Mikayla Coombs to Transfer

[cohenzone]

We were returning to the US today from Greece. We met a young woman at the Athens airport who went to U of Dayton and is playing pro hoops in Europe. She mentioned her name but I don’t remember. She’s aPG about 5’10. We chatted about UConn. She said it takes special kids to play for UConn and modern players willing to stick with Geno’s approach are not that easy to find despite the fact that he’s pretty selective in recruiting.

She was on the Dayton team that led UConn at the half a few years ago she said they were exstatic. Didn’t last long.

 

[Fightin Choke]

Sabrina Haines and Lili Thompson are the only out-transfers within the past 5-ish years that come to mind.

Taylor Rooks fits into that time frame. She attended Stanford as a freshman in Brittany McPhee's class, then transferred to Harvard, and then this past year played as a grad transfer for Michigan. LINK

 

[WNBA 09]

Raoul:
"UConn WBB signed 14 players out of HS in the 2014 through 2017 recruiting classes. Mikayla Coombs leaving would make 6 who have transferred, amounting to a 43% attrition rate. If you look at just those ranked in the top 100, it's 6 out of 12 transferring, or 50%."

Raoul (@Raoul_000) | Twitter

He shouldn't post this. Could hurt future recruiting #'s if upcoming players see posts like this from such a trusted source.

 

[donalddoowop]

So

Griffin, Bueckers, Muhl, Makurat, and possibly Fudd. Is that enough for a Few?? A few is three or more.

 

[stick]

We were returning to the US today from Greece. We met a young woman at the Athens airport who went to U of Dayton and is playing pro hoops in Europe. She mentioned her name but I don’t remember. She’s aPG about 5’10. We chatted about UConn. She said it takes special kids to play for UConn and modern players willing to stick with Geno’s approach are not that easy to find despite the fact that he’s pretty selective in recruiting.

She was on the Dayton team that led UConn at the half a few years ago she said they were exstatic. Didn’t last long.

Probably Andrea Hoover. That Dayton team had only 2 potential pros, Mallott (a forward and 6'2") being the other.

 

[eebmg]

We were returning to the US today from Greece. We met a young woman at the Athens airport who went to U of Dayton and is playing pro hoops in Europe. She mentioned her name but I don’t remember. She’s aPG about 5’10. We chatted about UConn. She said it takes special kids to play for UConn and modern players willing to stick with Geno’s approach are not that easy to find despite the fact that he’s pretty selective in recruiting.

She was on the Dayton team that led UConn at the half a few years ago she said they were exstatic. Didn’t last long.

Here is the box score. Does it jog your memory about who it was?

 

[Anke]

Don't believe Westbrook would be eligible to play next year unless she gets a special waiver.

I believe the change of coaches will permit her to play next year

 

[TheFarmFan]

Sabrina Haines and Lili Thompson are the only out-transfers within the past 5-ish years that come to mind.

Lili and Marta are both grad transfers. And both were starters for most of their time at Stanford, so they were the last players to be transferring for minutes. In Marta's case, it was a season-ending injury before her senior year coupled with no scholarship spots for her for the following year (because, again, Tara always uses all her scholarships and essentially no one transfers before they pocket their degree.

The only out transfers I know of prior to degree were Jamie Carey, which was because Stanford medical staff wouldn't clear her from concussion protocol, and Texas would, and Taylor Rooks, who transferred to Harvard and was very clearly not the top 15 recruit she was expected to be.

 

[Plebe]

We were returning to the US today from Greece. We met a young woman at the Athens airport who went to U of Dayton and is playing pro hoops in Europe. She mentioned her name but I don’t remember. She’s aPG about 5’10. We chatted about UConn. She said it takes special kids to play for UConn and modern players willing to stick with Geno’s approach are not that easy to find despite the fact that he’s pretty selective in recruiting.

She was on the Dayton team that led UConn at the half a few years ago she said they were exstatic. Didn’t last long.

Andrea Hoover or Kelley Austria?

 

[Jmsdawg]

This guy really is a tool. It's never quite clear what his point is other than he picks out a few coaches and programs he dislikes and then offers up what seems like a criticism. A few years ago after Azura and Batouly announced they were transferring to UConn he went on a rant about teams like UConn hoarding players. I know, right? Truth be told, he was upset because he wanted Stevens and Batouly to transfer to Michigan but that was never happening. He's transparent and a bit of a baby.

I see Raoul as a real source of information. Information coming from Raoul has generally, at least to me, been accurate and timely. I have not seen any bias toward any team just useful information. As for transfer rates, I really do not see any school that stands out for excessive transfers and I for one think the ability to play vs sitting on the bench is the main motivation rather than the tough coaching.

 

[PoppaBear]

I never worry about transfers other than providing depth from the team perspective. I always say how many of them went on to become a star (or even make a difference) at their new school? I can't really think of one. Which means you're left with the question of did Geno and Co. blow it when they recruited them, or did the recruits have a different expectation or role in mind, and when it didn't work out the way they had envisioned they transferred?

Chloe Jackson did quite well as a transfer. How soon we forget. Final Four MVP

 

[TheFarmFan]

Really? Playing the millennial card?

She worked hard for two years without any hint of complaint or trouble. By every indication, she bought into the system, but it just didn’t work out for her. Her whole life has been centered around basketball and I don’t think it’s fair to fault her for wanting to live out that dream to its fullest.

And, let us not forget, it was our (yes, our, because I’m a millennial, too) parents’ generation who started that whole participation award thing. Contrary to popular belief, we didn’t hop out of the womb demanding trophies and medals.

+1000. I got participation trophies in elementary school and rolled my eyes even then. My boomer mother still keeps them.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Interesting choice of words here “overcrowded backcourt”

 

[MilfordHusky]

Interesting choice of words here “overcrowded backcourt”

I'm hoping it becomes overcrowded. Or at least a little crowded.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Here is the box score. Does it jog your memory about who it was?

View attachment 42558

Not to hijack the thread, but I really like the stat line for KML. She was one of the greatest players and scorers in NCAA tourney history and was often overshadowed by her other-worldly teammate whom she had dubbed "Baby Husky."

 

[stick]

Not to hijack the thread, but I really like the stat line for KML. She was one of the greatest players and scorers in NCAA tourney history and was often overshadowed by her other-worldly teammate whom she had dubbed "Baby Husky."

Yeah, I agree. I think she and Collier are the two most underrated All-American UConn players. IMO, KML was the greatest shooter in program history and she seemed to have a knack for making plays in key situations.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Not entirely surprising. If you watch the games last year, Combs usually does not seem that enthusiastic from the bench, maybe that's how she is as a person, but I always felt like she was not particularly happy. Coombs always seems to play hard when she is on the court.

So I kept hearing from many Uconn fans on here asking why would recruits not want to come and play for the best program in wbb, for the best coaching staff, etc... How do you explain the high rate of transfer in the past few years of players who have actually gone through the experience?

Some kids are led to believe that they'll be able to perform up to Geno's standards because they've been built up during their high school and AAU days by a variety of people. Geno's demands not only include talent but a massive amount of effort and some kids don't or won't or can't put in the effort that Geno feels warrant them getting substantial real time ..... he's a bit softer and more lenient than he was but he's still pretty headstrong about a great contributing a certain amount of effort .......

 

[Buzzyboy]

And on top of this, UConn loses 2020 recruit Natalja Marshall, a 6'4" post player, to Oregon, right from under our noses- Christ the King in New York.

Ouch!

Were they ever recruiting her????? I am not here as consistently as I previously had been but I've absolutely no knowledge of her .......

 

[Buzzyboy]

She is highly rated, and let's recall that Stephanie Dolson was no superstar when she was in high school. Slow, not good hands, and out of shape. But a couple of years later, she became strong underneath, dynamic, a great passer, and one of the best posts in the nation.

It appears that there are 5 players among the top 25 who are 6'4" or taller. Three have already been taken- and by Oregon, Notre Dame, and Stanford. We're desperate for size, yet our most bitter rivals have stolen three of the five. And one whom we're supposedly targeting, Gusters, is from Texas, which is susceptible to schools in that region.

This is a tough off-season. Fingers crossed....

Stephanie Dolson almost completely transformed herself when at UConn and it was an astounding revelation. That type of thing happens so very rarely and someone said earlier in this post that beyond being somewhat slow afoot, that her effort, Marshalls, often left much to be desired. That's not what Geno wants or will tolerate ......

 

[Buzzyboy]

If you really love the game, you want to play. Being on a championship team that you seldom get to play in the game you love has to be tough. I can see how a player would want to leave a great team for a good team where she could significantly participate in the games. Got to be a real challenge for the coach of the great team to keep the bench players motivated, just playing in those games where the outcome has been determined before you get to play can’t be too satisfying. My take, developing and motivating the bench is critical and will become even more difficult with the transfer trend we see today.

I think that Geno (and some other coaches) makes a point of not guaranteeing anyone anything but a chance for playing time, based on their skill and their effort and when they're in the midst of their visit or visits, they come in contact with present players who I'm sure have no problem sharing stories about how difficult things are and the expectations that Geno and the staff have. These kids can't be that naive or sheltered, can they????

 

[j66kicker]

He shouldn't post this. Could hurt future recruiting #'s if upcoming players see posts like this from such a trusted source.

That's what he wants - he hates UConn.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I don't think UConn's transfer rate averages 75%. I would expect that if someone did the statistics one might find that UConn is somewhere in the lower half of the bell curve.

They were referring to this one class, where Mikayla will be the 3rd of the four person class to transfer, assuming she actually does leave. That plays out to 75% but it suggested that 75% of all players coming in lately have transferred.

 

[Plebe]

I'm hoping it becomes overcrowded. Or at least a little crowded.

For next year's roster, moderately populated would be an improvement from now.

 

[Buzzyboy]

The OP was commenting on the one class wherein three out of four left. Hence 75% and to bemoan that is not unreasonable. That is all I meant.

Based on that, what if, in a one player class, that player left ..... should we lament that 100% of UConn classes are transferring, making it sound like Geno and the staff are somehow driving everyone away from UConn and that there might be a need for a change at the top of the program????? Using a very small tidbit of stats to make a statement can really distort someone's views.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I realize Geno is Geno.. he’s the goat!! His record speaks for itself. But times are changing, players are changing...these players deserve a chance .. if u recruited them there was a reason for it. Let kids make mistakes let them play through it, give them a chance ... if u can handle the most demanding program in the nation and the hardest practices in the nation then there is no reason the effort isn’t there. Geno needs to change to the new level of the game.. old school isn’t working anymore and until he changes a little UCONN will continue to have small classss and lose out on recruits... it’s just my opinion but kids don’t want to sit the bench and that’s just it. Players want to play and not ride the bench.... UCONN is really in serious trouble and if they don’t fix it soon next season is going to be a very disappointing season . Very sad and schocking day ... I get 2020 is already looking like a great class but forget about 2020 it’s 2 years away it won’t help us next season... 8 player roster is just horrendous .... injuries long season I don’t even want to go there. All I can say is wow!!!

I really think that Geno is living in the past and has actually turned into a diabolical monster ...... Obviously I'm being facetious but if Shea and Maya and Rebecca and Breanna and Diana and Tina and more recent players like KLS and Ms Collier were able to tolerate it, why can't these other kids????? If KLS got tough love from Geno, with her enormous talent, why shouldn't a less gifted athlete be as willing or more willing to put in the effort to maximize your talents and hustle, hustle, hustle???? Geno's expectations of players efforts didn't vary depending on a players talent level ........ It's silly and disrespectful ...... maybe every player should get a number on the wall in Gampel ..... or a trophy, like in Pee Wee league ..... very condescending, in my view ....

 

[Buzzyboy]

Not sure I buy that. When she first joined the program she could barely run the floor. I remember it was her passing abilities that he talked about.

Steph ran the floor but she was really heavy and not in the best of shape but that started changing drastically after her freshman year ..... The Steph you remember hustled but with the additional weight and conditioning issues (and if I remember correctly, she had issues with her feet or legs as a freshman), she was slow of foot.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Raoul:
"UConn WBB signed 14 players out of HS in the 2014 through 2017 recruiting classes. Mikayla Coombs leaving would make 6 who have transferred, amounting to a 43% attrition rate. If you look at just those ranked in the top 100, it's 6 out of 12 transferring, or 50%."

Raoul (@Raoul_000) | Twitter

Sometimes some of these HIGHLY RATED players are not rated appropriately and when they see their numbers in those recruiting sites, assume that they're the next superstar and spend less time putting in the effort to improve and play hard 100% of the time, which is what Geno demands! Well, maybe Geno would accept playing hard 95% of the time.

 

[Jmsdawg]

I think that Geno (and some other coaches) makes a point of not guaranteeing anyone anything but a chance for playing time, based on their skill and their effort and when they're in the midst of their visit or visits, they come in contact with present players who I'm sure have no problem sharing stories about how difficult things are and the expectations that Geno and the staff have. These kids can't be that naive or sheltered, can they????

I have always felt BBall was a game of confidence, there were times when I played when I just could not miss and I knew the ball was going in the net, however for me those games did not occur often. Most of the kids that make a college team were great in HS and probably went into the college game believing in themselves. However, the talent level at college is much better and if the player has problems they can end up on the bench. The bench can be a motivator for some, they want to play so they work hard to make it happen, but it can also work the other way, you may feel you are just not good enough to play and the desire goes away. That is a dilemma for a coach, how can you get that kid to regain confidence and desire so they are playing up to their ability? Great coaches are great motivators!

 

[Buzzyboy]

Millenials. They all want their participation trophies. You can't blame them. They were raised in that particular culture where everybody gets to play.

I couldn't agree more ..... That's maybe acceptable in junior high school but eventually, you have to learn that you need to be exceptional in major programs in order to get playing time ..... I'm not suggesting that in a blowout, you shouldn't give out some playing time to bench players but only if they play hard and hustle and have stellar attitudes.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I never worry about transfers other than providing depth from the team perspective. I always say how many of them went on to become a star (or even make a difference) at their new school? I can't really think of one. Which means you're left with the question of did Geno and Co. blow it when they recruited them, or did the recruits have a different expectation or role in mind, and when it didn't work out the way they had envisioned they transferred?

EricLA has always been a very awesome contributor and so very enjoyable to follow. Obviously there are others but he certainly comes to mind.