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Welcome to UConn Azura Stevens (merged threads)

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huskeynut said:
HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never thought she would wind up in Storrs!

Welcome Azura!
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Remember the old adage: "It's always darkest before dawn".
 
baggerbob said:
She may not be Stewie, but she's as close as anyone will be in the next few years. The year of practice, she should be ready to rock, and roll when the 2017-2018 season starts.
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We were the Duke game a couple of years ago at the XL Center - Steven's freshman year. She was very impressive and was the one bright spot for Duke.

She can bang inside and step out and hit the jumper - including the 3. She can board and play defense and her ball handling skills were not too bad either. Very talented.
 
Tonyc said:
My youngest Daughter played with her sister Da Sheana in the Norwalk City League. The won it all. IMO it is really important to get Butler starting and making an impact so Stevens can play the wing with KLS. The following season or two well we could be looking at another NC and undefeated season.
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Keep talkin' Tony, I like that kind of talk.
 
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Charliebball said:
SCG......have you seen enough of Stevens to compare to A Wilson? My thought is that Stevens is more mobile with better range but not as strong a post player as Wilson?
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I have. They've played against one another twice already and each time Wilson has won the overall battle. Wilson just has a way of taking Stevens completely out of her game.. probably because Wilson is a better perimeter defender than people give her credit for and when Wilson wasn't giving her threes, Stevens would always try to play Wilson's game offensively (inside). Stevens' biggest strength/mismatch as a post is her ability to run the wings and knock down threes before the defense gets set.. but against SC, Wilson was always just quick enough to guard her on the perimeter and whenever Stevens would try to go inside, no contest there.

Stevens has WAY better offensive range (at this point, Dawn is working on that with Wilson), she's a better ball handler than Wilson and she's quick for a 6'6" post player but she's not strong enough to battle with Wilson inside (it's really undersold how strong Wilson is inside) and Wilson is just quick enough to guard her on the perimeter. All in all, A'ja is a terrible matchup for Stevens... and that's not to take anything away from Stevens. She's a matchup nightmare for any post player not named A'ja Wilson. Wilson is just too strong for Stevens.

That will be a major key for Stevens going forward.. getting stronger.. She needs a Breanna Stewart like physical transformation. Stevens has all of the intangibles offensively, she just needs to get stronger physically, which in turn will help her defensively.
 
From what I have observed via TV, Azura is not naturally a "banger" and does not relish that role. She can do it if she has to, but would much prefer to play away from the basket. So she would have largely the same game as Stewie, if not quite that level of skill. Or you might call her a "taller KLS".

I agree with the Carolina Sandpiper (above) that Azura is not as strong as A'ja Wilson, but really, Stewie was not as strong as A'ja either but played against her effectively. I think that when Azura gets into a UConn offense and is moving all around the court, A'ja will not find it easy to guard her. I'm not sure that Azura can effectively guard A'ja or other big posts in the paint, but neither am I sure that she will have that assignment (at least not exclusively) when UConn plays South Carolina in 2018.
 
This is a dream comes true !!!
I always knew she was interested in Uconn even before she even went to Duke. Geno and staff never offered her. My pops knows her father. He's from stamford and has another daughter (Dashena Stevens) who played at st John's. 17-18 is going to be a fun year. #comeonMEGANWALKER
 
JoePgh said:
I think that when Azura gets into a UConn offense and is moving all around the court, A'ja will not find it easy to guard her. I'm not sure that Azura can effectively guard A'ja or other big posts in the paint, but neither am I sure that she will have that assignment (at least not exclusively) when UConn plays South Carolina in 2018.
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Agreed. And the great thing about Stevens is that she's quick enough to utilize ball screens and if we know anything about UCONN's offense, they love ball screens. Stevens was really underutilized off ball screens at Duke.

Ideally, you want to keep Stevens away from Wilson as much as possible (offensively AND defensively). Ball screens will help you do that offensively.
 
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BRS24 said:
Agree. It's like all the other promos that are done - coaches mic-ed up, locker room speeches, tons of social media, and there is UConn. Very quietly doing their thing, their way, and not getting sucked into all the crud.
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The way the staff handled this, kind of makes you think about the way Navy Seal Teams go about their business. They go in and come out in stealth mode, and no body knows they were ever there.

Like Kwaye Chang Cain (Kung Fu) walking on rice paper. They complete their mission, get the Job done, and everybody comes home safe. THAT'S what I'm talking about!! Everybody does not have to know your business.
 
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baggerbob said:
She may not be Stewie, but she's as close as anyone will be in the next few years. The year of practice, she should be ready to rock, and roll when the 2017-2018 season starts.
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The staff has 19 months (from now to next October) to get her where they want her to be. The staff could get her there in half that time. There's not that much tweaking they have to do to her.

She could roll out of bed and play tomorrow with her new teammates........and pick up where she left off......18/9. :cool:
 
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Very good news going forward.

If a fire needed to be lit under Natalie, this should do the trick. (Not saying that Natalie
isn't focused on what she needs to do over the summer, but this ought to sharpen that
focus).
 
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SCGamecock said:
I have. They've played against one another twice already and each time Wilson has won the overall battle. Wilson just has a way of taking Stevens completely out of her game.. probably because Wilson is a better perimeter defender than people give her credit for and when Wilson wasn't giving her threes, Stevens would always try to play Wilson's game offensively (inside). Stevens' biggest strength/mismatch as a post is her ability to run the wings and knock down threes before the defense gets set.. but against SC, Wilson was always just quick enough to guard her on the perimeter and whenever Stevens would try to go inside, no contest there.

Stevens has WAY better offensive range (at this point, Dawn is working on that with Wilson), she's a better ball handler than Wilson and she's quick for a 6'6" post player but she's not strong enough to battle with Wilson inside (it's really undersold how strong Wilson is inside) and Wilson is just quick enough to guard her on the perimeter. All in all, A'ja is a terrible matchup for Stevens... and that's not to take anything away from Stevens. She's a matchup nightmare for any post player not named A'ja Wilson. Wilson is just too strong for Stevens.

That will be a major key for Stevens going forward.. getting stronger.. She needs a Breanna Stewart like physical transformation. Stevens has all of the intangibles offensively, she just needs to get stronger physically, which in turn will help her defensively.
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Huge get for Connecticut. Adding in Stevens, UCONN gets a legit AA caliber player who can be a go to from day 1.

A'ja Wilson is the stronger post of the two due to her frame, athleticism and skill set. A'ja really impressed this year with her ability to bang in the post and was not afraid of contact, where as a freshman she had a tendency to shy away.

Stevens reminds me a bit of former Dukie Iciss Tillis, but significantly better. A lanky tall forward with very good perimeter skills, a 3pt shot and not the strongest low post game offensively. She has all of the potential in the world to be a star and potential Olympian. My guess is she'll be a major candidate for NPOY as a junior when she puts on a UCONN uniform and Geno will utilize her length and keep her anchored as a 5 defensively, but move her both inside and out offensively.
 
Carnac said:
The way the staff handled this, kind of makes you think about the way Navy Seal Teams go about their business. They go in and come out in stealth mode, and no body knows they were ever there.

Like Kwaye Chang Cain (Kung ) walking on rice paper. They complete their mission, get the Job done, and everybody comes home safe. THAT'S what I'm talking about!! Everybody does not have to know your business.
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CAR: on man, TELL it. You are on a roll today for sure. Loved that last paragraph as it pertains to the world scene.
 
Adesmar123 said:
nm
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Charlie---now you can say I told your so!! Some on the Boneyard said NEVER--Geno does not take Transfers
NEVER SAY NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a red lettered day!!! Thank you Ms Steven's you made my next three years!!!! Thank you Geno for not saying NEVER at Uconn!! Thank you coaches and team for seeing her potential in a blue and white uniform!
`
 
ed4ourgirls said:
Very good news going forward.

If a fire needed to be lit under Natalie, this should do the trick. (Not saying that Natalie
isn't focused on what she needs to do over the summer, but this ought to sharpen that
focus).
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She will also have a very good player to practice against.
 
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winlots said:
CAR: nifty "heh heh heh" and grin. Gives me one of the latter.
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More like the Marines---they get to do the Job the army and seals aren't trusted with---taking the enemies head on!!
 
bballnut90 said:
Huge get for Connecticut. Adding in Stevens, UCONN gets a legit AA caliber player who can be a go to from day 1.

She has all of the potential in the world to be a star and potential Olympian. My guess is she'll be a major candidate for NPOY as a junior when she puts on a UCONN uniform and Geno will utilize her length and keep her anchored as a 5 defensively, but move her both inside and out offensively.
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most def... especially since she's a UCONN player :D
 
UcMiami said:
Dang - beat me to it! WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWSER!!!!!

I have a big wide grin on my face! I think she is a really exciting player, and I think she will fit really well with both the coaches and the players!
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WOW-ZER. WOWDIE WOW WOW WOW YOWZER WOWDID WOW WOW. WHO'A THUNK IT AS A FLORIDA GUY USED TO SAY!!
 
Tonyc said:
My youngest Daughter played with her sister Da Sheana in the Norwalk City League. The won it all. IMO it is really important to get Butler starting and making an impact so Stevens can play the wing with KLS. The following season or two well we could be looking at another NC and undefeated season.
Expand ...
didnt know they were sister... DaSheana was good, she lit UConn up once but still lost. D is an assistant coach at St. Johns suprised Azura didnt go there but I think she's smart :p
 
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