Pick this year's DREAM TEAM - any player, any team

[PhillyCoach]

Philly - I think 'athleticism' comes down to some well defined traits: Speed, Quickness, Strength, Balance, Agility, Elevation, Body Control (might be termed part of agility), Hand Eye Coordination, Endurance. I am sure you could identify a few more, but these are basically the things that are tested at the NFL combine, in the heptathlon and decathlon, as well as various other athletic tests like SPARQ.
Based on these criteria, I think the only one that Turner would likely excel over Stewart is Strength, and I would think Stewart would excel in most of the others. Others could argue differently, and I certainly haven't watched Turner anywhere as much as Stewart. Ultimately we will never have a definitive answer unless the WNBA goes to a predraft 'combine' format which is very unlikely.

(I am agreeing with you - just getting down to basics.)

Good stuff UC--Thanks --you are expanding the issue by including more athletic traits/skills. As you noted, The combine gives the definitive answer for "great leaper (40 in.vertical or 9 ft standing long jump), strength - 30 reps with 225lbs in the bench or 400lb deadlift) speed - 4.29 4o yd. dash; etc.
However, the list of rejected/cut players (any sport) who scored at the highest levels on these concrete tests grows by the minute. As we all know, every basic athletic skill/trait is only as valuable as its "transferable value to the specific sport." As I mentioned, Stewie has Sinewy strength. You mentioned that Turner would excel at strength--(I assume that means brute strength.) Sinewy strength has direct relationships to all basketball skills. Brute strength is limited more to the block and the 3 ft. range. (Turner has the 3 ft range so I will concede this to her.)
Strength with endurance, flexible strength, balance, timing, body control strength, soft hands, & hand-eye coordination co-exists with all those necessary basketball skills that Stewie possesses. Turner is behind in development on many of these skills/traits/abilities.

 

[triaddukefan]

I can't leave Stevens off of this team. Same for Davis. Then with Mo and Stewie onboard I only have to decide on a shooting guard and I guess Tiffany Mitchell has to be my choice.

It's interesting that on either one of these threads that Aja Wilson hasn't been mentioned.

No Gamecock fan have posted yet

 

[PhillyCoach]

Great points Philly - I think of pure athleticism with regards to players as it relates to their speed and strength. Honestly, it may be just that Stewie is a tad pigeon toed and looks "goofy" when she runs which leads me to think Turner is more athletic, but I would think that in a short sprint or ability to leap high, Turner would have the edge.

When you say "Coordination, flexibility, body control (blocks without fouling), endurance, soft hands, timing, and balance are the forgotten elements of an athletic skill set", I think I'm just defining it differently because those things to me are "basketball" skills, not "athletic" skills. But no matter how you define it, Stewie has those skills in spades. Gabby Williams might be another example of a great athlete who didn't have many "honed" basketball skills after 2 years off due to injuries. I think that's why Geno put her in the post - it was easier to get her to make layups than to try to use rusty guard and shooting skills. Does that make sense?

But Stewie has longer arms, better moves around the basket, a better face up game, and a better mid range and deep shot. I think Stewie is the better player, but to my untrained eye, while Turner seems to have better "physical athleticism", Stewie is the better player. Keep in mind that Turner is just a freshman. Side note - in the 2nd half of the UCONN-ND game last year, Turner turned it on and Stewie could not stop her. I would say Turner outplayed her that half. I do think Turner is a special player. But I think Stewie is the best...

Eric - Good points. Another poster mentioned about "gut feeling or a good eye for deciding who is a good player." Looking goofy and walking pigeon toed could sway someone's opinion about "looking athletic." I can understand that.
IMHO gymnasts and decathlon competitors are the best COMPLETE athletes. Quick note - many complain about the current NBA and the decline of basic basketball skills, fundamentals, standard plays (give & go, etc.)---Guess why? They don't recruit the players with only the best basketball skills-- everyone is on the band wagon of "we are signing the BEST ATHLETE." They can run and jump. I say SO WHAT. First, all the traits UCMiami and I listed are more valuable athletic traits than just run and jump. Most importantly, the complete gamut of athletic traits blend with the BB skills/abilities to be a champion. Magic & Bird were not the best run and jump guys. I know Jordon & LeBron are! But they were not considered among the greatest until they brought the total package of skills and of course- TITLES.

In short, to be an athlete (IMHO) encompasses so much more than the standard "run & jump." Just sayin.
Quick add - Gabby is probably the best all-around athlete on the team and I would say even a better "runner and jumper" than Turner.
Whatever that's worth.
Good talkin to ya!

 

[EricLA]

Great minds ... Eric.

I had made my own team a couple days ago and came up with the same five.

Next? The ones that come to mind are Wilson, Tuck, Nurse.

My 2nd 5...

G - Nurse
G - Mitchell
W - Deshields
F - Stevens
F - Wilson

Clearly a ton of talent in the college game now. Right now I'd put Tuck on my 3rd team along with Jones, Bulgak, Plum, and maybe Alleyne from Oregon (6'3" forward who had a terrific junior season last year).

 

[triaddukefan]

My 2nd 5...

G - Nurse
G - Mitchell
W - Deshields
F - Stevens
F - Wilson

Clearly a ton of talent in the college game now. Right now I'd put Tuck on my 3rd team along with Jones, Bulgak, Plum, and maybe Alleyne from Oregon (6'3" forward who had a terrific junior season last year).

One of my rules when it comes to these types of threads is not include any player that I havent seen play in at least a few games. I hear/read alot about Alleyne... and have seen her gaudy stats... but other than a few minutes in a game I watched online vs UNC last season.. Ive never seen her in action. Another player I dont see mentioned much on this board is Nia Coffey from Northwestern. I havent seen her play..... but judging from her stats and what ive read... she's a good under the radar player.

 

[johnnyc]

Moriah Jefferson - Best PG in WCB
Courtney Williams - toughest selection.....could easily put Kelsy Mitchell or Kia Nurse here.
Nina Davis - great all round game
Morgan Tuck - pretty close to unstoppable when she posts up
Breanna Stewart - best player in WCB skill wise, athletic wise any which way wise.....

 

[PhillyCoach]

My 2nd 5...

G - Nurse
G - Mitchell
W - Deshields
F - Stevens
F - Wilson

Clearly a ton of talent in the college game now. Right now I'd put Tuck on my 3rd team along with Jones, Bulgak, Plum, and maybe Alleyne from Oregon (6'3" forward who had a terrific junior season last year).

Hi Eric == It's me again! Other posters select Deshields as first team. You select her as 2nd team. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me. Here is how my brain is wired on this.
First, Deshields or DD was a volume shooter or gunner as a frosh, not a real team player, she was all-freshman team or high honor, she transferred, was out a year, has been hurt and is now coming back--maybe soon; maybe later.
As a less than total guard package, less than total team player, scratchy personality, health concerns, & with a certain coach this year----I don't get the adulation.
I wouldn't say over-rated, but I don't vote potential for AA spots. I guess I am an old school "character" recruiter and DD wouldn't be on my first list. That's the first twist coming from my mind.

Second - as an agitator/warrior class kind of guy (retired) -- a good conversation/debate would bring me to Butler. Based on the DD background criteria, I say Butler should be on someone's list too. (second or third tier maybe.) Butler was a double-double player --I don't care what league it was--she was a team player, positive personality, healthy, and she was an all-freshman team MVP or some other honors. Butler has several pluses that DD does not have. Of course, another major advantage that Butler has is Geno/CD for a year. And add to that, playing with the best team in the land with the best players.
Someone please explain the difference. Or Is it just the gunner/shooter/scorer bias?

 

[BlueDevils]

2ND 5
Angela Salvadores
Leticia Romero
Kia nurse
Azura Stevens
Stewie

Ton of basketballs IQ with this squad

3rd squad
Niya Johnson
T.Mitchell
DD
Nina Davis
Imani McGee Stafford

So that makes my 15 player roster which consists of... Mo, lex, becca, salvadores, Romero, nurse, Tiffany, and Niya Johnson as my guards. And KLS, TUCK, Stevens, Stewie, DD, Nina, and Stafford as my wings/forwards. Yea we are ready for war.

 

[UcMiami]

Philly, Eric, etc - the line between athleticism and skill is a huge one, and the translatability of them to actual play is also not clear cut - which is why the NFL combine and GM evaluations of players in every sport in drafts is so often wrong, and both athleticism and pure skill evaluations do not take into account other things such as Height - for example Moriah Jefferson, or Tiffany Hayes (National SPARQS winner I believe), or Kelly F. would outscore either Turner or Stewart in an athleticism sense and probably a skill sense as well.
And yes there is an age/experience difference in play here - but that is an whole other issue, and one that is less critical in an 'athleticism comparison' than in a 'skill comparison' and in terms of actually results on the court is significant at this time in their careers as well.

 

[Billybonggg]

Absolutely; and you get the bonus of cohesion. There's a reason everybody's transferring and sitting out this year.........There's just no hope. Edit. This was supposed to be a support reply to Zorro, picking an all-UCONN dream team.

 

[EricLA]

Hi Eric == It's me again! Other posters select Deshields as first team. You select her as 2nd team. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me. Here is how my brain is wired on this.
First, Deshields or DD was a volume shooter or gunner as a frosh, not a real team player, she was all-freshman team or high honor, she transferred, was out a year, has been hurt and is now coming back--maybe soon; maybe later.
As a less than total guard package, less than total team player, scratchy personality, health concerns, & with a certain coach this year----I don't get the adulation.
I wouldn't say over-rated, but I don't vote potential for AA spots. I guess I am an old school "character" recruiter and DD wouldn't be on my first list. That's the first twist coming from my mind.

Second - as an agitator/warrior class kind of guy (retired) -- a good conversation/debate would bring me to Butler. Based on the DD background criteria, I say Butler should be on someone's list too. (second or third tier maybe.) Butler was a double-double player --I don't care what league it was--she was a team player, positive personality, healthy, and she was an all-freshman team MVP or some other honors. Butler has several pluses that DD does not have. Of course, another major advantage that Butler has is Geno/CD for a year. And add to that, playing with the best team in the land with the best players.
Someone please explain the difference. Or Is it just the gunner/shooter/scorer bias?

I probably should have put Tuck on the 2nd team and Deshields on the 3rd. In my original post i said I left her and Kelsey Mitchell off my first team list because they are volume shooters and I'm not convinced they are as "good" in a team environment. I def think Wilson is better than Deshields. Maybe at the end of the year I'll have a different opinion, but basically I agree with you...