This is the most likely scenario. Where a friend (or family member - UConn fans should definitely know about this) goes to college does not sway a recruit one way or the other. It's a gut feeling and discussions with their family that counts the most. Azzi Fudd will not go to UConn because Paige is there. She will go to UConn because she feels that is the best fit for her..Will Azzi Come Because of Bueckers?
Hmmm...for a large part of the last year, many posters on (at least) two boards thought Paige Bueckers would attend Notre Dame because of her friendship with Sam Brunelle. And then others thought certain pictures showed various permutations of the three closer to one than the other.
Me thinks Azzi Fudd will choose where to attend college based on her needs and/or wants and gut feel.
Yes, it would be nice to have a familiar face, but Paige, Azzi, Sam, Aliyah, etc. are all going to be close, regardless of where they attend college. So, it will come down to Azzi's preference.
Does Geno, Muffet, Brenda, etc., have input on that. You bet.
How probable is it that UConn will get Azzi Fudd now that Paige Bueckers is in the bag?
While I don’t necessarily buy in to the idea that friendship is a major factor in determining where top recruits go to college, there is some anecdotal evidence that the ability to play with a top pg may be a factor. Stewie clearly wanted to play with Mo. More recently, in listing her reasons to attend UConn, Christyn cited the opportunity to play with Crystal.
So if you’re a talented HS player who likes to run the floor and fill the wing on the break, would you want to play with Paige Bueckers?
Hell yes!
There is also something infectious about a great pg. Late in the season when Christyn was on the break, with everyone on the court expecting her to go in for the layup against her defender, she delivered a perfect behind the back, bounce pass to Crystal who was trailing the break for an easy layup. The crowd exploded and Crystal was beaming with the knowledge that her young, backcourt mate had delivered a highlight reel dime.and I think this is a big part of Geno's mindset about recruiting. More than any other coach, he tries to recruit teams that have a good fit and complementary skills and not just look at individual talent and it starts with PG play.
While I don’t necessarily buy in to the idea that friendship is a major factor in determining where top recruits go to college, there is some anecdotal evidence that the ability to play with a top pg may be a factor. Stewie clearly wanted to play with Mo. More recently, in listing her reasons to attend UConn, Christyn cited the opportunity to play with Crystal.
So if you’re a talented HS player who likes to run the floor and fill the wing on the break, would you want to play with Paige Bueckers?
Hell yes!!!
Sounds like you have daughters. Mine tended to be influenceds, positively or negatively , by supposed friends.Will Azzi come because of Bueckers?
I hope not. I hope Azzi comes to UCONN for her own reasons and because she wants to fulfill her OWN basketball aspirations.
You nailed why I love Womens (Uconn) basketball. Passing. Geno's kids in the early nineties and on were superb passers, one gets hooked on precision.There is also something infectious about a great pg. Late in the season when Christyn was on the break, with everyone on the court expecting her to go in for the layup against her defender, she delivered a perfect behind the back, bounce pass to Crystal who was trailing the break for an easy layup. The crowd exploded and Crystal was beaming with the knowledge that her young, backcourt mate had delivered a highlight reel dime.
Uconn over the years has had "Friends" all select Uconn together. It usually works our extremely well. 3 Moriah, Tuck, Stew came as a package--what a package.While I don’t necessarily buy in to the idea that friendship is a major factor in determining where top recruits go to college, there is some anecdotal evidence that the ability to play with a top pg may be a factor. Stewie clearly wanted to play with Mo. More recently, in listing her reasons to attend UConn, Christyn cited the opportunity to play with Crystal.
So if you’re a talented HS player who likes to run the floor and fill the wing on the break, would you want to play with Paige Bueckers?
Hell yes!!!
While I agree with each word, I'd like to point out--and she is often overlooked-that Christine dailey recruits, seeks players, has more than a little input into the selection process. No offense, just a note.and I think this is a big part of Geno's mindset about recruiting. More than any other coach, he tries to recruit teams that have a good fit and complementary skills and not just look at individual talent and it starts with PG play.
Best of luck to Azzi.I realize this is info aside from the topic but Azzi Fudd was injured last weekend at the 3x3 nationals. The injury is to her knee and it looked like a mostly non-contact injury as she landed after jumping. She is getting doctor opinions on it and the obvious concern is about the ligaments.
When you say came as a package, do you mean they coordinated their decisions to come here? I don't think that was the case at all. When I think of package deal I think of the kind of stuff that goes on with UNC when DeShields et al committed, or at Ohio State where to get one prized recruit (Kelsey Mitchell) you had to take the father as coach and the younger less talented sister. I think in the case of UConn it just so happened that players from the same class decided to come here independently of each other.Uconn over the years has had "Friends" all select Uconn together. It usually works our extremely well. 3 Moriah, Tuck, Stew came as a package--what a package.
Personally, just a feeling, no psychological reasoning for it--would like to see Azzi and Paige arrive as a tandum team, nice building blocks.
There's a scenario like this in South Bend, as well. While Katlyn Gilbert lives in Indiana and Anaya Peoples in Illinois, they've played together on the same AAU team for many years and are very close friends. Gilbert, a grade ahead, came to Notre Dame in 2018. Unfortunately, she suffered a shoulder injury early on and missed her frosh year. Anaya Peoples is now coming as well and the two friends will have four years to play together...and for the Irish.