Poffenbarger to UConn

[Bigboote]

“Then they had Maya. I’d watch and think, ‘I want to be like her, someday.’ ”

Surreal indeed.

LOL! When I saw these words from Saylor, I was reminded of a quote from Salvador Dali. It went something like, "When I was four I wanted to be a baker, at five a policeman. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon, and my aspirations have been growing ever since."

I like it when people set their sights high, and young Ms Poffenbarger has checked that box.

 

[Dokey]

This question/suggestion caused this thought to pop into my head. There's a young woman I've known since she was four, one of my favorite people on the planet. She stopped growing early, probably around 12 or 13. She was 5-2 when she got married. I didn't see her for several years. Saw her a couple of years ago, hugged her, and asked, "Are you taller?"

She'd grown FOUR INCHES when she was pregnant at the age of 24. I am not making this up.

Most women reach their full height at 15, having entered puberty earlier than males, but some experience growth to age 17, so she might well add an inch. Her height at 14 was 6’1”, at 15 6’2”. I am a 6’1” male who was 5’ at the end of the 8th grade. 6’2” sounds pretty good to me.

 

[j66kicker]

LOL! When I saw these words from Saylor, I was reminded of a quote from Salvador Dali. It went something like, "When I was four I wanted to be a baker, at five a policeman. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon, and my aspirations have been growing ever since."

I like it when people set their sights high, and young Ms Poffenbarger has checked that box.

Haha - no shortage of ego strength there. Or with that other dude from Catalonia - Pablo something: "My mother told me, 'If you decide to be a soldier you will become a general. If you decide to be a priest you will become the Pope.' I decided to be an artist so I became Picasso."

 

[RockyMTblue2]

1000 points in under 50 games is quite the feat. Here is a bit of video from the game in which she broke 1000. See her score, see her rebound, see her throw the long outlet pass! I'm glad she plays on a top AAU team, because the HS game stuff is pretty mediocre it seems.



"Armed with a vast array of skills, Middletown’s Saylor Poffenbarger admits she sometimes doesn’t put them all to good use.

“Sometimes I forget dimensions to my game,” Poffenbarger said Tuesday. “I just need to remember all of them.”
She didn’t use one of her weapons much at all in the first half of Tuesday’s Class 2A West Section II semifinal against Walkersville. That skill, driving to the basket and finishing at the rim, allowed her to achieve a memorable milestone in the second half. More importantly, it helped the Knights fend off the Lions in a 43-38 victory."

On the attack, Poffenbarger drives Knights past Lions

 

[DefenseBB]

I didn’t think there was a 17u roster this year, so you would be looking at last years, which wouldn’t make much sense, because you were comparing her not being on a team Saylor was on.

Demeter tried out for the 16U team as a 15 year old in 2017. She also tried out for the 17U team as a 16 year old last year. To be invited is very noteworthy and her being a year younger than the age limit for both teams probably hurt her as she was competing against an older set. However if she is truly elite, she would have made a team, which is my point. To me, She’s good, not great, is going to a West coast team that is not on the East Coast sports Public’s radar like a Tennessee or ND so ESPN was correct in not noting it. Sorry to @TheFarmFan that their team signees don’t garner national attention but they shouldn’t as even most Men’s signees/commits don’t make the news on ESPN. Yes UConn WBB is THAT WELL KNOWN to warrant even snippets of news. Get used to it.
Now back to Saylor- as one of the 12 players selected and one of the 7 guards and only 1 of 4 in the 2021 class (Fudd was injured) she should be 1 of the position top 5. Her rank of #21 is a joke. It’s littered with Forwards and centers who are listed due solely to their size, not overall skill as is the case with most of these rankings. Think Nancy Mulkey, Tori McCoy, Ciera Johnson, Sierra Campisano, Jenna Stati all 6’3” or taller as posts and forwards ranked top 16 in their class in 2016 and all transferred mostly due to lack of skill required at the elite level.
I am even more thrilled with this commit than before researching the data!

 

[DefenseBB]

I was just telling myself Charlie is going to write something about bigs...and you never disappoint

@Charliebball has an unhealthy obsession with bigs. Heck even the #1 WNBA selection this year was a 5’11” Forward named Jackie Young who seemed to rebound well...

 

[Charliebball]

@Charliebball has an unhealthy obsession with bigs. Heck even the #1 WNBA selection this year was a 5’11” Forward named Jackie Young who seemed to rebound well...

not sure how unhealthy it is but only having one player taller then 6'2" is highly unusual for a top team these days................that's fine if their last name is Tuck or Collier but otherwise it's not the ideal situation when you consider the size and rebounding strength of the best competition in the big tournament...............

 

[oldude]

While I had seen highlights of Saylor, it's always worthwhile to watch a complete game video to get a true picture of a player. So I watched the game from her freshman year when Middletown played eventual 3A state champion Frederick. Frederick was clearly the better team, winning 68-50. But Middletown hung around for much of the game with Saylor going off for 30 of her team's 50 points. A couple general comments on her play:

• Even as a freshman, Saylor already had that step back 3 from the cheap seats
• She has a really effortless shooting motion
• Frederick was in her hip pocket the entire game, with 1 or more players birddogging her the length of the court, but for the most part, she handled the pressure easily.
• She is very good with a full court, two-handed chest pass hitting teammates in stride on multiple occasions.
• She is really good with the crossover dribble going to her left, although she finishes primarily with her right hand, something I suspect she will change to learn to finish with her left hand.
• Of all the things that impressed me, IMO the most impressive quality of her game is that she never appeared rushed on the court. She was under tremendous pressure from Frederick the entire game, but she didn't play hurried or out of control. Credit to her mother/HC for instilling that sense of control in her.

Saylor was very impressive as a freshman. As a sophomore she made the USA U16 team. It is exciting just thinking about how good she will become over the next few seasons before she gets to UConn.

 

[DefenseBB]

not sure how unhealthy it is but only having one player taller then 6'2" is highly unusual for a top team these days......that's fine if their last name is Tuck or Collier but otherwise it's not the ideal situation when you consider the size and rebounding strength of the best competition in the big tournament.....

That is exactly the situation- you don’t know how they may turn out but based on the programs success these past 12 FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES, I think we’ll be okay. And as I mentioned in the thread that all but Cox and maybe Holmes, from the HG 2016 Class rankings have been busts at the top level and not worthy of their ranking. Where as a 5’1” Jackie Young was awesome. Granted she played everywhere, but that is exactly the type of Player UConn recruits. This was also my point that too many bigs are OVER rated by everyone with only a handful able to handle The rigors of D1 elite teams. So besides Baylor this past few years-name an elite team with multiple bigs who actually contributed? I can’t recall any. And given the number of posts you put out bemoaning our lack of height, yes, it’s a tad unhealthy, mostly to us. I get your concern is to field the best team possible but until we can’t make consecutive FF, or get 5+ losses in a season- I trust the process.

 

[Alydar]

Demeter tried out for the 16U team as a 15 year old in 2017. She also tried out for the 17U team as a 16 year old last year. To be invited is very noteworthy and her being a year younger than the age limit for both teams probably hurt her as she was competing against an older set. However if she is truly elite, she would have made a team, which is my point. To me, She’s good, not great, is going to a West coast team that is not on the East Coast sports Public’s radar like a Tennessee or ND so ESPN was correct in not noting it. Sorry to @TheFarmFan that their team signees don’t garner national attention but they shouldn’t as even most Men’s signees/commits don’t make the news on ESPN. Yes UConn WBB is THAT WELL KNOWN to warrant even snippets of news. Get used to it.
Now back to Saylor- as one of the 12 players selected and one of the 7 guards and only 1 of 4 in the 2021 class (Fudd was injured) she should be 1 of the position top 5. Her rank of #21 is a joke. It’s littered with Forwards and centers who are listed due solely to their size, not overall skill as is the case with most of these rankings. Think Nancy Mulkey, Tori McCoy, Ciera Johnson, Sierra Campisano, Jenna Stati all 6’3” or taller as posts and forwards ranked top 16 in their class in 2016 and all transferred mostly due to lack of skill required at the elite level.
I am even more thrilled with this commit than before researching the data!

While I agree that the rankings are flawed you must have missed the 2020 rankings. While 4 (6'3"+) tall players were in the top 10 there were 5 pg's and another G among those 10.

To me it appears that individual skills count a lot more than team skills in AAU and that's where many of the highly ranked who don't make it fall down.

Unless your parents can afford 10K/yr on travel teams or else move into a HS district with a powerhouse BB program you are out of luck. Boys can learn in playgrounds because the depth and breadth of talent among boys is sufficient. Where boys can form a league from the play in a dozen blocks in a city girls need the whole city to form one team.

 

[Charliebball]

That is exactly the situation- you don’t know how they may turn out but based on the programs success these past 12 FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES, I think we’ll be okay. And as I mentioned in the thread that all but Cox and maybe Holmes, from the HG 2016 Class rankings have been busts at the top level and not worthy of their ranking. Where as a 5’1” Jackie Young was awesome. Granted she played everywhere, but that is exactly the type of Player UConn recruits. This was also my point that too many bigs are OVER rated by everyone with only a handful able to handle The rigors of D1 elite teams. So besides Baylor this past few years-name an elite team with multiple bigs who actually contributed? I can’t recall any. And given the number of posts you put out bemoaning our lack of height, yes, it’s a tad unhealthy, mostly to us. I get your concern is to field the best team possible but until we can’t make consecutive FF, or get 5+ losses in a season- I trust the process.

here's an easier question......................when was the last time UConn won a NC without two dominant front court scorers/rebounders?

 

[veryolddog]

here's an easier question.......when was the last time UConn won a NC without two dominant front court scorers/rebounders?

I concur with this thinking. I also would like to add that when UConn had 3 1/2 All Americans on their team they missed two championships in a row with Collier, Samuelson, Nurse, and Williams. Even though Z was on one team, they did not play her as a starter. Enough said. There are believers and non believers. Everyone is right and no one is wrong, but I like Charlieball's rationale better.

 

[meyers7]

here's an easier question.......when was the last time UConn won a NC without two dominant front court scorers/rebounders?

I assume since you want "bigs" they have to be at least 6-4. So '15-'16, had Stewart and Butler, but don't know if I'd consider Butler dominant.

 

[CajunHusky]

It is my understanding that these "rankings" are from recruiting services that receive remuneration from the coaches, the players and various other organizations. If the player doesn't sign up with a service they don't get any more than a casual evaluation. The service does provide valuable assistance to the player with promotional material and an in depth evaluation if they signup. Those that don't signup the service will include in rankings (especially the 4/5 star prospects) or risk losing credibility with coaches etc. but they will in all likelihood be ranked lower within their ?star grouping. Similarly not all recruiting services attend the same aau events where evaluations are most often performed. And if the girls don't play aau travel teams then the evaluation doesn't happen.

 

[meyers7]

It is my understanding that these "rankings" are from recruiting services that receive remuneration from the coaches, the players and various other organizations. If the player doesn't sign up with a service they don't get any more than a casual evaluation. The service does provide valuable assistance to the player with promotional material and an in depth evaluation if they signup. Those that don't signup the service will include in rankings (especially the 4/5 star prospects) or risk losing credibility with coaches etc. but they will in all likelihood be ranked lower within their ?star grouping. Similarly not all recruiting services attend the same aau events where evaluations are most often performed. And if the girls don't play aau travel teams then the evaluation doesn't happen.

Hence why it is best (and what I do) is combine all the rankings I can find (well at least Bluestar, PN, and HG - and ASGR if I can find them) and do a composite.

 

[DEpup]

I keep saying this but I always get attacked by the board. ONO

not sure how unhealthy it is but only having one player taller then 6'2" is highly unusual for a top team these days......that's fine if their last name is Tuck or Collier but otherwise it's not the ideal situation when you consider the size and rebounding strength of the best competition in the big tournament.....

I keep saying this but get attacked constantly. I think ONO is great but its a lot to ask her to go a full 40 minutes against that big girl centers at the elite level. She needs a partner her size to get a break and allow her to share some fouls so she can be aggressive. What's wrong with a Lobo Wolters duo? Having a partner will also support ONO staying healthy.

 

[Alydar]

here's an easier question.......when was the last time UConn won a NC without two dominant front court scorers/rebounders?

It's a good question. In 2016 UConn had Stewart. Butler was big but hardly a dominant player. Other than that there was Tuck, listed at 6'2" but really 6'1" and freshmen Collier & Williams. So who was the 2nd dominant front court player? I say Tuck but I'm sure you think "how can that be? She is but 6'1". If you agree about Tuck then I say your worries are needless because UConn is loaded with that size for years to come?

 

[oldude]

OK, here are some truths we all need to get used to. Neither Boston, Prince or any other true Big will be suiting up for the Huskies next season.

Liv is spending all summer on campus getting stronger while working on her game. I expect a significant sophomore leap from her. We don’t need 40 mpg from Liv. She’ll be spelled by some combination of Evelyn, Megan, Touly or Kyla.

If Evina is eligible and we get contributions from one or more of the freshmen, UConn will have one of the best collections of interchangeable big g/w’s, who can also score, that they’ve ever had.

Before UConn ever signed Evina, Ania or Evelyn, I believed UConn was a FF team. On paper, only Oregon and Baylor may have as good or better talent. Oregon may be a better team early in the season, but I think Geno outcoaches Graves if they meet again during the Big Dance.

As for Baylor, they have the best center in the country. If Evina is eligible, I’ll take the next 4 players from UConn if I’m choosing teams.

 

[donalddoowop]

Hey oldude, or whoever may know, is Ania pronounced Aneeya or Ahnya?

 

[Ozimoto]

I would guess the latter pronunciation is close.

 

[Blue Ghost]

It's a good question. In 2016 UConn had Stewart. Butler was big but hardly a dominant player. Other than that there was Tuck, listed at 6'2" but really 6'1" and freshmen Collier & Williams. So who was the 2nd dominant front court player? I say Tuck but I'm sure you think "how can that be? She is but 6'1". If you agree about Tuck then I say your worries are needless because UConn is loaded with that size for years to come?

Very true, but she did have Stokes backing her up for 3 of the 4 years. Also Stewie in the games that mattered played the entire game so that made up for not having a backup. I understand the concern of Ono having to play heavy minutes without a backup.

 

[pvdoggy]

It took less than 5 days for 2021 SP's commitment's thread to get to 10 pages. That's pretty impressive for a 21st ranked player. It has taken more than 3 weeks for 2020 Mir McLean's commitment to only get to 9 pages. Not sure what that means, but I find it interesting. Maybe Uconn fans are more interested in taller girl?

 

[Ozimoto]

Well, that and we are in the dog days of summer. This thread has wandered a bit from the title.

 

[DaBball]

Demeter tried out for the 16U team as a 15 year old in 2017. She also tried out for the 17U team as a 16 year old last year. To be invited is very noteworthy and her being a year younger than the age limit for both teams probably hurt her as she was competing against an older set. However if she is truly elite, she would have made a team, which is my point. To me, She’s good, not great, is going to a West coast team that is not on the East Coast sports Public’s radar like a Tennessee or ND so ESPN was correct in not noting it. Sorry to @TheFarmFan that their team signees don’t garner national attention but they shouldn’t as even most Men’s signees/commits don’t make the news on ESPN. Yes UConn WBB is THAT WELL KNOWN to warrant even snippets of news. Get used to it.
Now back to Saylor- as one of the 12 players selected and one of the 7 guards and only 1 of 4 in the 2021 class (Fudd was injured) she should be 1 of the position top 5. Her rank of #21 is a joke. It’s littered with Forwards and centers who are listed due solely to their size, not overall skill as is the case with most of these rankings. Think Nancy Mulkey, Tori McCoy, Ciera Johnson, Sierra Campisano, Jenna Stati all 6’3” or taller as posts and forwards ranked top 16 in their class in 2016 and all transferred mostly due to lack of skill required at the elite level.
I am even more thrilled with this commit than before researching the data!

Yes, but Saniya Rivers, Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen (W), Aziaha James, Brooke DeMetre (W), Greta Kampschroeder, etc. all did not try out. If they all try out, maybe Saylor doesn't even make the team, but that is something we will never know, but the assumption that she should be a top-5 2021 guard because she was one of four 2021 guards to make the team (when two of the guards ahead of her made it and looked better and the other five didn't even try out) makes 0 sense.

Basing it off of where Verhulst and Citron (who were certainly ahead of her at U16) are ranked, I would say Saylor's ranking is close to correct.

 

[Alydar]

Very true, but she did have Stokes backing her up for 3 of the 4 years. Also Stewie in the games that mattered played the entire game so that made up for not having a backup. I understand the concern of Ono having to play heavy minutes without a backup.

I agree about the need for a couple of backup players who can be physical in the paint along with blocking shots and rebounding. Stokes was not only good at those things, at some of them she was the best on the team. But for a couple of fans Stokes, at a mere 6'2" just doesn't fill UConn's need.

Except in rare cases true centers need 2 years to develop at UConn. Their size makes it easy to score and rebound in HS and many never learn much technique or develop stamina and IMO a big entering her 3rd year of HS is 4 years away from being a factor at UConn. Trying to predict that far in advance is a crap shot. Every 2 years a Wilson or a Brown comes along but mostly it takes time. (Tina Charles)

I'll take Fudd and take my chances with 3 years of what could end up being a legendary back-court.

 

[oldude]

Yes, but Saniya Rivers, Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen (W), Aziaha James, Brooke DeMetre (W), Greta Kampschroeder, etc. all did not try out. If they all try out, maybe Saylor doesn't even make the team, but that is something we will never know. Basing it off of where Verhulst and Citron (who were certainly ahead of her at U16) are ranked, I would say Saylor's ranking is close to correct.

Does anyone know if any of the players you list were invited to tryout for the U16 team? If they were invited, and chose not to participate, it’s possible they had something else to do, but you have to ask the question, “Why not tryout?”

As an example, after not making 2 straight USA teams, Angel Reese declined to tryout for the U19 team this year. Contrast that decision with Aubrey Griffin who paid her own way to tryout for the U18 team last year, turning a number of heads before being one of the last players cut. This year Aubrey earned an invite to the U19 team, where she came up short once again.

If you’re Geno Auriemma, who are you going to want on your team: the player that competes for a spot on USA basketball and fails, or the one that doesn’t even try?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

As an example, after not making 2 straight USA teams, Angel Reese declined to tryout for the U19 team this year....

If you’re Geno Auriemma, who are you going to want on your team: the player that competes for a spot on USA basketball and fails, or the one that doesn’t even try?

By numerous accounts, Reese wanted to win a championship with her AAU team. I doubt Geno would've been bothered by that.

 

[oldude]

By numerous accounts, Reese wanted to win a championship with her AAU team. I doubt Geno would've been bothered by that.

Yes, that’s what she said. But winning an AAU championship vs winning a World Championship hardly seems comparable.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Yes, that’s what she said. But winning an AAU championship vs winning a World Championship hardly seems comparable.

I get that viewpoint, but don't forget that her AAU team is comprised of many of her close friends she's played with for years. I think Reese does things a bit differently, whether on the court or not.

 

[Carnac]

OK, here are some truths we all need to get used to. Neither Boston, Prince or any other true Big will be suiting up for the Huskies next season.

Liv is spending all summer on campus getting stronger while working on her game. I expect a significant sophomore leap from her. We don’t need 40 mpg from Liv. She’ll be spelled by some combination of Evelyn, Megan, Touly or Kyla.

If Evina is eligible and we get contributions from one or more of the freshmen, UConn will have one of the best collections of interchangeable big g/w’s, who can also score, that they’ve ever had.

Before UConn ever signed Evina, Ania or Evelyn, I believed UConn was a FF team. On paper, only Oregon and Baylor may have as good or better talent. Oregon may be a better team early in the season, but I think Geno outcoaches Graves if they meet again during the Big Dance.

As for Baylor, they have the best center in the country. If Evina is eligible, I’ll take the next 4 players from UConn if I’m choosing teams.

Slide over OD, let me hop on THAT bandwagon. Agree 100%