Nika Muhl to UCONN

[mbr33ct]

In the past as now, good/elite post players will be highly coveted and highly sought by ALL programs, p-5 and other wise. There just aren't that many to go around. If you're an upcoming high school post player that's good to very good, and has the grades to go with your game, programs all across the country will roll out the red carpet for you.

You don't have to be 6-7 (Kalani Brown & Teaira McCowan), 6-4 and taller is acceptable if you are a dominant player, and can handle your business. You can write your own ticket to just about any program in the country. A team can NEVER have too many good BIGS. I hope having a lot of good to great BIGS is a problem UConn will have soon. I'll be interested to see how much help Geno can secure for ONO for next season and beyond. Right now ONO is the Batman without Robin.

But isn't Robin the short person?

 

[Carnac]

...before you know it, this thread will take a turn for the worswe'll have Buecker


But isn't Robin the short person?

Yes, but his height notwithstanding, he helped Batman be all he could be. ONO MUST have another post player (or two) on the team to help her going forward. She cannot be asked or expected to do what UConn needs done at the post position alone.

 

[mbr33ct]

Yes, but he helped Batman be all he could be.

Some unfinished reply started a few pages back decided not to pursue but forgot to delete...oh well.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

hoopsfan22- - - -With Nika Muhl capable of playing a 3/W I can see Hailey Van Lith also on board at UCONN! She'd be a great "catch" for Geno & UCONN!

But I like more length/Hgth in my 3s.

PS. @UcMiami , note I refrained from pining for a 6' 4 or better from Europe for this fall, because as you say, it's flipping obvious!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I missed this NBA initiative in international player developement. Here's a brief description from the NBA:

Women Program – NBA: Academy

PS. Anyone know whether Nika, like Paige, told Geno a while ago before the public declaration? Oops, dumb question. An article published April 5 in the Courant had her listing the schools she was still considering and talking about an early summer decision time line and her commitment was in the Courant on the 7th. I guess that is something else she has in common with Paige : "When you know you know."

I do note that : " The program also placed Muhl in the same practice as Paige Bueckers, the No.1 recruit in the class of 2020 who recently announced her commitment to UConn. The two didn’t discuss the Huskies, but they were able to play against each other on Thursday. " UConn women’s basketball target Nika Muhl discusses visit with Geno Auriemma, college plans

I am sure that this happy playing coincidence and her accelerated commitment to UConn was purely coincidental. Absurd to think otherwise.

 

[Charliebball]

Yup. Can the board come up with two other schools that start with "The"?

the Citadel

 

[meyers7]

Does anyone know how many more scholarships Geno will have for 2020? He’s clearly been busy with wonderful results so far. I still have my fingers crossed that he may somehow come up with some nice additional players for next year

Technically he'll have 8 more available. Grad transfer won't affect that. They'd come and go before 20's get here. Other transfers for next year would cut into that. However, I doubt he'd bring in more than 5 anyway. So he could be looking at up to 3 more for the 20's. And still most likely be able to bring in 3-4 in 21.

 

[Dove]

the Citadel

The "U".

 

[mbr33ct]

View attachment 42085

I missed this NBA initiative in international player developement. Here's a brief description from the NBA:

Women Program – NBA: Academy

PS. Anyone know whether Nika, like Paige, told Geno a while ago before the public declaration? Oops, dumb question. An article published April 5 in the Courant had her listing the schools she was still considering and talking about an early summer decision time line and her commitment was in the Courant on the 7th. I guess that is something else she has in common with Paige : "When you know you know."

Are European players coming to UConn destined to wear #25 jersey?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Are European players coming to UConn destined to wear #25 jersey?

View attachment 42087

She'll have to ask Sveta and maybe she did, because though Sveta was in Albany because she could not attend the Final 4 she was sighted in Tampa. Hmmmm

 

[CL82]

Are European players coming to UConn destined to wear #25 jersey?

View attachment 42087

Well that has been the tradition here.

 

[mbr33ct]

She'll have to ask Martina and maybe she did, because though Martina was in Albany because she could not attend the Final 4 she was sighted in Tampa. Hmmmm

You lost me at Martina. What am I missing?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

You lost me at Martina. What am I missing?

You're missing my senility ...Sveta, not Martina!

 

[Argonaut]

I've done some cursory Googling and have come up empty handed, but does anyone know if there is some kind of concise history of women (or men, for that matter...) coming from Europe to play college basketball?

I'd be curious about when it started and how players like Svet, before the internet let you easily watch games from around the country, came to the US to play. Who was the first and how did she land where she did? I know you could send tapes in the 90s, but what about before that? Early 80s? I have a lot of questions.

 

[Charliebball]

The "U".

also The College of New Jersey

 

[ConnMotors]

Didn't want to respond to lots of posts so just some observations:

1. There are a number of 'unaffiliated' US talent scouts or whatever you want to call them working around European WBB who advise families and players of the process involved in being recruited by US colleges. There is an academic equivalency requirement for foreign players that must be met and they help with that process as well. US college coaches get informed about the players that are interested in college before turning pro.

2. There is also quite a bit of dialog between the various national associations and amateur/professional leagues so if a player wants to put their name out there for recruiting, it gets out there.

3. I don't see Hailey Van Lith (aka Hailey Van Lith) or any other guard/wing being deterred by either of our 2020 commits - we frequently see HS players committing to schools with proverbial logjams at their position sometimes it works really well, sometimes not, but unless the 'logjam' is already dominant on the college team it does not seem to matter much in the recruiting universe. (Yes, Breanna probably scared away a few players in the next few years, but Morgan probably did not.)

4. Nice that the doom and gloom, Geno has lost his touch posters seem to be a little quieter these days! And I just wish the drum beaters for post players would take a chill. Do they not realize that we can all look at player heights and recognize that posts and power forward type players are needed. And do they think Geno isn't aware of that issue as well? (Not going to happen, I know, but one can hope.)

I believe that you cannot have enough guards on the team. Yes, UConn needs Post Players but I am thrilled with these two young ladies that have verbalized. To Hailey Van Lith join the crew. We have three forwards come to UC in Jones, Cash and Williams. Would love to see that happen once again.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I d

Interesting stat lines from what I have seen - lots of both assists and TOs, good 2 point percentage, bad 3 point percentage, iffy on FTs, tons of steals and lots of rebounds for a guard.

She is getting calls to the national team and has played on the age restricted teams. Saw one comment about double doubles, triple doubles and quad doubles but suspect that is all local level stuff.

Don't really think this commitment changes anything on the US side of recruiting - seeing how US recruits do not seem to restrict their choices by what a school already has. Specifically if Hailey Van Lith wants to come to Uconn I doubt 'competition' will scare her away.

I can't speak for anyone else but I did seem to see some flashes of Sue Bird and that's pretty awesome. Her ball handling skills are pretty awesome and I love her passing skills, based on this limited Youtube view

 

[Buzzyboy]

Great and now how about a 6’-5” big.

A very talented 6'5" big.

 

[Buzzyboy]

This young lady is very talented but it does seem, based on this limited video, that she's prone to force shots and penetrate into one on three situations when there's likely a better option with a teammate. Obviously there are some extremely talented college defenders that might love someone who feels that they can get away with some of these forced penetrations. Maybe her teammates are very poor offensive players??? I have to assume that despite this video, she's an unselfish player because I don't think Geno would spend any time involved with someone who isn't all about team FIRST!

 

[Stoli]

View attachment 42085

I missed this NBA initiative in international player developement. Here's a brief description from the NBA:

Women Program – NBA: Academy

PS. Anyone know whether Nika, like Paige, told Geno a while ago before the public declaration? Oops, dumb question. An article published April 5 in the Courant had her listing the schools she was still considering and talking about an early summer decision time line and her commitment was in the Courant on the 7th. I guess that is something else she has in common with Paige : "When you know you know."

I do note that : " The program also placed Muhl in the same practice as Paige Bueckers, the No.1 recruit in the class of 2020 who recently announced her commitment to UConn. The two didn’t discuss the Huskies, but they were able to play against each other on Thursday. " UConn women’s basketball target Nika Muhl discusses visit with Geno Auriemma, college plans

I am sure that this happy playing coincidence and her accelerated commitment to UConn was purely coincidental. Absurd to think otherwise.

View attachment 42085

I missed this NBA initiative in international player developement. Here's a brief description from the NBA:

Women Program – NBA: Academy

PS. Anyone know whether Nika, like Paige, told Geno a while ago before the public declaration? Oops, dumb question. An article published April 5 in the Courant had her listing the schools she was still considering and talking about an early summer decision time line and her commitment was in the Courant on the 7th. I guess that is something else she has in common with Paige : "When you know you know."

I do note that : " The program also placed Muhl in the same practice as Paige Bueckers, the No.1 recruit in the class of 2020 who recently announced her commitment to UConn. The two didn’t discuss the Huskies, but they were able to play against each other on Thursday. " UConn women’s basketball target Nika Muhl discusses visit with Geno Auriemma, college plans

I am sure that this happy playing coincidence and her accelerated commitment to UConn was purely coincidental. Absurd to think otherwise.

Talking with Nika she has said Friday’s game was the final decider. She loved the wat they played.

 

[CocoHusky]

So here is fun future dilemma. Paige wears #1 in HS ball and #10 for AAU. Nika wears #10 in club ball. Which player gets to wear #10 when they get to UCONN?

 

[BobbyJ]

So here is fun future dilemma. Paige wears #1 in HS ball and #10 for AAU. Nika wears #10 in club ball. Which player gets to wear #10 when they get to UCONN?

Arm wrestle?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Watch how Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl will transform UConn

 

[baggerbob]

Geno would smile at this effort:

Not quite Stewie when the Rutgers player stole the ball from Mo at H alfcourt, but the same desire. Geno will love that, easy to teach a player with a desire to win.

 

[DaBball]

This young lady is very talented but it does seem, based on this limited video, that she's prone to force shots and penetrate into one on three situations when there's likely a better option with a teammate. Obviously there are some extremely talented college defenders that might love someone who feels that they can get away with some of these forced penetrations. Maybe her teammates are very poor offensive players??? I have to assume that despite this video, she's an unselfish player because I don't think Geno would spend any time involved with someone who isn't all about team FIRST!

Van Lith’s HS teammates are nowhere near the caliber of those of Bueckers. I think that may be why you see the forced shots.

 

[Kurebeach5]

I believe that you cannot have enough guards on the team. Yes, UConn needs Post Players but I am thrilled with these two young ladies that have verbalized. To Hailey Van Lith join the crew. We have three forwards come to UC in Jones, Cash and Williams. Would love to see that happen once again.

At EVERY level of basketball, guards control the game.

 

[Go/huskies]

So here is fun future dilemma. Paige wears #1 in HS ball and #10 for AAU. Nika wears #10 in club ball. Which player gets to wear #10 when they get to UCONN?

Maybe it goes to who ever committed 1st? I believe both Lou and Boykin wore number 33 in high school but somehow Lou ended up wearing it.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Nika may wear #25 which was Sveta's number.

 

[j66kicker]

Van Lith’s HS teammates are nowhere near the caliber of those of Bueckers. I think that may be why you see the forced shots.

The one time I saw Hailey Van Lith play live she made several fancy hot dog passes to unsuspecting and uncapable teammates for turnovers. They were playing in front of some college coaches including Scott Rueck, and I got the idea she felt the need to demonstrate her skills. To be fair, her showboating didn't cost her team anything - they still murdered the team they were playing.

 

[oldude]

The one time I saw Hailey Van Lith play live she made several fancy hot dog passes to unsuspecting and uncapable teammates for turnovers. They were playing in front of some college coaches including Scott Rueck, and I got the idea she felt the need to demonstrate her skills. To be fair, her showboating didn't cost her team anything - they still murdered the team they were playing.

I don't think she was necessarily showing off. That's kind of the way she plays. During the U-18 World Championships, Hailey Van Lith got herself into trouble a number of times by dribbling into the paint and getting off her feet with no where to go with the ball. Give her some time and she'll figure it out.