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Message: [QUOTE="#12in21, post: 4462475, member: 10763"] I loved watching Maya play. Followed her into the WNBA which I hadn't really paid much attention to prior to her joining the Lynx. She was literally poetry in motion on the court, it's almost like we were in her head and saw the game slow down for us ( as they say happens within all great players). When she would rise up and release the ball on a jumper, float in for a layup or fly downcourt to block what by all rights should have been an uncontested lay in, all of those just a pleasure to watch. There was never a moment she was on the court that you would be shocked if she just took over a game. Just beautiful basketball. I live across the Hudson River from Saniya Chong's hometown of Ossining NY. She was just an amazing basketball player in Highschool. One game I recall in particular, the opponents strategy in the second half was to simply foul Sanyia on every play - she just calmly went to the line and knocked down twenty something free throws in a row. Smooth as silk as she carried her team to their first State championship the year after making to that final game only to fall to Breanna Stewarts team ( although I believe Saniya outscored Breanna in the game). She still holds the New York State record for most career points for a four year varsity player ( a couple are ahead of her on the career list but they played 5 or 6 years). You can only imagine how thrilled i was when she committed to our Uconn Huskies. Sanyia was always extremely gifted but IMO she was a very reluctant leader ( didn't like the limelight on herself, even in HS when she was not only her teams leader but the most outstanding player in the state). She just loved being part of the team. A moment her Freshman year I remember was in the Penn State game where she went to the basket on a runout and literally twisted her defender into a pile on the floor with a couple crossovers and a lay in. I always had my eye on her whenever she was on the floor throughout her Uconn career. Her senior season at Uconn she led the nation, by a good margin in assist/turnover % until Kia went down with injury and she was called on to step up on the defense end to offset Kia's loss ( which was no small task). It was always 'the big four' that year, Lou, Pheesa, Kia and Gabby that got all the press and attention but Sanyia played a huge role in their success that season as well. Both the above were players I just personally always focused on when they were on the floor. I just enjoyed seeing them play the game. Obviously Maya is among Uconn's all time greats, but both were extremely team first players, which I think is perhaps a reason they are two of may favorites. Kelly Faros was another one in that mold and I loved watching her play as well. She probably would be the third one on my list.... but that brings me to my current favorite player to watch, Nika. For me, Nika is just a joy to watch play. She is so intense, total energy and drive. It has been fun to see her work to reprogram her game to fit the US college game. She fought it like hell as a freshman, somehow thinking that her personal outrage would trigger a transition to the more physical game she was used to in Europe! In the end this season, though she has toned down her physicality but maintained her intensity. She just lives to celebrate every single success, be it small or large, of and with her teammates. Her personality has been infectious and IMO the team has been reflecting it in their play this season. Hope she is back on the floor again soon! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach