I wouldn’t call it 0 for 4. At least Lexi was recruited to be a role player, so we shouldn’t have expected much. Andi was young and immature, which surprised everyone. Meg’s season was roughly on a par with the freshmen seasons of Tuck, Gabby, and Pheesa. I think think she’ll be a star, maybe a Mega-star.
Last year, there were 6 top-10 draft pics ahead of the frosh. This year, there are 3. Context means a lot.
Would you please explain to me (and maybe a few others) what you see in MW that leads you to believe she will be a star, maybe even a Mega star because I just don't see it. While I surely understand that most players struggle their freshman year and every player develops at their own pace, and each year each player has X # of players in front of them, I truly don't get this degree of optimism.
Yes, she had six possible AÀ's ahead of her but clearly no real highly skilled, athletic, highly ranked competition for the very important and needed 7th spot which she was unable to lock it down even though she was injury free previously and her whole freshman year.
While I don't particularly like GA making the comment quoted above publicly, I believe it points to some significant, meaningful differences in preparation and mindset to not only CW and Ono, but any of the previous stars.
Some players have difficulty going from the best or even one of the best HS players in the country to #6 on their own team. Well now at best she might be the fourth best player, or maybe even the sixth best player, as it needs to be earned.
I would just compare her to KLS who also was national HS player of the year. As a freshman she struggled to become the fifth starter but for much of that season she was fighting off a Gabby and Pheesa. Her soph year she began the process of becoming way more than a great outside shooter and became an AÀ. As a junior even with a serious injury, she was thought by many to be the second best player in the country. She now needs to first get fully healthy and conditioned and then struggle again to be the leader on and off the court and in crunch time to make IT happen. Based upon her work ethic, drive and clearly proven accomplishments, she still must work extremely hard to be the national player of the year in college and bring her team a national championship.
Interestingly KLS & MW are both wings or 2 or 3's.
Obviously KLS being 6'3" is a huge advantage. She has worked endlessly so it seems to improve her rebounding and defense. MW is a few inches shorter and while a good rebounder, shooter and defender, I don't see having KLS's enormous drive to get better. I also don't see her skill set as being star let alone mega star caliber. She needs as a soph to do what KLS did as a freshman and become an important but support cog of this years team. Then maybe her junior year can approach or obtain AÀ status, with KLS and Pheesa having graduated.
As I've stated quite often previously here, go out and earn and do it. Not be handed it because of her, yours and many others hopes, dreams and wishes for her success.
I expect MW to be driven by last years results both individually and as a team. I'm pretty damn sure, she now gets it and prepared herself for what U Conn wbb is all about. Now it's totally up to her what's ahead.
Again, I think the "star" player gets what Geno said almost immediately even if they go through learning to be part of a team first and not the star. Also the step up to the college game against older, better players in and of itself is a struggle. Gabby and Kia now experience a similar thing entering their first year in the WNBA. As will KLS and Pheesa next year. All of those four and all prior stars, had all of the game and life experiences that being a significant contributor at U Conn brings.
I truly hope MW as well as CW and Ono, will become very important but secondary cogs to the remaining excellent to superb top three. That's the next step in their development. Not stardom!
Bronx23
