Non-UConn Recruiting Thread

[WestCoast]

It's just people not keeping track . . . and to be fair, I can't tell you the precise breakdown of UConn's last three recruiting classes, so why should I expect anyone else to know OSU's situation to that detail?

Here's the detail:
As of 2020/2021 season:
Seniors: Slocum* (PG), Goodman* (PG)
Juniors: Simmons (SG), Corosdale* (F), Morris (C)
Sophomores: Jones* (C), Brown* (F), Mannen (G)
Freshmen: Aquino** (F), Mitrovic** (C)
True Freshmen: Samuel (G), Goforth (G)
*Has started a significant number of games.
**Has never played, but when she finally hits the floor (real soon, now), she'll change the game forever.

One would assume that Rueck's goal this year would be to get *at least* two guards, and I don't think he'd mind taking on three. Three would bring the total to seven (six recruited athletes and the walk-on, Mannen). That barely fills the two-deep.

A true PG would be nice, but Rueck's idea of a PG is not what most people think of as a PG. Syd Wiese was 6' tall and a record-breaking shooter. Aleah Goodman is barely shorter and has even more shooting range. They say that Sasha Goforth is a "combo-guard" - but she sure looks to me like a classic Rueck PG.

Goodman is 5'9", a full three inches shorter than Wiese. Goodman is an outstanding shooter, but has great difficulty creating separation from her defender when she plays the point. Goodman's strength is being off the ball. Hopefully, Slocum returns for her final year and holds the point down for one more year. If Slocum doesn't return, Goforth may be forced to handle the ball and initiate the offense frequently as a frosh.

 

[DaBball]

Solid pickup for UW:

 

[nwhoopfan]

Freshmen: Aquino** (F),

The clock has started for Aquino. Even though she's never played she won't be a Fr. Will be a Redshirt Soph in 20/21.

 

[sivad40]

I'm a tad skeptical of "best bud" (or herd) mentality among young adults (read teenagers). I remember conversations about various permutations of US National Team players and thus far, they all seem to pick the school that is best for themselves. That said, Goforth and Kennedy Brown have all been putting friendly persuasion on Verhulst who, IMHO, is the real catch of the group. From a practical standpoint, if even "just" three of them go to OSU, who is going to sit? OSU, with their slew of talented bigs (including Ms. Brown and Taylor Jones) is not going to go one big, four wings.

Besides, the Irish in me hopes Verhulst, a fine representative of Bishop Miege, should join Olivia Miles in a reprise of the U.S. National Team backcourt in Chile. Run and gun Irish!

Well, ND and a couple of other schools have been burned by the" all 3X3 US National teams players are all going to same team" train.

 

[Dillon77]

Well, ND and a couple of other schools as been burned by the" all 3X3 US National teams players are all going to same team" train.

That's the precise reason why I wrote of my skepticism in the post! has generally followed the trials and tribulation of (some combination therof) Sam Brunelle, Hailey Van Lith, Aaliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers on 3x3 and expansion into the larger overall team. As an Irish fan who has watched a number of those players end up at proverbial "other" altars, I'm still totallying my uber bills for those arenas! All power to the Beavers for getting two players from that 3x3 team. If they get a third, they'll win a big hand. However, one never knows what will come into a decision....

 

[SCGamecock]

Thanks for confirming that Ms. Miles has been out to the Farm..I'd been wondering about that. She dropped by ND on her way to the Indy AAU event last summer and visited with some former Philly Belle teammates.

ND does not have a lot of slots open in 2021 and for a variety of reasons (injury, illness), is reasonably well-positioned at off-guard. But they will go after one, as well as the all-important lead guard. Besides Ms. Miles, keep an eye on Ari Wiggins out of Indianapolis, who has been up to the Bend on many occasions (and has been observed by Irish coaches over the winter).

Looks like Wiggins is the next SC/ND battle at point guard. SC is also going after Wiggins for it's lead guard role in that class, and we do reasonably well (Ty Harris, Brea Beal, Zia Cooke) in the Midwest for a Southern school. Raven Johnson, a point guard out of Georgia, is another point guard we're going after in that class. Hopefully we can get one of the two.

 

[bennyskid]

The clock has started for Aquino. Even though she's never played she won't be a Fr. Will be a Redshirt Soph in 20/21.

Perhaps, but I believe that given that the circumstances for missing two seasons were beyond her control, she has a good shot at a medical redshirt and thus "six-to-play-four". We won't know until there is a petition.

 

[Dillon77]

Looks like Wiggins is the next SC/ND battle at point guard. SC is also going after Wiggins for it's lead guard role in that class, and we do reasonably well (Ty Harris, Brea Beal, Zia Cooke) in the Midwest for a Southern school. Raven Johnson, a point guard out of Georgia, is another point guard we're going after in that class. Hopefully we can get one of the two.

Thanks for the news...both Interesting (or nerve wracking... ).
Both SC and ND have Heritage Christian alums who can reach back to the junior, Ms. Wiggins: Ty Harris, of course, for the Gamecocks and Katlyn Gilbert for the Irish. SC does do very well recruiting in the heartland, but in this case, I heartily endorse Raven Johnson (I hear she's Dawn's type of player. )

Will keep you posted on any Wiggins/ND news. Please do the same out of SC. Thx. Stay tuned.

 

[jonson]

If I had to guess, I think Verhulst’s decision comes down to Oregon, Oregon State, and Notre Dame (I also think Louisville and Tennessee are still in the game given recent visits in the fall/winter).

If I were a top guard prospect, I’d be very cautious about Oregon because they are incredibly talented and deep at the guard positions. Bigby, Parrish, PaoPao, Scherr, Shelley, and Winterburn are all terrific guards, and playing time would be really tough to come by, even though Verhulst is extremely talented.

I could potentially see Rueck employing a lineup of Verhulst/von Oelhoffen, Kampschroeder, and Goforth on the perimeter. Would be similar to his backcourt of Pivec, McWilliams, and Tudor in 17-18 with no true point guard.

Seems like Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, and Notre Dame will be in a lot of recruiting battles for 2021s. Three are targeting Citron, three are targeting Miles, three are targeting Wolfenbarger, and two are targeting von Oelhoffen. It’ll be interesting to see who lands who.

I'm hardly an insider about any of this, but I'm also a bit surprised (Oregon-wise) as well, since the list of guards/wings on the roster at the beginning of 2021 would actually be 7, not 6 (add Chavez), with 1 senior (Chavez), 2 juniors (Shelley and Winterburn), 3 sophomores (PaoPao, Scherr, Parrish) and a freshman (Bigby).

On the other hand, Graves has hinted that he has at least one more 2021 commitment, but can't say more until the recruit (or recruits) makes (make) an announcement. Part of me thinks that Oregon would do well to hold a scholarship or two until 2022 in order to balance the classes a bit more evenly, but perhaps the staff assumes that either Sedona Prince or Nyara Sabally (or both) will only stay for 2 years, rather than 3, or even, with some sort of medical waiver, 4. In any case, both Oregon schools seem to be getting the players they want as often as not.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Perhaps, but I believe that given that the circumstances for missing two seasons were beyond her control, she has a good shot at a medical redshirt and thus "six-to-play-four". We won't know until there is a petition.

I'll be happy to see her on the court at all. If she does eventually get to play 4 years, great, but that's way down the road and it could be she never plays at all.

 

[Figurehead]

I'm hardly an insider about any of this, but I'm also a bit surprised (Oregon-wise) as well, since the list of guards/wings on the roster at the beginning of 2021 would actually be 7, not 6 (add Chavez), with 1 senior (Chavez), 2 juniors (Shelley and Winterburn), 3 sophomores (PaoPao, Scherr, Parrish) and a freshman (Bigby).

On the other hand, Graves has hinted that he has at least one more 2021 commitment, but can't say more until the recruit (or recruits) makes (make) an announcement. Part of me thinks that Oregon would do well to hold a scholarship or two until 2022 in order to balance the classes a bit more evenly, but perhaps the staff assumes that either Sedona Prince or Nyara Sabally (or both) will only stay for 2 years, rather than 3, or even, with some sort of medical waiver, 4. In any case, both Oregon schools seem to be getting the players they want as often as not.

Another Grad transfer in the works. If it pans out you will be happy with this one!

 

[DaBball]

Another Grad transfer in the works. If it pans out you will be happy with this one!

Has this individual already entered the portal? I feel like there isn’t any grad transfer in the portal better than what UO already has, but Kelly did say he wants a GT.

 

[UConnCat]

Has this individual already entered the portal? I feel like there isn’t any grad transfer in the portal better than what UO already has, but Kelly did say he wants a GT.

Guessing Carrington.

 

[DaBball]

Guessing Carrington.

Forgot about her. Makes sense.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Guessing Carrington.

Oh man, that would be apostasy. I really like Carrington, and it makes sense since her brother went there for football before transferring to Utah, so she's familiar with the school and with Eugene. But if she grad transferred to Oregon, I'd have a hard time rooting for her. And I know we didn't have a spot for her, but still...

 

[jonson]

Oh man, that would be apostasy. I really like Carrington, and it makes sense since her brother went there for football before transferring to Utah, so she's familiar with the school and with Eugene. But if she grad transferred to Oregon, I'd have a hard time rooting for her. And I know we didn't have a spot for her, but still...

Great wideout. He actually was dismissed from the team, if I remember correctly--mostly, I believe, for multiple violations involving a recreational drug.

 

[NWHoopFan2]

Forgot about her. Makes sense.

I heard Kelly’s comments about a possible grad transfer. It was pretty much...if we can get one that will be impactful, great but if we have to play our current hand we’ll be fine. Carrington would be impactful and she has connections to Oregon, but I think it’s not probable she’ll end up at Oregon. She will have a ton of options all over the country, some with a better chance of going all the way next year than Oregon. I would love to see her at Oregon, but that would make Graves’ challenge of managing playing time that much harder.

if Carrington ends up at Oregon next year it will make for a more entertaining year in Eugene next year, but it will probably make it harder to keep all the talented players together the following year.

 

[DaBball]

I heard Kelly’s comments about a possible grad transfer. It was pretty much...if we can get one that will be impactful, great but if we have to play our current hand we’ll be fine. Carrington would be impactful and she has connections to Oregon, but I think it’s not probable she’ll end up at Oregon. She will have a ton of options all over the country, some with a better chance of going all the way next year than Oregon. I would love to see her at Oregon, but that would make Graves’ challenge of managing playing time that much harder.

if Carrington ends up at Oregon next year it will make for a more entertaining year in Eugene next year, but it will probably make it harder to keep all the talented players together the following year.

I agree with that. In 20-21, I assume the depth chart at the guard slots would look like:
PG: Chavez, PaoPao, Yaeger
SG: Shelley, Scherr, Winterburn
SF: Boley, Parrish

I’m not sure on the exact positions for a few of them, or who Graves plans on starting at point, but that its a very solid, deep, young group at the guard spot. I understand where Graves would want to add experience, but adding Carrington probably takes 25-30 MPG at the SG spot.

If he gets her, great, but the silver lining in not would be getting the youth extra experience.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I heard Kelly’s comments about a possible grad transfer. It was pretty much...if we can get one that will be impactful, great but if we have to play our current hand we’ll be fine. Carrington would be impactful and she has connections to Oregon, but I think it’s not probable she’ll end up at Oregon. She will have a ton of options all over the country, some with a better chance of going all the way next year than Oregon. I would love to see her at Oregon, but that would make Graves’ challenge of managing playing time that much harder.

if Carrington ends up at Oregon next year it will make for a more entertaining year in Eugene next year, but it will probably make it harder to keep all the talented players together the following year.

FWIW, Carrington has said she wants to be a forensic criminologist, and apparently Maryland has one of the top programs in the country, and lots of connections to the FBI, etc. To the degree she is looking ahead past basketball, I can't imagine a better combination fit of degree program and athletic program.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Besides, the Irish in me hopes Verhulst, a fine representative of Bishop Miege, should join Olivia Miles in a reprise of the U.S. National Team backcourt in Chile. Run and gun Irish!

Miles has already visited and is being heavily recruited by Tara et al., and I know Verhulst has been among our longish list (10-15) of 2021 targets.

)The Verhulst family has visited ND for an unofficial; ND has gone to see Jersey W. recently and Citron was offered last summer.
- As mentioned in my prior post, Verhulst is very much in touch with current and prospective Beaver players.

What absolutely kills me as a Duke grad/fan (and I believe I mentioned this to @EricLA and @ucbart in our group chat and on our group phone calls) is that Payton Verhulst is the daughter of 1992 Duke graduate (and former DWB player) Robin Baker Verhulst.

As a Duke player, Robin Baker saw action in 82 games, while making 70 starts from 1988-1992 with the Blue Devils. She averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a senior to close out her career.

But is Duke anywhere on her daughter's radar? As of January 5, 2020, Payton Verhulst's list of nine schools included Arizona State, Connecticut, Louisville, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, and Tennessee. Duke is NOWHERE to be found, notwithstanding the fact her mother played there collegiately!!

As an aside, Baker graduated in 1992, which was head coach Debbie Leonard's last year. Leonard stepped down at the end of the 1991-92 season (her 15th), and Duke hired then-Purdue assistant coach Gail Goestenkors.

 

[Geew1992]

Another one for UW:

Been deleted

 

[DaBball]

Been deleted

She had spelled “Husky” as “Husky.” Reposted below:

 

[domerduck]

I believe 10 of ESPN’s top-60 ranked players have now committed to a school.

But only 5 of the top 50, 3 to the PAC12 (#4 Demetre to Stanford, #12 Kampshroeder to the Beavs, & #23 Bigby to the Ducks) and 2 to UConn (#5 DeBerry & #17 Poffenbarger).

 

[domerduck]

I agree with that. In 20-21, I assume the depth chart at the guard slots would look like:
PG: Chavez, PaoPao, Yaeger
SG: Shelley, Scherr, Winterburn
SF: Boley, Parrish

I’m not sure on the exact positions for a few of them, or who Graves plans on starting at point, but that its a very solid, deep, young group at the guard spot. I understand where Graves would want to add experience, but adding Carrington probably takes 25-30 MPG at the SG spot.

If he gets her, great, but the silver lining in not would be getting the youth extra experience.

Drop Winterburn from your depth chart as she entered the xfr portal.

 

[nwhoopfan]

She had spelled “Husky” as “Husky.” Reposted below:

They've been busy. 3 in about a week. Can't pull anybody from the Puget Sound area, but Wynn is showing California isn't the only state she can recruit. Adding a bunch of guards, somebody should tell her she needs more post players.

 

[DaBball]

 

[SECbbfan24]

We also got a commitment from Savannah Dews but I know absolutely nothing about them. Not a lot out there.




Her other offers are Tennessee state and Arkansas state..


Only offer Lo reported was from Abilene Christian University

 

[shiverz45]

Looks like Wiggins is the next SC/ND battle at point guard. SC is also going after Wiggins for it's lead guard role in that class, and we do reasonably well (Ty Harris, Brea Beal, Zia Cooke) in the Midwest for a Southern school. Raven Johnson, a point guard out of Georgia, is another point guard we're going after in that class. Hopefully we can get one of the two.

Give me Raven, Saniya, and a 5 to back up Boston for 2021.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Give me Raven, Saniya, and a 5 to back up Boston for 2021.

probably need a combo forward as well.

 

[DaBball]

probably need a combo forward as well.

I haven’t seen enough of either to know what position they are, or if they’d be a good fit for SC, but I could see Dawn landing Feagin or Hollingshead if she’s interested in either of them. Aaliyah Moore as well. Feagin and Hollingshead seem pretty tight-lipped when it comes to recruiting.

There honestly aren’t a lot of true centers in 2021. Immediate playing time is at the top of Dauda’s list, so I doubt she has much interest in SC.