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Your Opinion on 2017 & 2018 Recruiting Classes

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Do not ignore the inevitable attrition between oral commitment and graduation. Boykin, Edwards, Wright, Walker, Delle Donne, Banks, Engeln, etc., etc.
 
Wally East said:
Remember that time UConn had Tina AND Maya?
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Remember that time I said, "The reason Geno and Co. have been so successful, is they get the right star talent and put them together like a puzzle. You have to have the RIGHT pieces to complete the puzzle."

No where in that statement does it say TWO elite future WNBA MVP's can't co-exist. They just have to be the RIGHT ones.
 
Do we know if any of the bigs are planning visits to campus anytime soon? Jade Williams, Charli Collier, Sedona Prince, or Lindsay Jarosinski?

I thought Charli Collier was supposed to come to one of the games in December, but someone said she couldn't make it. And I know that Geno did a home visit with Jade Williams.
 
PaulF said:
DeCosta becomes less of an '18 priority with the two '17 wings on board.
What do you think?
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Since I live in Northern California, I'll chime in here and point out a some things about DeCosta:

— Though some list her as wing and project her as possibly being a small forward in college, she currently plays center for her HS team (which is ranked #1 in the country by ESPN). Of course, it's very typical for any girl over 6'0", regardless of skill set and where she's expected to play in college to play center by default at the high school level.

— However, DeCosta is obviously not just any 6'2" girl. She is a rebounding nightmare. This season against Riverdale Baptist (the #3 team in the country by ESPN) she had 19 rebounds (along with 22 points), even though Riverdale Baptist has five 6'0"+ players on their roster. More recently, her team St. Mary's got an overtime scare from Salesian HS (also in NorCal). DeCosta ripped down 27 rebounds that game (along with 22 points and 6 blocks) in a matchup against Salesian's 6'5" center, Angel Jackson. Though Jackson is only a freshman, Dan Olson of ESPNW has already stated that she is "definitely top 25 [nationally] in her class." Again, that's 27 rebounds against a girl just a year younger with a "Wilt Chamberlain build."

Point being, it's going to be tough for a coach to justify letting a rebounder like DeCosta spend too much time roaming away from the paint, possibly at the expense of easy put backs off O-boards with her pogo stick leaping ability (she can dunk volleyballs).

— She hasn't attempted a single 3-pointer so far this season. Her perimeter game is described as "emerging," and there is a consensus among astute observers that her shooting needs to become more consistent in order to transition to the wing spot, and that she may need to revamp her shooting form as her current fundamentals/mechanics are slightly "off."

Point being, at this time many folks think her game would be best utilized at the power forward position. Thus, I really don't think there is/would be too much "overlap" between DeCosta and the two players you mentioned (Megan Walker and Lexi Gordon).

— I actually have not had the chance to see DeCosta play in person (even though I am also in NorCal, I'm a 2-hour drive from DeCosta's HS). But from what I've gathered, she seems similar to Nneka Ogwumike. Both 6'2" freak athletes. Although I definitely think DeCosta is a bit more advanced and polished at this stage than Nneka (who didn't really blow up until after her freshman season at Stanford). Additionally, while her perimeter shooting needs improvement, DeCosta is said to be a good ball handler for her size (something Nneka never really developed).
 
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UcMiami said:
kat - great report. Thanks.
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My pleasure! Aquira DeCosta is far from a later bloomer (I think I first heard the buzz about her when she was just in the 7th grade), so I've kept close tabs on her.
 
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kat0189 said:
— I actually have not had the chance to see DeCosta play in person (even though I am also in NorCal, I'm a 2-hour drive from DeCosta's HS). But from what I've gathered, she seems similar to Nneka Ogwumike.
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Kind of a cross between Ogwuimike and Linnae Harper.
 
CocoHusky said:
What AD in his or her right mind wouldn't give Geno a contract extension for as long as Geno wants? I'm not worried!
Since the 2012-13 season and including the current season UCONN starting lineup has not been without Multiple 1st Team All American. This concept of a singular UCONN star surrounded by a bunch of role players is not compatible with winning a championship(s). Nor did this work out too well for Senior Maya Moore who should have had a 1st team AA playing alongside of her as a senior. UCONN has not successfully recruited out of HS an elite post player since Stewie & Tuck in 2012. Stewie will graduate in 5 months and Morgan may choose to leave early. That would leave 2 post players (Butler & Erwin) on the UCONN rosters for the 2016-17 season. If that sounds like a complaint then I'm only complaining because I'm spoiled and greedy. Greedy enough to say UCONN needs to sign an elite post in 2017 to bolster it's championship hopes.
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I agree with everything you said.They did have a recruit to play with Maya in her senior year EDD.IMO if she stayed Uconn would be going for 8 in a row.
 
cbraarj said:
I agree with everything you said.They did have a recruit to play with Maya in her senior year EDD.IMO if she stayed Uconn would be going for 8 in a row.
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EDD was who I had in mind.
 
ucalum said:
Do we know if any of the bigs are planning visits to campus anytime soon? Jade Williams, Charli Collier, Sedona Prince, or Lindsay Jarosinski?

I thought Charli Collier was supposed to come to one of the games in December, but someone said she couldn't make it. And I know that Geno did a home visit with Jade Williams.
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There is too many Williams to keep track of. LaDazhia Williams '17 is post player of Florida. Jade Williams'17 is a post player from Texas. UCONN has had in home visits with both.
Lindsay Jarosinski per ESPN is interested in UCONN since she first came on the scene at US Junior Nationals Summer of 2014.
Sedona Prince originally committed to Texas as an 8th grader and has since reopened her recruiting. Conventional wisdom is it going to take extra effort to get her out of Texas.
Charli Collier did not make it to UCONN for a visit but did watch UCONN play @Huston from behind the Huston bench.
 
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I am hoping we can convince a few of these posts to come to visit campus. For 2017 I would rather get Jade Williams than LaDazhia Williams.

I am also hoping that Charli Collier can make it to a UConn home game sometime soon :)
 
An Aquira acquiring i'd be admiring,and i'd be lying if i didn't hope the coaches who the school has been hiring didn't have all their cylinders firing on this gal.
 
kat0189 said:
Since I live in Northern California, I'll chime in here and point out a some things about DeCosta:

— Though some list her as wing and project her as possibly being a small forward in college, she currently plays center for her HS team (which is ranked #1 in the country by ESPN). Of course, it's very typical for any girl over 6'0", regardless of skill set and where she's expected to play in college to play center by default at the high school level.

— However, DeCosta is obviously not just any 6'2" girl. She is a rebounding nightmare. This season against Riverdale Baptist (the #3 team in the country by ESPN) she had 19 rebounds (along with 22 points), even though Riverdale Baptist has five 6'0"+ players on their roster. More recently, her team St. Mary's got an overtime scare from Salesian HS (also in NorCal). DeCosta ripped down 27 rebounds that game (along with 22 points and 6 blocks) in a matchup against Salesian's 6'5" center, Angel Jackson. Though Jackson is only a freshman, Dan Olson of ESPNW has already stated that she is "definitely top 25 [nationally] in her class." Again, that's 27 rebounds against a girl just a year younger with a "Wilt Chamberlain build."

Point being, it's going to be tough for a coach to justify letting a rebounder like DeCosta spend too much time roaming away from the paint, possibly at the expense of easy put backs off O-boards with her pogo stick leaping ability (she can dunk volleyballs).

— She hasn't attempted a single 3-pointer so far this season. Her perimeter game is described as "emerging," and there is a consensus among astute observers that her shooting needs to become more consistent in order to transition to the wing spot, and that she may need to revamp her shooting form as her current fundamentals/mechanics are slightly "off."

Point being, at this time many folks think her game would be best utilized at the power forward position. Thus, I really don't think there is/would be too much "overlap" between DeCosta and the two players you mentioned (Megan Walker and Lexi Gordon).

— I actually have not had the chance to see DeCosta play in person (even though I am also in NorCal, I'm a 2-hour drive from DeCosta's HS). But from what I've gathered, she seems similar to Nneka Ogwumike. Both 6'2" freak athletes. Although I definitely think DeCosta is a bit more advanced and polished at this stage than Nneka (who didn't really blow up until after her freshman season at Stanford). Additionally, while her perimeter shooting needs improvement, DeCosta is said to be a good ball handler for her size (something Nneka never really developed).
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Kat-

Thanks for the outstanding post! 27 rebounds on any level is pretty ridiculous!

With that type of size and athleticism, one of my favorite phrases when it evaluating players comes to mind, "Can defend multiple positions." Very, very intriguing.
 
I have a feeling that the 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes will provide some very nice Christmas
presents to the Huskies.
 
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mrmojack said:
I have a feeling that the 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes will provide some very nice Christmas
presents to the Huskies.
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Agree. Great Uconn recruiting classes seem to follow in alternative years following great recruiting classes like the one with our current two freshmen.
 
CocoHusky said:
What AD in his or her right mind wouldn't give Geno a contract extension for as long as Geno wants? I'm not worried!
Since the 2012-13 season and including the current season UCONN starting lineup has not been without Multiple 1st Team All American. This concept of a singular UCONN star surrounded by a bunch of role players is not compatible with winning a championship(s). Nor did this work out too well for Senior Maya Moore who should have had a 1st team AA playing alongside of her as a senior. UCONN has not successfully recruited out of HS an elite post player since Stewie & Tuck in 2012. Stewie will graduate in 5 months and Morgan may choose to leave early. That would leave 2 post players (Butler & Erwin) on the UCONN rosters for the 2016-17 season. If that sounds like a complaint then I'm only complaining because I'm spoiled and greedy. Greedy enough to say UCONN needs to sign an elite post in 2017 to bolster it's championship hopes.
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While I unhesitatingly defer to your impressive expertise in recruiting, and I would love to see Reisigerova Czech-in and sign up at UConn, if we're going after Eastern European bigs, I vud velcome the vunderfull Maria Vadeeva vay, vay more.

http://www.fiba.com/world/u19women/2015/Maria-VADEEVA
 
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Geno and staff needs to start looking at Cali Konek immediately. She's only a freshman and is from Pa. Putting up big numbers can handle hit from deep penetrate looking like a young DT.
 
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HuskiesU said:
Geno and staff needs to start looking at Cali Konek immediately. She's only a freshman and is from Pa. Putting up big numbers can handle hit from deep penetrate looking like a young DT.
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I have to disagree with you here. If you look at the competition she's playing against in this video, its nothing like anything you would see in college and based on games I've seen I would have to characterize it as well below average for the high school level. I think Geno & Co. will need to see her playing in games with and against much better competition before they would offer her a spot at UConn. Her stats are impressive but she's taking 33 shots per game with 14 of those being 3 pointers. Her FG% is 45%. Nothing against her, but I think if UConn were to take her, it would be a huge adjustment period going from that level to the best of WCBB.
 
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masshusk77 said:
I have to disagree with you here. If you look at the competition she's playing against in this video, its nothing like anything you would see in college and based on games I've seen I would have to characterize it as well below average for the high school level. I think Geno & Co. will need to see her playing in games with and against much better competition before they would offer her a spot at UConn. Her stats are impressive but she's taking 33 shots per game with 14 of those being 3 pointers. Her FG% is 45%. Nothing against her, but I think if UConn were to take her, it would be a huge adjustment period going from that level to the best of WCBB.
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Competition in girls high school period is not good. This girl can flat out shoot the ball has the IQ. Any player who averages 40 ppl needs to be rewarded. Everyone was routing for Heathers Buck and Connecticut high school basketball isn't all that great. Besides do Uconn has any competition in AAC play. Lol she can play there if Molly bent going there
 
HuskiesU said:
Competition in girls high school period is not good. This girl can flat out shoot the ball has the IQ. Any player who averages 40 ppl needs to be rewarded. Everyone was routing for Heathers Buck and Connecticut high school basketball isn't all that great. Besides do Uconn has any competition in AAC play. Lol she can play there if Molly bent going there
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I see a young girl with good, not great speed. Good form on her shot. Nice variety of shots. Nice range. Good handle with a nice little euro-step. But high school basketball is about showcasing your scoring skills. Can she play defense? Can she handle the physicality of play when better teams body up on her? Can she read her teammates setting them up for baskets? How does she respond to instruction? To criticism? Is she a team player? How will she respond when she goes 0-10 with 4 turnovers? Does she want to win more than she wants to score? There's so much more to BB than scoring against inferior opposition. Time will tell.
 
Huskies Rule said:
While I unhesitatingly defer to your impressive expertise in recruiting, and I would love to see Reisigerova Czech-in and sign up at UConn, if we're going after Eastern European bigs, I vud velcome the vunderfull Maria Vadeeva vay, vay more.

http://www.fiba.com/world/u19women/2015/Maria-VADEEVA
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Both of these girls are my Huskies dream duo for 2017. Would love a big off guard for "17 as well.
 
HuskiesU said:
Competition in girls high school period is not good. This girl can flat out shoot the ball has the IQ. Any player who averages 40 ppl needs to be rewarded. Everyone was routing for Heathers Buck and Connecticut high school basketball isn't all that great. Besides do Uconn has any competition in AAC play. Lol she can play there if Molly bent going there
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We'll have to agree to disagree. The Imani Christian School has 17 girls enrolled, that means they're probably playing against schools with similar enrollment numbers. That leads to very much below average competition. We'll have to wait and see how Cali plays once she starts to play in AAU tournaments against other good players.

I don't see the connection to UConn fans "rooting" for Heather Buck and this. I never said I wasn't rooting for a freshman in high school to succeed in her basketball career, that couldn't be farther from the truth. I hope Cali is able to accomplish whatever goals she may have in basketball. I was simply stating my opinion on whether I think that Geno "needs to start looking at her immediately" which I do not. Who knows, down the road I could be wrong, in which case I will gladly admit that. But I think people having opinions and discussing them on the board is why we all enjoy spending our time here.
 
Ironically, I recently read about this Konek girl (she's the #2 scorer in the country). I was impressed in the video with how quickly she can launch and how she can drain shots even with lots of coverage. Is she the next Jackie Stiles? Who knows...but she definitely can shoot. The biggest question is her physical attributes. She looks small and slender with decent but not great foot speed. But you can't deny, regardless of competition, that she has a bona fide knack for putting the ball in the hoop. Definitely one to keep an eye on, but might need a growth spurt to be a UConn caliber player.

Also, in the article I read, it says that she chose to play for her current HS because she wasn't getting much PT with her previous school over the summer or something, or didn't forecast getting much PT. Thus, the context of her prolific scoring does need to be considered in putting her scoring exploits into perspective.
 
March 16 update:

The #1 team in the country St. Mary's was shocked Tuesday in the NoCal Open Division semi, meaning Aquira DeCosta's season is over. She scored 27 points in the loss.
 
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