Olivia Vukosa to UConn (merged) | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Olivia Vukosa to UConn (merged)

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rugbymate said:
Wow….great to be a UCONN fan. I wonder , given the nickname being foisted on Olivia of Big O, whether she would consider wearing either number 1 or 14.They were the numbers the original BigO wore. Oscar Robertson was perhaps the greatest player of his generation. His reputation suggests that he would be tickled by the gesture.
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The nickname is not being foisted on her. It has been her nickname for years, and she appears to like it. As for jersey number 1, Geno has been insistent that no one at UConn will wear it on his watch.
 
Congrats on landing the Big O and reinvigorating the Christ the King Connection (Sue, Tina, etc.). Great get.
I'll enjoy seeing her work in Geno's system and play next to Sarah. Wow. (Well, except when they play a certain school from NW Indiana 😉 )
 
That’s a big comittment! She has the potential/possibility of being the best post player we’ve ever had, certainly one of the best. She appears to be the whole package! She’s big, skilled, mobile, is able to score from under the basket all the way out to the arc, is a great rebounder, is fundamentally sound and by all accounts is a hard worker, high IQ, great teammate, and wants (has wanted for some time) to be here and is already well liked by her future teammates! It’s a great day for UConn fans for sure!
 
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Dillon77 said:
Congrats on landing the Big O and reinvigorating the Christ the King Connection (Sue, Tina, etc.). Great get.
I'll enjoy seeing her work in Geno's system and play next to Sarah. Wow. (Well, except when they play a certain school from NW Indiana 😉 )
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ND getting Amari Byles and pairing her with Leah Macy would give us some great battles to look forward.
 
Tonyc said:
What a get. Welcome to UConn. Now we see who follows her to UConn. We loose Caroline Azzi and Serah. We got a tremendous player in the Big O. She will dominate on this team especially with the girls playing with her. This is a huge get
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Some people focus on the future and others stay in the moment. Either way, You have to spend some time thinking about next year's line-up.
Tonyc nails this. We know Geno takes one day at a time. However, he also has one eye on next year's line-up. Geno knows Serah and Azzi will be difficult to replace. Nevertheless, Geno is very happy. Vukosa will be competing with Jana for Serah's spot. Fortunately, that competition helps the team by having two good bigs. LOOKOUT - Azzi has big shoes; how is that spot filled?

I learned something about Geno and the UConn family. It's big, it's successful, and everyone is willing to help.
What College utilizes their past players to recruit? Who has the most recruiters? Two more pluses for Geno's System. Yes,
Geno's has a system developed over 50 years (including high school.) Who has a developed pipe line to New York's finest players?
Did Sue Bird or Tina Charles help bring about this good news on Vukosa? Success is more than X's and O's ---- or having the "best Athletes." It's a big endeavor. That's why UConn has two head coaches and a multitude of valuable assistants.
 
darrell said:
ND getting Amari Byles and pairing her with Leah Macy would give us some great battles to look forward.
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Take a look at Jacy Abii who is something of a point forward. Knock on wood, hoping to hear a "yay" from Byles this weekend (she announces on Saturday). Love Macy's all-round game. She and the Big O probably know each other well from AAU ball.
And the beat goes on.... 😎
 
PhillyCoach said:
Some people focus on the future and others stay in the moment. Either way, You have to spend some time thinking about next year's line-up.
Tonyc nails this. We know Geno takes one day at a time. However, he also has one eye on next year's line-up. Geno knows Serah and Azzi will be difficult to replace. Nevertheless, Geno is very happy. Vukosa will be competing with Jana for Serah's spot. Fortunately, that competition helps the team by having two good bigs. LOOKOUT - Azzi has big shoes; how is that spot filled?

I learned something about Geno and the UConn family. It's big, it's successful, and everyone is willing to help.
What College utilizes their past players to recruit? Who has the most recruiters? Two more pluses for Geno's System. Yes,
Geno's has a system developed over 50 years (including high school.) Who has a developed pipe line to New York's finest players?
Did Sue Bird or Tina Charles help bring about this good news on Vukosa? Success is more than X's and O's ---- or having the "best Athletes." It's a big endeavor. That's why UConn has two head coaches and a multitude of valuable assistants.
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Regarding the two areas I bolded: 1) Other schools most likely do but it has to be done very passively and schools have to be careful. It is against NCAA rules for alumni to have ANY recruiting interaction with recruits beyond a verbal greeting and a picture. Anything beyond that is a recruiting violation. They cannot discuss anything that's basketball/recruiting related and pictures with alums can't be from a school arranged photo shoot. This is because alums are considered boosters of the school. The coaches at UConn know the rules and I'm sure they limited the exposure but passively utilized the presence of Charles and ONO. 2) Yes, but indirectly by their association with CTK HS. They know the rules also and would not have contacted Vukosa.
 
BobbyJ said:
Regarding the two areas I bolded: 1) Other schools most likely do but it has to be done very passively and schools have to be careful. It is against NCAA rules for alumni to have ANY recruiting interaction with recruits beyond a verbal greeting and a picture. Anything beyond that is a recruiting violation. They cannot discuss anything that's basketball/recruiting related and pictures with alums can't be from a school arranged photo shoot. This is because alums are considered boosters of the school. The coaches at UConn know the rules and I'm sure they limited the exposure but passively utilized the presence of Charles and ONO. 2) Yes, but indirectly by their association with CTK HS. They know the rules also and would not have contacted Vukosa.
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Yes, indeed. Alumni are considered boosters, aka “representatives of athletics interests“. As are many of us here.

uconnhuskies.com

Compliance - Contacts with High School and Junior College Prospective Student-Athletes - University of Connecticut Athletics

Contacts with High School and Junior College Prospective Student-Athletes Recruitment As a representative of UConn's athletics interests, YOU MAY NOT be invo...
uconnhuskies.com uconnhuskies.com

IMG_4328.jpeg
 
BobbyJ said:
Regarding the two areas I bolded: 1) Other schools most likely do but it has to be done very passively and schools have to be careful. It is against NCAA rules for alumni to have ANY recruiting interaction with recruits beyond a verbal greeting and a picture. Anything beyond that is a recruiting violation. They cannot discuss anything that's basketball/recruiting related and pictures with alums can't be from a school arranged photo shoot. This is because alums are considered boosters of the school. The coaches at UConn know the rules and I'm sure they limited the exposure but passively utilized the presence of Charles and ONO. 2) Yes, but indirectly by their association with CTK HS. They know the rules also and would not have contacted Vukosa.
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I think that one of the most compelling factors for Olivia and her parents is that Geno and company not only know where Croatia is; they've been there to honor one of their own.
 
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Dove said:
Who?
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UConn is still recruiting two more top players. I believe that they are Jerzy Robinson and Addison Bjorn.
Check out the Recruiting Subforum.
 
Charliebball said:
The Big "O" is going to thrive in the UConn system.......she's capable of scoring anywhere from under the basket out to 25 feet, can pass the ball, sets great screens, pounds the glass and blocks shots.......what else can you ask for.......
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Sounds just like another player I remember playing at UConn…a current sophomore…#21…what the heck is her name?
 
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She is a 6-foot-4 post, but moves gracefully on the court for her size and has skills that stretch the floor beyond the three-point line as well, but still maintains the ability to post hard and punish opponents on the block. Her rebounding efforts in the last calendar year have improved tremendously as she found the value of attacking the offensive glass. Defensively, her mobility will allow her to play in multiple schemes and strategies while maintaining the physical presence demanded of post players.


 
How she fits: Vukosa is in the mold of the traditionally multifaceted post player favored by Geno Auriemma -- in fact, she fits the mold of the prototypical UConn player with whom Auriemma has seen success over the years. UConn is very methodical about building its roster and tends to look for the next name around which to anchor its rosters: Breanna Stewart in 2012, Napheesa Collier in 2015, Paige Bueckers in 2020, Azzi Fudd in 2021 and Sarah Strong in 2024.

When it comes to Vukosa, the Huskies should be able to utilize her skill set beyond the block and the paint, as she is a competent decision-maker and passer, and has the ability to play outside the 3-point line. Think of Stefanie Dolson, who was a key support for Stewart during the first two years of UConn's run of four straight title wins (2013-16).

Vukosa, a true center, will allow UConn to continue running its offense through a big who lifts the opponent's defensive anchor and spaces the floor for quick, speedy playmakers. Vukosa should be able to play well off Strong and advance her effectiveness, much like Collier did with Stewart during those title runs. She should also fit well with 2025 recruit Blanca Quiñonez -- who also has comparable international experience and playing styles -- and open things up for the likes of Kayleigh Heckel and KK Arnold. Vukosa has an incredibly high ceiling and could seriously challenge current No. 1 Saniyah Hall by the end of this season.


www.espn.com

How No. 3 Olivia Vukosa fits into UConn's legacy of top recruits, more girls' commit fits

Breaking down the fits of every top 2026 commitment, including the Huskies' first recruit in the class.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
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