I'm going to hate myself in the morning but---AS you pointed out KLS is suited size and 3 ball. Caveat: Assuming KLS stays VERY healthy. There is no one in the NCAA that has better hands, is more accurate, is quicker to the ball defensively; the limiting factor is she is undersize for post, no experience (in college) as a PG, Shooting guard/wing?? Maybe. As Bama said about Arike--(paraphrasing) I fear Supreme repercussion by saying negative anything about Pheesa she is just wonderful
Before I read your post, It crossed my mind that Lou has missed some games due to injury. I believe Collier has not. I believe it was reported during a recent broadcast that Collier was starting her in 100th consecutive game. It's always said that the best "ability" any athlete can have is
availability. Collier appears to be very durable. Coaches and GM's love durability in their players.
However, that fact alone will not decide which will be the better pro. What team they go to and who is the coach will also be a factor. Look at how going to Seattle affected KML. Despite being a first round draft pick, she hardly played for 3 years under head coach
Jenny Boucek. That had to stunt her development to some degree, even though she flourished in overseas play.
One other item I want to add is that Collier spent time this past summer working out the USA women's basketball team, and was the last or next to the last cut. I believe it was Kara Lawson (who is a coach for the USA women's team) said that Collier more than held her own during team workouts. She added that Collier DID NOT look like a college player during workouts/drills/scrimmages.
This would suggest that Collier should make the transition to the next level quickly and seamlessly, having already gotten over that "awe" factor that most rookies come into the league with. She's already played with
the best of the best during those workouts. Collier may not start for her new team, but she will get lots of PT. Collier will be coveted by GM's and coaches in the W as most UConn players are.
Being a two time first team ALL-American (she'll be a first team AA this year), her skills and abilities are unquestioned. The fact that she IS NOT a "diva", nor is she high maintenance is also a plus. She's just a basketball player that plays hard all of the time. Geno says "I don't worry about Pheesa. I know what I'm going to get from her." High praise coming from him.
UConn players are "plug n play." Coming from UConn and playing for Geno who is respected as a teacher and a coach, their BB knowledge and ability to play and understand the game is like an academic degree from Stanford, it's unquestioned. If you can play for Geno, you can play for any coach in the W. Why? He's been a
head coach longer than any coach in the W, he has very high standards, and he has more championships than any two of them put together. He is highly respected by every coach in the W.
, not 11-%.
