Pierre, the freshman-of-the-week recipient mentioned above, has been improving quickly. She's 6'2 and can jump. Good offensive skills. Still does freshman things from time to time, but we're seeing less of that as we go along. Her playing time is increasing. Has a chance to be a good one. She was the highest rated recruit in the class.
The 6'3 Colorado product, Aiyana Mitchell, has started to see some playing time. Coach Ralph said she got off to a slow start but has pretty much caught up on the offense and defense. Shea thinks she will help against SEC teams. Good skills around the basket and runs the floor exceptionally well for her size. Seems to have limited post moves, and on defense, she has that freshman mentality where her idea of being physical is to knock hell out of somebody...lol. She'll learn how to disguise it like most good posts do.
The one I told you I thought was a project, 6'3 Bailey Gilmore? Well, she might have been more of a project than I thought. She somehow got herself in Shea's dog house and only started showing up around the team in recent days. Hasn't played at all or even dressed. When asked about her a few weeks back, Shea simply said she was "unavailable." Since she has started to be seen with the team, including post-game on the floor Sunday and at a Preds game, I suspect she'll be activated when the new semester starts next week, though that is purely a guess. I can't think she did anything really bad. The kid was valedictorian of her high school, so she's no dummy. I suspect it's just a kid who is away from home for the first time who turned left when she should have turned right. She seems like a great kid. Glad I never made any mistakes when I started college.
If you're counting 6'2 Aga Makurat among the bigs, she is playing more and sometimes starting. An outstanding shooter who works hard on defense. Shea said she is too hard on herself and thinks she should make every shot. This same report could pertain to 6'4 sophomore Justine Pissott. They both miss a couple shots then become hesitant. They seem to be coming out of that, though. This team desperately needs them to score. The half-court offense, particularly the shooting, has not been great.
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