My take on Katie Lou

[Roundball fan]

I see Briana in KLS, the height and the long arms. The willingness to do what it will take to succeed in the UConn system. She is ready to be molded into the best player in the country. She can shoot from the arc and handle the ball. Yes she is soft and will struggle when she goes inside but all that will change in time. As Katie Lou goes threw the season I am sure she will have times where she struggles much like Stewie did in her freshman year, but it will make her stronger for the real season come March and April. Good luck to all the girls, I am so looking forward for the season to start. Go Huskies.

 

[EricLA]

I hope you are right. I've often said there are 2 different types of #1 players - the types like Taurasi, Griner, Parker, Moore, Stewie, Delle Donne, Ogwumike etc (Tina Charles is as close to this list as I think you can get, without actually being on it - i'm not sure i'd put her in the same league as Dee, Maya and Stewie).

Players who are not only #1 in their class, but transcendent to the programs they choose. Players like Ogwumike may not have gotten Stanford the golden ring, but they certainly made them a perennial final 4 contender. Stanford just didn't have enough complementary parts.

Then there are other #1 players like KML, Liz Williams, Ash Robinson, etc. They may have been #1 in their classes, but they should really be 1A in that they aren't quite NPOY good, and while great for their teams, and while probably the best in their class as their careers progress, they aren't really the superstar types like the others I listed.

I may be wrong but I feel like Samuelson is more in the mold of the 2nd tier of top players. I sure hope I'm wrong, but so far, she doesn't have the hype of the top tier players I mentioned coming out of HS... Sure she's great, but she's not necessarily a superstar...

 

[Orangutan]

Maybe this is just my frame of reference as a Sky fan, but I've always seen a slightly shorter version of Delle Donne in her.

It will be interesting to see how she does this year. I actually think she may be somewhat underrated at this point since she had a very quiet summer.

 

[alexrgct]

Geno says KLS is ready and is going yo play "a lot". That's more than enough for me...

 

[Buzzyboy]

Maybe this is just my frame of reference as a Sky fan, but I've always seen a slightly shorter version of Delle Donne in her.

It will be interesting to see how she does this year. I actually think she may be somewhat underrated at this point since she had a very quiet summer.

Hope you're right and she ends up being extraordinary. Getting tougher and stronger and more improved defensively, she has the chance to be very, very special. There was some reference about Elizabeth Williams and although she's a talented girl, it seems that she never performed at a high level against the elite programs. Her last game against UConn was the only one where she wasn't totally contained and showed little. I'd hate for KLS to approach that level because I don't even think that's 2nd level, more like a 3rd or lower level. With her shooting ability and mobility, I find it hard to think she won't exceed KML overall, except maybe in her ability to get a tough rebound in traffic. This isn't meant to discredit KML but to laud KLS's potential.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

KLS is very proficient, efficient with her body, though she is gangly in the same sort of Ed Scissorhands way the Stewie was as a frosh. Make no mistake, the same cold killer that lives in Stewie lives in KLS. Stewie is impressed. Mo is impressed. I'm impressed.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Think she's a pretty different player than Stewart but has a chance to be great. A bit more KML-ish but with more ability to move w/out the ball and use her size inside.

 

[blkkirk]

I think how great she becomes depends on her ability to get stronger and do damage taking the ball to the basket, posting up and rebounding inside. Shooting the ball will not be her challenge. If she can make big shots at big times like KML that will be huge. KML did a lot of damage inside and rebounded the ball well. I think it is going to be interesting who makes the big shots this year.

 

[Kaizen]

In UConn, under Geno, I think KLS will become a great player just like Stewie.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I think how great she becomes depends on her ability to get stronger and do damage taking the ball to the basket, posting up and rebounding inside. Shooting the ball will not be her challenge. If she can make big shots at big times like KML that will be huge. KML did a lot of damage inside and rebounded the ball well. I think it is going to be interesting who makes the big shots this year.

Just remember that for over 2 1/2 years KML did not do that stuff other than jacking the three. It took her lots of time to grow beyond what she was packing coming in.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

KLS has shown a far greater ability to get to the foul line that KML did too. Think that will add to her efficiency.

 

[jcoton56]

She has zero minutes in zero games, what is the point of labeling/comparing her to anyone? No reason to put her in a box yet. She will soon get the chance to define herself. Isn't that the fun of watching? The struggle and achievements she has will make her a unique individual.

 

[johnnyc]

She has zero minutes in zero games, what is the point of labeling/comparing her to anyone? No reason to put her in a box yet.

Because there have been so many great players that have come through UConn it's just natural to speculate. Heck.....that is why these players come to UConn..... to be great. Geno has no problem with it.....

“They’re unlike a lot of freshmen coming out of high school. They’ve all played in enough big games and enough big arenas — state championship games, USA Basketball — they know. It’s UConn basketball and this is what they’ve been dreaming about all their lives. It’s the same as when Moriah, Stewie, and Tuck came in,” Auriemma said. “They’ve played lot of basketball and played a lot at a high level with other good players and they expect to fit in. Based on the little I’ve seen, these guys are like Moriah, Stewie, and Tuck when they were freshmen.”

 

[UcMiami]

The closer you get to the basket the harder it is to 'outperform' your team - your list of 'transcendent' players is full of wings and guards with Griner the only center and she stands out because she was such a physically unique player. And I would actually drop whichever O sister is included here from this list - they had good enough teams that failed to win out - partly because they played so close to the basket and were not physically unique - they would join Tina in you second group.

Williams really suffered from a 'guard light' college team and less than stellar coaching. I am curious to see how she does as a pro - like some others who take a few years to develop in the W, she could be very good.

Lou I think is skill-wise capable of joining that list - she has a quicker release than Maya and at least through HS and her USA success is as good a shooter if not better - I am sure Geno is dusting off the plays he ran for Maya in anticipation of Lou running them. Physically she is not in Maya's class, more EDD like - shorter, but perhaps a better jumper.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

She has zero minutes in zero games, what is the point of labeling/comparing her to anyone? No reason to put her in a box yet. She will soon get the chance to define herself. Isn't that the fun of watching? The struggle and achievements she has will make her a unique individual.

Many players coming out of high school get compared to others for their abilities and style. Nothing new there. May not pan out, but it's used as an illustrative device to give one an idea of the type of player in question.

 

[dtbtbtb]

KML was a great college player with 2 AA to her name and place on the wall so to be like her is a great honor. IMO KLS will be a better player as she can create her own shot and can mix it under the basket some. The point of reference for her is EDD. Will KLS be as great a player as EDD is yet to be seen but from all accounts, she's got the will and desire to be as great as she can be and there is no better coach than Geno to get her there!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

The point of reference for her is EDD. Will KLS be as great a player as EDD is yet to be seen but from all accounts, she's got the will and desire to be as great as she can be and there is no better coach than Geno to get her there!

Della Donne is about as good scoring off the dribble from the outside as any female player I've ever seen. Haven't seen that in KLS' arsenal yet. One big difference between the two.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

what is the point of labeling/comparing her to anyone?

You are a sports fan and ask that question! "I wanna be like Mike." Time and again these kids are asked who they want to model their game after - and why - because they do have their heroes and heroines, mostly the former. Like every kid I have hear asked that question in the last 2 years, okay maybe every les 2 or so, has said Kevin Durant. 'Cuz it's sports banter. 'Cuz that's what we do here. Getting all warm and motherly and saying go out and play and we'll talk about you in 2-3 years just ain't cutting it in sports media.... Guess what. The BY is part of sports media and it's in the business of talking the inane, the stupid, the mindlessly unending chit chat of sports that feeds the tiger! Have you listened to the inane drivel that is ESPN Sports TV and radio? Guys yukking it up about BBQed brauts and their underwear, punctuated by 3-4 minute segments about Johnnie Manziel beating on his current B**ch or how dull the post game conferences with the Boston Patriots Coach are???? What you have here by way of dialogue is like a Menza Conference compared to main stream sports talk SO stop trying to kill the conversation!!!

 

[caramel]

Most of the girls that come out of high school and into college,are like deer in the headlights,and seldom does a coach give praise and make statements towards their playing time.Yet,Geno has said both Lou and Collier will be playing a lot,and are learning and adjusting fast.
This is a big deal,and since coach doesn't usually sugar coat anything,I am pretty confident,in saying,that we have two very special young ladies,here,who are going to excel rather quickly.
If I recall,the last girls that Geno gave high praise to,coming out of high school and into the program,were Stewie,Moriah,and Morgan,and,since they turned out pretty good,I will bet his judgment will be spot on again.

 

[Orangutan]

Della Donne is about as good scoring off the dribble from the outside as any female player I've ever seen. Haven't seen that in KLS' arsenal yet. One big difference between the two.

Just watched some clips again of hers and they are mostly catch-and-shoot 3s but there are definitely flashes of off the dribble ability. Maybe it's something she didn't need much in HS but will develop in college?

There's one clip where she drives left on a smaller defender than spins back into the lane for an uncontested finger roll. There aren't many 6'3 players that can do a spin move at full speed. I definitely think she has the raw ability to have that EDD-type off the dribble game.

I really enjoying watching her clips. Her shooting stroke is so pretty.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

There's one clip where she drives left on a smaller defender than spins back into the lane for an uncontested finger roll. There aren't many 6'3 players that can do a spin move at full speed.

Oh she's got that move in her bag of tricks. Click to watch on YT.

 

[j66kicker]

KLS is very proficient, efficient with her body, though she is gangly in the same sort of Ed Scissorhands way the Stewie was as a frosh. Make no mistake, the same cold killer that lives in Stewie lives in KLS. Stewie is impressed. Mo is impressed. I'm impressed.

Totally agree. I think KLS will be a much better overall player than KML. She has an inside game and, from the couple times I saw her play in high school, I think that charming smile is only for off the court. She has a nasty little mean streak when it comes to challenging her - like, "Oh Yeah?!?!?" She'll get stronger, and she'll learn to pay defense, and she'll be a true superstar.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Totally agree. I think KLS will be a much better overall player than KML. She has an inside game and, from the couple times I saw her play in high school, I think that charming smile is only for off the court. She has a nasty little mean streak when it comes to challenging her - like, "Oh Yeah?!?!?" She'll get stronger, and she'll learn to pay defense, and she'll be a true superstar.

She got the you know what kicked out of her by two older sisters for years and always came back for more. Now she's hands down the best of the three and will hold her own at practice ; the games, she'll more than hold her own.

 

[Gus Mahler]

With Lou, I take comfort in knowing that her sister Karlie is pretty good. Karlie strikes me as being high intensity, a tough competitor, well rounded, high BBIQ, and capable of doing a lot of things to help her team win. If Lou has similar traits, and there's every reason to believe she does, when you factor in the shot and give her two more inches, you've got a pretty good package.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I think how great she becomes depends on her ability to get stronger and do damage taking the ball to the basket, posting up and rebounding inside. Shooting the ball will not be her challenge. If she can make big shots at big times like KML that will be huge. KML did a lot of damage inside and rebounded the ball well. I think it is going to be interesting who makes the big shots this year.

KML only really started showing that interior shooting and aggressive rebounding in her final two years in Storrs. We saw very little of that in her initial two years here. It ended up being a real strength for her and really helped the Huskies immensely. Her body type sure helped her in being able to rough it up inside.