@EricLA , with all due respect, Azurá Stevens may not the player who will remind UConn fans of Stewart. Let me explain why.
Stewart, in her senior season, was a player who stepped out from three (about 3.0 attempts per game), was also a great free throw shooter (nearly 84 percent), and had more of a Lauren Jackson type of game.
Stevens, in her sophomore year at Duke, was someone who, when left open, would shoot the three and had solid numbers from beyond the arc (35.3 percent, about 2.1 attempts per game) and at the line (75.0 percent).
But what Stevens was known for at Duke was her rebounding. She averaged 9.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Even more impressive was that she averaged nearly
4.5 offensive rebounds per game. It was her ability to dominate the glass on both ends that allowed her to be such a force.
I think UConn fans, with all due respect, need to get rid of the "we do not have a center mantra." Let me explain why.
Coach K has preached for years about there being three positions in basketball - playmaker, perimeter, and post. On the men's side, we are in an era of basketball that emphasizes spreading the floor with outside shooting and playmaking from all positions (e.g., Golden State using PF Draymond Green as the "center," with spreading shooting and passing throughout all five positions). The NBA playoffs showed us that teams have lineups with a throwback to traditional "bigs" could not work with the modern game (e.g., Cleveland having to bench Tristan Thompson in the Finals and using Kevin Love at center).
Stevens plays in the post. She can pull up anywhere (and can get her own shot anywhere), with improving range (not quite great yet). Good athlete, but not exceptional. Her ability to rise up and shoot is her greatest strength. Good up and down foot speed; can finish in transition all day. Her handle is the weakest part of her game, but still good for a post player (remember, in her last two years combined, Stewart had over 250 assists with about a 2:1 A/TO, but also played with much better ballhandlers). And - as noted - she was a force on the glass.
Against traditional post players, Stewart struggled with A'ja Wilson, held her own against Evelyn Akhator, and was able to hold her own and even outplay Brianna Turner. In her freshman year, she put up 16 points (6-14 from the floor, 1-1 from three, 3-4 from the line), 3 rebounds, 1 assist (and only 1 turnover) against the Morgan Tuck/Breanna Stewart frontcourt, Stevens' only game against UConn.
There really is no "true" or "exact" player comparison for Azurá Stevens. She can be a hybrid of other players. Truth be told, she is the next evolution of Iciss Tillis, with *certain* aspects that will remind people of players like Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart, Tangela Smith, etc.
Now, I will say she has RIDICULOUS potential - off the charts potential, if she improves her ballhandling and is really consistent with her outside shooting. In terms of production and potential, she is the best player on UConn's roster right now. But truth be told "the next evolution of Iciss Tillis" is probably the best description that I could use.
