Taya Reimer & Stephanie Mavunga Article - UConn Mention

[Wbbfan1]

IndyStar - Link

Sure would be nice to see Geno sign these two outstanding young women.

 

[VAMike23]

I had heard Mavunga's name around here and in some recruiting articles, but had never stopped to read much about her. Reimer, I had already looked into. I know Taya is rated higher, and looks to be a superior offensive player for sure, but after reading this I'm wondering if a player like Mavunga might be more valuable, potentially, for the Huskies over the next several years.

I say this because she sounds like a defensive stopper inside: strong, explosive rebounder, shot blocker, etc. Also, the article states she is now the same height as Taya--6'3"---so she's big enough to excel in the same type of role at the college level. If she keeps building on these strengths, she might be just the ticket for a UCONN team that will be loaded with offensively gifted wings and forwards. This is not to say that our team is a bunch of defensive slouches--far from it. Obviously, players like Stewart are great at both ends--she's a special player in that she is really mobile for her size, and she will likely be utilized in all different ways on defense. It's just that Mavunga sounds like a specialist. An "I own the paint, I own that rebound, get that *** outta here" type of player. I like that. Considering the rest of our roster, this would be a great addition. (Stokes may develop into this type of player for us but then again she may not.)

Though things didn't work out with her, Geno obviously liked Xylina McDaniel's game....a game that seems to have a lot in common with Mavunga's. I will be following her more closely in the future.

 

[MilfordHusky]

"Reimer and Mavunga have the traditional women's basketball powerhouses recruiting them: Connecticut, Notre Dame, Purdue, Tennessee, North Carolina and Baylor to name a few. Mavunga said she currently has 23 scholarship offers and plans to take recruiting trips to Georgia and Connecticut soon. Reimer is trying to shrink her list of favorites down to about five schools. Neither player is close to making a decision."

Yay!

"I won't say I have favorites, but Notre Dame, Georgia and Connecticut have been recruiting me the longest," Reimer said. "I've visited all three places. It gets crazy sometimes, but I feel really fortunate to have the options that I do. It's been fun getting to know the coaches."

Both have Georgia on their lists. Interesting.

 

[EricLA]

Interestingly enough, VA, Mavunga is #2 per ASGR (behind Russell) and Reimer is #3. Blue star doesn't publish them for 2013 for free yet - you need to be a paying member. also i think they were both on the same USA team recently and while Mavunga came off the bench, she had better stats than Reimer who started. not saying that's the be all, but it seems both are equally great in different ways...

and i'm with you Mil. Mavunga mentioning wanting to visit UCONN and Georgia can only be good news for us and Taya stating ND, Georgia and UCONN being on her the longest is also good news (reading tea leaves).

 

[MilfordHusky]

I had heard Mavunga's name around here and in some recruiting articles, but had never stopped to read much about her. Reimer, I had already looked into. I know Taya is rated higher, and looks to be a superior offensive player for sure, but after reading this I'm wondering if a player like Mavunga might be more valuable, potentially, for the Huskies over the next several years.

I say this because she sounds like a defensive stopper inside: strong, explosive rebounder, shot blocker, etc. Also, the article states she is now the same height as Taya--6'3"---so she's big enough to excel in the same type of role at the college level. If she keeps building on these strengths, she might be just the ticket for a UCONN team that will be loaded with offensively gifted wings and forwards. This is not to say that our team is a bunch of defensive slouches--far from it. Obviously, players like Stewart are great at both ends--she's a special player in that she is really mobile for her size, and she will likely be utilized in all different ways on defense. It's just that Mavunga sounds like a specialist. An "I own the paint, I own that rebound, get that *** outta here" type of player. I like that. Considering the rest of our roster, this would be a great addition. (Stokes may develop into this type of player for us but then again she may not.)

Though things didn't work out with her, Geno obviously liked Xylina McDaniel's game....a game that seems to have a lot in common with Mavunga's. I will be following her more closely in the future.

Stephanie sounds more athletic, while Taya sounds more polished. I like Taya's versatility, but would be happy if we got either--or both. How is our last recruit from Indiana doing? Oh, Kelly Faris, our best defender and perhaps most reliable player. I think she's doing just fine.

 

[VAMike23]

Interestingly enough, VA, Mavunga is #2 per ASGR (behind Russell) and Reimer is #3. Blue star doesn't publish them for 2013 for free yet - you need to be a paying member. also i think they were both on the same USA team recently and while Mavunga came off the bench, she had better stats than Reimer who started. not saying that's the be all, but it seems both are equally great in different ways...

and i'm with you Mil. Mavunga mentioning wanting to visit UCONN and Georgia can only be good news for us and Taya stating ND, Georgia and UCONN being on her the longest is also good news (reading tea leaves).

Obviously I haven't been following Mavunga well enough at all..! If she's that highly rated--quite a bit higher than the X-girl, with a similar game, in a deeper class---I am even MORE intrigued. Sure, we'd love both But I strongly suspect that Mavunga would be the more valuable fit with our squad. She sounds like a true "4" if there ever was one, and that would be a great addition for us. Stewart is all-world and will play some at 3, mostly at 4 and possibly some 5 in a pinch, but I think that truly great teams always have a bruising inside specialist who is strong, controls the defensive glass without question, can alter shots, and generally plays with 'tude. Stewart is clearly capable in all of those areas but it would be great if we freed her up to be wherever Geno wants her to be on defense, game to game, by having someone like Mavunga in the paint at all times.

 

[EricLA]

Obviously I haven't been following Mavunga well enough at all..! If she's that highly rated--quite a bit higher than the X-girl, with a similar game, in a deeper class---I am even MORE intrigued. Sure, we'd love both But I strongly suspect that Mavunga would be the more valuable fit with our squad. She sounds like a true "4" if there ever was one, and that would be a great addition for us. Stewart is all-world and will play some at 3, mostly at 4 and possibly some 5 in a pinch, but I think that truly great teams always have a bruising inside specialist who is strong, controls the defensive glass without question, can alter shots, and generally plays with 'tude. Stewart is clearly capable in all of those areas but it would be great if we freed her up to be wherever Geno wants her to be on defense, game to game, by having someone like Mavunga in the paint at all times.

well as we all know, you can't go just by the rankings. i'm not sure who i think would be "better". i know UCONN has been on Diamond and Taya the longest and both are the only ones who have offers at this point (someone can correct me if i'm wrong).

as several have pointed out, UCONN is apparently "recruiting" (i use the word loosely) Russell, Mavunga, Reimer, Tucker, Samuelson and Deshields. i have no idea who leads for any of them except many seem to feel UCONN leads for Diamond. UCONN offered Taya at about the same time they offered Xylena. my point is they obviously would have taken both. to me that means they seem to want at least 2 post players. whether that means 2 out of Russell, Mavunga and Reimer, or if they'd like all 3 i have no idea.

Muvunga reminds me a bit of Nneka O. Taya seems like she may be more like Morgan. Mercedes is not really like anyone UCONN has. maybe she's a taller, more slender version of E Williams. i'm not trying to pigeon hole any of the players, just trying to get a mental image of what their game is like and how it would fit in.

can you imagine a class of Russell, Reimer, Mavunga and Tucker? not saying we get all 4, or even 3 out of 4, but wow.

 

[Icebear]

There is at least one poster from Indiana on the PennLive board who thinks that Mavunga is the significantly better player than Reimer.

 

[connboy77]

well as we all know, you can't go just by the rankings. i'm not sure who i think would be "better". i know UCONN has been on Diamond and Taya the longest and both are the only ones who have offers at this point (someone can correct me if i'm wrong).

as several have pointed out, UCONN is apparently "recruiting" (i use the word loosely) Russell, Mavunga, Reimer, Tucker, Samuelson and Deshields. i have no idea who leads for any of them except many seem to feel UCONN leads for Diamond. UCONN offered Taya at about the same time they offered Xylena. my point is they obviously would have taken both. to me that means they seem to want at least 2 post players. whether that means 2 out of Russell, Mavunga and Reimer, or if they'd like all 3 i have no idea.

Muvunga reminds me a bit of Nneka O. Taya seems like she may be more like Morgan. Mercedes is not really like anyone UCONN has. maybe she's a taller, more slender version of E Williams. i'm not trying to pigeon hole any of the players, just trying to get a mental image of what their game is like and how it would fit in.

can you imagine a class of Russell, Reimer, Mavunga and Tucker? not saying we get all 4, or even 3 out of 4, but wow.

Eric, those four players are great, but there is noone on that list I would want more then Diamond.

 

[EricLA]

Eric, those four players are great, but there is noone on that list I would want more then Diamond.

Russell, Mavunga, Reimer, Deshields and Tucker. how about that class?

 

[HuskyFan1125]

I think both players are unique in their own way and would fit nicely in the UCONN system. With that said, i guess it would be about "where they would fit." Meaning playing time, position, ect. those sort of things weigh on the recruits minds. I like both of them and think the 2013 class is an exciting one. Cant wait to see where they end up playing D1 ball.

 

[Kibitzer]

I'll finally beat TonyC to the punch. Don't forget Cierra Calhoun and the deadly shooting Mullins girl (whose first name escapes me, Janelle?)

The chickens are in a very slow incubator now.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Sierra Calhoun (2014):

http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/125556/sierra-calhoun

Janelle Mullen (2015):

Not too much info available (yet).

 

[connboy77]

Russell, Mavunga, Reimer, Deshields and Tucker. how about that class?

That would be fantastic!

 

[VAMike23]

Eric, those four players are great, but there is noone on that list I would want more then Diamond.

Same here....