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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4507186, member: 9844"] I think one interesting question for this year is can a player who scores so infrequently make an All Conference Team? Generally the answer would usually be no, but Nika presents a very interesting case. Nika was rewarded with the conference defensive player of the year last year. Was she the best defensive player in the conference? I don't know, but I believe she is very good, and the all-out effort and hustle on that end was rewarded as a trait many observers and coaches wish more players had. This year we have seen Nika's passing rise to new heights. If you lead not just the conference, but the country in assists, can you be denied an All Conference Team spot? Even more so if you were also picked as the Defensive Player of the year in the conference the previous year. Nika has obvious scoring limitations and some flaws to go with the assets, but in many ways, she is Exhibit A for how much of a contribution a non-scorer can make, or how good an unselfish, hustling, exceptional role player type can be. Does she deserve an All Conference spot over a player that say leads her team in scoring, does it efficiently, but otherwise doesn't stand out in any particular way? I really don't know, but I think many coaches are used to recruiting players that were all big-time scorers in HS. They then have to convince them that there is a lot more to basketball than scoring points. They need to hustle all the time, play defense, share the ball, set picks, box out for rebounds etc. Sometimes that is a hard sell to a player who is used to being a star. Rewarding a player like Nika with the All Conference Team selection would be a way to emphasize the importance of those traits and qualities in a world where scoring might get a little more attention than it deserves IMO. [/QUOTE]

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