Portal Shopping List

[oldhusky]

How about a Chen and Kiki pickup off the transfer portal?

It would be hard to top that. Particularly since I think both would be one year, if I am not mistaken, so not negatively affecting our pursuit of 2025 recruits. I'm sure Chen as a grad transfer is just one, but think KK would be too since she is one year too late for the covid year, and doesn't have a redshirt year. Sign me up!

 

[oldhusky]

It certainly appears that the conference shake-ups have had a dramatic affect on the portal. Maybe the reason for a legend retiring (Tara) and several big time players from the old Pac12 looking elsewhere. Regardless Iriafen and Beers if in as anticipated, will be prime targets for many of the top programs, and apparently they were happy where they were. Realignment changed everything for them.

 

[mordecai]

UCONN would benefit immensely with the addition of Kiki Iriafin..

 

[cohenzone]

Geno usually doesn’t like going above 13, rarely 15 scholarships. But the injury toll the last few years might have changed that. And i’m not sure why he would want any more guard or swing types. We look to be loaded with talent with not enough PT there. But definitely have room and need for a player with size and post skills. Even if Jana is fabulous, almost all the recent NC winners have had really strong rebounding teams with some depth among bigs. Geno has a history of taking transfer bigs, some as likely impact players like Juhasz, Hunter and Stevens, and some likely solid back ups like Butler and Rigby. We shall see and sooner rather than later.

 

[BobbyJ]

Kiki is the best player available on the transfer portal and will be a major asset for whichever team she chooses. Hopefully UConn is on it.

Iriafen is arguably the best big in the country right now.

 

[oldude]

Iriafen is arguably the best big in the country right now.

If she enters the portal…. Assuming Stanford quickly announces Kate Paye as the new HC, there’s some continuity in Palo Alto that might insure that Iriafen, her teammates and Stanford’s incoming recruits don’t head for the exits.

 

[ktuck911]

UCONN would benefit immensely with the addition of Kiki Iriafin..

YES! What a blessing she'd be with our current group... We need a new frontcourt presence that can give you a double double... She and Ice would complement one another IMHO... I expect to be see a much more potent Ice (she's more of a face up 4/5 that can shoot it from 3)... she's gotta be in the lab right now, getting ready for next season... I'm a fan.

 

[GenoWept]

I also wonder what the chances are that Kiki stays at Stanford? I hear Katy Paye (17 years on Stanford’s coaching staff), is going to be Tara’s replacement. Especially since Kiki will be a senior, it would probably be easier for her to decide stay if she knew the coach that was replacing Tara.

 

[Bone Dog]

Don’t get me wrong, I favor adding a big. But I think folks need to get clear on what a big is. It’s not necessarily a 6’5” or taller kid. Bigs can be 6’2” or 6’3” if they’re strong and hard to move out of the paint. We already have a few of these, not just Jana.

Look at SC after Cardoso. They’re imagining starting Watkins as their big post player. Of course, Dawn is also shopping the portal for another one. She has Tac on the bench, an unproven big, already. And Dawn would take Beers or Iriafen if the opportunity presents itself.

This is where we all think Geno should be too. We have a few bigs — Jana Ice Ayanna and Sarah — but only one is 6’5”. Would adding a 6’4” Beers or Iriafen be a good idea? Heck yeah! But Geno can make the team a contender with the lineup he already has.

Plus there’s a couple downsides to consider. Tall bigs like Beers are not so easy to make work in a transition-style offense because they don’t run well. Think of all the times Aaliyah got a steal and ran the break for a score. We won’t have that with Beers. This makes Iriafen look more attractive just because she runs the floor well and has quick feet, though I don’t think she’s nearly as quick as Aaliyah. We don’t know how well Jana will perform next season, but there’s plenty of evidence that she runs the floor really well and has quick feet. She could defend in a high hedge, get a steal and run the break for a score — there’s video of her doing just this. Shades of Aaliyah, but at 6’5”. Iriafen is as close to this as we get in the portal. But this is what makes Jana an excellent option for us, and the presumptive starter in my view.

Clearly Beers can work for us too. Not as quick but very strong and with good post moves and rebounding. I’d think of her a bit like Stef Dolson, who arrived out of shape as a freshman and worked herself into shape. But she never ran the floor as well as Stewie, for example, and didn’t need to. That duo was in many ways the perfect combination: Stewie ran the floor in transition while Stef held down the post with strength and power. Rebecca and Kara played similar roles. In some respects, having Beers and Jana playing together we’d have a similar situation, one we know can work really well.

But just to be clear, having Jana playing next to Ice Ayanna or Sarah will also work in a similar way. And we have a couple other 6’2” players in Caroline and Morgan, though I don’t think of them as bigs. They’re not as strong and immovable as a typical big, but they bring an array of other skills that could make for a good pairing. Same with Aubrey and Q, who bring great quickness to the 4 or the 3, with some loss of post muscle. And don’t forget Paige!

In the end, I caution against thinking too narrowly about how Geno might use our front court. Some mixture of strength and quickness is what we want. But there are a few permutations of these factors that can work really well and pose challenges to opposing teams. Pair Jana and Ice or Ayanna and it takes some of the low post rebounding pressure off Jana. Pair her with Sarah and you have excellent high low possibilities. Pair her with Morgan or Caroline or Aubrey and you give up some muscle in the paint but you get great quickness. Any of these can work for the team.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

It would be a great insurance policy (you're in good hands with ALLSTATE), if UConn got Kaitlin Chen and Kiki Iriafin for next season! We've learned you can never have enough talent the last 3 years!
The 1 year eligibility for both will safe guard the recruiting classes of 2025-2026 and beyond!
And reading Kiki's wanting to be coached "hard" sounds like a Geno Auriemma commercial!
If possible UConn should sell the farm for those 2!

 

[PacoSwede]

projecting how azzi, caroline, jana, ayanna or aubrey are going to rebound from their injuries is a crap shoot: all might be what we visualize in our dreams, all could be total flops. it's more likely we'll have a mixed bag, so to be prudent uconn likely will try to go with a full 15-scholarship squad.

i'd think they most need experienced, proven post/rebounding help.

also, i think they should discount a newbie's offensive chops and put a premium on her defensive talents. we've seen how important that can be ... ex. nika, aubrey, kelly faris et al. -- and look at the difference hidalgo made for endee. defense is extremely important (yet overlooked by lots of fans) and weak players, regardless of their other contributions, will sour a team defense, which has long be crucial to uconn's success.

 

[Huskee11]

I haven't seen Iriafen play much but I did happen to catch most of the Iowa State game where she dropped 41. Also saw her against NC State, had 26 in a loss. She was Stanford's best player, at least by the end of the season, and their second best player is about to be the number 2 pick in the WNBA draft.

If she does leave Stanford for any of the top four or five non South Carolina teams in the ESPN projected top 25, that team becomes the favorite. If she goes to South Carolina, don't want to think about it.

 

[JBK]

Guards - 1) K. Chen 2) T. VanOelhoffen
Bigs - 1) R. Beers ? 2) A. Petty

Olsen

 

[JBK]

Kiki is the best player available on the transfer portal and will be a major asset for whichever team she chooses. Hopefully UConn is on it.

I think Geno really like Olsen

 

[darrell]

Like all information, take this with a grain of salt.

 

[freekimchee]

I believe Kiki's final five before committing to the Cardinal included UCLA, Southern Cal, Notre Dame and UConn. I thought even back then she'd be a great fit for us.

 

[oldude]

I believe Kiki's final five before committing to the Cardinal included UCLA, Southern Cal, Notre Dame and UConn. I thought even back then she'd be a great fit for us.

According to the Stanford press release on her commitment, Iriafen’s final 5 were: Stanford, ND, Baylor, UCLA & UConn.

 

[jeff30189]

The C out of BU - local, SR, 6'4" center, 19pts/11reb, 3bk/gm in 36min/gm POY and DPOY this year. The Patriot league isn't a power conference, but she is an agile big with 4 years experience and would be here just one year. At the moment I think she is the best post player transferring for a one year stint. Not sure there is anyone else in that conversation at the moment.

+1.... or Kiki.... or Beers.

Lucy Olsen is not coming to UConn to be the sixth guard when she can go to any number of very good programs and start immediately with a chance at a Sweet Sixteen or better. Nor is Geno going to bring in someone who expects starter minutes when he just got done recruiting 6 guards in the last two classes. Never. Going. To. Happen.

 

[jeff30189]

If you add two more quality players from the transfer portal, where are all the minutes going to come from? You only have 200 minutes to spread around.

Paige - 24 minutes
Azzi - 20 minutes

LOL! Paige @ 24 minutes when she'd rather play 35-36..... is there anyone on the bench that for their best 12 minutes is better than Paige's worst 12 minutes? Where do you guys come up with this stuff? This isn't socialism where everyone has to get the same sized slice of pie. It's capitalism. Everyone eats, but the best ones eat the most.

 

[tower1]

Iriafen for sure! Are there rumors that she might leave Stanford? If so, she would be my number one priority! I think she’s better than Brink!

Iriafen would be the best choice for Uconn she is an unbelievable player and rebounder against taller players !!!! We need to get her >>>

 

[Bone Dog]

Ooh, I can't wait until we can have an official minutes distribution thread!!!

 

[tower1]

If I offered my two cents on this thread I would probably get back change...that is how little I know about who is in the portal, who Geno, et al. is interested in, who would consider spending their last year at UConn knowing that they will not be getting 30 plus minutes, and is there a strategy by coaches to grab the player that they think could hurt them the most before another coach grabs the player. There are a lot of variables that go into playing the transfer portal. And, here is the rub...with the impact players have had when coaches have used the portal I don't think elite coaches can ignore it. Additionally, taking players from the portal could produce a negative effect on the chemistry of a team. Players who stayed may have anticipated where they would fit into the rotation but now, they may have to recalibrate that preconception. We were extremely lucky when we were able to pick up Dorka Juhasz and Lou Lopez Senechal and more than likely, because of that success and because of the reasons above I don't see how Geno could not take a serious look at who is in the transfer portal.

The question becomes where in the lineup does Geno and his staff believe that UConn needs the help. He certainly knows more than we do about when the injured players will be returning to active status. So, does he go with an established big to add confidence to the front court? Does he go with a proven point guard to try and mitigate the loss of Nika Muhl and to add more strength to the back-court? Or, does he split the baby and go with one established big and one proven point guard? What is certain is that the temptation will be hard to resist. It is like a second bite at the apple and it is possible to pick up a quality player that the program was not in the running for during the recruiting cycle.

My wish list would include a quality big who is unselfish and doesn't mind playing 20-some minutes and who buys into UConn's desire to win its 12th championship. I would also like to have a quality, proven point guard because with Nika gone...and all the quality shooters we have in the back-court and at the small forward position...should KK find herself in foul trouble or God forbid on the injured list we would need someone who can be counted on in that position.

Anyone that Geno would take from the transfer portal would have to accept that the plethora of talent that UConn will be able to put on the floor will be beyond ridiculous and as a result, will be looking at playing 20-22 minutes maximum. It may be hard for a player who only has one year of eligibility left and wants to ascend to the WNBA to accept that reality.

Players that have to play next year are:

1. Paige Bueckers - the best player in America
2. Azzi Fudd - the best three-point shooter in America
3. Jana El Alfy - 6'5" Geno says, "wait until you see her play".
4. Ice Brady - A lot of time has been invested in her this past season and the "Sophomore Jump" should see much improvement.
5. Caroline Ducharme - I hope people haven't forgotten how good she is.
6. Aubrey Griffin - Why? Because! Well, I can't leave it there...how many times have you heard that Aubrey's
athleticism is unmatched?
7. Ashlynn Shade - she was there when Geno needed her, she started almost the entire season, and not only played steady, but, she showed improvement throughout the season even though she didn't have the greatest NCAA tournament.
8. KK Arnold - she is the fastest player getting downhill, her defense is tenacious, she was another player who was there for Geno when the injuries began to pile up, and she had a decent post-season.
9. Ayanna Patterson - She needs to be given a chance since she was a sub in the 2022-23 season before she was injured and had to sit out the 2023-24 season.
10. Sarah Strong - the number one recruit in the nation...she has to play
11. Allie Ziebel - The kid is just too good a shooter to not let her play.
12. Morgan Chelli - 6'2" guard...that is hard to find and she wasn't a Nike All-Star for nothing.
13. Qadence Samuels - Gave some good minutes during the 2023-24 season, a good three-point shooter...a long 6'0".

If you add two more quality players from the transfer portal, where are all the minutes going to come from? You only have 200 minutes to spread around.

Paige - 24 minutes
Azzi - 20 minutes
Sarah - 17 minutes
Jana El Alfy - 17 minutes
Ice Brady - 17 minutes
Ayana Patterson - 10 minutes
KK Arnold - 18 minutes
Ashlynn Shade - 15 minutes
Caroline - 17 minutes
Aubrey Griffin - 18 minutes
Qadence Samuels - 12 minutes
Allie Ziebel - 8 minutes
Morgan Chelli - 7 minutes.

200 minutes...managing minutes is going to be Geno's biggest challenge with this squad. If he adds two players from the transfer portal it will only make it more difficult. It wouldn't surprise me if Geno forgoes the portal this season...but who knows? I sure don't!

Geno would be foolish to pass on the portal. He needs a proven big and a good Point to backup KK, or a starter. KK has to learn how to make layups. If she does then no question she is our starter.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I’d prefer to watch our players develop.

But we desperately need a strong post. Will El Alfy rebound and be able to play a normal schedule after her horrible injury? That would be great. But it would still mean that we're terribly undersized in the front court: just the 6'6" el Alfy and 6'3" Ice Brady. Strong is much more a tall guard, and that at 6'2".

We need to acquire a big post from the Portal. Serious need.

 

[TCC Kid]

My first choice would be another LOU. Can you picture Uconn with Paige an Lou. Who do you tie up? Azzi, if she is on target is worth waiting for. Shades too, I think Geno will work her over this summer. She'll come out shooting next season. Yes a frosh to Soph- is a big transition for some.

 

[TCC Kid]

I have a better chance of winning the powerball lottery or reaching Geno’s number of wins in the coaching game than Hailey Van Lith being on the UConn roster this coming season. If they did add her my guess is there would be one of our current roster in the portal & I would hate to see that. If there is an addition it would be at the 4 or 5 position, at least in my opinion- which is worth exactly what you’re paying to get it. JMO

Hailey Van Lith. Personally, I wouldn't want her on any UConn team. 2 transfers and you are out.

If we sign a player from the portal, it is going to be interesting to see/hear which coach had the task of being the point of contact. I am thinking Morgan has that task but you never know.

You brought a point: Any new player to the Geno system has a hard learning curve. Geno isn't the usual coach, he is demanding. I think Vic S. Texas thinks like Geno. Morgan is the point on Recruits. She is the nicest player, person, lady.