Non-UConn recruiting thread

[Nash83]

Agot Makeer was at the SC-Auburn game today.

x.com

x.com

Knocking out commitment/signing pics?

 

[jbc021592]

Jacy Abii (#7-ESPN 2026 Hoopgurlz) is at ND for an UOV according to her Instagram stories.

 

[Dillon77]

Apparently, Jacy Abii was not the only guard from the Class of 2026 to visit ND during the past weekend when Cal played ND.
Olivia Jones, the 6'0" combo guard from Lutheran High School in Long Island was in the recruiting section and greeted after the game by her former LuHi and current Irish player, Kate Koval. According to Raoul, Jones -- as of this month -- has an offer from ND, the third LuHi player to have one, including Savvy Swords and Sanai Green (who transferred to LuHi this year).

 

[southie]

2025 Aaliyah Chavez's Lubbock Monterey H.S. team advances to the Texas State Championship Semi-finals. So, her high school career continues with a game later in the week and a possible championship game March 1. Texas head coach Vic Schaefer was in attendance for the win in the Regional final championship game Friday afternoon in Abilene, TX.

 

[southie]

Texas Tech head coach, Krista Gerlich was in attendance for Chavez's Regional semi-final game on Tuesday night. Texas coaches at game on Friday afternoon. I'll be surprised if she doesn't land at one of those two in-state schools.

 

[Stagnant]

I still think it will be Tech. Chavez can go there and be the universe. At Texas, she will be asked to fit in.

 

[12au]

I still think it will be Tech. Chavez can go there and be the universe. At Texas, she will be asked to fit in.

It's hard for me conceive of this outcome. I assume Tech is a hometown "finalist"

Oklahoma seems like a great stylistic fit.

 

[12au]

I also think the fact that Chavez is waiting longer to make her decision points to going elsewhere. Avoids having to spend a year in Lubbock with everyone knowing you spurned them

 

[CajunHusk94]

It's hard for me conceive of this outcome. I assume Tech is a hometown "finalist"

Oklahoma seems like a great stylistic fit.

Playing style wise definitely is

If she wants to win and play for a big program it'll be TX

if she wants to be a hometown hero Tech is an option in addition to possible $$ from boosters

Tech coach fate likely gonna be tied to landing her or not.

 

[visitingcock]

Playing style wise definitely is

If she wants to win and play for a big program it'll be TX

if she wants to be a hometown hero Tech is an option in addition to possible $$ from boosters

Tech coach fate likely gonna be tied to landing her or not.

She may be waiting to see who Tech hired at session’s end.

 

[12au]

She may be waiting to see who Tech hired at session’s end.

Interesting idea. I was thinking that Chavez' decision would be before Tech made a decision on Gehrlich. In fact it might be Gehrlich's last foothold on the job at all... I don't really see Tech firing the coach sooner. Isn't that throwing away all the time spent building a relationship? Have to play it out

 

[southie]

I stated months ago that I wouldn't be surprised at all if she signs with Texas Tech despite comments she's made that she wants to play for a head coach who will be there with her all 4 years and that she also wants to win; hard to believe Tech fits either of those criteria as Gerlich is in the final season of her 5-year contract, has not received an extension, has never come close to making the NCAA tournament, and her team this season is 14-15 overall and 3-13 in Big 12 conference play.

But, none of that matters if her Dad (who I think is calling all the shots) wants her to stay in Lubbock. Why would he want that? Well, he started a hoops training center for young girls a few years ago; I'm assuming Aaliyah is the bell cow who brings in the clients. If she goes away for college for four years, how does that impact his local business?

As for Oklahoma, Chavez would do great there offensively. But, I don't think she'd improve at all defensively. I don't know what OU's NIL is for women's hoops, but I don't think it compares to that of Texas and possibly what Texas Tech would offer her. Have seen no reports on social media that OU's head coach has attended any of Aaliyah's high school games in 2025. OU's main women's sport is softball, and they wouldn't pay NPOY transfer pitcher from Stanford the $1 million like Tech (who has zero softball success) did.

 

[ISUnorth]

I stated months ago that I wouldn't be surprised at all if she signs with Texas Tech despite comments she's made that she wants to play for a head coach who will be there with her all 4 years and that she also wants to win; hard to believe Tech fits either of those criteria as Gerlich is in the final season of her 5-year contract, has not received an extension, has never come close to making the NCAA tournament, and her team this season is 14-15 overall and 3-13 in Big 12 conference play.

But, none of that matters if her Dad (who I think is calling all the shots) wants her to stay in Lubbock. Why would he want that? Well, he started a hoops training center for young girls a few years ago; I'm assuming Aaliyah is the bell cow who brings in the clients. If she goes away for college for four years, how does that impact his local business?

As for Oklahoma, Chavez would do great there offensively. But, I don't think she'd improve at all defensively. I don't know what OU's NIL is for women's hoops, but I don't think it compares to that of Texas and possibly what Texas Tech would offer her. Have seen no reports on social media that OU's head coach has attended any of Aaliyah's high school games in 2025. OU's main women's sport is softball, and they wouldn't pay NPOY transfer pitcher from Stanford the $1 million like Tech (who has zero softball success) did.

Was about to post a question on why a top recruit would go to Tech since they currently suck and there's not much evidence they won't continue to suck. Gerlich can't even win in a watered down Big 12. Guess you answered it in this post. Still weird but if it's all about NIL and Daddy's business than they can have at and play in obscurity for four year unless she thinks she can do a Clark and pull TT to Final Four.

 

[Geew1992]

Was about to post a question on why a top recruit would go to Tech since they currently suck and there's not much evidence they won't continue to suck. Gerlich can't even win in a watered down Big 12. Guess you answered it in this post. Still weird but if it's all about NIL and Daddy's business than they can have at and play in obscurity for four year unless she thinks she can do a Clark and pull TT to Final Four.

Look at JuJu.

 

[southie]

Never underestimate the desperate nature of a head coach who will hire a recruit's parent (qualified or not) as an assistant coach if it secures the signing of that recruit.

 

[SCGamecock]

Never underestimate the desperate nature of a head coach who will hire a recruit's parent (qualified or not) as an assistant coach if it secures the signing of that recruit.

Ohio State shade? Lol

 

[ISUnorth]

Never underestimate the desperate nature of a head coach who will hire a recruit's parent (qualified or not) as an assistant coach if it secures the signing of that recruit.

Old Big 8 stuff but this reminded me of when Kansas hired Danny Manning's dad in 1983 so they could get Manning in the class of 1984. IIRC dad Manning was driving truck for a living at the time although he was a former NBA player.

 

[Baller29]

Ohio State shade? Lol

I mean…

 

[southie]

Ohio State shade? Lol

Not just them. Texas did it in Karen Aston's first season at Texas when she hired George Washington who was a club/high school coach in the Houston area. Oh, and he just happened to be the legal guardian of super guard Lashann Higgs, who had come to the States from the Bahamas.

For those who remember former WNBA guard Chandi Jones, Texas was really after her hard in the early 2000's. Before her senior season, University of Houston head coach, Joe Curl hires her father who was a head coach at Bay City (TX) high school. Guess where Chandi signed?

Neither had any college coaching experience.

 

[CBus13]

Look at JuJu.

I'm not sure Juju to USC would be the same thing as Chavez to Tech.

Gottlieb showed improvement from her first season to her second season [from 10th in the Pac-12 to 6th], with Rayah Marshall and Clarice Akunwafo [two 2021 McDonald's All-Americans], and then made the NCAA tournament and lost in the First Round.

Gerlich has never made the NCAA tournament, her best finish in the Big 12 is 7th and 2022-23 had their most Big 12 wins in a season at 6 and still finished 8th. Texas Tech has not signed a McDonald's All-American in any season Gerlich has coached.

But even with Clark to Iowa, Bluder was a proven coach who had recently coached a National Player of the Year, multiple Big Ten players of the year, and hadn't missed the NCAA tournament since the 2016-17. In fact, before Caitlin, Iowa had a fantastic Guard in Kathleen Doyle who was a do everything guard for Bluder. Even a little further back in the history, they had Sam Logic. So, Bluder has evidence of developing talented guards and team success.

So, Chavez going to TTU would be more like Elena Delle Donne going to Delaware, but if Delaware had billionaire athletic backers. haha

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm not sure Juju to USC would be the same thing as Chavez to Tech.

Gottlieb showed improvement from her first season to her second season [from 10th in the Pac-12 to 6th], with Rayah Marshall and Clarice Akunwafo [two 2021 McDonald's All-Americans], and then made the NCAA tournament and lost in the First Round.

Yeah, I agree the comparison doesn't work at all. USC always had talent long before JuJu arrived. Underachieved thru the tenure of several coaches, but they were always able to draw some good players.

 

[jumpstart]

Never underestimate the desperate nature of a head coach who will hire a recruit's parent (qualified or not) as an assistant coach if it secures the signing of that recruit.

LSU back in the 80's hired a coach Jim Childers from Lower Richland in Columbia SC to get Stanley Roberts to sign. Roberts was a Top 5 player who never panned out even though he did play in the NBA for a while....so yes....it happens.