Amihere was drafted in the first round based on potential alone. I think the same will apply for Prince. Nobody, with possibly the exception of Bueckers, has a higher ceiling at the next level in the upcoming draft. I could very easily see LA taking that gamble with the second pick. Barring injury, Prince's stock will continue to rise if she continues on her current path.
Are you talking about Paige or Prince?
We know they are talking about Prince, but it could easily also apply to Paige. She has also been injured and missed time in more than one season.
Thought that was why Paige came back to show she can stay healthy
Amihere is younger than Prince--and will have been in the league two seasons longer than Prince once 2025 rolls around. These are not similar circumstances. The last two WNBA ROY winners (Aliyah Boston, who turns 23 in nine days, and Caitlin Clark, who turns 23 in a little over a month-and-a-half) are both younger than Prince. Rhyne Howard (2022 WNBA ROY) is less than one month older than Prince. Michaela Onyenwere (2021 ROY) is less than one year older than Prince.
Most players don't peak until their late 20s / early 30s, so I don't understand your point. There are plenty of players who don't get their first minutes in the W until their mid 20s...Erica Wheeler comes to mind as an example. She still has plenty of time to grow.
Yes--after entering the league in their early 20s. This means that they've been facing pro competition (playing against the best of the best) for years as they're developing. Everyone marvels at how well Europeans and Australians are able to contribute to their teams at young ages. Well, they've been playing against grown women since their teens. Of course they're prepared.
Similar argument could be made for Paige who is just a year and a half younger and also has significant injury history. Paige at the end of her rookie season will be 24 years old, and guards often have a tougher time adjusting to the pros than post players do (although I think she will adjust just fine). No one is making a case that PB is a risky pick or has hit her ceiling.
That's likely because this draft is weak overall (hence all of the Prince talk). If Caitlin, Kamilla, Cam, and Rickea were in this year's draft, then people would be making that argument.
Again, she's darn near 25 years old doing this against players who were in middle school when she first stepped foot onto a college campus. Hard pass.
You can literally say this about any WNBA prospect. Prince is no different.
I thought it was interesting that Hunter Cruse said this, but then in the comments of another recent video he put a message stating he will not make an in-depth video covering Prince’s draft prospects as he has with other players, due to her off-court controversies/issues.
NBAdraft does have Fudd, Morrow, Caroline Ducharme and even van Lith mentioned in their top 25 list, but no Prince.
2025 WNBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room
The 2025 WNBA Draft will bring the next generation of stars into the WNBA. Check out the mock draft to see our draft projectionsnbadraftroom.com
Where did you see this? I don't see a link to one in this thread.
Like what, exactly? Because none of those bigs entered/will enter the WNBA at age 25 (Malonga is 19) like she will. At least half of them can dunk with ease. BG was one of the biggest game-changing presences in WCBB in at least a generation. Cardoso, Amihere, and Griner have NCAA rings. Malonga was part of a medal-winning senior national team as a teenager. What is Prince doing that most collegiate All-American bigs don't do?
Again, we can say this about pretty much every prospect. IF this, then that. This is not unique to Prince. What is unique to Prince is that she's doing this at 25 years old while the average college senior is about 21-22 (23 if they take the extra year and/or have a late birthday).
It is, actually. Curt Miller doesn't thumb his nose publicly at his old organization just to take a 25-year-old 6'7 player while having two 6'7 players (and a recent 6'6 lottery pick) on his roster. He's taking Paige because (1) his team needs her and (2) he can keep the team that needs her more (the Sparks) from getting her.
The Sparks are not chomping at the bit to pair Brink up with a 25-year-old rookie big when they have a 26-year-old "veteran" international big who is just as tall and versatile offensively.
You really like that Prince is 25.
Explain how Paige has changed a program.
Her ability to create and finish in the midrange is better than any of the players listed above, she has a quicker release, and she moves smoothly like a guard or a wing rather than a 6-7 post. She also has better handles than anyone listed above besides maybe Amihere, but I'd probably bet on Sedona being the stronger ball handler. I don't think anyone is saying she's necessarily better than the players above, but she's more of a unicorn than anyone there besides Griner based on her unique size and skillset. You'll get to see her first hand this weekend when she goes up against South Carolina.
No, you can't say that though about any of the other highly projected picks like Iriafen, Miles, Morrow, Pao Pao, or Janiah Barker. None are performing at a NPOY or NDPOY level this season. Prince is. And she's 24, not 25.
Agree 100%. But she's not changing the program like Prince/Hailey Van Lith are doing at TCU right now.
