UConn General Team Recruiting Thread

[superfanwbb]

Not every kid is entirely focused on having a shot at an NC.

And this was something Bjorn always mentioned in interviews: that she wanted to win an NC.

 

[Bone Dog]

And this was something Bjorn always mentioned in interviews: that she wanted to win an NC.

If that’s true, then Kansas doesn’t look like a realistic prospect. Unless her parents insist that she stay close to home.

 

[superfanwbb]

True but Addison Bjorn has talked about wanting to win a NC in several interviews she has given so Kansas would be surprising to me as well.

Maybe that's why many people began to say that Uconn was Bjorn's fav. It was also reported that she visited Storrs several times. I don't know if Uconn was truly the leader and lost ground, or if she was just a rumor.

 

[Bone Dog]

In response to @RSHERMVIKES question emoji, I merely meant that if a kid’s top priority is an NC — and not all kids make this a priority — but if they do, then a school like Kansas looks like an odd choice. I’d expect them to favor schools that have been past the second round of the tournament recently.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

In response to @RSHERMVIKES question emoji, I merely meant that if a kid’s top priority is an NC — and not all kids make this a priority — but if they do, then a school like Kansas looks like an odd choice. I’d expect them to favor schools that have been past the second round of the tournament recently.

Bone Dog- - It always confuses me when HS players say they want to be the best but won’t go to UConn?
The only school that offers every incentive to a great future is UConn!
Their alumni has achieved unbelievable achievements!

 

[BRS24]

Bone Dog- - It always confuses me when HS players say they want to be the best but won’t go to UConn?
The only school that offers every incentive to a great future is UConn!
Their alumni has achieved unbelievable achievements!

There are other programs that will also give players this experience, SC to name one, among others. It is hard, however, to play for both of these schools, Geno, Dawn, especially with the expectations that come with the experience. It can be overwhelming, even to the most prepared and talented players, and that's what sets these programs apart.

 

[donalddoowop]

Bone Dog- - It always confuses me when HS players say they want to be the best but won’t go to UConn?
The only school that offers every incentive to a great future is UConn!
Their alumni has achieved unbelievable achievements!

Not true.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

There are other programs that will also give players this experience, SC to name one, among others. It is hard, however, to play for both of these schools, Geno, Dawn, especially with the expectations that come with the experience. It can be overwhelming, even to the most prepared and talented players, and that's what sets these programs apart.

BRS24- - - -Yes but not to the level that UConn has!
They have at least 5 alumni that will be inducted into both the Women's BB Hall of Fame and Springfield BB Hall of Fame!
And that is not even counting current players on UConn's roster now!

 

[Stagnant]

If we are only getting Vukosa, I think a shooting guard in the portal would make a lot of sense as an addition. 🤔

 

[visitingcock]

If we are only getting Vukosa, I think a shooting guard in the portal would make a lot of sense as an addition. 🤔

All round Shooting guard or 3 point specialist?

 

[Stagnant]

I would say all around. We would be losing Paige and Azzi in back to back years.

 

[ec33]

If we are only getting Vukosa, I think a shooting guard in the portal would make a lot of sense as an addition. 🤔

Part of 15 this year is that it is possible that some part of Malou-Mamel, Ducharme, Patterson, and Cheli (and possibly Fisher) are not seen as reliable floor contributors for this team. Much of that goes away after this season and perhaps Geno is not looking for such a full roster.

I would also give Ziebell a chance to prove herself this season. That would alleviate any need and eliminate a clear path to PT for any UConn level transfer.

 

[WBBZen]

Geno and CD do not like a class with 1 player, so if Bjorn and Jerzy fall through, I think they get at least one player from the portal

 

[DEpup]

I also think you'll see a European kid if they both say no dice.

 

[Bone Dog]

Geno and CD do not like a class with 1 player, so if Bjorn and Jerzy fall through, I think they get at least one player from the portal

I don’t think the portal can solve all the difficulties posed by a 1 player class. It is in part about having a cohort pass through all 4 years together.

 

[ec33]

I also think you'll see a European kid if they both say no dice.

That is far more likely. They aren't going to bring in a domestic prospect they know won't play just to keep Olivia Vukosa company.

 

[donalddoowop]

That is far more likely. They aren't going to bring in a domestic prospect they know won't play just to keep Olivia Vukosa company.

It is my hope they have found a European player who is good and was overlooked.

 

[visitingcock]

It is my hope they have found a European player who is good and was overlooked.

Sarah okeke is a 6-3/4 Post from Spain who is playing for DME ACADEMY IN Florida for her HS senior season. Her finalists are listed as Tennessee, LSU, SCar and a LSU. All offered but before The two big Oliviyahs and Kelsi Andrews committed. So I don’t know if she was insurance at big for those schools. Bottom line: UConn MIGHT NOT still be in the hunt.

 

[oldhusky]

As a general recruiting question, I wonder if the new impact of financial considerations doesn't also affect the strategy of roster size. Previously the only significant disadvantage of a big roster was quite a few players potentially entering the portal due to lack of playing time. Now it might be more similar to a WNBA team with a salary cap.

In the W the strategy for a true contender is to spend as much of your cap on the top 8 or so players as possible, and as little as possible on the rest of the roster. In fact having a 12th player was considered a financial disadvantage by some that carried only 11. They would rather spend that money on upgrading a rotation player.

Of course that strategy is vulnerable to significant injuries, but if that happened they wouldn't be a serious contender anyway. Given the cap, and quite a few max contracts, and a ton of minimum ones, I think that strategy for teams in the W made sense.

My point is now there are some similarities with the college game. The pot to pursue players may vary by school, but for a given season is still pretty fixed. Do you really want to offer a likely third stringer significant money that could have been offered to a real difference maker instead?

Maybe a roster of 15 is not ideal. The transfer portal is becoming more important each year, particularly for a quick fix of a hole on the roster. Having that potential card to play has significant value. I think you can make a strong case for not filling a 14th or 15th roster spot unless you think that player has a very good chance of cracking the rotation.

I know it is hard to project with much certainty how a freshman recruit will pan out at the next level, but with portal transfers that is less of an issue. It may be with a different coach and system, but they have a division 1 track record, and compared to a HS recruit, you know far more about what you are getting.

 

[Stagnant]

Geno and CD do not like a class with 1 player, so if Bjorn and Jerzy fall through, I think they get at least one player from the portal

If we miss on bjorn and jerzy, I prefer to go to the portal over international. Because an international would clearly be a plan b imo; we would be recruiting a player we didn’t intend to recruit. I think the portal is different because we don’t know what players will be in the portal yet.

 

[DEpup]

I think Nika was sort of a last minute plan B. She worked out pretty good. I'm sure there is a big guard who can shoot the 3 and pass hiding somewhere in Europe waiting for Geno's call.....

 

[ConnMotors]

Everyone needs to take a look at not next season but the year after. We do not have KK and Ashlynn. Ice and Ayanna have red shirt years but can also decide to leave if they want to. Jana because of age and International Ball can say bye.

That leaves: Kayleigh, Sarah, Allie, Morgan, Blanca, Kelis, Gandy and Olivia. Only eight players.

 

[Stagnant]

It might sound strange, but I want to recruit well for Sarah Strong’s sake.

 

[Crossover]

I think Nika was sort of a last minute plan B. She worked out pretty good. I'm sure there is a big guard who can shoot the 3 and pass hiding somewhere in Europe waiting for Geno's call.....

No she was not. She was a late discovery by UConn, but that is quite different from being a fall back player. Similarly, stars who are recruited late because they develop late are different from fall back players.

 

[Blueberries]

Isn’t Okeke still hanging out there as a possibility too?

 

[BRS24]

Isn’t Okeke still hanging out there as a possibility too?

Rumor has it that both UConn and Tenn are in the mix.

 

[visitingcock]

Rumor has it that both UConn and Tenn are in the mix.

Raoul has UConn, Tenn listed as "finalists."

I don't know who "rumor" has as the favorite. We could use her as our one commitment (a post) recently messed up a knee

 

[ConnMotors]

I have been an Addison Bjorn fan for a while. The early signing period started yesterday and I was hoping for a sent autograph from her to UConn. Then I went to the game last night and Blanca played pretty well considering it was her first game. And, Morgan was moving around with a soft cast on her foot. Who knows if she will play this year or not. All three basically play the same position. Would Addison want to be a part of this group? I would bet now that Jerzy would be the better get…

 

[uconnfan68]

Everyone needs to take a look at not next season but the year after. We do not have KK and Ashlynn. Ice and Ayanna have red shirt years but can also decide to leave if they want to. Jana because of age and International Ball can say bye.

That leaves: Kayleigh, Sarah, Allie, Morgan, Blanca, Kelis, Gandy and Olivia. Only eight players.

Poor us.

 

[ec33]

Jana because of age and International Ball can say bye.

Say bye and what? Are we sure she isn't making a similar amount of money at UConn?

I know the money isn't the same as the men's side of things, but other schools pay far more than the WNBA for star players.

Same thing with Okeke. People discuss her option to go pro -- but if it is money that interests her most, she might do better to go to the highest bidder in college.