Waiting on Kayleigh Heckel

[freekimchee]

First, the transfer portal isn't going away anytime soon. It is what it is. Second, perhaps coach already knows the possibility of landing either of the remaining elite true PGs in both Harpring ('26) and Smith ('27) is pretty slim which leaves us with GG Banks ('27) and Chloe Johnson ('28).

As good as Kelis (I'm a big fan) is, she is more of a combo than a true PG from what I've seen so far. So, why not try and get a potentially elite true PG who still has 3 years of eligibility left if we have the chance? I've been a huge fan of K9 since her LuHi days and I always thought she'd be a great fit and really thrive under coach Auriemma's system.

 

[tower1]

Heckel would be a fine addition to UConn......she'd have either the second or third best handle on the team, is a willing passer, a solid defender and is fearless going to the rim.........I'd still view KK as the starter with Heckel as a solid back up, Kelis as a combo guard, Allie as Azzi's back up at shooting guard, and Ashlynn and Morgan as hybrid small forwards who can also bring the ball up the court......as far as what impact Kayleigh's addition would have on future recruiting, that's Geno's call to make....

I love KK. But she is best coming in from the bench. The way she changes the game is unreplaceable . No way would i make her a starter. She is definitely qualified but no one can do what she does coming in from the bench ! Heckel would be my choice to start she is very talented and the closest player to replace Paige.

 

[darrell]

First, the transfer portal isn't going away anytime soon. It is what it is. Second, perhaps coach already knows the possibility of landing either of the remaining elite true PGs in both Harpring ('26) and Smith ('27) is pretty slim which leaves us with GG Banks ('27) and Chloe Johnson ('28).

As good as Kelis (I'm a big fan) is, she is more of a combo than a true PG from what I've seen so far. So, why not try and get a potentially elite true PG who still has 3 years of eligibility left if we have the chance? I've been a huge fan of K9 since her LuHi days and I always thought she'd be a great fit and really thrive under coach Auriemma's system.

Well said. Couldn’t agree more.

 

[Charliebball]

I love KK. But she is best coming in from the bench. The way she changes the game is unreplaceable . No way would i make her a starter. She is definitely qualified but no one can do what she does coming in from the bench ! Heckel would be my choice to start she is very talented and the closest player to replace Paige.

I think KK acquitted herself quite well as a freshman starter, became a game changer as a sophomore and has now earned her chance to take the helm........the beauty of having Heckel and Kelis is that they also would bring instant energy to the court when KK is on the bench....I have to keep reminding myself that Heckel has not committed to UConn and may go elsewhere and in that case KK is clearly the starting point guard

 

[DefenseBB]

Do we want to pin our hopes on an unproven sophomore in the UConn system? In what ways does she make the rotation a dangerous piece with very little drop off that players already on the team can't do? What has she done to make you think that?

So someone else explaining how K9 has experience is an affront to you? K9 has vastly more experience than anyone on our roster not named KK or Azzi at the PG position given her year in the Big 10 and tournament play plus her USA Basketball experience. She was ranked at 13 by HG in a Very deep class whereas Kelis is #25 in an unknown class. Why are you so doubtful on her?

 

[BRS24]

There's unsubstantiated chatter re Heckel, and there's a post online from our "favorite"' source, 99 Feet WBB, with a GIF of Ivey, so take that with a grain of salt. Then again, it could also be Iyanna Moore.

 

[Monte]

Song: "Please come to UCONN(Boston) in the spring time."

 

[pvdoggy]

I like Heckel’s game but eight pages so far is quite amazing. Some actual commits do not even get the same amount of attention.

 

[Centerstream]

I like Heckel’s game but eight pages so far is quite amazing. Some actual commits do not even get the same amount of attention.

Maybe paying a visit to Storrs stoked the dying embers??????

 

[DemonDeac22]

I like Heckel’s game but eight pages so far is quite amazing. Some actual commits do not even get the same amount of attention.

We have obviously entered the “having your cake and eating it too” era of the UConn WBB Forum with Kayleigh Heckel…

 

[MooseJaw]

I’m new here and don’t know if this was answered. Yes, it was an informative post (about credits and transfer eligibility). Some freshman get a quick start by having taken college credits in high school, assuming those are counted toward transfer eligibility, or have started early, either in the summer or even the previous winter term, like I believe Jana did. Another way is to load up in the fall term. Apparently, Heckel didn’t do any of those. In any case, USC exam week is May 7-14. I wouldn’t expect UConn to say anything because there’s nothing to say, these things being governed by rules and good sense and all.

Romath: Welcome to the best WCBB team site, the home of the Huskies. Don't be intimidated, almost all here share a deep love and appreciation for everything women's Husky basketball. Be yourself, don't take BS from other members. There are a few pretenders here, but you will figure out who in time.

 

[Zarathustra]

Song: "Please come to UCONN(Boston) in the spring time."

I'm looking forward to the time that a BONEYARDER can
post the "HALLELUJAH CHORUS"!! or perhaps "OH HAPPY
DAY!" We should do a thread of our favorite "K9" songs
(You can take that anyway you like). By the way, I just
stared at my slave that it was well past the time when I should
go outside!!! "K9, be a HUSKY!!!"

 

[RockyMTblue2]

We have obviously entered the “having your cake and eating it too” era of the UConn WBB Forum with Kayleigh Heckel…

We're coming down slowly, very slowly, off a National Championship high, so allowance must be made for the occasional excess. I figure late August for a return to what passes for normal here in the Boneyard.

 

[Alydar]

We're coming down slowly, very slowly, off a National Championship high, so allowance must be made for the occasional excess. I figure late August for a return to what passes for normal here in the Boneyard.

Yeah. Around labor Day there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth over the fact that Geno is only 2 deep at all positions.

 

[CL82]

Waiting for Heckel​

 

[Dogdude]

View attachment 109290
Waiting for Heckel​

We have certainly taken an existential turn here. But I'm betting we can make it to 20 pages. Keep at it, everyone.

 

[nomdoux]

Prevailing considerations IMHO vis-a-vis Kayleigh Heckel prospective incoming transfer...

Pardon if any previously addressed. I have been perusing this forum periodically but have not seen, which has triggered this submission

1. Qadence Samuels roster/scholarship spot. To extent she has not declared her destination & presuming she can return-- which I believe is the right of every student athlete who enters the Portal. I recall seeing something about this herein but without elaboration;

2. Positional depth need. Kayleigh Heckel appears to be a PG or at least with such ability, whereas neither Allie Ziebel nor incoming Kelis Fisher are considered as such-- the former a textbook SG & latter a combo slasher as evidenced by her IMG tape. We need backup PG minutes & security behind emerging KK. We also know that Geno prefers an abundance of ball-handling guards who can run his offense; ergo, KC grad transfer/success as most recent example-- despite Paige & KK's roster presences (not to mention Azzi with combo ability);

3. Quality of player relative to existing/entering competing talent. Kayleigh Heckel was a Top-15 HS recruit, All-American, & Team USA gold medalist, I believe playing as their PG. Whereas Allie Ziebel has similar bona fides, she is a SG-- not a PG, as indicated above. Furthermore, Kelis Fisher is not of quite such rarified air as a prospect while not fitting PG textbook style of play. I also fear that Kelis Fisher might be closer to QS in terms of prospect caliber than the 5-star norm that UConn consistently attracts;

4. Opportunity cost for future recruiting/team building. NBA alumn sharpshooting wing Matt Harpring's daughter Kate seems to be the only pipeline HS point guard talent that trumps Kayleigh Heckel re: talent/ability/upside. So it would seem prudent to perhaps touch base with this prospective recruit to see if she may either commit early or is at least leaning strongly towards UConn before accepting Kayleigh Heckel's transfer. Alternatively, Kayleigh Heckel would provide 3 years of ongoing PG stability for Geno to weather the lacking such HS talent otherwise.

Comments, criticism welcome. Nice to be back. Have followed passively since withdraw. Thanks & Cheers

 

[DEpup]

I love KK. But she is best coming in from the bench. The way she changes the game is unreplaceable . No way would i make her a starter. She is definitely qualified but no one can do what she does coming in from the bench ! Heckel would be my choice to start she is very talented and the closest player to replace Paige.

But how does that develop KK? It's still a University where students are there to develop and learn.

 

[Forego]

View attachment 109290
Waiting for Heckel​

I tip my hat to you Gogo for a great post.

 

[DefenseBB]

My own view is if we miss out on Kayleigh can’t we get Jeckle? Their games are similar….

 

[Bone Dog]

I love KK. But she is best coming in from the bench. The way she changes the game is unreplaceable . No way would i make her a starter. She is definitely qualified but no one can do what she does coming in from the bench ! Heckel would be my choice to start she is very talented and the closest player to replace Paige.

I hear your concern, but I think it may be framed poorly. As long as we think the next PG is a replacement for Paige, we’ll never be satisfied with KK or Kayleigh. It might make more sense to think of either or both of them as filling Kaitlyn’s shoes.

Paige is one of the GOATs, not a plug-n-play piece that even can be replaced. Geno is looking to restructure the team to highlight Azzi and Sarah as they lead the team back to the finals. This is a very different coaching task. What does he need to put in place around this pair of bucket-getters? His answer seems to be a solid low-post scorer, a bunch of ballhandlers, and a bunch of athletic wings. No single one of them will replace Paige’s production. But in aggregate they might significantly exceed it.

Another way to frame this question: last season Geno outfoxed the rest of D1 WBB by developing a ferocious smalll-ball lineup. He took what others perceived as a weakness and made it a strength. This season, he’ll have the personnel to go in the other direction with a lineup that can go big with any opponent and still go small as needed. This will be a very flexible roster. The only question (other than health) is whether he’ll have as much perimeter talent as this season.

Geno’s not looking for another Paige. He’s looking to set Azzi up for a tremendous senior season, and to let Sarah grow into the superstar who will lead the team in the following two seasons. I’d say he’s pretty much successfully prepared the way for this already.

 

[Jaml]

View attachment 109290
Waiting for Heckel​

Evidently Samuel Beckett is now in the portal.

 

[oldude]

Evidently Samuel Beckett is now in the portal.

I hear that Godot can light it up from the 3-pt line……

 

[Hayven]

With the recruiting shutdown period this week, can Heckel still contact Geno and Co to commit? Or would she have to wait until next week? If she hasn’t already

 

[Bone Dog]

With the recruiting shutdown period this week, can Heckel still contact Geno and Co to commit? Or would she have to wait until next week? If she hasn’t already

Does that apply to transfers or only to HS recruits?