September UConn recruiting thread | Page 3 | The Boneyard

September UConn recruiting thread

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Anyone out there have a solid idea on where El Alfy would rank among the 2024 bigs? Where would she fit on a list of Thomas, Tac, Koval, Almon, and Heiden? I’m aware rankings are subjective and often wildly inaccurate. While I don’t know anything about Almon beyond her commitment to Miami, I tend to see the remaining three uncommitted players listed above as being relatively close in terms of ability. Obviously they vary in terms of particular strengths and weaknesses but based on what I’ve seen and heard, none are considered “elite” or “generational” players but rather “solid” with potential for more.
 
Cuango said:
Anyone out there have a solid idea on where El Alfy would rank among the 2024 bigs? Where would she fit on a list of Thomas, Tac, Koval, Almon, and Heiden? I’m aware rankings are subjective and often wildly inaccurate. While I don’t know anything about Almon beyond her commitment to Miami, I tend to see the remaining three uncommitted players listed above as being relatively close in terms of ability. Obviously they vary in terms of particular strengths and weaknesses but based on what I’ve seen and heard, none are considered “elite” or “generational” players but rather “solid” with potential for more.
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I don't have a solid idea regarding their relative rankings, but I suspect El Alfy might be at the top of that list. Her mobility and ball-handling is much better than most bigs. I know Thomas is high in the rankings, but I wasn't that impressed in the few clips I have seen. I have to keep that in mind, however, because I had a similar reaction to Koval based on very minimal videos, then saw her play for Ukraine in the 3x3 under 18 and was far more impressed.

In that tournament she got good position underneath and shot quickly when she got the ball. Seemed strong, good fundamentals, pretty good skills, but pretty average athlete. Heiden seems to be similar to me as well, ranked lower but maybe underrated.

I am probably interested in Tac second after El Alfy. Appears to be extremely long and pretty athletic. I presume she would be a very good rebounder/shot blocker and yet have the potential upside to be a low post scorer as well. If she advances on the offensive end, she might move up from around 10 to closer to the top, but I haven't seen that much of her either, so all of these opinions are based on pretty limited information, but those are my thoughts based on what I have seen thus far.
 
HuskyNan said:
Why would Geno recruit another wing when he has Caroline, Amari, Aubrey, and Ayanna with Qadence coming in?
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Do you think if El Alfy wants to commit to UConn, Geno should take her? She appears to be a very good prospect.
 
I just watched a #FIBA 3X3 highlight of Juste Jocyte = worth a
viewing if you like Juste as a prospect. I Googled "Juste Joycte" and
then the selection "Juste Jocyte: Lithuania's Rising Rocket". She make
things look effortless! Driving, Cuts, Passes, and three point shots. It
this looks like slow motion some times... consider what it would look like
if she does her thing "quickly"!! Juste plays with Lyon Asvel in the
Ligue Feminine de Basketball. Lyon Asvel has a "youth academy"
( a H.S. type of program??).
 
Zarathustra said:
I just watched a #FIBA 3X3 highlight of Juste Jocyte = worth a
viewing if you like Juste as a prospect. I Googled "Juste Joycte" and
then the selection "Juste Jocyte: Lithuania's Rising Rocket". She make
things look effortless! Driving, Cuts, Passes, and three point shots. It
this looks like slow motion some times... consider what it would look like
if she does her thing "quickly"!! Juste plays with Lyon Asvel in the
Ligue Feminine de Basketball. Lyon Asvel has a "youth academy"
( a H.S. type of program??).
Expand ...
Juste Joycte is very much like Napheesa Collier in this sense: They never looks like she breaking a sweat or trying to hard and then you look up at the score board or the box score and they are absolutely killing you.
 
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donalddoowop said:
Do you think if El Alfy wants to commit to UConn, Geno should take her? She appears to be a very good prospect.
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IMO Geno would absolutely take her because you have to remember where we are with class of '23. UCONN had offers out to Ciera Toomey and Madison Booker originally. While Qadence might be thought of as a logical replacement for Booker (who appears to be headed to TN) UCONN still has not secured a forward comparable to Toomey for this class '23.
El Alfy could be that forward or so could Prosper and so could Delaney Thomas.
 
Jana Elalfy: is this just normal Boneyard silliness or is it too beyond the pale?

She wants to graduate early from high school? We hear about a verbal soon and then
she enters UConn for the second semester,,,starts right after the MLK weekend [I believe]. Come to campus a couple of weeks before second semester classes start...as soon as she graduates.
She joins the team and gets a running head start on the 2023-2024 season with nutrition program/weights
program and practicing with high intensity with and against the 2022-2023 roster. Come game one in November of 2024 she is ready to contribute in a big way... immediately.

Out of extreme left field: As she practices this season it becomes at least possible that Geno and Jana see that she could help this team. Her skills/effort demonstrate this to both. They both realize that playing in the second half this year would blow one year of eligibility...leaving her with 3 years after this season is over. We play a lot of conference team the second semester....there should be amply opportuntiy for her to get on the court and get adjusted to actual games...her to to her teammates....them to her. By tourney time she is realistically able to help this team go far...very far.
 
But just to be clear, I have not seen any indication Delaney Thomas is being actively recruited. She’s been to Storrs, though I suspect mainly to visit Azzi. What I mainly see is a big, strong kid who can shoot and is used to carrying her hs team on both ends of the floor. I’d be surprised if Geno hasn’t looked at her, even if he decides not to make an offer.
 
Bone Dog said:
But just to be clear, I have not seen any indication Delaney Thomas is being actively recruited. She’s been to Storrs, though I suspect mainly to visit Azzi. What I mainly see is a big, strong kid who can shoot and is used to carrying her hs team on both ends of the floor. I’d be surprised if Geno hasn’t looked at her, even if he decides not to make an offer.
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if you go back in they way back machine when Delaney and Azzi were playing AAU with GTS fusion Delaney was quoted as saying that she was working towards getting a UCONN offer. As you have said doesn't mean she ever got an offer or that UCONN is even interested. Delaney has done enough to at least earn a UCONN evaluation. For example she was Very very solid at USA basketball U16 where she led the team in rebounds per game and FG%. Quite candidly I'm surprise there is this much resistance to UCONN evaluating Delaney because she is potentially better that some of the names we seem to have gotten comfortable with. Aubrey, Qadence and even AE-at. least ESPN thinks so.
 
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Thomas has said in the past that she would love to go to UConn. With the minimal interest UConn is getting from bigs, UConn should go after Thomas. Ice will probably have to eventually play the 5 at this rate, so having Thomas to help in the post would be a benefit.
 
AmeriConn said:
That’s a UConn kid if ever I heard one!!
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Maybe like DORKA? Dorka graduated early from Ohio State (Psychology)
and, as we all saw in the recent current and future (?) team picture, 6' 4" Jana,
standing next to our 5 year graduate "Big Girl" , 6' 5", Dorka. Both BIGS, Both
Early, both UCONN!. So, Jana, how about an 'early' commit??
 
Bone Dog said:
Exactly, and last I saw she was listed at 6’3”. Whatever her precise height is, she plays big. But I’m glad to hear that some scouts think she’s a credible sg. She’s got a good midrange game and can occasionally hit the 3, but I wouldn’t have put her at the 2. I can see her as a sf but she looks much more like a pf to me, who could occasionally play c at the next level when needed.
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I saw that the FIBA stat sheet on JANA ( more accurate than any "rating' blog, IMO) she is
listed as 193 cm == 6' 4". Juste Joycte is listed at 188 cm == 6'2". My memory
is that Jana was a guard on the team in Egypt before " growing" into her new position.
 
Zarathustra said:
I saw that the FIBA stat sheet on JANA ( more accurate than any "rating' blog, IMO) she is
listed as 193 cm == 6' 4". Juste Joycte is listed at 188 cm == 6'2". My memory
is that Jana was a guard on the team in Egypt before " growing" into her new position.
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I don't think @Bone Dog post was about Jana Elalfy. I believe he was talking about Delaney Thomas. @Purchase1 stated that Delaney Thomas is not being recruited by UCONN. I don't doubt @Purchase1 information - I just believe that Delaney has done enough to where she should be considered by UCONN given where UCONN is with the big forwards in the 2023 class-as in UCONN don't have one yet and it is getting late- late is 2 months away from signing day for the class of '23.
 
oldhuskie said:
I don't have a solid idea regarding their relative rankings, but I suspect El Alfy might be at the top of that list. Her mobility and ball-handling is much better than most bigs. I know Thomas is high in the rankings, but I wasn't that impressed in the few clips I have seen. I have to keep that in mind, however, because I had a similar reaction to Koval based on very minimal videos, then saw her play for Ukraine in the 3x3 under 18 and was far more impressed.

In that tournament she got good position underneath and shot quickly when she got the ball. Seemed strong, good fundamentals, pretty good skills, but pretty average athlete. Heiden seems to be similar to me as well, ranked lower but maybe underrated.

I am probably interested in Tac second after El Alfy. Appears to be extremely long and pretty athletic. I presume she would be a very good rebounder/shot blocker and yet have the potential upside to be a low post scorer as well. If she advances on the offensive end, she might move up from around 10 to closer to the top, but I haven't seen that much of her either, so all of these opinions are based on pretty limited information, but those are my thoughts based on what I have seen thus far.
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I agree, Ms. Koval, in the FIBA 3X3 tournament this Summer, kept her team , Ukraine, competitive in a number of those quick/ high energy contests. Remember these 3X3 are international, against carefully selected National teams. I believe that Kataryna (Kate) has a nice upside. Read: still needs some polishing. Geno,
polish this gem in the rough!
 
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I am stating about Delaney Thomas , not Elalfy .I would bet that Jana Elalfy has an offer from U Conn.
 
hoophuskee said:
No.

But we do have bigs as of right now.
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I think the question is what bigs will we have in two years. In 2024-25, we'll have Ice and Ayanna as juniors and Amari in her senior year. El Alfy will be a Sophomore. I think another big next to her would be useful, if not essential.
 
hoophuskee said:
They don't need one as of right now. Nice to have but not a need.
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Depends what you mean by "need." I think a big forward is still a hole in the '23 recruiting. The bigs for that squad will be Aaliyah Amari Ice Ayanna. The following year, Amari Ice Ayanna and that feels a little thin to me. Add El Alfy and Delany Thomas, or two others like them, and the roster looks much fuller to me.
 
Back to Juste Jocyte Juste is a "guard" 6' 2" 188 cm. Juste was the MVP
of the Fiba U18 Women's European Championship this Summer in
Heraklion, Greece. See the FIBA Final Game of Spain v Lithuania.
Juste was great, as usual, but I was impressed by her PASSING. This
in a championship series where she was 16 yos playing against players who
were two years older than Juste. If interested in more Juste Highlights
see Fiba U18 Women's European Championship and the article
for August 16, 2022 : "Player Spotlight: Juste Jocyte - the Magic to
Make Lithuania Contenders Again." Her stats: 19.1 ppg 7.1 rpg,
6.9 assists per game ( remarkable for the primary shooter on the squad)
and an efficiency rating of 22.9. This link as a nice article about Juste
and her effect on the team and has breakout highlight videos embedded in
the link. Note JANA and JUSTE are still both 16 yoa . JANA 6' 4", Juste
6' 2" 188 cm and for completeness sake: Katenyna (Kate) Koval is 6' 5". 193 cm.
and she is 190# ( per the FIBA webpage)
Koval plays for Lutheran H.S. on Long Island , N.Y. and also EXODUS, NY NY
Jersey #13.
 
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I"m seeing how the NIL thing has already changed college football and wonder if this is going to change the landscape of women's basketball, too.
 
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