Summer session starts on June 2

[Bone Dog]

If Blanca turns out to be as good as many of us hope and suspect, the we'll have a roster with at least 8 future draft picks. Azzi and Serah next spring, Ash and KK two years later, Sarah Kayleigh and Morgan the following spring, and Blanca the year after that. I'm withholding judgment on Carol and Ayanna, as well as Jana and Ice, not to mention Allie Gandy and Kelis.

 

[cgshuskie]

I based my observation on whether Azzi and KK are WNBA ready on all of the great guards there are presently in the W. Not sure they could go into the W and play now. I think Serah, Sarah and Blanca could play up front in the W now. Just my thoughts......

 

[Topsail]

I based my observation on whether Azzi and KK are WNBA ready on all of the great guards there are presently in the W. Not sure they could go into the W and play now. I think Serah, Sarah and Blanca could play up front in the W now. Just my thoughts......

I would say AZzi is WNBA ready… she will be in player of the year contention if healthy this year.. she can shoot , handle the ball , drive to the basket and play defense…

 

[oldude]

I would say AZzi is WNBA ready… she will be in player of the year contention if healthy this year.. she can shoot , handle the ball , drive to the basket and play defense…

After her MOP award in the FF, if Azzi was available she would have been a top 5 pick in this year’s WNBA draft, perhaps as high as #2 behind her BFF.

 

[my2cents]

1

After her MOP award in the FF, if Azzi was available she would have been a top 5 pick in this year’s WNBA draft, perhaps as high as #2 behind her BFF.

100% agree.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Cuango]

I didn't forget to mention Azzi or KK when I made the comment about Serah, Sarah and Blanca being WNBA ready. I simply don't think Azzi and KK are WNBA ready, like the other ladies. That doesn't mean they won't become WNBA players one day, but now they are not WNBA ready. But Serah, Sarah and Blanca could be a WNBA front line now. In the college context, I think Serah, Sarah, Blanca, Azzi and KK form an unbeatable roster and should take Uconn to NO. 13. Obvioudly, this is just my view..........

Interesting that you consider Blanca, a player who has yet to step on the court for a college game, more ready for the league than Azzi. Actually, that’s wrong, you think she could succeed in the league now! I hope you (and others) are right about Blanca and I’m perfectly willing to have a nice crow dinner if I’m wrong but I just think some are getting out over their skis with regards to Blanca. Yes, I think she will be very good for us but I’m not ready to put her in the WNBA yet.

 

[drsteven]

Blanca will be in Italy at least until mid July…

Would you know when the summer session ends and if maybe BQ makes it back for some of the end of the session?

 

[Molisanos]

Blanca will be in Storrs for the beginning of classes, end of August. I heard that she's going home after school

 

[YKCornelius]

Interesting that you consider Blanca, a player who has yet to step on the court for a college game, more ready for the league than Azzi. Actually, that’s wrong, you think she could succeed in the league now! I hope you (and others) are right about Blanca and I’m perfectly willing to have a nice crow dinner if I’m wrong but I just think some are getting out over their skis with regards to Blanca. Yes, I think she will be very good for us but I’m not ready to put her in the WNBA yet.

Cuango, I find myself somehere in the middle between you and cgshuskie.

Whereas Blanca during her time in the top Italian pro league (Serie A) has demonstrated that she is able to be impactful at a professional level, Serie A is still a step or two below the WNBA. That said, her development at Campobasso has been much, much better than it would have been at ANY high school program in the States. Not even close.

I think once she adjusts to the expectations that Geno and staff will lay out for her, the sky will be the limit for this Ecuadorian. If she is a fast learner of UConn's defensive schemes, like a few of our Italian Boneyarders watching her at Campbasso for the past five years have suggested she is, and she earns the trust of her teammates, Blanca could be a starter early in the year. Maybe by the first game.

From the onset, I will not be questioning her talent/skill level. I will be looking for indications of commitment and drive. Is she hungry enough to improve? Will she persevere through the struggles of being a full-time student, and will she put in the extra time to improve her shooting percentages (49.7, 27.6 and 70.3 this past year) and her rebounding (3.5 rpg in 25 mpg)?

At 186 cm (6'1") she will need to improve those numbers in order to be playing in the front line in the WNBA. Here's to hoping her time in Storrs will live up to expectations.

 

[Molisanos]

Cuango, I find myself somehere in the middle between you and cgshuskie.

Whereas Blanca during her time in the top Italian pro league (Serie A) has demonstrated that she is able to be impactful at a professional level, Serie A is still a step or two below the WNBA. That said, her development at Campobasso has been much, much better than it would have been at ANY high school program in the States. Not even close.

I think once she adjusts to the expectations that Geno and staff will lay out for her, the sky will be the limit for this Ecuadorian. If she is a fast learner of UConn's defensive schemes, like a few of our Italian Boneyarders watching her at Campbasso for the past five years have suggested she is, and she earns the trust of her teammates, Blanca could be a starter early in the year. Maybe by the first game.

From the onset, I will not be questioning her talent/skill level. I will be looking for indications of commitment and drive. Is she hungry enough to improve? Will she persevere through the struggles of being a full-time student, and will she put in the extra time to improve her shooting percentages (49.7, 27.6 and 70.3 this past year) and her rebounding (3.5 rpg in 25 mpg)?

At 186 cm (6'1") she will need to improve those numbers in order to be playing in the front line in the WNBA. Here's to hoping her time in Storrs will live up to expectations.

Blanca is 6’2½”.
At just 13, she crossed an ocean, left her family and her familiar way of life, and adapted to a completely new country, language, and culture.
Today, she’s among the top students in her school, not an easy task, considering Italian is not her first language and Italian schools can be challenging, especially for someone coming from South America.
Her three-point percentage isn’t her strongest stat yet, but she’s taking shots with more confidence and there’s plenty of room to improve. I expect Auriemma will encourage her to rebound more consistently, as she sometimes prefers to run the floor for a fast break instead.
One thing nobody is really talking about is the possibility of seeing her play power forward alongside Sarah Strong at center in a smaller, quicker lineup. That would be a nightmare for any adversary!
In any case, it won’t take long to see what Blanca can bring to the court and trust me off the court too!

 

[oldude]

Blanca is 6’2½”.
At just 13, she crossed an ocean, left her family and her familiar way of life, and adapted to a completely new country, language, and culture.
Today, she’s among the top students in her school, not an easy task, considering Italian is not her first language and Italian schools can be challenging, especially for someone coming from South America.
Her three-point percentage isn’t her strongest stat yet, but she’s taking shots with more confidence and there’s plenty of room to improve. I expect Auriemma will encourage her to rebound more consistently, as she sometimes prefers to run the floor for a fast break instead.
One thing nobody is thinking about is the possibility to see her playing PF with Sarah Strong playing C in an small line up...
In any case, it won’t take long to see what Blanca can bring to the court and trust me off the court too!

Greatly appreciate your continuing insights on Blanca. I for one cannot wait to see her on the court with UConn.

 

[YKCornelius]

Blanca is 6’2½”.
At just 13, she crossed an ocean, left her family and her familiar way of life, and adapted to a completely new country, language, and culture.
Today, she’s among the top students in her school, not an easy task, considering Italian is not her first language and Italian schools can be challenging, especially for someone coming from South America.
Her three-point percentage isn’t her strongest stat yet, but she’s taking shots with more confidence and there’s plenty of room to improve. I expect Auriemma will encourage her to rebound more consistently, as she sometimes prefers to run the floor for a fast break instead.
One thing nobody is really talking about is the possibility of seeing her play power forward alongside Sarah Strong at center in a smaller, quicker lineup. That would be a nightmare for any adversary!
In any case, it won’t take long to see what Blanca can bring to the court and trust me off the court too!

Molinsanos, thank you for your insights and the clarification on Blanca's height. FWIW, I was Eurobasket.com's information regarding her stats as well as her height. From what you are conveying, Eurobasket is most likely using out-dated measurements. It wouldn't be the first time.

I, along with many other UConn fans, can't wait to see her soar in Storrs!