahead of our most serious championship competitors.

Each of 4 recruiting years makes a difference for each team. We have 4 consecutive very good recruiting years if it ends with a class of 2 for 2023. 2021 and 2022 were great with the consensus number 1 pick each year, and 2022 and 2023 look on paper to be pretty good. So for Paige's senior year we should be loaded.

But this season we are still affected by one bad recruiting year. We came up short on last year's junior class, failing to get Boston or Jones, so not only did that hurt us, but also it helped our best challengers, and we wound up playing against the same players in the final four. They are both back for their senior years, so it is an issue this year as well. In 2023/24 the impact of those misses will finally be gone, and we should have 4 straight good recruiting classes for Paige's senior year.

So most of us know these are very good recruiting classes compared to most programs, and that keeps us in the hunt for a championship, but the standard may be can we put together a four class roster better than anybody else's, and there are lots of top programs pursuing the same exceptional players, and to a certain extent our loss sometimes winds up being their gain and visa versa.

I have to agree. My only point was that we aren't lagging behind in recruiting. This year, we won't have any seniors, technically. AG, of course, but this will not really be her 4th year. Our team will be led by Paige, Aaliyah, and Nika, three juniors, which kinda proves your point about that recruiting year. Our competition at SC will be led by seniors, and this will be true to a lesser extent of Stanford. But as for recruiting this year, we've done as well as anyone and better than our primary competition.

But, mostly when I think about this stuff, I'm not focusing on the competition so much as on what it means to put together a team, an institution and a culture that carries over year to year. We have a team, and I think getting to the NC even as we did really shows this. I suspect SC and Stanford have teams too. This is what these great coaches have wrought. There aren't that many coaches who have managed this -- though surprisingly there seems to be a few in the Big East. Iowa and Iowa St also seem to be teams. And we've recruited for the team culture, which is not easy. Huskies are hard to find.

 

[Fossil]

I, have the same hopes/feelings. What I'd like to see is Geno WIN one more or 2 NC's. Geno has to dispel the negatives some are throwing around--i.e., Always a bridesmaid, (recently) never a bride. Winning the NC is about coaching but mostly about recruiting the right combinations of players. Geno has a superbly talented team at Uconn right now, those few coming in will make is much better, but ONE perfectly talented 6 ft 5, 7, 9 inches would guarantee his next NC.
I'd say his 15 FF's in a row, his 11 NC's with 12 NC appearances is nothing short of Amazing. Does he need more? NO! But we who believe in him want his final UConn years to end as they were in 1995 and early 2000's.

I truly believe that UConn should have two more titles but unfortunately Stevens left with a year of eligibility and Walker left with a year of eligibility and if we had those two players in the tournament on their senior years I believe those would’ve been the pieces that would’ve put Connecticut over the top. It’s just a shame that Connecticut lost those two players when they did. UConn should be going for NC #14