Napheesa Collier is an impactful freshman

[Sluconn Husky]

"You could just sense she has it," Auriemma said. "She doesn't even know what she is doing yet, like most freshmen, but she has it. They have to trust their instincts, because they don't have the experience or the kind of subtle knowledge of the game that you have to have. So they go on instincts and talent. As far as that is concerned, she is right up there with the (more impactful) freshmen we have had come in."

...

"You are like, 'Can you be really, really good with a freshman playing a huge role?'" Auriemma said. "Yeah, if they are like Napheesa because she contributes in a lot of ways. She is an incredibly impactful player."


http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2015/12/26/sports/uconn/929699.txt

 

[Kaizen]

Gabby, Collier and KLS will be great next year. Geno knows how to make a player from good to excellent.

 

[pvdoggy]

Well she thinks she is only average, so far . I like her high standard.

"If I gave myself a grade, I would say a C because it's average," Collier said. "I don't think I've been awesome but I haven't been terrible either. Hopefully, I'm going to get better."

https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/happy-holiday-at-home-for-no-1-huskies/160331982

I predict KLS will break out of her shooting slump tomorrow after her Xmas at home, just like Moriah did when she came back from Xmas break last year (?).

 

[alexrgct]

Love reading this Geno quote about collier. Didn't he say analogous things about Maya Moore when she was a frosh?

 

[DaddyChoc]

Love reading this Geno quote about collier. Didn't he say analogous things about Maya Moore when she was a frosh?

wasnt no need... her performances spoke for themselves

 

[CocoHusky]

Yes, she is a very impactful freshmen and you should be credited because you have been on that bandwagon (Collier is most college ready of all the Freshmen-especially defensively) since the day she signed. Others are just now catching up.

 

[EricLA]

Love reading this Geno quote about collier. Didn't he say analogous things about Maya Moore when she was a frosh?

I don't recall that (he probably did say it i just don't recall) - everyone knew Maya was special, but... I do recall him saying that she had no clue where to run on the court. I think it was an interview later in her career when Geno was on ESPN - they asked him about Maya as a freshman and he got up from his chair and sort of ran from one spot to another saying something like...

"Maya had no clue where to go. She'd just run around the court with no purpose. Then suddenly one of the players would find her open and she'd get a pass and drain a shot. The announcers would be like 'look at how great Maya Moore moves without the ball', but we knew differently"... Maya sat there nodding her head and smiling in agreement...

I always thought Napheesa could be like Maya Moore Light... A terrific player in her own right of course, really really good, just not quite as good as Maya. If she reaches that kind of potential, watch out!

 

[meyers7]

I don't recall that (he probably did say it i just don't recall) - everyone knew Maya was special, but... I do recall him saying that she had no clue where to run on the court. I think it was an interview later in her career when Geno was on ESPN - they asked him about Maya as a freshman and he got up from his chair and sort of ran from one spot to another saying something like...

"Maya had no clue where to go. She'd just run around the court with no purpose. Then suddenly one of the players would find her open and she'd get a pass and drain a shot. The announcers would be like 'look at how great Maya Moore moves without the ball', but we knew differently"... Maya sat there nodding her head and smiling in agreement...

I always thought Napheesa could be like Maya Moore Light... A terrific player in her own right of course, really really good, just not quite as good as Maya. If she reaches that kind of potential, watch out!

Here you go.

 

[DaddyChoc]

all after the fact, Maya bought life back to Storrs... now they can laugh about it

 

[Kmoney]

Here you go.

Too funny. I laugh every time I see that.

Meyers7 we should have our heads examined. My favorite two sports teams are UConns women's and Arsenal. One always exceeds expectations and one always falls below expectations.

 

[EricLA]

Here you go.

That's the one! It was awesome!

 

[msf22b]

.
I always thought Napheesa could be like Maya Moore Light... A terrific player in her own right of course, really really good, just not quite as good as Maya. If she reaches that kind of potential, watch out!

I always thought the same but:
She's already clearly more active on D and at least so on the boards (and with more length)
Hard to tell how far her upside is.

 

[VAMike23]

I don't recall that (he probably did say it i just don't recall) - everyone knew Maya was special, but... I do recall him saying that she had no clue where to run on the court. I think it was an interview later in her career when Geno was on ESPN - they asked him about Maya as a freshman and he got up from his chair and sort of ran from one spot to another saying something like... "Maya had no clue where to go. She'd just run around the court with no purpose. Then suddenly one of the players would find her open and she'd get a pass and drain a shot. The announcers would be like 'look at how great Maya Moore moves without the ball', but we knew differently"... Maya sat there nodding her head and smiling in agreement... I always thought Napheesa could be like Maya Moore Light... A terrific player in her own right of course, really really good, just not quite as good as Maya. If she reaches that kind of potential, watch out!

IIRC that segment was in re: to Maya's time at UCONN in general, not her freshman year; and Maya (though being a good sport and laughing along with the gag) was most assuredly not nodding in agreement ....!!

Which is not to say there wasn't some truth in his humor ....

 

[JavaMan]

With all the attention squarely on the game with Maryland yesterday, this bit of news slipped by (at least by me, anyway):

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Napheesa Collier • Fr. • G/F • UConn • O'Fallon, Missouri
Collier recorded seven points and tied a season-high with 12 rebounds in UConn's 86-40 win over LSU on Monday evening at the XL Center. The product of O'Fallon, Missouri, added six blocks and registered four steals as the Huskies captured their 46th consecutive win.

[LINK]

Also from the AAC:

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Moriah Jefferson • Sr. • G • UConn • Glenn Heights, Texas
Recorded a team-high 17 points and distributed seven assists in an 86-40 win against LSU on Monday evening.

 

[CocoHusky]

With all the attention squarely on the game with Maryland yesterday, this bit of news slipped by (at least by me, anyway):

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Napheesa Collier • Fr. • G/F • UConn • O'Fallon, Missouri
Collier recorded seven points and tied a season-high with 12 rebounds in UConn's 86-40 win over LSU on Monday evening at the XL Center. The product of O'Fallon, Missouri, added six blocks and registered four steals as the Huskies captured their 46th consecutive win.

[LINK]

JavaMan you must have went Decaff after the LSU game because a few of us actually though Collier should have been credited with 7 blocks. She had a swat of the ball on the baseline near the end of the game.

 

[JavaMan]

JavaMan you must have went Decaff after the LSU game because...

I may be a little slow at times (okay, a lot of times), but don't ever accuse me of drinking decaf ...my reputation is at stake!

 

[HuskyNan]

IIRC that segment was in re: to Maya's time at UCONN in general, not her freshman year; and Maya (though being a good sport and laughing along with the gag) was most assuredly not nodding in agreement ....!!

Which is not to say there wasn't some truth in his humor ....

Oh, Maya managed to get him back.

 

[BigBird]

I love to watch Napheesa in full flight up and down the court. She has a very athletic stride that is simply beautiful.

 

[VAMike23]

I love to watch Napheesa in full flight up and down the court. She has a very athletic stride that is simply beautiful.

There's a bit of Gale Sayers in that gait ...

 

[rugbymate]

I love to watch Napheesa in full flight up and down the court. She has a very athletic stride that is simply beautiful.

She has a very unusual arm movement when she dribbles...its sort of like a speed skater that throws the the outside arm out and high....looking at the replay of her offensive foul it appeared that she threw that arm out several times before one finally clipped the defender...not sure how you fix that. She does have wicked long arms!!

 

[Icebear]

And after the foul as well.

 

[Kaizen]

Napheesa has a very unique style, very elegant. Sometimes she reminds me of Grace Kelly.
She and KLS will very good year from now.

 

[HairyDog]

The differences between Collier and Williams get more evident every game. Williams is first and foremost an athlete, Collier is first and foremost a basketball player. Both will continue to make great contributions.
Collier is showing signs of being a fierce shot block, she grow into a Kia Stokes with an offensive game. Graceful, moves well with and without the ball, quick in the paint and has a very nice jump shot.

 

[HuskyNan]

The differences between Collier and Williams get more evident every game. Williams is first and foremost an athlete, Collier is first and foremost a basketball player. Both will continue to make great contributions.
Collier is showing signs of being a fierce shot block, she grow into a Kia Stokes with an offensive game. Graceful, moves well with and without the ball, quick in the paint and has a very nice jump shot.

I see her more Swin Cash-like than Kiah.

 

[Hongster]

Collier is basketball multi dimensional talented player. I see her as in Nakisha Sales but twice as fast.