Most underrated player | The Boneyard
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Most underrated player

Initially, I thought the topic meant the most underrated player on the UConn team.

If that were the case, I'd probably choose Kelis Fisher as of right now. To me, she has potentials that will be difficult to cultivate because of the talented guard corps ahead of her and the unavoidably restricted minutes Geno has to offer.

And that minutes problem for Kelis might not get any better next year. KK, Ash and K9 will still be on the 14-15 player team next season and freshman guard Popovich will be added on. Somehow, if Kelis indeed has the right stuff, she needs a moon shot breakout opportunity to eclipse the guards ahead of her.
 
Gael said:
Initially, I thought the topic meant the most underrated player on the UConn team.

If that were the case, I'd probably choose Kelis Fisher as of right now. To me, she has potentials that will be difficult to cultivate because of the talented guard corps ahead of her and the unavoidably restricted minutes Geno has to offer.

And that minutes problem for Kelis might not get any better next year. KK, Ash and K9 will still be on the 14-15 player team next season and freshman guard Popovich will be added on. Somehow, if Kelis indeed has the right stuff, she needs a moon shot breakout opportunity to eclipse the guards ahead of her.
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I agree with you on Kelis in that every time I see her play I'm impressed. Great ball handling and control, solid passing, terrific speed, and always seems to be in control, even if her drives are a bit wild at times. I think she's gonna be really good.

But I don't disagree at all with the Ashlynn Shade comment. She's a tenacious blue collar player who gives 100% every second she's on the floor. She's "easy" to overlook in that she's not flashy, doesn't score a ton, but she's a total warrior.
 
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Gael said:
And that minutes problem for Kelis might not get any better next year. KK, Ash and K9 will still be on the 14-15 player team next season and freshman guard Popovich will be added on.
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You could be right. But I have a feeling next year will be a good one for Kelis. Clearly, with Azzi leaving the main rotation is likely to be KK Kayleigh and Ash, but the second rotation could well be Kelis Jovana and Allie, with Allie providing the veteran leadership to this unit. Jovana will only be a youngster in need of guidance and this group would give her exactly that.

And the following year could be an even better situation for Kelis. A backcourt of her Kayleigh Allie and Jovana will likely feature her for long stretches. This would be the senior season for Sarah and Jana as well and their last shot at an NC, and this is likely to provide the best sort of challenges for everyone. And if all goes well, it could also be Morgan’s second healthy season playing in a high energy frontcourt, which suits her skills really well. Imagine how much fun Kelis could have with this team.

And don’t get me started on what her senior season could have in store for Kelis. It is likely to be her team in the fullest sense, a whole new roster anchored by Olivia and Blanca. And if all goes well, Geno will have picked up a couple of perimeter gunners to put next to Jovana and Blanca. Oh, I think Kelis will feel like she arrived at Storrs at the best moment, both for the team and for herself.
 
Gael said:
Initially, I thought the topic meant the most underrated player on the UConn team.

If that were the case, I'd probably choose Kelis Fisher as of right now. To me, she has potentials that will be difficult to cultivate because of the talented guard corps ahead of her and the unavoidably restricted minutes Geno has to offer.

And that minutes problem for Kelis might not get any better next year. KK, Ash and K9 will still be on the 14-15 player team next season and freshman guard Popovich will be added on. Somehow, if Kelis indeed has the right stuff, she needs a moon shot breakout opportunity to eclipse the guards ahead of her.
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I don't believe she's a natural pg. As a result, imo her time will be determined as to how well she can hit 3's and next year how well Jovanna is. Kellis looks like to me a scorer (1st) that can pass (2nd). With UCONN scoring is not an issue this year and probably not next year either. So for this year and next UCONN probably needs floor generals to assist in ball movement or knock down shooters. While Kellis wouldn't need to be "Knock down," she does need to be "good" imo. Kellis is amazing to watch because her athleticism appears to be electric. But the top teams have in some combo of strong athleticism, strong coaching, solid fundamental defense, and a certain amount of size which limits a small guard's ability score efficiently inside the 3. If she can hit the 3 then she is "different" than KK and K9 and who knows with Jovanna as to how good she is. She won't surpass KK but I don't think she is the floor general K9 is either. So, she might be underrated because she is so gifted it seems to score, but a scoring less effcicent small guard is tough to say :"underrated" for this team. I'll just say again her athleticism is electric. But hey all of this is subjective. she certainly can be as you point out. 😀I'm excited toi watch her play.
 
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hoophuskee said:
I don't believe she's a natural pg. As a result, imo her time will be determined as to how well she can hit 3's and next year how well Jovanna is. Kellis looks like to me a scorer (1st) that can pass (2nd). With UCONN scoring is not an issue this year and probably not next year either. So for this year and next UCONN probably needs floor generals to assist in ball movement or knock down shooters. While Kellis wouldn't need to be "Knock down," she does need to be "good" imo. Kellis is amazing to watch because her athleticism appears to be electric. But the top teams have in some combo of strong athleticism, strong coaching, solid fundamental defense, and a certain amount of size which limits a small guard's ability score efficiently inside the 3. If she can hit the 3 then she is "different" than KK and K9 and who knows with Jovanna as to how good she is. She won't surpass KK but I don't think she is the floor general K9 is either. So, she might be underrated because she is so gifted it seems to score, but a scoring less effcicent small guard is tough to say :"underrated" for this team. I'll just say again her athleticism is electric. But hey all of this is subjective. she certainly can be as you point out. 😀I'm excited toi watch her play.
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Geno does so much to develop his players. Don't you think he would try to develop her as a point? If she has a professional future, wouldn't it be as a point?
Can you think about any times when Geno failed to develop a player for "the next level" in the players' best interest. Should he have "groomed" Gabby to be a 2, rather than use her so much as a post? Just thinking out loud.
If players are going to be choosing UConn because UConn develops players for the next level, then IMO that has to be part of the plan. (PS I'm a diehard, but I think about stuff like that.)
 
Ash gives everything 100%, sometimes it's too much, but she is one that plays against some of the other teams 3 or 4 who is inches taller and doesn't back down. Is she out of control sometimes, yes but I would rather have her on the floor with her toughness than almost anyone else that plays the 3 or 4 position depending on whether Sarah is playing the 4 or the 5 position.
 
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i'm not sure why this discussion is even taking place when the answer is right in front of your eyes each time you watch kk bring the ball up the court, make a bullseye pass, drive to the basket for a layup between two or three players, and control the game. Enough said.
 
Skeets said:
I agree. I actually played golf in Noblesville, or it might have been 2 corn fields further north in Tipton.
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I saw her play (TV) for Noblesville in state final (class IV ball, I think ). She absolutely took over the game....every aspect. She is showing signs of doing that, this season, at UCONN. Where she plays stifling defense, creates turnovers, makes brilliant passes, rebounds and efficiently shoots from every distance ( drives to the hoop, three pointers and 10 foot jump shots ). As her confidence grows, these championship level skills will continue to emerge, even with the talent base that UCONN has. She is a gem.
 
hoophuskee said:
I don't believe she's a natural pg. As a result, imo her time will be determined as to how well she can hit 3's and next year how well Jovanna is. Kellis looks like to me a scorer (1st) that can pass (2nd). With UCONN scoring is not an issue this year and probably not next year either. So for this year and next UCONN probably needs floor generals to assist in ball movement or knock down shooters. While Kellis wouldn't need to be "Knock down," she does need to be "good" imo. Kellis is amazing to watch because her athleticism appears to be electric. But the top teams have in some combo of strong athleticism, strong coaching, solid fundamental defense, and a certain amount of size which limits a small guard's ability score efficiently inside the 3. If she can hit the 3 then she is "different" than KK and K9 and who knows with Jovanna as to how good she is. She won't surpass KK but I don't think she is the floor general K9 is either. So, she might be underrated because she is so gifted it seems to score, but a scoring less effcicent small guard is tough to say :"underrated" for this team. I'll just say again her athleticism is electric. But hey all of this is subjective. she certainly can be as you point out. 😀I'm excited toi watch her play.
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I don’t think Kelis has to be a pure point guard, nor have a good three point shot to get playing time next year. She’ll likely be on the floor with either KK or Kayleigh for most of her minutes, so being a combo guard would be good. And if she comes in halfway through the first quarter with Blanca, there’s your complete defensive disruption/destruction.
 
ojaidave said:
Kinda have to love the fact that a thread started about Ash has way more discussion about another player....
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ojaidave said:
Kinda have to love the fact that a thread started about Ash has way more discussion about another player....
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The thread title is "Most underrated player" and it led to an opportunity for posters to opine about who they think is the most underrated.
 
Gael said:
Initially, I thought the topic meant the most underrated player on the UConn team.

If that were the case, I'd probably choose Kelis Fisher as of right now. To me, she has potentials that will be difficult to cultivate because of the talented guard corps ahead of her and the unavoidably restricted minutes Geno has to offer.

And that minutes problem for Kelis might not get any better next year. KK, Ash and K9 will still be on the 14-15 player team next season and freshman guard Popovich will be added on. Somehow, if Kelis indeed has the right stuff, she needs a moon shot breakout opportunity to eclipse the guards ahead of her.
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As of now, Kelis has great per-40 productivity. Here are rates, with team ranking in parenthesis:
Points: 21.88 (4), Made FT 5.11 (1), Fouls 1.25 (1), Assists 5.00 (T 4), TO 1.25 (2), A/TO 4.0 (2)
Shooting: 52% (5)
Given her quickness, I'm surprised her steal rate is as low as it is, but the above data show her value as a sub.
 
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PAHuskeyFan said:
I have been an Ashlyn FAN from her first year with UCONN. She is a very valuable piece of the Huskie roster. Love to watch how she contributes time and time again to the Team's Success.
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I'm with you the same. ALL MY POSTS ABOUT ASHLYNN ARE POSITIVE AND UP BEAT. She has an inner determination that is go 120% and never lets up. She is more than a capable shooter and rebounder than statistics show. I'm happy she is starting and when needed , Geno puts her in on closing moments. Her defence is better now than it ever was. GO AQSHLYNN!!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!!
 
FanSince17 said:
Geno does so much to develop his players. Don't you think he would try to develop her as a point? If she has a professional future, wouldn't it be as a point?
Can you think about any times when Geno failed to develop a player for "the next level" in the players' best interest. Should he have "groomed" Gabby to be a 2, rather than use her so much as a post? Just thinking out loud.
If players are going to be choosing UConn because UConn develops players for the next level, then IMO that has to be part of the plan. (PS I'm a diehard, but I think about stuff like that.)
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some players don't develop. Some players leave. Geno is looking to build the best team he can. Not develop each and ever player equally. It's not fair to every player on his team that committed if he didn't have the top priority is to win champonships- and that means play your best players. And imo if Kellis hits outide shots then he is developing her beucase right now she is not a good 3pt shooter. And if she isn't hitting 3's then she won't be a pro more-than-likley- so then what are you "developing" without her hitting 3'?

. Small guards that can't hit outside shots, then what are they in pro ball? So, in regadrs to this thread she is underrated in that for a lesser team she can be a scorer. But for a UCONN team that strives to win a titles and for her pro ball future, it will come down to imo how well she shoots more-than-likley.
 
Bigboote said:
I don’t think Kelis has to be a pure point guard, nor have a good three point shot to get playing time next year. She’ll likely be on the floor with either KK or Kayleigh for most of her minutes, so being a combo guard would be good. And if she comes in halfway through the first quarter with Blanca, there’s your complete defensive disruption/destruction.
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Her atheticism is super. But in regard to defnese, it's already disruptive without her. And Gneo tens to play his bst players. So I dodn't think she is going to bet out KK, K9, Ash or Allie. So this means to be 5th she wil bet out Jovanna. And as what another poster brought up about pro ball- I dodn't watch the WNBA much, - I'm aksing this - I dodn't know-- but are there many pro guards that are small in the wnba that get drafted and stick that are defenders that dont shoot well that are more of a como guard than say a pg? My pont is tha hs eis underrated for what she cna od on anther team, but i she underrated for this team that is after chmaponships? If you say "yes she is most underrated" - Okay. I repect your opinion and others on here and on this thread a ton. I just brought up some points they are subjective too. It's all subjective anyhow. Who knows something like this? What I do know is that her athleticsm appears to b tremendous and that makes her look so exicting. And I admit I'm bias. I like shooters that are also scorers. When I played just h/s back in the dark ages I was a guard defender and if I couldn't stop an outiside shooter - it was hopeless. Someone that was more of a penetrator at least you/ I have help defense. 😀
 
hoophuskee said:
some players don't develop. Some players leave. Geno is looking to build the best team he can. Not develop each and ever player equally. It's not fair to every player on his team that committed if he didn't have the top priority is to win champonships- and that means play your best players. And imo if Kellis hits outide shots then he is developing her beucase right now she is not a good 3pt shooter. And if she isn't hitting 3's then she won't be a pro more-than-likley- so then what are you "developing" without her hitting 3'?

. Small guards that can't hit outside shots, then what are they in pro ball? So, in regadrs to this thread she is underrated in that for a lesser team she can be a scorer. But for a UCONN team that strives to win a titles and for her pro ball future, it will come down to imo how well she shoots more-than-likley.
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How do we know Kelis isn’t a good 3 point shooter? She’s only taken 4 shots from the perimeter at UConn. And I give her a pass early in her freshman season because of a new offense, unfamiliar arenas, and simple nervousness.
 
Regarding everything said so far I have several thoughts. A good case could be made for KK instead of Ash as most underrated. They were close in their first couple of years, but this year KK has been the better player overall, largely due to a bad start by Ash. KK has also finally gotten to play mostly at her natural position this year for the first time. They both are underrated but I think the case for KK is stronger.

As for how many combo guards we have and how more than one "PG" can successfully co-exist I generally agree. I believe Kayleigh, Kelis, and Popovic can all be considered combo guards that could be effective at the 1 or 2. Playing time next year for one or two of them, however, could be limited.

Assuming three guards in the starting lineup is far from a sure thing. We have a natural "3" that is already very good and a probable star in Blanca, that surely will get at least near starter minutes next year at a minimum. Allie has made the rotation and has bumped up her rebounding so she is a good candidate for major minutes at the 3 next year as well. And of course Morgan who can play so many positions could get plenty of minutes there too, and if we got another big, say Okeke for arguments sake, Sarah could play a lot at the 3, and Blanca some at the 2.

Instead of 120 minutes for the "guards", it could be just 80, conceivably even less if Blanca plays some at the 2. Of course it could go the other way too. Maybe if we don't make an addition Geno uses Blanca as the backup 4 and her significant minutes are split between the 3 and 4 and Sarah almost never is used at the 3.

My best guess is that the minutes at the 3 next year will be consumed by Blanca and Allie a big guard. I presume KK and Ash start at the 1 and 2, and get 25 minutes a game. In that scenario Allie could also play some behind Ash at the 2. Are there still minutes for a combo guard in the rotation? Sure but not for three of them, Kayleigh, Kelis and Popovic. If the later two want regular minutes in this scenario, they probably need to beat out Kayleigh as the best combo guard off the bench IMO, or we have problems or injuries upfront and use a true guard at the 3 on a regular basis.

I have been impressed by Kelis too, think Kayleigh has set a pretty high bar for a combo guard, think Allie has earned big minutes next year, think Popovic has potential, and think at a minimum Blanca will get lots of minutes at the 3 next year. At least one and probably two of the guards will not be in the rotation despite having rotation ability and being good enough to start on the vast majority of division 1 programs.
 
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HuskyNan said:
How do we know Kelis isn’t a good 3 point shooter? She’s only taken 4 shots from the perimeter at UConn. And I give her a pass early in her freshman season because of a new offense, unfamiliar arenas, and simple nervousness.
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First off this is an opinion thread I thought. But I just noticed someone mention that this thread went off-topic. I apoligize I thought this was "Who each person feels is underrated." The OP picked video I felt to support his or her view while everyone else could pick something to support theirs I iniitally thought. Otherwise I would believe if Shade was the only name to discuss then her name would have been put on the subject line.

My point was - who "knows" who is "most underrated.?" it's subjective.
Secondly, I'm just basing my opinion on a few things; ,
1st that we know Geno has said that he wants players to do what they were/are good at. Kellis has only taken four 3's that I know of and hit none so far. The way this team shoots 3's. if she was good at it, she would have taken more/not so few regardless of new offense the team is still an amazing passing team and she would have been open to take more. This is an opinion of course.
But as I stated as of right now she isn't a good 3pt shooter just looking at the stats but more below too.
And for the heck of it i tried to find Kellis's 3pt stats in high school I couldn't so I went on chatgpt and it stated there is nothing they can see but per scouts reviews accoring to ChatGpt the below was what was referred to her coming out from high school. And the below was what I also recall when we recruited her that the 3ball wasn't a strength of hers/ needs to be proved. So with all of this I can only say at this moment she is not a good 3pt shooter until she shows it in some manner instead of someone who might just tell me. AT least for example Allie coming out her reputation was as a 3pt shooter. From what I recall and what I see below, this wasn't Kellis's.

From chat:
3‑point scoutingMust prove it; developing; not a primary strength
 
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