Saniya Chong trims to 6

[TimeWillTell]

Players like Soniya fall through the cracks in national recruit ranking services because they have never played outside their immediate area. These recruiting services spend most of their time at AAU gatherings and HS tournaments - they do not have the finances to travel around to local HS games or to all the local AAU games, so if a player hasn't hooked on with one of the big traveling AAU teams or with a nationally ranked HS that travels to the tournaments, they never get seen/evaluated.
That should change with the USA trials, and I think her AAU this year will do some of the tournaments.

Saniya plays AAU basketball for the Hudson Valley Breeze 11th grade team. Click on this LINK to see their May, June & July schedule. Obviously, Saniya won't participate in the 5/19/12 Hoop Group Event........she'll be in Colorado Springs that weekend attempting to make the U18 team.

 

[UcMiami]

Saniya plays AAU basketball for the Hudson Valley Breeze 11th grade team. Click on this LINK to see their May, June & July schedule. Obviously, Saniya won't participate in the 5/19/12 Hoop Group Event........she'll be in Colorado Springs that weekend attempting to make the U18 team.

I think I read somewhere that HVB had a deal with another AAU team where some of their players would play with the other's 'senior' squad for some tournaments. No idea where I saw that and whether it actually happens and whether Saniya is one of the players, but ...

 

[triaddukefan]

One one hand.... I would love to see her play in the ACC.... seems like an exciting player.. and I would get to see her play in person.... on the other hand... 2 of the 3 ACC schools she listed are Duke's primary rivals. Maybe Wake Forest can make a late push

 

[TimeWillTell]

One one hand.... I would love to see her play in the ACC.... seems like an exciting player.. and I would get to see her play in person.... on the other hand... 2 of the 3 ACC schools she listed are Duke's primary rivals. Maybe Wake Forest can make a late push

triaddukefan, have you seen this video clip of Saniya dropping 54 pts. on Archbishop Molloy? Saniya is # 12 in Maroon...check out her court vision and passing too! Click on "Full Screen" so you don't miss a thing.

 

[triaddukefan]

triaddukefan, have you seen this video clip of Saniya dropping 54 pts. on Archbishop Molloy? Saniya is # 12 in Maroon...check out her court vision and passing too! Click on "Full Screen" so you don't miss a thing.

Ok... I really, really hope she doesnt ever enroll in schools located in either College Park, MD ... or Chapel Hill, NC

 

[VAMike23]

triaddukefan, have you seen this video clip of Saniya dropping 54 pts. on Archbishop Molloy? Saniya is # 12 in Maroon...check out her court vision and passing too! Click on "Full Screen" so you don't miss a thing.

Loved the coach's reaction to that final 3-pointer!!! Priceless!! LOL !!

 

[easttexastrash]

Saniya plays AAU basketball for the Hudson Valley Breeze 11th grade team. Click on this LINK to see their May, June & July schedule. Obviously, Saniya won't participate in the 5/19/12 Hoop Group Event........she'll be in Colorado Springs that weekend attempting to make the U18 team.

Are trials open to the public? If so, I'll have to make the one hour drive from Denver to watch some of the action.

 

[easttexastrash]

A few observations:

1. Great passing ability
2. Great range on the three pointers
3. Starts her three point shooting motion from pretty low and she may have a hard time getting her shot off against longer, athletic defenders.
4. In this video clip she did not show that she has a mid-range game. She either shot a three pointer or drive all the way to the rack. She doesn't appear to have the height or leaping ability to be very effective getting to the basket at the college level.

Which class is she in and what is she ranked? I don't think she will be a standout in college, but I am no expert.

 

[UcMiami]

A few observations:

1. Great passing ability
2. Great range on the three pointers
3. Starts her three point shooting motion from pretty low and she may have a hard time getting her shot off against longer, athletic defenders.
4. In this video clip she did not show that she has a mid-range game. She either shot a three pointer or drive all the way to the rack. She doesn't appear to have the height or leaping ability to be very effective getting to the basket at the college level.

Which class is she in and what is she ranked? I don't think she will be a standout in college, but I am no expert.

I agree about the fairly low start to her 3 pointer, but very few WCBB three pointers are actually contested shots so I don't think it will be that big a problem.
I do think she has great shot making ability and body control so I suspect she will be able to drive.
Don't think I have seen any mid-range, but that isn't surprising for a HS guard.
She hasn't played the stiffest competition, but as Geno has said, the object of the game is to put the ball in the basket, and she has done that against everybody. I think she will be a good college player - not a Diana or Sue, but a solid contributor.
2013 class. And as far as I know unranked at this time by anyone - she has not played any of the big HS or AAU competitions so no one has actually seen her live - but she has solid schools recruiting her.

 

[TimeWillTell]

I agree about the fairly low start to her 3 pointer, but very few WCBB three pointers are actually contested shots so I don't think it will be that big a problem.
I do think she has great shot making ability and body control so I suspect she will be able to drive.
Don't think I have seen any mid-range, but that isn't surprising for a HS guard.
She hasn't played the stiffest competition, but as Geno has said, the object of the game is to put the ball in the basket, and she has done that against everybody. I think she will be a good college player - not a Diana or Sue, but a solid contributor.
2013 class. And as far as I know unranked at this time by anyone - she has not played any of the big HS or AAU competitions so no one has actually seen her live - but she has solid schools recruiting her.

Blue Star has her ranking at #25 (LINK).................haven't heard of any other services ranking Saniya.........yet!

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Hoopgurlz will be updating their 2013 & 2014 rankings next week. should be interesting to see where she lands!

 

[easttexastrash]

I agree about the fairly low start to her 3 pointer, but very few WCBB three pointers are actually contested shots so I don't think it will be that big a problem.
I do think she has great shot making ability and body control so I suspect she will be able to drive.
Don't think I have seen any mid-range, but that isn't surprising for a HS guard.
She hasn't played the stiffest competition, but as Geno has said, the object of the game is to put the ball in the basket, and she has done that against everybody. I think she will be a good college player - not a Diana or Sue, but a solid contributor.
2013 class. And as far as I know unranked at this time by anyone - she has not played any of the big HS or AAU competitions so no one has actually seen her live - but she has solid schools recruiting her.

I watched the highlight clip for Tyler Scaife and she has a great pull-up jumper, as does Moriah Jefferson. KML and Hartley both have very nice shots from long distance and mid-range games, which really makes them more difficult to defend. A player without a nice mid-range game is going to pick up a fair number of charging fouls. Tiffany Hayes had a tendency to pick up charging fouls because she had a reputation of going all the way to the rim almost every time and wasn't particularly proficient with her mid-range shot. The same is true for Madden, and to a lesser extent Hayden, from Baylor. Hayden has done a better job of developing a pull-up jumper than Madden and has become a better offensive player as a result.

One of the reasons I was always so big on Stricklen from Tennessee was because she had the ability to shoot the three, hit the pull-up jumper and drive to the basket, or post up. Her offensive versatility is exceptional.

 

[UcMiami]

I watched the highlight clip for Tyler Scaife and she has a great pull-up jumper, as does Moriah Jefferson. KML and Hartley both have very nice shots from long distance and mid-range games, which really makes them more difficult to defend. A player without a nice mid-range game is going to pick up a fair number of charging fouls. Tiffany Hayes had a tendency to pick up charging fouls because she had a reputation of going all the way to the rim almost every time and wasn't particularly proficient with her mid-range shot. The same is true for Madden, and to a lesser extent Hayden, from Baylor. Hayden has done a better job of developing a pull-up jumper than Madden and has become a better offensive player as a result.

One of the reasons I was always so big on Stricklen from Tennessee was because she had the ability to shoot the three, hit the pull-up jumper and drive to the basket, or post up. Her offensive versatility is exceptional.

Interesting discussion - I just don't see many high school kids that are really good 3 point shooters and really good drivers to the basket bothering to develop that mid range shot until they reach college. Playing the percentages - if you are 50 % on drives and 40 % on 3s, why bother with 45% mid-range? Especially if you are also a really good passer.

 

[Olde Coach]

Blue Star has her ranking at #25 (LINK).................haven't heard of any other services ranking Saniya.........yet!

IIRC -- Sue Bird was ranked about 25 in her class (1998). That worked out pretty well for UConn and the Olympic Team etc. etc. etc.

 

[easttexastrash]

Interesting discussion - I just don't see many high school kids that are really good 3 point shooters and really good drivers to the basket bothering to develop that mid range shot until they reach college. Playing the percentages - if you are 50 % on drives and 40 % on 3s, why bother with 45% mid-range? Especially if you are also a really good passer.

Some players are never able to develop a mid-range game due to their shooting motion. Based on what I am seeing Chong will have a difficult time developing a mid-range game. She doesn't appear, to me, have a shooting motion that will lend itself to having a good pull-up jumper, like Scaife does. If she can't get to the basket and can hit a pull-up jumper with consistency, that relegates her to a spot-up shooter.

 

[speedoo]

Some players are never able to develop a mid-range game due to their shooting motion. Based on what I am seeing Chong will have a difficult time developing a mid-range game. She doesn't appear, to me, have a shooting motion that will lend itself to having a good pull-up jumper, like Scaife does. If she can't get to the basket and can hit a pull-up jumper with consistency, that relegates her to a spot-up shooter.

I think there are very, very few girls her age who have a good mid range game. The pull up jumper for some reason just seems to be something that girls develop later in their careers, and I really don't know why, because when I was in HS, even though I was not much of a player, even I had a pull up jumper. Maybe that's because there was no 3 point shot back then so we all tried to shoot closer to the basket instead of 20+ feet away. So I guess the reason for the lack of mid range games for girls might be the 3 point shot.

So given the fact that girls want to shoot the three, and given that girls are rarely strong enough to shoot a three with a natural looking form when they start playing, we are left with the likelihood that almost all HS girls will shoot the three with an unnatural form, just because they have to use more body to get the ball to the rim.

For example, Sue Bird's three point shot IMO is very similar in form to Chong's, but we all know Sue's mid range game and pull up jumper is very good. And I happen to know that Sue had that pull up and mid range game even in HS. Bird, like most girls, just use a more classic form in the pull up than they do with the 3 point shot. They just practice both until they can be accurate both at long range and in the mid range game.

I think you can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of women who use the same arm and wrist classic form at shorter range as they do from long range. Taurasi is one. But there are plenty of women who have both a good mid range game and can shoot the three. The explanation is they use a different form of shooting for the two shots.

So I don't accept your argument that Chong is likely to be nothing more than a spot up shooter. Just the fact that she handles the ball so well means she can readily position herself to get shots off with maybe nothing more than a screen to help her. And I don't rule out her ability to develop a mid range game, not by any means.

 

[easttexastrash]

I think there are very, very few girls her age who have a good mid range game. The pull up jumper for some reason just seems to be something that girls develop later in their careers, and I really don't know why, because when I was in HS, even though I was not much of a player, even I had a pull up jumper. Maybe that's because there was no 3 point shot back then so we all tried to shoot closer to the basket instead of 20+ feet away. So I guess the reason for the lack of mid range games for girls might be the 3 point shot.

So given the fact that girls want to shoot the three, and given that girls are rarely strong enough to shoot a three with a natural looking form when they start playing, we are left with the likelihood that almost all HS girls will shoot the three with an unnatural form, just because they have to use more body to get the ball to the rim.

For example, Sue Bird's three point shot IMO is very similar in form to Chong's, but we all know Sue's mid range game and pull up jumper is very good. And I happen to know that Sue had that pull up and mid range game even in HS. Bird, like most girls, just use a more classic form in the pull up than they do with the 3 point shot. They just practice both until they can be accurate both at long range and in the mid range game.

I think you can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of women who use the same arm and wrist classic form at shorter range as they do from long range. Taurasi is one. But there are plenty of women who have both a good mid range game and can shoot the three. The explanation is they use a different form of shooting for the two shots.

So I don't accept your argument that Chong is likely to be nothing more than a spot up shooter. Just the fact that she handles the ball so well means she can readily position herself to get shots off with maybe nothing more than a screen to help her. And I don't rule out her ability to develop a mid range game, not by any means.

Nice post and well argued. It will be interesting to see where Chong lands and how she develops.

 

[connboy77]

Nice post and well argued. It will be interesting to see where Chong lands and how she develops.

Hopefully she will land at UCONN where she will have a chance to reach her full potential and win a National Championship or two. As I have said many times, Geno is the best coach in women's basketball and no other coach gets more effort out of their players then he does.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Chong was off the radar and unranked by some and may break into the top 20 or so. She had limited exposure, but blew up over the past year. She was one of the top scorers in the nation, passes very well, shoots a high percentage, is quick, and dribbles to her left well. It's still uncertain how good she is. We'll find out more from the Team USA trials. She could be top 10 or she could be top 40.

 

[easttexastrash]

Hopefully she will land at UCONN where she will have a chance to reach her full potential and win a National Championship or two. As I have said many times, Geno is the best coach in women's basketball and no other coach gets more effort out of their players then he does.

Can't argue with that. The proof is in the budino.

 

[easttexastrash]

Chong was off the radar and unranked by some and may break into the top 20 or so. She had limited exposure, but blew up over the past year. She was one of the top scorers in the nation, passes very well, shoots a high percentage, is quick, and dribbles to her left well. It's still uncertain how good she is. We'll find out more from the Team USA trials. She could be top 10 or she could be top 40.

I hope to get to see her in the trials if they are open to the public. If I can get in I will send a report on the players.

 

[UcMiami]

Nice point about the variation in shot form for women. It really does come down to strength I think, and few young women have the arm strength and leg strength to shoot jumpers easily from 3 point range. Diana and Maya are the ones that stand out in my mind from the Uconn teams. Players like Augustus and L. Jackson also maintain good form throughout their range.

 

[speedoo]

Nice point about the variation in shot form for women. It really does come down to strength I think, and few young women have the arm strength and leg strength to shoot jumpers easily from 3 point range. Diana and Maya are the ones that stand out in my mind from the Uconn teams. Players like Augustus and L. Jackson also maintain good form throughout their range.

Yes, the more I think about it, it appears that the bigger 3 point shooters (with more strength) seem to be the ones who shoot with the same form throughout their range, as you put it. DT, Maya, Augustus, L. Jackson, and I would add Catchings (I think), maybe McCoughtrey, and a UConn name from the past: Ann Strother.

One exception, possibly: Bria Hartley, who is only 5-9, average for a guard, not big. Very good 3 point shooter with an excellent pull up jumper as well, using I believe the same form. And maybe another: Maria Conlon, who was not long but very strong and tough, my recollection is that her 3 point form was pretty classic.

 

[easttexastrash]

Yes, the more I think about it, it appears that the bigger 3 point shooters (with more strength) seem to be the ones who shoot with the same form throughout their range, as you put it. DT, Maya, Augustus, L. Jackson, and I would add Catchings (I think), maybe McCoughtrey, and a UConn name from the past: Ann Strother.

One exception, possibly: Bria Hartley, who is only 5-9, average for a guard, not big. Very good 3 point shooter with an excellent pull up jumper as well, using I believe the same form. And maybe another: Maria Conlon, who was not long but very strong and tough, my recollection is that her 3 point form was pretty classic.

I love the form of Kara Lawson and Nicole Powell. They are a couple of other players that shoot the three without pushing the ball. Classic form.

 

[MarieM]

exactly my point

The video was made on 5/5/12. That same day D. DeShields, S. Mavunga and J. Washington committed to North Carolina.