Recruiting tidbits buried in Rich Elliot's article

[pap49cba]

A recruiting source said that Courtney Ekmark, a gritty 6-foot-0 sophomore guard from Phoenix, will make an unofficial visit to UConn Monday and attend the game against Notre Dame at the XL Center.

The source also said that it is shaping up to be a battle between UConn and Maryland when it comes to star junior Diamond DeShields, a 6-1 wing from Norcross Ga.

Okay, who is Courtney Ekmark?

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/117019/courtney-ekmark

 

[Wonkster]

... it is shaping up to be a battle between UConn and Maryland when it comes to star junior Diamond DeShields, a 6-1 wing from Norcross Ga ...

Somebody please tell me this is an early April Fool's joke. MARYLAND?
.

 

[UConnCat]

Here's a link to a thread back in Dec that discussed the TOC in Phoenix and mentioned Ekmark (and Stewart of course): http://www.the-boneyard.com/threads/breanna-stewart-most-oustanding-player.9658/

Ekmark is considered a Stanford lean by some. Also, I'm told she lacks foot-speed and will struggle to defend other guards and to get by quicker defenders. She can shoot, though.

 

[speedoo]

http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/117019/courtney-ekmark

Interesting. Very interesting.

 

[Kevin G]

Somebody please tell me this is an early April Fool's joke. MARYLAND?
.

Exactly!! Oh, Diamond....why? Why waste your talents

 

[Kevin G]

http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/117019/courtney-ekmark

A nice size guard who can shoot and has some dribbling skills

 

[MilfordHusky]

A nice size guard who can shoot and has some dribbling skills

And plays on the nation's #1 team.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Here's a link to a thread back in Dec that discussed the TOC in Phoenix and mentioned Ekmark (and Stewart of course): http://www.the-boneyard.com/threads/breanna-stewart-most-oustanding-player.9658/

Ekmark is considered a Stanford lean by some. Also, I'm told she lacks foot-speed and will struggle to defend other guards and to get by quicker defenders. She can shoot, though.

Thanks, Cat. I remember the thread.

Mel Thomas wasn't the most athletic kid, but she was smart, tough as nails, and a great shooter. If Ekmark is something like Mel, but 3" taller, I like that. I also like the potential geographic diversity. Maybe the kids watching Diana play for the Mercury will think about UConn.

 

[Sonny44]

Somebody please tell me this is an early April Fool's joke. MARYLAND?
.

Exactly!! Oh, Diamond....why? Why waste your talents

I suppose because she would be a god there.

 

[MilfordHusky]

And plays on the nation's #1 team.

Additional thought. How did we do with recruits from the nation's top team?

Hmm, in recent years, quite well:

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

Maya Moore

Tina Charles and Lorin Dixon

I'll take more of those!

 

[UConnCat]

And plays on the nation's #1 team.

Speaking of, St Mary's finished its season (undefeated and as mythical nat'l champions) with a win last night. Ekmark led all scorers with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. Her Dad is the coach.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/Kbd0mT...mpionships--no-1-st-marys-leaves-no-doubt.htm

 

[MilfordHusky]

Speaking of, St Mary's finished its season (undefeated and as mythical nat'l champions) with a win last night. Ekmark led all scorers with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. Her Dad is the coach.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/Kbd0mT...mpionships--no-1-st-marys-leaves-no-doubt.htm

A coach's kid--another thing to like.

 

[ThisJustIn]

"gritty." like that.

 

[rocky rococo]

Has UConn won any recruiting battles with Maryland since Frese has been there?

 

[triaddukefan]

Somebody please tell me this is an early April Fool's joke. MARYLAND?
.

Not sure which would be worse..... UCONN adding to their plethora of riches.... or Diamond D going to our biggest competitor in the ACC. Maybe she will have a change of heart and pick Illinois or Oregon State.... or Vermont

 

[MilfordHusky]

Not sure which would be worse..... UCONN adding to their plethora of riches.... or Diamond D going to our biggest competitor in the ACC. Maybe she will have a change of heart and pick Illinois or Oregon State.... or Vermont

Interesting statement on your biggest competitor. The Tar Heels are just sad this year, and the future dies not look much better. Meanwhile, Brenda is recruiting major talent.

 

[Sonny44]

Actually if she doesn't come here, shouldn't we all be happy if she chooses MD? Better than Duke, Baylor, ND, etc.

 

[Wonkster]

Actually if she doesn't come here, shouldn't we all be happy if she chooses MD? Better than Duke, Baylor, ND, etc.

Geez, Sonny - have you been listening to Bob Marley singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy" today?
.

 

[dtbtbtb]

You can almost guess what the recruiting pitch against UConn with a player like DD. YOu come to us, you'll be a superstar, you'll start, you'll be a player of the year, blah blah blah and on the other hand if you go to UConn you'll be in shadow of KMS for 32 years and B. Stew for 3 years.... MD did steal from UConn Laura Harper and I’m sure that if she would have played in UConn she would have a nice long career in the WNBA instead of the spotty one she got

 

[Icebear]

Geez, Sonny - have you been listening to Bob Marley singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy" today?
.

Maybe not, It may have been Bobby McFerrin.

 

[Sonny44]

Geez, Sonny - have you been listening to Bob Marley singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy" today?
.

No, I have no idea where she'll go.
As I said in the other thread I think she needs us more than we need her.

 

[MarieM]

connection with Lexie Brown maybe ??

 

[HuskyFan1125]

connection with Lexie Brown maybe ??

I stated this in an earlier thread. Brown and DeShields play on the same AAU team!

Could be meaningful.