U17 vs Brazil

[easttexastrash]

Reimer and DeShields are studs. Greenwell looks great, too.

 

[easttexastrash]

Harper is also spectacular. I think she is high on the UCONN wish list. If she's not, man she should be. She can score, pass and rebound.

 

[tnvolfan65]

Who started for team USA?

 

[UCONNfan1]

Harper is also spectacular. I think she is high on the UCONN wish list. If she's not, man she should be. She can score, pass and rebound.

I'm not sure how "high" she is in the pecking order, but I imagine Geno wants 2 guards out of the Harper/Tucker/Chong trio. personally, i'd rather have Harper and Chong - with Ekmark and maybe hopefully Calhoun coming in 2014, i think their size and skill set overlap more with Tucker. but what the hell do i know?

 

[easttexastrash]

Who started for team USA?

Taya Reimer
Lindsay Allen
Diamond DeShields
Mercedes Russell
Rebecca Greenwell

I was very impressed with Harper and Chidom off the bench. I was a bit underimpressed with Russell. She was not very good on defense. The guards are not really looking to make passes to the post players so it is hard to get a feel for her offensive skills.

Kai James is BIG.

 

[Alydar]

I wish we could see the U17's play the U-18's. Brazil is both short-handed and terribly short. Hard to measure a player when they are 6 or 7 inches taller than the player guarding them.

 

[easttexastrash]

I'm not sure how "high" she is in the pecking order, but I imagine Geno wants 2 guards out of the Harper/Tucker/Chong trio. personally, i'd rather have Harper and Chong - with Ekmark and maybe hopefully Calhoun coming in 2014, i think their size and skill set overlap more with Tucker. but what the hell do i know?

After watching the video of Chong and watching Harper play, there is no comparison. Harper will be an AA during her career. She is great on defense, has a nice pull-up jumper and is fast to the rim. She and Davis seem to have a real connection when they are on the floor together.

 

[easttexastrash]

I can see why Deshields chose UNC. She is tremendous in the open court. She can really take the ball to the basket and the UNC offense will suit her very well.

 

[easttexastrash]

Janeth Arcain needs help with her hair. I've seen better hair on an anchovy.

 

[Wbbfan1]

IMHO Mercedes Russell is not the #1 player for 2013. Didn't expect Mercedes to get many touches today, but I did expect she would dominate the boards and get points from the offensive glass. Also expected she would dominate the post players for Brazil and IMHO she didn't. I'm not saying she won't be a great college player, she probably will. I'm wondering if she won't be similar to Kelsey Bone instead of Elizabeth Williams.

 

[easttexastrash]

The team looked very strong. Other than Reimer the main focus seemed to be on the guards. Reimer just makes things happen inside. She and Allen will be very good together at ND.

Jessica Washington looked very good. She was tough on defense and seemed to be comfortable distributing instead of forcing shots. She will be a great fit at UNC as she defends well and gets the ball down the court well after a steal.

If I were Geno I would put a full court press on Harper. The only drawback is that I cannot imagine her wanting to play the role of backup PG for a couple of years. She is a great team leader so I can see her wanting to step in and start immediately. After watching the connection that Davis and Harper have on offense I can imagine them wanting to play college ball together.

 

[easttexastrash]

IMHO Mercedes Russell is not the #1 player for 2013. Didn't expect Mercedes to get many touches today, but I did expect she would dominate the boards and get points from the offensive glass. Also expected she would dominate the post players for Brazil and IMHO she didn't. I'm not saying she won't be a great college player, she probably will. I'm wondering if she won't be similar to Kelsey Bone instead of Elizabeth Williams.

I have to agree that she is not the number 1 player in the country, from what I saw. I think you nailed it on the head.

Reimer, Deshields and Harper looked to be the best players on the court and I thought Davis was not far behind. I am not sure what has been seen in Russell up to this point that would lead anyone to label her as the number 1 player in her class.

 

[easttexastrash]

I wish we could see the U17's play the U-18's. Brazil is both short-handed and terribly short. Hard to measure a player when they are 6 or 7 inches taller than the player guarding them.

I would love to see that too. I am very excited about seeing the U18 team play. It will be the first time that I have gotten a chance to really see Stewart play. I don't really count the all star games because I felt like she was willing to stand back and let other players have their moment in the sun. This is for her country and I hope that she gives us a glimpse at all of her skills.

I'm also interested in seeing how Baylor signee Prince performs. She has a college ready body and can shoot the long ball well so I hope she gets some chances to shine, as well.

 

[MilfordHusky]

IMHO Mercedes Russell is not the #1 player for 2013. Didn't expect Mercedes to get many touches today, but I did expect she would dominate the boards and get points from the offensive glass. Also expected she would dominate the post players for Brazil and IMHO she didn't. I'm not saying she won't be a great college player, she probably will. I'm wondering if she won't be similar to Kelsey Bone instead of Elizabeth Williams.

I've been wondering exactly the same thing.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Harper is also spectacular. I think she is high on the UCONN wish list. If she's not, man she should be. She can score, pass and rebound.

She's very high on Geno's wish list as far as we know.

She's also very high on mine.

 

[HuskyNan]

Who started for team USA?

Here's a link to the box score with more info.

 

[easttexastrash]

Here's a link to the box score with more info.

The two teams combined for 2 of 21 shooting from three point range. Ouch!

Russell with 9 rebounds in 17 minutes of play is not too bad. Harper, at 5-7, had 7 rebounds in 19 minutes. That is very impressive. She rebounds very well for a guard.

 

[alexrgct]

I can see why Deshields chose UNC. She is tremendous in the open court. She can really take the ball to the basket and the UNC offense will suit her very well.

Not to bash UNC, but it's not like UConn doesn't run a track meet offense, especially when Geno has the personnel to do so.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The two teams combined for 2 of 21 shooting from three point range. Ouch!

Russell with 9 rebounds in 17 minutes of play is not too bad. Harper, at 5-7, had 7 rebounds in 19 minutes. That is very impressive. She rebounds very well for a guard.

Harper is the best rebounder her height in a long time. She has been described as "punishing," which sounds odd given her size.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Not to bash UNC, but it's not like UConn doesn't run a track meet offense, especially when Geno has the personnel to do so.

And UConn turns the ball over less often.

 

[easttexastrash]

She's very high on Geno's wish list as far as we know.

She's also very high on mine.

Mine too, now. She seemed to just take over and control the floor.

She and Davis seemed to have a good connection on both ends of the floor. If Davis ends up at Duke they will be hard to beat. Williams in the paint and Jones and Davis at guard would be one heck of a trio.

 

[easttexastrash]

And UConn turns the ball over less often.

That's because there are consequences to turning the ball over at UCONN. Hatchell has said that she is OK with TOs in order to play the style of offense that she likes.

 

[triaddukefan]

i dont have espn3.... so i cant watch the action... i really hope they stream the games when they play in the tournament this summer.

Thank you East for your analysis.

Mine too, now. She seemed to just take over and control the floor.

She and Davis seemed to have a good connection on both ends of the floor. If Davis ends up at Duke they will be hard to beat. Williams in the paint and Jones and Davis at guard would be one heck of a trio.

 

[Icebear]

Great Pic

 

[ballin201021]

IMHO Mercedes Russell is not the #1 player for 2013. Didn't expect Mercedes to get many touches today, but I did expect she would dominate the boards and get points from the offensive glass. Also expected she would dominate the post players for Brazil and IMHO she didn't. I'm not saying she won't be a great college player, she probably will. I'm wondering if she won't be similar to Kelsey Bone instead of Elizabeth Williams.

I find it comical that you are basing your opinion of players after watching one scrimmage. I almost surely believe if Mercedes were going to Uconn your opinion would be different. In a guard dominated game when the guards are jacking the ball up every time down the floor how can you make that assumption? Mercedes played 17 minutes and had nine rebounds she was only given the ball in the post twice. This kid is used to touching the ball every possession which I am sure is an adjustment period for her as well. A 6'5 player shouldn't have to rely on rebounds to score she will be dominant and more effective at the college level and I am sure the program that lands her will be a FF contender.