Which Will Become the Better Pro? KLS? Or Pheesa?

[Los24]

A good point about how much KLS gets doubled now which will not happen at the next level except at the end of close games when a 3 is needed. Again though, it depends on the view of the coach as to how he or she values all the things she can bring. That will determine how much she can develop as a pro player. Then there's how she will be viewed by the veteran players which will also have an effect on her pro career.

Time will tell. When I think of how well she fit in her freshman year playing along the big 3, I think her overall game will blend in with most. Her passing is excellent and her ball handling is very good for a 6'3" player. I think those are two areas that Pheesa struggles with, you can see in the last game when she is running the break she does not have a great handle nor know how to distribute. Her assists come out of the half court.

What Lou lacks is Pheesa's ability to leverage her length and motor on defense/rebounding. I am amazed at her ability to out rebound against taller players, and when she blocks she almost never has to jump. Pheesa's turnaround mid-range jump shot will also serve her well at the next level.

They both have the ability to grow in their pro game.

 

[DefenseBB]

I appreciate your take on Collier.......BUT, I remind you that Maya Moore is only 6'0". She has ALWAYS been able to do just about anything she wants to consistently and at a very high level. Her height has NEVER prevented her from doing anything she wants to. I don't suspect Pheesa's will either. I rest my case.

Maya is a significantly BETTER shooter than Pheesa will ever be. Maya is on the Mount Rushmore not only of UConn WCBB but all of WCBB. Pheesa is an "Honorable Mention" of UConn Rushmore notables. To compare Maya as a Wing to Pheesa as a front court/small forward is apples to oranges.

 

[chrissaran]

Lou has a history of injury problems. The WNBA is much more physical. I wish them both well, but I would say Napheesa will have the better career.

 

[Los24]

Lou has a history of injury problems. The WNBA is much more physical. I wish them both well, but I would say Napheesa will have the better career.

For having a history of injury she actually has played in most of her games... I might be mistaken but wasn't it the same injured foot that was not treated right? This last injury anyone would suffer when someone dives into your back.

 

[Dokey]

Pheesa probably can't play her college game in pros so her success will be determined by coach and teammates. The talent and desire is there. So is the athletic ability. Lou's ability to shoot from downtown and length on defense will give her an edge but it is her ability to pass that will make her a great pro. What might have neen this season yells us boyh Pheesa and Lou's pro hame. Just give Lou a big post to pass to. Had Stevens stayed UConn would have cruised to national title with Lou making the perfect quick pass to her under the basket. And when teams tried to stop that, she'd hit the three. And Collier would have been free to dominate 8 feet out.

 

[ricky]

Who said she didn't have a handle and needed other people to help her score.

 

[ricky]

?

 

[DeeHusky]

Have y’all been watching this year? It’s easy to tell who will be the better pro.

 

[Dokey]

Have y’all been watching this year? It’s easy to tell who will be the better pro.

Pro ball is different. Going inside is tough. Pheesa may have to change her game. Lou continues to evolve. As a WNBA coach, I'd love to have either.

 

[DeeHusky]

Pro ball is different. Going inside is tough. Pheesa may have to change her game. Lou continues to evolve. As a WNBA coach, I'd love to have either.

Maya Moore & Nneka Ogwumike are the athletes that Napheesa’s game kind of has similarities. I think Maya is 6’1 and Nneka is 6’2. While Napheesa can’t shoot as well Maya or have the same caliber of athleticism that Nneka has. I think she will be fine with the physicality. Lou is the one that wouldn’t be able to handle the physicality imo. Imo Napheesa is the pro ready player in the entire draft pool.

 

[Los24]

Have y’all been watching this year? It’s easy to tell who will be the better pro.

Were you watching last year? Lou was a finalist for best player in the country while playing hurt. Lou is having an off year shooting but has improved in every other area of her game. Don't forget Lou dropped 40 on a better USF team 2 years ago. Geno was saying the same exact things about Lou last year trying to prompt her for POY. Remember, she also led the NATION in 3-pt shooting. Lou is a better passer, shooter and has a better handle. Both have great motor and pretty even with steals. Pheesa has better game in the paint, rebounder, shot blocker (although she rarely jumps and will not be blocking the same at the next level) and one of the best mid-range turn around shoots I have seen.

I respect anyone's decision as who may be the better player but acting like one is way better is just not accurate.

 

[DeeHusky]

Were you watching last year? Lou was a finalist for best player in the country while playing hurt. Lou is having an off year shooting but has improved in every other area of her game. Don't forget Lou dropped 40 on a better USF team 2 years ago. Geno was saying the same exact things about Lou last year trying to prompt her for POY. Remember, she also led the NATION in 3-pt shooting. Lou is a better passer, shooter and has a better handle. Both have great motor and pretty even with steals. Pheesa has better game in the paint, rebounder, shot blocker (although she rarely jumps and will not be blocking the same at the next level) and one of the best mid-range turn around shoots I have seen.

I respect anyone's decision as who may be the better player but acting like one is way better is just not accurate.

THIS year that hasn’t been the case, I’m sorry, I just don’t see it. And always hurt doesn’t translate well if you want to be any type of pro athlete; that’s just life. I’m not basing anything that I see off shooting numbers although I do think they will have to be better in the league because that’s all I see her being in the W is a shooter.
...But yea she’s still been pretty good for college, but I just don’t see it happening in the pros.

 

[Los24]

THIS year that hasn’t been the case, I’m sorry, I just don’t see it. And always hurt doesn’t translate well if you want to be any type of pro athlete; that’s just life. I’m not basing anything that I see off shooting numbers although I do think they will have to be better in the league because that’s all I see her being in the W is a shooter.
...But yea she’s still been pretty good for college, but I just don’t see it happening in the pros.

Your entitled to your opinion. The way some fans talk here is just funny. She is pretty good for college? Could end up a 3 time All-American. Was POY 2x in conference same as Pheesa, and Pheesa only passed her in career points because someone jumped into her back while she was diving on the floor playing hard a few game ago. At 6' 3" she was one of 2 players last year in top 50 over 6 foot (she was close to top 10) in assist turnover ratio. This year she is the only UConn player in top 50 and only one of two players taller than 6' 1", most are under 6 feet tall. She is our back up point guard, guard and can play either forward position. 2nd in rebounding, etc... Again its all good, I guess you have high standards when a top 5 Uconn scorer with 2000 points is pretty good. Do yourself a favor and watch last years LV game highlights and see the diversity she has in her game when other players can get her the ball right on time.... Not making excuses for this year though.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Pheesa. WNBA is rough, KLS is fragile, sad but true.

Lou's broken bone in NCAA semi as freshman was freak thing. Her ankle was surgically repaired and we have seen no obvious issues with it this year. Her current injury was not the result of her being fragile, but rather an all out hustle play diving for a loose ball and getting slammed in the back by a knee or hip (either way a strong boney part of the opponent)...so NOT a fragile issue. She has played through a lot of physical play including an eye nearly swollen shut, played with flu, etc. Let's not over state the "fragile " label.

 

[DeeHusky]

Your entitled to your opinion. The way some fans talk here is just funny. She is pretty good for college? Could end up a 3 time All-American. Was POY 2x in conference same as Pheesa, and Pheesa only passed her in career points because someone jumped into her back while she was diving on the floor playing hard a few game ago. At 6' 3" she was one of 2 players last year in top 50 over 6 foot (she was close to top 10) in assist turnover ratio. This year she is the only UConn player in top 50 and only one of two players taller than 6' 1", most are under 6 feet tall. She is our back up point guard, guard and can play either forward position. 2nd in rebounding, etc... Again its all good, I guess you have high standards when a top 5 Uconn scorer with 2000 points is pretty good. Do yourself a favor and watch last years LV game highlights and see the diversity she has in her game when other players can get her the ball right on time.... Not making excuses for this year though.

I sometimes think you all try to overhype Lou because she’s a fan favorite. In tough games, IMO, she fades. She’s had big games against top teams when hasn’t had to do the heavy lifting. The one game I can remember when Lou played really well in a top game is the game against Maryland when she had the flu. In other games, where she’s had to really play and the team is having to gut out a win, she doesn’t show up. Like other people have mentioned, she’s fragile. The game against Louisville last year had Kia, Gabby, and Pheesa in it now it’s just Pheesa and did you see the game against Louisville this year?

 

[Los24]

I sometimes think you all try to overhype Lou because she’s a fan favorite. In tough games, IMO, she fades. She’s had big games against top teams when hasn’t had to do the heavy lifting. The one game I can remember when Lou played really well in a top game is the game against Maryland when she had the flu. In other games, where she’s had to really play and the team is having to gut out a win, she doesn’t show up. Like other people have mentioned, she’s fragile. The game against Louisville last year had Kia, Gabby, and Pheesa in it now it’s just Pheesa and did you see the game against Louisville this year?

Way to twist that LV game to negative. I guess scoring 1 less point than Pheesa against ND this year while leading the team with assists and hitting big shots in the 2nd half doesn't count. I also guess you must have a bunch of AA awards, multiple conference POY, lead the nation in some categories, etc...

To say she is fragile means you have not been watching her career. She has been beat up and has come back for more throughout her career. Your hyping her recent injury and her missing final game frosh season with broken foot. Not gonna bother discussing this anymore, really do not care to defend her career any further. I think they both have a bright future.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Way to twist that LV game to negative. I guess scoring 1 less point than Pheesa against ND this year while leading the team with assists and hitting big shots in the 2nd half doesn't count. I also guess you must have a bunch of AA awards, multiple conference POY, lead the nation in some categories, etc...

To say she is fragile means you have not been watching her career. She has been beat up and has come back for more throughout her career. Your hyping her recent injury and her missing final game frosh season with broken foot. Not gonna bother discussing this anymore, really do not care to defend her career any further. I think they both have a bright future.

Completely agree @Los24 . LIke I said in my post previously...the "fragile" part of Lou was her left ankle...surgery fixed that and we've seen no effects this year. the broken bone in the foot was a "freak" injury, and the back was the result of a hustle, scrappy play to get a loose ball. She is a gamer, she is a competitor, and she produces. She has been the target of most team's defenses as has been discussed many times before... now with the great AAC tourney, other teams are going to have to decide who they want to "take away"...Pheesa or Lou... and if they try to take out both of them with double teams, then 2 people are going to be wide open. I have never been a "fan" of these comparison threads... with players on the Team...because it always turns into this...where people take sides based on which player they like best. IMHO...they both have the shot at being solid Pros and I wish them both the absolute best of success!!!

 

[psconn]

Only time will tell, but I'm leaning toward Pheesa. She's durable, long, has great hands and feet. A finisher who can score from lots of positions on the court. Most of that could be said about Lou also soooo, yeah, only time will tell. Some mock drafts have Pheesa available when the Sun pick. I won't be sad to have her on our team.