I edit the comment to zone in on this, I have had the opportunity to see Shakira Austin in person and yes, she really impressed me also and while I too, immediately thought of Liv, I watched Austin closely and she is not as polished as LIv in offensive moves, nor defensive footwork and switching. She is almost as graceful as Liv running and shows great energy. She too, should be fun to watch over the next few years but Liv is better
I saw both in the Jordan Brand game last April. Austin impressed me as the strongest, most aggressive, most college-ready big. But Liv showed lots of finesse, posted strong for 2 hoops and FTs late in the game, and tipped a rebound with a few seconds left, keeping it alive for her teammate to score the winning hoop. Liv's potential was clear.
...Been watching the "Bigs" in and out since the early 1990ies.... Olivia processes a feature I haven't seen in a long time...She is smooth and fluid/graceful...no bounce /bounce-herkie - jerky here..she does not stumble up and down the floor she glides... I put her frosh year ahead of the "Great One"..Ms Charles..who I could of run out the door in her first year.....What Next....Olivia rock the weight room, grow another inch..extend the vertical....learn a turn around right and left and a short jumper around the foul line and she may become the best big out of UConn...Sure wish that Tina could spend a week or so with her....
Order me up some of whatever drink you have when watching UConn games.
Better than the first time around...
Ditto - spot on with you comments...I, too, watched Austin...in my case, when Muffet was in the house....she’s got Length, but not the skills Liv has....again, expect big things ( no pun intended) from our newest punisher in the paint! To include, a very impressive offensive game....once Geno & crew take off the brakes.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she struggled. Not only because of their bulk and experience but because she won’t back down. ONO has guts and she’ll fight for position and try for blocks and because of that she’ll have foul trouble and likely play limited minutes or foul out. But she’ll learn a ton and be a better player much sooner because of the experience. And next year she’ll be a load.
I've seen that Liv spin move left and right with a fair power dribble. What she'll get in time is a good drop step and the ability to power the ball up through traffic and swats. But a short fade away and/or hook would be sweet; yeah, she's graceful (she kinda runs the floor like Pheesa), agile, has a great motor, and is all team baby. She won't stare down after a block like one young lady from Miss. State.
Kiah had a much stronger/sturdier body type right out of high school. Check out the shoulders/arms in the pic. Liv can work toward this, but the genes are the genes (for now at least).
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Liv is better "lately". That is definitely because she has spent the last few months with Geno and CD. I define lately to be this calendar year. In the prior calendar year Austin was the better player.
In my view, Tina is the model. She transformed herself physically, either sophomore or junior year , and became a super star. ONO has more her body type than the others you mentioned. As Tina is ( or will be ) a hall of fame player, that is a pretty high standard. Hope you are right.