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First commitment for '24, which is likely to be a small class. I predict two players, but I guess three isn't out of the question. Trinity Wilson plays on the North Tartan EYBL team with Aaliyah Crump and Maddyn Greenway. The latter also has a Vandy offer while the former is playing for team USA's 16U team in Mexico for the Americas championship.

 
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After a delay of more than a week for visa problems, Agata Makurat made it to Nashville this week. I'm really excited about her. Also nice to see Justine Pissott in the photo with her.

 
YoDore said:
After a delay of more than a week for visa problems, Agata Makurat made it to Nashville this week. I'm really excited about her. Also nice to see Justine Pissott in the photo with her.

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Is there anything that said what the hold up was with her visa?
 
Argonaut said:
Is there anything that said what the hold up was with her visa?
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Not sure what the problem was. She seemed to be getting ready to arrive about the same time as the other freshmen, then she said she was still waiting on her visa, and it looked like it would be a week or two before she arrived. That turned out to be true. I suspect it was just run-of-the-mill bureaucracy problems. As you know, her parents are veterans at this, and none of them seemed to be panicky about it. I, on the other hand, was starting to worry. That's my job. :eek:
 
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YoDore said:
Not sure what the problem was. She seemed to be getting ready to arrive about the same time as the other freshmen, then she said she was still waiting on her visa, and it looked like it would be a week or two before she arrived. That turned out to be true. I suspect it was just run-of-the-mill bureaucracy problems. As you know, her parents are veterans at this, and none of them seemed to be panicky about it. I, on the other hand, was starting to worry. That's my job. :eek:
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Now that she's finally here, I hope things work out well for both her and the 'Dores.
 
Gus Mahler said:
Now that she's finally here, I hope things work out well for both her and the 'Dores.
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She seems like a great kid. Of course, coach Ralph and the family are familiar with each other since Anna played for her at UConn. Agata committed to the Dores last June, but in September, coach Ralph and Kevin Demille visited the family in Poland. I'd say that's a pretty solid indication how dedicated the staff is to her. Aga's mom noted how special it was for them to fly across the Atlantic to have dinner with the family.
 
Leah Macy made an official visit over the weekend. She’s ranked #11 by ESPN Hoopgurlz. A 6’2 class of ’25 who plays at Mercy Academy in Kentucky and summer ball for Kentucky Premier. She has a boat load of offers but will be hard to pry away from Jeff Walz and Louisville. She has said she started attending Cardinal games as a child and has referred to Walz and his staff as “like family.” Dang it. Still, she does seem to like Vandy (this was her second visit), so hope springs eternal. Aside from her obvious skills, I love her demeanor on the floor. She somehow manages to play the game without yelling, gesturing and thumping the chest.

One of her Premier teammates, 6’0 guard Ciara Byars, also has a Vandy offer and made an unofficial visit in recent days. She’s also a ’25 player.

 
YoDore said:
Leah Macy made an official visit over the weekend. She’s ranked #11 by ESPN Hoopgurlz. A 6’2 class of ’25 who plays at Mercy Academy in Kentucky and summer ball for Kentucky Premier. She has a boat load of offers but will be hard to pry away from Jeff Walz and Louisville. She has said she started attending Cardinal games as a child and has referred to Walz and his staff as “like family.” Dang it. Still, she does seem to like Vandy (this was her second visit), so hope springs eternal. Aside from her obvious skills, I love her demeanor on the floor. She somehow manages to play the game without yelling, gesturing and thumping the chest.

One of her Premier teammates, 6’0 guard Ciara Byars, also has a Vandy offer and made an unofficial visit in recent days. She’s also a ’25 player.

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Wasn't Chloe Kitts considered a lock too?
 
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Geew1992 said:
Wasn't Chloe Kitts considered a lock too?
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For Vandy? I don't think we recruited her. Maybe you're talking about Louisville. If so, I'm not sure.

dws3665 said:
Mizzou and UGA are not exactly bad options for home and home (in addition to the permanent Lady Vols).
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Much better than last year when we got home and away with LSU in addition to UT. Georgia and Missouri are two of the teams we eventually have to track down to move up in the standings. I'm not saying we're ready to take them, but it's good to have two shots at each of them. Unless they beat our brains out, of course.

By the way, when we played Georgia at home last year, they literally didn't miss at shot in the first quarter until a long, last-second heave to end the period. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. And, they weren't exactly an offensive juggernaut. It was one of those tough-to-be-a-Vandy-fan days.
 
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YoDore said:
For Vandy? I don't think we recruited her. Maybe you're talking about Louisville. If so, I'm not sure.


Much better than last year when we got home and away with LSU in addition to UT. Georgia and Missouri are two of the teams we eventually have to track down to move up in the standings. I'm not saying we're ready to take them, but it's good to have two shots at each of them. Unless they beat our brains out, of course.

By the way, when we played Georgia at home last year, they literally didn't miss at shot in the first quarter until a long, last-second heave to end the period. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. And, they weren't exactly an offensive juggernaut. It was one of those tough-to-be-a-Vandy-fan days.
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Yes, Louisville. She was a lock and supposedly committed. Then de-committed and went to SC
 
I had thought we might be through for the '24 cycle, at least in terms of new offers. But, I stumbled upon this one from a couple days ago. She's a 5'7 point guard who scores in bunches at times. She also got offers from Michigan and Penn State this week to go along with several others from earlier, including Marquette, Seton Hall and Harvard.

 
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YoDore said:
Great article by Maggie Vanoni about Kevin Demille, assistant coach and one of the recruiting coordinators for Shea Ralph at Vandy. Offers some interesting behind the scenes looks at UConn, also.

www.nhregister.com

Meet Kevin DeMille, former UConn women's basketball staffer who's now Shea Ralph's Vanderbilt assistant

Former UConn women's basketball practice player Kevin DeMille has served under former Husky greats Jeniffer Rizzotti and Shea Ralph as an assistant coach.
www.nhregister.com www.nhregister.com
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What a great article!
 
This says it all and pretty much sums up one of the things that makes UCONN so great:

“I've always sort of been mesmerized by their level of competitiveness and level of humility, and that these people came from all over the country, in some cases all over the world, to try to pursue what they love at the highest level of doing it,” DeMille said. “And that was really special. And I never took that lightly. I never took it for granted. …

Their success meant everything to me, just like you would celebrate your friends’ success. That was sort of a function of our relationship. And so, it became really important to play whatever role I could in helping them do that since they were doing the same for me.”
 
YoDore said:
Great article by Maggie Vanoni about Kevin Demille, assistant coach and one of the recruiting coordinators for Shea Ralph at Vandy. Offers some interesting behind the scenes looks at UConn, also.

www.nhregister.com

Meet Kevin DeMille, former UConn women's basketball staffer who's now Shea Ralph's Vanderbilt assistant

Former UConn women's basketball practice player Kevin DeMille has served under former Husky greats Jeniffer Rizzotti and Shea Ralph as an assistant coach.
www.nhregister.com www.nhregister.com
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@YoDore, this is really a great article. Thank you so much for positing it.
 
YoDore said:
Great article by Maggie Vanoni about Kevin Demille, assistant coach and one of the recruiting coordinators for Shea Ralph at Vandy. Offers some interesting behind the scenes looks at UConn, also.

www.nhregister.com

Meet Kevin DeMille, former UConn women's basketball staffer who's now Shea Ralph's Vanderbilt assistant

Former UConn women's basketball practice player Kevin DeMille has served under former Husky greats Jeniffer Rizzotti and Shea Ralph as an assistant coach.
www.nhregister.com www.nhregister.com
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Agreed! Great article about about Kevin! I always love hearing about all of these cool behind the scenes stories! He clearly played a vital role in team chemistry and player development ❤️ His positive energy on the sidelines (and dashing good looks) are just a bonus :p

“In a world where you can be anything…be KIND”
 
Thought some UConn fans might get a kick out of seeing former Huskie, Anna Makurat, right, and little sis Agata having a big time in Nashville. They were at the Ed Sheeran concert at Nissan Stadium Saturday night. Not sure how long Anna will be in town, but it appears she has been here for an extended visit. I saw a video a couple weeks ago with her being worked out by Vandy's strength and conditioning coach, and about a week ago she was at a Beyonce concert with assistant coach Kevin Demille, assistant coach Ashley Earley, director of recruiting Koko Nelson and director of basketball operations Chris Brann. She has several friends here from her UConn days plus I'm sure her presence is a comfort for her sister as she learns her way in a new country and culture. Anyway, she seems to be having a blast in her off season from her professional league in Europe.

 
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Coach Ralph offered Layla Hays last week. She's a 6'4 class of '25 player from Alaska whose recruiting blew up after a big performance at the Nike Nationals in Chicago. She received several offers, including Vandy. She said her dream had been to play with her sister at Eastern Washington, them all of a sudden she has coaches from major programs across the nation calling her. She called it "surreal."

https://alaskasportsreport.com/2023/07/ ... -48-hours/
 
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She's a 5'6 guard out of the Boston area. Michigan and Penn State offered her within a day or two of Vandy. Also has offers from Marquette, Depaul and Harvard among others.

 
Vandy's team and staff took off for Italy today for a 12-day tour. They'll play three games while there, and I don't expect to get any news at all about how they look.

 
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