Saylor Poffenbarger, Live and In Person

[donalddoowop]

Well, so much for news about Saylor.

 

[RoadWarrior]

View attachment 51563

A couple of more observations from the Middletown vs. Oakdale game that MilfordHusky and I attended:

• Saylor is an adept ball handler. While not to be confused with Paige, she is much more skilled and fluid than Katie Lou and has very strong passing skills. She was a PG until she grew five (5) inches prior to getting to High School.
• She runs the floor exceptionally well and can take an opponent off the dribble to the rim or pull up for a jumper. I expect her to be very good in the transition game at the next level.
• With more skilled teammates at the next level, she should generate a high number of assists.
• She can post-up opponents and is strong enough to finish through contact and make the layup. She is also a lethal foul shooter.
• While the mechanics on her foul shots are terrific, her form on her jump shot needs to continue to evolve to be more consistent.
• I am 6’ 4” and stood next to Saylor before taking MilfordHusky’s picture with her. She is every bit 6’ 2”.
• Her transition to Storrs [from an environmental perspective] should be rather seamless. Middletown is a rural part of Frederick, MD and I saw more cows than people and Main Street reminded me of Mayberry from the Andy Griffth Show complete with a barbershop and ice cream parlor.

Finally, I am not sure I understand the sympathy that MilfordHusky has garnered regarding his commute to the game. As the person on the other end waiting for him to arrive – he should have left earlier – there is always traffic in Washington, DC and the surrounding suburbs.

 

[MilfordHusky]

My sister lived in southern Fairfax County, about 30-35 miles from me in surburban Maryland. Her husband was career military, and when he said he’d be to my place at 6, he damn well meant 6:00:00. I have no idea how he did it, but for 20 years, I could set my watch by their arrival. But maybe 10 years ago, he started missing, and I could tell how pissed he was about it.

Kudos to you, Mil, for having the stomach to cross the Potomac in the late afternoon.

Did he have access to a military helicopter?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Do you think Muffett would hire Tim Fudd if it meant getting Azzi Fudd?

Hmmm. Are we in the market for an Assistant Coach?

 

[cohenzone]

Do you think Muffett would hire Tim Fudd if it meant getting Azzi Fudd?

She would marry Geno if it meant getting Azzi Fudd.

 

[MilfordHusky]

A couple of more observations from the Middletown vs. Oakdale game that MilfordHusky and I attended:

• Saylor is an adept ball handler. While not to be confused with Paige, she is much more skilled and fluid than Katie Lou and has very strong passing skills. She was a PG until she grew five (5) inches prior to getting to High School.
• She runs the floor exceptionally well and can take an opponent off the dribble to the rim or pull up for a jumper. I expect her to be very good in the transition game at the next level.
• With more skilled teammates at the next level, she should generate a high number of assists.
• She can post-up opponents and is strong enough to finish through contact and make the layup. She is also a lethal foul shooter.
• While the mechanics on her foul shots are terrific, her form on her jump shot needs to continue to evolve to be more consistent.
• I am 6’ 4” and stood next to Saylor before taking MilfordHusky’s picture with her. She is every bit 6’ 2”.
• Her transition to Storrs [from an environmental perspective] should be rather seamless. Middletown is a rural part of Frederick, MD and I saw more cows than people and Main Street reminded me of Mayberry from the Andy Griffth Show complete with a barbershop and ice cream parlor.

Finally, I am not sure I understand the sympathy that MilfordHusky has garnered regarding his commute to the game. As the person on the other end waiting for him to arrive – he should have left earlier – there is always traffic in Washington, DC and the surrounding suburbs.

Thanks for the supplemental report and for waiting. I totally agree with your thoughts about me getting sympathy. You are sitting at the restaurant starving and you keep getting texts saying I'll be later and later. Next season, I'll go to Frederick for lunch and just hang around until game time.

In terms of Saylor's skills--note her stat line tonight was 32/11/6/10/3--she does just about everything well.

I had not heard about Saylor's experience at PG and subsequent growth spurt. That's the A'ja Wilson story. It worked out pretty well for her.

I think Saylor will do well at all things, but she seems made for transition, whether it's grabbing a rebound, making a 50' pass, or finishing. I also think she'll be a nightmare in a press. Her anticipation, quickness, and length make her a very effective ballhawk.

Yes, her FT shooting looked pretty much textbook. I expect that she'll shoot 85% at the line.

I think Saylor will love the UConn Dairy Bar!! In the meantime, now that I know how to get to Middletown and how many days it takes to get there, I'm down for several games next season. I like how well the team is coached--kudos to Amy--and love watching Saylor's instinctual play.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

For those not reading the recruit thread. Though with nothing else going on, why wouldn't you?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

For those not reading the recruit thread. Though with nothing else going on, why wouldn't you?

Was that last one a fade away 3?!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Was that last one a fade away 3?!

It was one of her patented step-back threes, which really are more like hop-back threes. Can't recall seeing another female player take shots like that. Very few male players either.

 

[CocoHusky]

For those not reading the recruit thread. Though with nothing else going on, why wouldn't you?

Equally impressive as the range is the incredibly efficient use of the dribble to create space for the shot. On all those shots the defender is not in bad position when Saylor catches the ball. By the time Saylor releases the shot the defender is not even in position to contest the shot. With her size that shot will be unguardable like James Harden is doing in the NBA. I can't stand James Harden though!

 

[CocoHusky]

It was one of her patented step-back threes, which really are more like hop-back threes. Can't recall seeing another female player take shots like that. Very few male players either.

EDD put together a tutorial on this.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

EDD put together a tutorial on this.

Interesting. I don't remember seeing Della Donne use that move but obviously she has. Hers is a true step-back though whereas Saylor jumps whole body. Hopefully, she won't need to create space 1-on-1 that much at UConn. I can't imagine it's the most efficient shot.

 

[BobbyJ]

Equally impressive as the range is the incredibly efficient use of the dribble to create space for the shot. On all those shots the defender is not in bad position when Saylor catches the ball. By the time Saylor releases the shot the defender is not even in position to contest the shot. With her size that shot will be unguardable like James Harden is doing in the NBA. I can't stand James Harden though!

It takes a lot of core and leg strength as well. It can work well in traffic inside the arc too. And I can’t stand the flopper either!

 

[HopJim]

EDD put together a tutorial on this.

Good call. My daughter went to UDel and saw EDD play many times. Virtually unguardable.

 

[DEpup]

Let me start by saying I love KLS but it looks like Saylor watched a lot of KLS tape and said I am definately going to be able to create my own shot so I can be better..... As much as I think KLS espanded her game over 4 years, she never was able to create her own shot and was too easily bothered by guards who would muscle her. Looks like Saylor won't have that problem.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Let me start by saying I love KLS but it looks like Saylor watched a lot of KLS tape and said I am definately going to be able to create my own shot so I can be better..... As much as I think KLS espanded her game over 4 years, she never was able to create her own shot and was too easily bothered by guards who would muscle her. Looks like Saylor won't have that problem.

Saylor is 1' shorter than Lou, but stronger. She's not quite the shooter Lou is, but she's more versatile at a comparable age.

 

[pvdoggy]

Let me start by saying I love KLS but it looks like Saylor watched a lot of KLS tape and said I am definately going to be able to create my own shot so I can be better..... As much as I think KLS espanded her game over 4 years, she never was able to create her own shot and was too easily bothered by guards who would muscle her. Looks like Saylor won't have that problem.

I went and looked at Lou's HS senior tape and she looked as good, if not better than Saylor who is going to be one of my favorite Uconn players when she arrives.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Definitely a superior athlete versus KLS. I believe that she will rebound immediately as well as contribute offensively.

 

[UConnCat]

I went and looked at Lou's HS senior tape and she looked as good, if not better than Saylor who is going to be one of my favorite Uconn players when she arrives.

Against much better HS competition.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Against much better HS competition.

Much better. Middletown plays small schools. Mater Dei is a huge school and plays some of the best teams in California.

But I still love Saylor's game. She performed well with USA Basketball.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

There are some similarities with KLS but Lou was the much better shooter. Of course, Lou was much better than just about everyone. Saylor really likes to dribble drive and move without the ball, plus she's an excellent passer. High basketball IQ and versatile game will make her productive even if her shot is off.

 

[DefenseBB]

There are some similarities with KLS but Lou was the much better shooter. Of course, Lou was much better than just about everyone. Saylor really likes to dribble drive and move without the ball, plus she's an excellent passer. High basketball IQ and versatile game will make her productive even if her shot is off.

Thanks for the video of her shooting, do you have any of her drives to the hoop or an elbow jumper? Just curious, after you've whetted our appetite..

 

[tchalla1]

Debuted in 1976. USA had Ann Meyers, Nancy Leiberman and one Ms Patricia Head. They got Silver.

It was after the 200 meters final (Tommie Smith won the gold, John Carlos, the bronze) that Smith and Carlos did the black power salute.... ")

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Thanks for the video of her shooting, do you have any of her drives to the hoop or an elbow jumper? Just curious, after you've whetted our appetite..

Only separate videos I've put in the recruit thread. No other montages save for one from AAU which has been posted a couple times.

 

[Scud49]

There are some similarities with KLS but Lou was the much better shooter.

Saylor I'm hoping has a better mid range game. With her ability to move, she may get plenty of 12' to 16' opportunities.