UcMiami
How it is
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 14,196
- Reaction Score
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I think guard - SG and PG are the toughest battles for National Team honors. As you get over 6' for women the available pool of people thins out, and with that the available number of athletes who pursue basketball as a career. 6' and under players with ball handling and perimeter skills are numerous and there are few who distance themselves from the pack quite the way both SB and DT have. I love Whalen and think she is a great addition to the team, but no one would have been surprised if Cappie or Lawson or Vandersloot had been named instead of her. When DT and Sue hang them up, it will be interesting to see if anyone can distance themselves from their peers in a similar way at the guard spots.
At the other end - taken to an extreme - BG at 6'8" is one of maybe three worldwide. BG at 6'4" would not be unique, but at 6'8" she is. Candace was unique coming out of HS and through college, but I think there are more players developing in her mold. Big Syl and Tina are great and may stick for a long time, but they will be fighting off a few others who have similar height and skills every two years.
In the middle at foward/wing, the competition is fierce, but realistically there are maybe 10-12 players who are in the national team conversation each 2 years. While a player like NO is a great player and a great athlete she is competing with a number of other players at similar height and at least similar skills.
Coming up:
As mentioned BG at 6'8" is unique
EDD at 6'5" with SG/Wing skills is unique
In a few years BS may also present that 'uniqueness' but lets give her a little bit of college before anointing her.
At the other end - taken to an extreme - BG at 6'8" is one of maybe three worldwide. BG at 6'4" would not be unique, but at 6'8" she is. Candace was unique coming out of HS and through college, but I think there are more players developing in her mold. Big Syl and Tina are great and may stick for a long time, but they will be fighting off a few others who have similar height and skills every two years.
In the middle at foward/wing, the competition is fierce, but realistically there are maybe 10-12 players who are in the national team conversation each 2 years. While a player like NO is a great player and a great athlete she is competing with a number of other players at similar height and at least similar skills.
Coming up:
As mentioned BG at 6'8" is unique
EDD at 6'5" with SG/Wing skills is unique
In a few years BS may also present that 'uniqueness' but lets give her a little bit of college before anointing her.