Olivia Vukosa to UConn (merged)

[tower1]

Moves really, really well for someone her size!

She is going to fit in perfectly with that beautiful smile she is always carrying !! She seems like a great teammate !

 

[DEpup]

A motion system requires a lot of a big body and UConn in particular when it comes to mobility and athleticism.

In essence, they have to have nearly the same fitness and athleticism that the guards have in order to switch and maintain constant movement. And plus they still have to exert enough energy to fight for position down low.

Its a lot and I wonder if every 17 year old big has the confidence they can reach that level when other programs are probably telling them they are just fine the way they are. I have to think in this society, young women that size have additional image baggage that influences decisions ... I mean Dolson became a whole different person physically in order to be successful.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

What constitutes a “post player” is certainly subjective. IMO, one of the very best post players in WBB last year was 6’1” Aneesah Morrow. To me, a post player is someone who does most of their work in the paint.

@oldude I’m oldskool. To me you have to be able to play (instinctively) with your back to the basket. Otherwise, I’m tempted to create a new position called…hybrid or converted post. 🤣 Size alone, if at all in some cases. definitely isn’t the determining factor.

 

[hoophuskee]

I wonder if there are any common themes as to why UConn missed out on these players over the years. Were they afraid of something at UConn? Style of play, amount of work asked of them, guard dominated, etc.
He should have showed them old Celtics clips. Center as the key to fast-break basketball.
1957- after the Celtics "swindled" St. Louis for the Russell draft pick, they waited for him to get to camp after winning the Gold in the Olympics, Boston now had the missing ingredient, the Celts reel off 11 out of 12 championships before Russell retired in 1968-1969.
(Aja- could she be even better than she is, lanky lefty, hmmmm)

No common themes.

Collier was coming to UCONN before a devastating hurricane hit her community that summer. She gave UCONN a verbal prior.

Boston was convinced by Dawn the last minute. I understand that she called UCONN crying that she wasn't coming to UCONN.

I can't recall with Cox.

 

[PacoSwede]

I wonder if there are any common themes as to why UConn missed out on these players over the years. Were they afraid of something at UConn? Style of play, amount of work asked of them, guard dominated, etc.
....

good question! i don't think we know. oldude offers the rote explanations, which are no doubt accurate -- as far as they go. but i am among many (at least i hope there are many) fans that had hoped to have 'the rest of the story.' that guy harvey had the right idea ... journalists ought to realize there is always a story 'behind the scenes' to report that they should at least try to ferret out. that involves more than asking geno about it. they never, or very rarely, really dig.

many readers would appreciate 'the rest of the story' in regard to wcbb recruiting. ... or maybe most fans don't care a fig.

 

[Forego]

Respectfully, it’s more than that. For a number of years UConn went down to the wire on various AA HS centers, only to lose out to other top programs. Aja Wilson, Aaliyah Boston, Charli Collier and Lauren Cox were all top recruited centers that went elsewhere. Olivia is the first #1 center in a HS class that has chosen UConn since Stewie, some 14 years ago.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa immediately comes to mind.

 

[BobbyJ]

A motion system requires a lot of a big body and UConn in particular when it comes to mobility and athleticism.

In essence, they have to have nearly the same fitness and athleticism that the guards have in order to switch and maintain constant movement. And plus they still have to exert enough energy to fight for position down low.

Its a lot and I wonder if every 17 year old big has the confidence they can reach that level when other programs are probably telling them they are just fine the way they are. I have to think in this society, young women that size have additional image baggage that influences decisions ... I mean Dolson became a whole different person physically in order to be successful.

Vukosa will have no problems with the physical side of it (mobility, foot quickness, passing ability etc.). What might take her some time will be the quick decision making, reps, and experience factors. But her physicality, BB IQ, and non stop motor will shorten the learning curve.

 

[oldude]

Olivia Nelson-Ododa immediately comes to mind.

Liv was certainly a very good center, to be sure. But that 2018 class had 3 Bigs rated ahead of Liv: Shakira Austin, Sedona Prince & Charli Collier who committed to and then decommitted from UConn.

 

[BobbyJ]

good question! i don't think we know. oldude offers the rote explanations, which are no doubt accurate -- as far as they go. but i am among many (at least i hope there are many) fans that had hoped to have 'the rest of the story.' that guy harvey had the right idea ... journalists ought to realize there is always a story 'behind the scenes' to report that they should at least try to ferret out. that involves more than asking geno about it. they never, or very rarely, really dig.

many readers would appreciate 'the rest of the story' in regard to wcbb recruiting. ... or maybe most fans don't care a fig.

There are a lot less real journalists around now, especially in sports, so I'll refer to them as media people. They'll do the 'digging' with pro athletes as much as possible but don't really do much if any 'digging' with HS and college kids unless personal and background details are volunteered, which is probably not very often. And I haven't seen many if any coaches give out those inside stories in public unless it's Auriemma a few years after a kid graduates when someone puts a microphone in front of him like with Taurasi. 😉

 

[huskyd]

I'm guessing the writer either has inside scoop, or believes she's coming to UConn and jumped the gun writing her article.

View attachment 112538

Comparing OV to Stef Dolson seems wrong. OV is coming as one of the best recruits in the nation, already a certified star. Not how Stef came in. We wondered what Geno saw in Dolson; she was unheralded, out of shape, slow. Of course, by the time Stef graduated she was one of the best centers in the country, a great passer, a reliable shooter, the person through whom the UConn offense was run.
We won't have to wait that long for OV to blossom. She's already penciled in as Serah Williams' replacement and anticipated to become a major force in propelling the Huskies' success in the years to come.
I'll be more than happy if OV is "only" as good as Sarah: imagine those 2 under the hoop. Could this become the Age of 2 Stewies?

 

[Charliebball]

Comparing OV to Stef Dolson seems wrong. OV is coming as one of the best recruits in the nation, already a certified star. Not how Stef came in. We wondered what Geno saw in Dolson; she was unheralded, out of shape, slow. Of course, by the time Stef graduated she was one of the best centers in the country, a great passer, a reliable shooter, the person through whom the UConn offense was run.
We won't have to wait that long for OV to blossom. She's already penciled in as Serah Williams' replacement and anticipated to become a major force in propelling the Huskies' success in the years to come.
I'll be more than happy if OV is "only" as good as Sarah: imagine those 2 under the hoop. Could this become the Age of 2 Stewies?

I was comparing their skill sets and overall size........Dolson's secret weapon was her desire and her smarts....

 

[HuskyNan]

I can't recall with Cox.

Texas kid. She wasn’t going to leave the state

 

[DEpup]

Texas kid. She wasn’t going to leave the state

I also think she wasn't comfortable going too far away from home with managing her diabetes.

 

[EricLA]

So a couple things FWIW. I had a chance to watch a bunch of video on her. I agree with @BobbyJ - the player she most reminds me of is a 2" taller Morgan Tuck, sans the 3 point shot. Things I LOVE about her game (especially for a high school kid)

• Smooth and graceful
• Has a really good motor and moves well for a "big girl"
• Really solid footwork in the post, AND never seems to rush
• Feet that are quick enough on defense to stay in front of her opponent without fouling
• NO tomahawk chop when blocking
• Equally adept at using her left hand when making layups
• Does NOT shy away from contact
• Keeps the ball HIGH when she catches it, making it that much harder to strip
• Does NOT instinctively put the ball on the floor when catching it close to the basket like so many posts, even in the W, do
• Already has a large array of post moves

When we were recruiting her, without watching any video, I thought "she'd be a good player I'd like to have". No. She's already a great player and I CANNOT wait to see how she develops, especially along side Sarah. IMHO AA potential, and maybe higher.

I recall reading, regarding her commitment AFTER her UConn visit before canceling her SC visit - she watched a practice and saw how Geno coached up Sarah. Sarah is already a great player and NPOY candidate, even tho she's entering her sophomore campaign, but Olivia noted that Geno was on her pushing and coaching her up a lot. She felt the need for that kind of coaching for herself. Very mature kid.

Literally the ONLY thing(s) she needs to work on is strength and fitness (what freshman coming to UConn DOESN'T?????), and given that she's already so skilled, would love to see her add a baby hook (please talk with Auntie Tina Charles!!!). This kid is the real deal and I'm super psyched! I hope several others follow her!!!

 

[darrell]

I love the Tuck comparison. A hybrid of Morgan Tuck and Stef is what I said. She has Stef’s size, court vision and ability to stretch the floor (can only hope she’ll be as good at screen setting) combined with Morgan’s mobility, finesse and post moves.

 

[Basingstoke]

So a couple things FWIW. I had a chance to watch a bunch of video on her. I agree with @BobbyJ - the player she most reminds me of is a 2" taller Morgan Tuck, sans the 3 point shot. Things I LOVE about her game (especially for a high school kid)

• Smooth and graceful
• Has a really good motor and moves well for a "big girl"
• Really solid footwork in the post, AND never seems to rush
• Feet that are quick enough on defense to stay in front of her opponent without fouling
• NO tomahawk chop when blocking
• Equally adept at using her left hand when making layups
• Does NOT shy away from contact
• Keeps the ball HIGH when she catches it, making it that much harder to strip
• Does NOT instinctively put the ball on the floor when catching it close to the basket like so many posts, even in the W, do
• Already has a large array of post moves

When we were recruiting her, without watching any video, I thought "she'd be a good player I'd like to have". No. She's already a great player and I CANNOT wait to see how she develops, especially along side Sarah. IMHO AA potential, and maybe higher.

I recall reading, regarding her commitment AFTER her UConn visit before canceling her SC visit - she watched a practice and saw how Geno coached up Sarah. Sarah is already a great player and NPOY candidate, even tho she's entering her sophomore campaign, but Olivia noted that Geno was on her pushing and coaching her up a lot. She felt the need for that kind of coaching for herself. Very mature kid.

Literally the ONLY thing(s) she needs to work on is strength and fitness (what freshman coming to UConn DOESN'T?????), and given that she's already so skilled, would love to see her add a baby hook (please talk with Auntie Tina Charles!!!). This kid is the real deal and I'm super psyched! I hope several others follow her!!!

Actually, as with any incoming freshman, she will have to learn and acclimate herself to UCONN'S defensive schemes.

 

[donalddoowop]

Comparing OV to Stef Dolson seems wrong. OV is coming as one of the best recruits in the nation, already a certified star. Not how Stef came in. We wondered what Geno saw in Dolson; she was unheralded, out of shape, slow. Of course, by the time Stef graduated she was one of the best centers in the country, a great passer, a reliable shooter, the person through whom the UConn offense was run.
We won't have to wait that long for OV to blossom. She's already penciled in as Serah Williams' replacement and anticipated to become a major force in propelling the Huskies' success in the years to come.
I'll be more than happy if OV is "only" as good as Sarah: imagine those 2 under the hoop. Could this become the Age of 2 Stewies?

Who penciled her in as Serah Williams replacement, the Boneyard? Also, that smile is not going to get her one point, rebound, or stop another player from scoring. I can just see people in the chat turn on her if she struggles at the start. Actually, I believe she will eventually be great, I mean AA great, but it will take a little time.

 

[PvP]

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.

I hope she might be given the ootionnog wearing the number 0!

 

[veivoli]

1957- after the Celtics "swindled" St. Louis for the Russell draft pick, they waited for him to get to camp after winning the Gold in the Olympics, Boston now had the missing ingredient, the Celts reel off 11 out of 12 championships before Russell retired in 1968-1969.

Wow, sorry for the sideways drift here. I remember a black and white film I saw on TV (both the film and our TV were B&W - colour TV was rolled out 1973-1975! (but at least we chose PAL and not NTSC)) when I was at university in the late 60s titled The Final Game that featured a clash between Bill Russell and Jerry West (I seem to remember it was a New York team, but it must have been the Lakers...). It was not only the final game of the series, but it was Russell's retirement game. I've been a Celtics fan ever since. Oh, and the Celtics won. I've been searching for that game on the Internet for years.

On topic, I'm really looking forward to seeing Olivia in a Husky uniform. After the current team wins another championship, of course!

 

[meyers7]

I hope she might be given the ootionnog wearing the number 0!

Let's hope not.

She wears #25 at CTK. But Brady will have that for her 1st year here.

 

[veivoli]

I hope she might be given the ootionnog wearing the number 0!

I believe that 0 is proscribed, as well as 1.

 

[Bone Dog]

Like everyone else here, I had a good idea that Sarah was going to be great. But I hadn’t expected that she’d start from day one. And then she did and now in hindsight even us fans can see why. I have to wonder if Olivia will start from day one.

I know, bigs take longer to develop, etc. And nobody starts immediately for Geno … except maybe Paige. And Sarah. Could Olivia be another one? Given the options — Jana Ice and Gandy — she could well win the job in early practices. Of course, a lot depends on how much of her potential Jana will have recovered by her third season. That initial injury really set her back quite a bit. If she still plays with the limits she displayed this past season, I suspect Olivia might well win the starting job over next summer. On the other hand, if Jana has rebuilt her game and become a cagey veteran, she’ll be hard to beat.

Either way, the frontcourt depth that will support Sarah’s quest for multiple NCs will be formidable, maybe the best in D1:

• 25-26 Jana Ice Gandy Blanca Ayanna
• 26-27 Jana Olivia Gandy Blanca
• 27-28 Jana Olivia Gandy Blanca plus whoever Geno gets next.

Whatever happens, Geno will have given Sarah & Co all the ingredients to dominate for all four years.

Now I find myself wondering who Olivia will have by her side for her final two campaigns. Once you let your imagination run, it gets addictive.

The thought I keep returning to is that Geno did his best to build a dynasty around Paige and was thwarted by injuries. Now that he has another GOAT in Sarah, he’s doing the same for her. She got the immense benefit of playing next to the outgoing GOAT, a chance to settle herself into the role and to see what true greatness looks like up close. I can’t imagination a better way for Sarah’s career to have begun. And to extend the thought, Olivia will get a two season long tutorial from Sarah about how to carry a team all the way. I have a feeling she will drink in every bit of those lessons.

 

[Geew1992]

Liv was certainly a very good center, to be sure. But that 2018 class had 3 Bigs rated ahead of Liv: Shakira Austin, Sedona Prince & Charli Collier who committed to and then decommitted from UConn.

Besides Austin, I would chose ONO over the other 2. Also, did Uconn recruit Austin?

 

[CL82]

How about Rebecca Lobo as a comparison?

My initial knee-jerk reaction was to scoff at this, but the more I think about it the more I think it's an interesting comparison. I need to watch some Olivia tape and blow the dust off a few Lobo recordings.

 

[oldude]

Besides Austin, I would chose ONO over the other 2. Also, did Uconn recruit Austin?

I don’t remember any mention of recruiting Austin. Prince paid a visit to UConn when she was planning to transfer from TX, before heading to Oregon. But UConn was all in on Collier, before she decommitted. At the time, Liv was not committed to anyone and I remember feeling fortunate that UConn was able to ramp up their effort to recruit her late and secure her commitment.