Natalie Butler [merged thread]

[jdubct]

Georgetown finishes final exams May 10th, so for at least practical purposes, the school year has ended.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yes, the Big East is different, but she tied Maya's record of being named BE FOW 10 times. And she is compared with Rebekkah Brunson. Natalie seems to be improving by leaps and bounds.

http://www.pressboxdc.com/2014/02/19/despite-youth-natalie-butler-a-dominant-force-for-georgetown

 

[mcannon1]

X citing!

 

[MilfordHusky]

3rd team All-Freshman nationally, along with Lindsay Allen and Tyler Scaife. Nice!

http://www.fullcourt.com/ncaa/24785...14-full-court-all-american-and-freshman-teams

 

[Kibitzer]

The situation at Georgetown has deteriorated considerably.

Their coach stepped down before last season as a result of complaints from players about his abusive coaching technique. The interim coach led them to an 11-21 record in the new Big East.

They are graduating five seniors from that team. I have no information about incoming recruits or rreturning underclass(wo)men. They appear to pin their hopes on Butler, who seems to have been a late bloomer with a lot of upside to go with her 6'4" height and outstanding freshman season.

Their incoming coach was once a Georgetown assistant coach, then Wake Forest assistant, and most recently head coach at College of Charleston.

To top it off, Georgetown is in a crappy conference.

Not a pretty picture.

 

[ocoandasoc]

If Natalie is interested in a pro career in the WNBA and/or overseas this could be a great move for her. She’ll get the same consistent coaching that molded Tina Charles and Stefanie Dolson and get to prove herself against top competition. The improvement in her physical skills since high school has been remarkable and her X’s and O’s development in her sit-out year in Storrs might allow her to be a first-round caliber player by graduation since she’s sure to have top players around her at UConn and get the media attention you need to be a top draft pick.

 

[HGN]

Saw her play as a freshman.....A skinner version of Stef with the same skill set. Would be a very nice consolation prize if Brown doesn't commit.

 

[Tonyc]

If she comes and why wouldn't she if she was here looking what a key for UConn's future with Stokes graduating this season and Collier coming in next season and perhaps Samuelson and Boykin then Durr the following year. It is huge if she comes.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Yes it would be huge..... from the little info I know about her..... she seems to be very coachable..... and also a UConn kind of kid.........

This would be a great get.... and obviosuly fill a void literally and figuratively

 

[Zorro]

She sounds UConn blue-collar. Everyone cross your fingers.

 

[doggydaddy]

If she comes and why wouldn't she if she was here looking what a key for UConn's future with Stokes graduating this season and Collier coming in next season and perhaps Samuelson and Boykin then Durr the following year. It is huge if she comes.

Tony, you've been getting your recruiting classes all mixed up lately.

Collier will be here in 2015. If Uconn is lucky enough, Samuelson, Boykin and Durr are all 2015.

 

[UConnCat]

Also considering UVa, per Seton Hall's head coach. Strange that another BE coach would tweet this info. UVa makes sense; good school and close to home.

Tony Bozzella ‏@TonyBozzella 21m
@jaltavilla Hi yes. UVA and UCONN..poor version of dolson . Great footwork. Lots of upside. Very hard worker.

John Altavilla ‏@jaltavilla 6m
Source describes Butler as an extremely hard-working player with excellent footwork "But not quite Stefanie Dolson's level yet." #UConnwomen

 

[Vowelguy]

Ahh, now it makes sense:

John Altavilla ‏@jaltavilla 7m
Georgetown confirms that Natalie Butler has been released from her scholatship and is free to transfer #uconnwomen

 

[John Glass]

Ahh, now it makes sense:

John Altavilla ‏@jaltavilla 7m
Georgetown confirms that Natalie Butler has been released from her scholatship and is free to transfer #uconnwomen

of course she had her release, there is no chance she would visit any school without it

 

[UConnCat]

of course she had her release, there is no chance she would visit any school without it

Exactly.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Also considering UVa, per Seton Hall's head coach. Strange that another BE coach would tweet this info. UVa makes sense; good school and close to home.

Tony Bozzella ‏@TonyBozzella 21m
@jaltavilla Hi yes. UVA and UCONN..poor version of dolson . Great footwork. Lots of upside. Very hard worker.

John Altavilla ‏@jaltavilla 6m
Source describes Butler as an extremely hard-working player with excellent footwork "But not quite Stefanie Dolson's level yet." #UConnwomen

Let's face it: 4 years ago, Stef Dolson was not quite at Stefanie Dolson's level either. Natalie may not have Stef's skills--or she may--but her rebounding stats are very, very impressive. Natalie's play this past year was not all that different from what Stef accomplished as a frosh.

 

[Fiftyish]

why was she ranked only #140 in the 13 class?

Was she ever recruited by UConn? If not, was the #140 ranking the reason? Would love to know how Geno missed this kid.

 

[sawxfan23]

I think alot of people here need to temper their expectations a little bit. Butler is not the offensive player that Dolson is and probably will never be. She isn't as good a passer, doesn't have as much range, and is not as polished a finisher as Dolson and honestly that is OK. Butler is a great fundamental player that is open to coaching and does all the little things right. She is a good screener, rebounder, finisher in the paint, and shot blocker and can without a doubt help the Huskies if she decides to come to UConn. Lets just not expect the second coming of Dolson because she is not that talented a player.

 

[Dove]

She looks like Rebecca's sister or something.

 

[sawxfan23]

Let's face it: 4 years ago, Stef Dolson was not quite at Stefanie Dolson's level either. Natalie may not have Stef's skills--or she may--but her rebounding stats are very, very impressive. Natalie's play this past year was not all that different from what Stef accomplished as a frosh.

The difference being that Dolson played against toughest teams in the country with all the pressure of winning at UConn on her while Butler played against significantly less talented teams with virtually no pressure.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The difference being that Dolson played against toughest teams in the country with all the pressure of winning at UConn on her while Butler played against significantly less talented teams with virtually no pressure.

Natalie is raw, as Stef was. I'm not saying her footwork or hands are as good as Stef's, but they seem similar in some ways, including improving rapidly. Yes, the competition is less, but Natalie had a TON of rebounds last year. Her FT shooting, under 70%, is not as good as Stef's. I would expect that Natalie's offensive skills are the area that needs to improve most. Natalie did have the pressure of being the best player on her team, while Stef had an All-World teammate who got lots of attention from the opposition.

 

[UConnCat]

I think alot of people here need to temper their expectations a little bit. Butler is not the offensive player that Dolson is and probably will never be. She isn't as good a passer, doesn't have as much range, and is not as polished a finisher as Dolson and honestly that is OK. Butler is a great fundamental player that is open to coaching and does all the little things right. She is a good screener, rebounder, finisher in the paint, and shot blocker and can without a doubt help the Huskies if she decides to come to UConn. Lets just not expect the second coming of Dolson because she is not that talented a player.

A lot of people here? Who exactly has offered up unreasonable expectations? The comparison to Dolson was made by SH coach Bozzella and repeated by Altavilla. Milford rightly pointed out the incredible progress made by Dolson from her freshman year.

Others have simply mentioned Butler's impressive freshman year -- 24 double doubles is impressive -- and with her size she would fill a need on the UConn team.

 

[stamfordhusky]

of course she had her release, there is no chance she would visit any school without it

Why? There have been a number of occasions when a player visited schools without having a release.

 

[EricLA]

The difference being that Dolson played against toughest teams in the country with all the pressure of winning at UConn on her while Butler played against significantly less talented teams with virtually no pressure.

Seriously? Not a single one of UCONN's games was close with the exception of Baylor. Stef had MANY games this season where she didn't get into double figure scoring. After all, Stef only averaged 12.4 ppg. I understand trying to temper expectations, but I don't get trying to dampen enthusiasm. As a freshman, Stef was often lost on the court and when UCONN played Baylor, she got into foul trouble so quick that Geno ended up putting Buck on Griner.

It wasn't until Stef realized that she needed to dedicate herself to fitness and conditioning that her rise in the quality of her games improved. As Cat pointed out, and Milford as well, Stef made great progress from her freshman to sophomore year, and continued to get better every year there after. This kid would have essentially 5 years in college and 4 at UCONN, playing her final 3 after sitting out her first should she decide to transfer here.

In Natalie's 3rd game ever, against top 10 Cal, she had 16 pts/15 rebounds. Pretty ridiculous numbers for a freshman against a top 10 team. A few weeks later, against then #10 PSU, she had 12/9. In her 2 games against Depaul, she had 15/13 and 8/11. In her 2 games against SJU, she had 8/14 and 12/11. Those were the top 2 teams in the Big East. So your insinuation that she didn't perform well (or couldn't perform well) against good competition is simply wrong.

The fact that the kid has been called an incredibly hard worker and the fact that Geno likes her game enough to consider her should be enough for you. Stokes certainly hasn't blown the doors off the stats sheets in her first 3 years, but is there any doubt she's going to be a force to be reckoned with next year?

 

[dtbtbtb]

Just what the Doctor ordered a 6'5 player to play Center on the team for Stewie's senior year. While she is probably not as good as Dolson at this point, she seems a better rebounder and considering she'll have a year to practice with Kiah, Stewie, Tuck and the rest, it will help the chemistry when she will get to paly. She seems like a hard working kid who wants to get the most of her abilities and that is exactly what UConn is typically looking for (aside than talent). If she does decide to come to UConn, it will be a great get IMO.