UConn Recruiting Speculation 5 | The Boneyard

UConn Recruiting Speculation 5

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GenoWept

GenoWept

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This is a thread to discuss known players of interest and other potential recruits. This thread is different from the monthly recruiting thread in that thread drifts and posters discussing their hopes on who comes to UConn aren’t allowed there. While this thread has more latitude, it’s still about the recruits, how they might fit into the team, who you wish to see come, deeper discussion about their skill sets, recent performances etc.
  • No transfer talk EVER (see the rules tacked at the top of the board)
  • No discussion of who is staying/going
 
GenoWept said:


I feel like this late in the recruiting process, Geno being at Sarah’s game yesterday confirms that it’s only between South Carolina and UConn for her. Haven’t seen anything about UNC or LSU in awhile.
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I don't believe it for an instant.
It's not "late in the recruiting process." She can't even sign an LOI until April 17,
 
GenoWept said:


I feel like this late in the recruiting process, Geno being at Sarah’s game yesterday confirms that it’s only between South Carolina and UConn for her. Haven’t seen anything about UNC or LSU in awhile.
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Pretty sure she’s been to 3 UNC games this calendar year alone.
 
UNC would be attractive to the extent it means Sarah would start all four years. Title hopes would be slender though. Sort of like Juju going to USC. Whatever either team accomplishes will be attributed to them.

From what I gather, Sarah doesn’t want to be stuck in the low post. She’s a passer and a shooter in addition to being a great post player. I’d think she’d be attracted to Geno’s style of coaching where a big often functions as a high post passer and shooter. But she may not want to be in the middle of a crowded roster.
 
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Well, I desperately hope we get her but the truth is; we are (assuming good health) going to be absolutely loaded at the forward position next year. I realize that’s an iffy proposition (having a healthy team) but I am told by reputable sources that it is possible to have a fully healthy roster. All we can do is hope!
 
Bone Dog said:
UNC would be attractive to the extent it means Sarah would start all four years. Title hopes would be slender though. Sort of like Juju going to USC. Whatever either team accomplishes will be attributed to them.

From what I gather, Sarah doesn’t want to be stuck in the low post. She’s a passer and a shooter in addition to being a great post player. I’d think she’d be attracted to Geno’s style of coaching where a big often functions as a high post passer and shooter. But she may not want to be in the middle of a crowded roster.
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that's very positive thinking. after the past three years it's awesome to assume uconn will ever have a 'crowded roster' :D
 
PacoSwede said:
that's very positive thinking. after the past three years it's awesome to assume uconn will ever have a 'crowded roster' :D
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Very true, in a bitter-sweet way.

And of course, the fears of a crowded roster would apply much more to SC, where Sarah will likely face 14 high school all Americans (I exaggerate) competing for playing time. Will she want to compete with Watkins Feagin Kitts Edwards + whatever transfers Dawn can bring in? Dawn has been a recruiting genius for the last several years, but all that success can bring its own difficulties.

Apparently Shaq offered her this (probably unsolicited advice): go where they need you. If she takes that seriously, UNC has a good chance. But UConn would have a better chance than SC.
 
All the things we’re not allowed to talk about were addressed by Daniel Connelly in today’s WBB Weekly article.
 
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Bone Dog said:
Very true, in a bitter-sweet way.

And of course, the fears of a crowded roster would apply much more to SC, where Sarah will likely face 14 high school all Americans (I exaggerate) competing for playing time. Will she want to compete with Watkins Feagin Kitts Edwards + whatever transfers Dawn can bring in? Dawn has been a recruiting genius for the last several years, but all that success can bring its own difficulties.

Apparently Shaq offered her this (probably unsolicited advice): go where they need you. If she takes that seriously, UNC has a good chance. But UConn would have a better chance than SC.
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My advice is always go with your first choice. (Hoping it was UConn)
 
JonathanXIV said:
It would seem that it would help. They don't play the same position, Paige shares the ball and gets it inside, and she makes UConn much more competitive nationally. What's not to like?
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I believe Paige is playing G/F right now. Isn't that the same role they see for Sarah???
 
Be careful. Azzi also had to be a generational talent.......I division college basketball is a very difficult test that involves a lot of things.
 
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JonathanXIV said:
It would seem that it would help. They don't play the same position, Paige shares the ball and gets it inside, and she makes UConn much more competitive nationally. What's not to like?
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Sarah doesn't want to play inside.
 
Bone Dog said:
Very true, in a bitter-sweet way.

And of course, the fears of a crowded roster would apply much more to SC, where Sarah will likely face 14 high school all Americans (I exaggerate) competing for playing time. Will she want to compete with Watkins Feagin Kitts Edwards + whatever transfers Dawn can bring in? Dawn has been a recruiting genius for the last several years, but all that success can bring its own difficulties.

Apparently Shaq offered her this (probably unsolicited advice): go where they need you. If she takes that seriously, UNC has a good chance. But UConn would have a better chance than SC.
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Only a three horse race?
 
RadfordRam said:
Sarah doesn't want to play inside.
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Sarah won't be playing "inside." Instead - she can both score inside, rebound inside, and defend inside. She will not be a player that plays just inside. -She'll be initiating a lot of the Offense from the Perimeter. UCONN never has just one Initiator. She would be the 2nd Initiator and do it as a freshman. Then be the lead as a soph.
 
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UNC is also in a roster crunch next season. They have 11 so far for the 24-25 season and all 5 seniors have an extra year for covid. I imagine Donarski stays. Not sure about the others. Kelly could go to W or head back to texas for her 5th year closer to home. Same goes for the other 3 (Poole, Zelaya, Utsby). I think Poole may be from NC though.
 
Some dates to note, as there are a lot of moving parts that will potentially affect UConn and other schools that have significant player opportunities to take either a covid or redshirt year:

March 17 - portal opens
April 5 - deadline to declare for WNBA (see below)
April 6 - WNBA deadline for losers of semifinalist games
April 8 - WNBA deadline for NCAAT finalist participants
April 17 - beginning of NLI signing period
(April 17 to May 1 has a portal and NLI overlap)
May 1 - portal closes
May 15 - NLI signing window closes

1708607922305.jpeg
 
BRS24 said:
Some dates to note, as there are a lot of moving parts that will potentially affect UConn and other schools that have significant player opportunities to take either a covid or redshirt year:

March 17 - portal opens
April 5 - deadline to declare for WNBA (see below)
April 6 - WNBA deadline for losers of semifinalist games
April 8 - WNBA deadline for NCAAT finalist participants
April 17 - beginning of NLI signing period
(April 17 to May 1 has a portal and NLI overlap)
May 1 - portal closes
May 15 - NLI signing window closes

View attachment 96750
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This is very informative, thanks for posting.

My major takeaway is that a high school senior who waits it out until after May 1 can have a fairly clear vision of what the rosters of her teams of interest will look like. Seems relevant to where UConn currently finds itself.

The May 1 deadline for portal closing is the deadline to get your name in the portal, but a commitment elsewhere could occur after that date. So someone can be in the portal by that date and select a school after that date, including after May 15. A coach of course could communicate that they are not going to take any (additional) transfers if that might influence the decision of a player of interest.

If in fact there is a cat and mouse game going on, this timeline gives us the rules of the road. Sorry for mixing metaphors there.
 
BRS24 said:
Some dates to note, as there are a lot of moving parts that will potentially affect UConn and other schools that have significant player opportunities to take either a covid or redshirt year:

March 17 - portal opens
April 5 - deadline to declare for WNBA (see below)
April 6 - WNBA deadline for losers of semifinalist games
April 8 - WNBA deadline for NCAAT finalist participants
April 17 - beginning of NLI signing period
(April 17 to May 1 has a portal and NLI overlap)
May 1 - portal closes
May 15 - NLI signing window closes

View attachment 96750
Expand ...
Very helpful. The dates I worry about is the beginning of the portal and the end of the WNBA declarations. March 17 to April 5-8 is a long time where players can enter the portal, but schools don't yet know if they have a roster spot or not because they are waiting on a senior's decision. Very confusing for both sides.

Suppose for example a top big enters the portal soon after March 17, and begins exploring possible destinations. Schools that don't yet know if they have a spot (like us) have to wait or tell the player we might be interested if this or that happens. That player could be gone by the time you know.

In our case even if we do find out a spot is available in early April, as long as we are in the sweepstakes for Sarah, we probably don't want to use it in the portal. It would be nice is Sarah decides quickly after any relevant senior decisions, at least verbally.
 
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