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Ditto from our side of the aisle.I hope she comes here because next years class seems a little weak if I’m being honest.
Ditto from our side of the aisle.I hope she comes here because next years class seems a little weak if I’m being honest.
She has an offer.Guessing she is using SC as leverage to get a UConn offer and vice versa. Huskies need true bigs so wondering Geno's stance on these potential offers.
I’m very excited about Gandy being on this team. Last year at the Albany regionals I sat next to a woman who came in from Scotland (she coached youth basketball there). We were chatting about international players and she specifically mentioned Gandy and how we were getting a good one.She has an offer.
Did you forget 6-6 Gandy Malou-Mamel is coming next year?
I guess you did not see her outplay some McDonald's AA in a game last week. She is the driving guard UConn likes and a very good rebounder.Kelis Fisher didn't make the McDonalds all American team. Scary, but Tennessee has 3 players on the team, we have none, so hopefully we get Agot and Blanca. Agot did make the team.
I'm sure people thought the same when players started to list UConn against other programs like Tennessee back in the day.I will be stunned if someone has UConn and SC in their final 3 and picks Michigan St. If she were a Michigan local, maybe. Otherwise, I dont see it.
The only top players UConn landed before 1995 were Lobo and Sales, both from an hour away.I'm sure people thought the same when players started to list UConn against other programs like Tennessee back in the day.
How does this make my point invalid? Lobo is even on record stating her parents weren't high on UConn when she was.The only top players UConn landed before 1995 were Lobo and Sales, both from an hour away.
Geno's first big non-local recruiting was Tammy Arnold (OR) in 1995 and then the 1996 class of Ralph (NC), Hansmeyer (OK), and Sauer (OK/NV)
My OP said that you dont turn down 2 of the top schools for a mediocre one unless it's in your back yard.How does this make my point invalid? Lobo is even on record stating her parents weren't high on UConn when she was.
I think we will keep seeing Sarah play at forward/center like this year. Only way she moves to 2/3 is if amazingly we have high quality starters at 4/5 who can play 30 minutes.I’ll be very surprised if she chooses us. We have Sarah, Morgan, Q, and Blanca plus it’s not inconceivable that we could have Caroline! All of those players are in the small forward, big wing, big guard territory.
Sounds a a Bit Q like (which is a good thing)Have you seen her play? She's a skinny version of Aubrey Griffin with a three point shot.........she's got a motor that doesn't quit, defends like crazy with long arms that she uses to disrupt passes ala Sara Strong and she's dead serious on the court.......she's just the kind of athletic and aggressive player that Geno needs to compete against teams like South Carolina, UCLA and USC.....
In this July article from her hometown she mentions proximity to home and family being able to attend games as being important.I'm sure people thought the same when players started to list UConn against other programs like Tennessee back in the day.
She's not a Michigan local per se, however Michigan State is closer to Thunder Bay than Columbia or Storrs. Especially now with how the Canadian dollar is trading, that can have an effect on family decisions when it comes to travelling.
So how doesn't the proximity of Michigan State to Thunder Bay not make sense from your perspective? Again, it's a heck of a lot closer even by air in comparison. That's the point here.My OP said that you dont turn down 2 of the top schools for a mediocre one unless it's in your back yard.
You tried to argue that UConn long ago was a counterexample. But it wasn't. The top players who chose UConn then were indeed close to home. Geno did not land top non-local players until it was a top 5 program (Arnold), and it really picked up after the NC (Ralph etc).
Bingo. Thunder Bay isn't exactly the easiest place to travel out of. Heck, it's a challenge getting to southern Ontario from there. I've done the drive from Toronto and it's at least half a day of travel when the roads are good.In this July article from her hometown she mentions proximity to home and family being able to attend games as being important.
Top 10 prospect Agot Makeer a rising hoops star
Sounds like proximity is one of many factorsBingo. Thunder Bay isn't exactly the easiest place to travel out of. Heck, it's a challenge getting to southern Ontario from there. I've done the drive from Toronto and it's at least half a day of travel when the roads are good.
I think she'll have more impact defensively and on the boards than Q.......she's a menace......Sounds a a Bit Q like (which is a good thing)
Most definitely. I'm not trying to say it's the only factor, but the assumption that she's not "local" to justify considering Michigan State is incorrect.Sounds like proximity is one of many factors
“There’s a lot of things that go into it, like how close it is to home, how often your family can get to games, dorms and just everything about the school, other than basketball. Because I feel I’ve picked 12 schools that have really good basketball programs.”
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Top 10 prospect Agot Makeer a rising hoops star
Read the full story and comment on Tbnewswatch.comwww.tbnewswatch.com
Just checked Google Maps. Talk about a grind! It's almost 12 hrs by car to Lansing (MSU) and 10 hrs by plane because I assume there's no jet airport in TB. And that's the closest school.Most definitely. I'm not trying to say it's the only factor, but the assumption that she's not "local" to justify considering Michigan State is incorrect.
Even those of us in Southern Ontario forget what it's like in Northern Ontario. Travel there, especially in the winter, can be a grind and sometimes dangerous.

Not clear on what you mean by jet airport, but Thunder Bay does have one. Not sure if flights can go direct to Detroit or Lansing from there however.Just checked Google Maps. Talk about a grind! It's almost 12 hrs by car to Lansing (MSU) and 10 hrs by plane because I assume there's no jet airport in TB. And that's the closest school.![]()
Actually, NIL doesn't affect her technically. She's a dual citizen. She only recently got her citizenship and passport to play for Canada last year. She may not need the F1 visa.A couple thoughts about Makeer:
- Most WBB recruits express an interest in playing close to home. But E. Lansing, MI is an 11 hour drive from Thunder Bay and Makeer is currently playing at Montverde Academy near Orlando, FL. So it’s hard to believe that proximity to home will be the deciding factor.
- I also want both Blanca & Makeer. Blanca is a more complete player. She’s more physical and she’s incredibly talented attacking the basket. Makeer is the better shooter and hopefully will add some muscle to that lean frame of hers.
- As far as NIL is concerned, foreign athletes on F1 student visas are still prohibited from earning “active” compensation. They are permitted to earn “passive” compensation. So Makeer can’t appear in an add for Gatorade. But she can be compensated for jersey sales. As a result, I don’t think NIL will be a major factor in her decision.
- In the end, I think her decision will come down to UConn or SC. I’m hoping she follows the path of fellow Canadians Kia Nurse and Aaliyah Edwards and decides to come to the basketball capital of the world. Fingers crossed.
I stand corrected.Actually, NIL doesn't affect her technically. She's a dual citizen. She only recently got her citizenship and passport to play for Canada last year. She may not need the F1 visa.
I read the map wrong. That obviously wasn’t a flight time. It’s 4 1/2 hrs flight time from TB to Detroit. That makes more sense.Not clear on what you mean by jet airport, but Thunder Bay does have one. Not sure if flights can go direct to Detroit or Lansing from there however.
The size of our provinces in comparison to most states are massive. For example, it takes over 20 hours to drive west to Manitoba if you go through Ontario. Cutting through the US saves a lot of time in some situations.
Canadians deciding to play in the US for any sport isn't a simple decision, especially if you're being targeted by a top program. I recall Shay Colley transferring out of South Carolina to Michigan State because it was closer to home in Ontario. Some athletes end up transferring back to a Canadian program because they can't handle the distance and being homesick.
For Kia Nurse (8 hrs) and Aaliyah Edwards (7 hrs), the travel wasn't bad, but it's still a trek. Not to mention the option for discount airlines like Southwest are virtually non-existent to help make flying cheaper. It's a big factor when considering playing in the NCAA.

It was that Fargo thingI stand corrected.
.Not unexpected. There’s already so many elite G’s on the roster. Don’t forget Kelis outsourced Kaleena Smith amongst other top 10 recruits in the OT select semis.Kelis Fisher didn't make the McDonalds all American team. Scary, but Tennessee has 3 players on the team, we have none, so hopefully we get Agot and Blanca. Agot did make the team.