MilfordHusky
Voice of Reason
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 36,906
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I got to watch Mir McLean and her Roland Park Country School team against St. John's Catholic Prep in Buckeysville, MD. St. Johns had beaten Roland Park at Roland Park earlier in the season. St. John's won this game as well. After a 25-25 first half, St. Johns got hot and won 65-47. Roland Park's record dropped to 10-7. Mir fouled out on a strange ticky-tack foul with 15 seconds remaining.
I had the pleasure of watching and chatting with an eminent Boneyarder, so my attention was diverted at times. I invite him to chime in. Unlike last night, I did not take detailed notes or stats. Instead, I'll present several impressions.
Mir was the best player on the floor and the obvious focus of the defense. St. Johns has some fairly big and athletic players who surrounded her frequently. The St. Johns team also pressed full court on most (all?) possessions. I am guessing at Mir's stats. She swished a 3-pointer, hit some layups and short-range shots, and made (I believe) all of her free throws (about 6-6 with nice form). But generally, she did not look for outside shots. She generally tried to attack the basket. She got some shots off cleanly, while others were contested. She was called for traveling at least twice and took a big Eurostep (Asianstep?) a few times. My guess would be about 20 points, maybe half of Roland Park's 47 points. Mir clearly had double-digit rebounds. My best guess is 16-18. When she grabs the ball, she stands out--literally, because she's a foot higher than everyone else.
Mir seems to be a competent ball handler. She tried to beat double-teams with the dribble and did so sometimes, while losing the ball 2 or 3 times.
Her speed seems good. She was probably the fastest player on the floor. She does not seem as fast as Aubrey, however, as very few players are.
Mir's strength is her leaping ability. (Her listed 5'11" height seems about right.) She gets off the floor faster than anyone this side of Gabby Williams. Like Gabby, she can go up a second time. She also rebounds the ball near its apex. Think Gabby. Think also Aubrey. Think Human Pogo Stick. Overall, I see her as a slightly shorter version of Aubrey. She has the same leaping ability, perhaps more; she has perhaps a bit less speed; and she has the same reluctance to shoot from the outside. Can she dunk? I don't know, but she may be close.
Mir has played volleyball, done track and field, and played basketball in high school. She will focus on hoops at UConn, which will help her development. She is raw but has some incredible tools. Few players have her vertical leap. She is definitely the rebounding McLean.
For Eric: Mir's attitude was fine, and her effort was excellent. In some videos of the Middletown game, she appeared to be taking plays off. There was none of that tonight. Absolutely none. Both Mir and Saylor play hard. When they get to UConn, they will play even harder.
I hope to see her again this season.
Edit--Additional thought: Remember the inbound plays when Aubrey was defending on the baseline and snatched the would-be passes out of the air? Yep, Mir did that tonight. She should be devastating in the full-court press.
I had the pleasure of watching and chatting with an eminent Boneyarder, so my attention was diverted at times. I invite him to chime in. Unlike last night, I did not take detailed notes or stats. Instead, I'll present several impressions.
Mir was the best player on the floor and the obvious focus of the defense. St. Johns has some fairly big and athletic players who surrounded her frequently. The St. Johns team also pressed full court on most (all?) possessions. I am guessing at Mir's stats. She swished a 3-pointer, hit some layups and short-range shots, and made (I believe) all of her free throws (about 6-6 with nice form). But generally, she did not look for outside shots. She generally tried to attack the basket. She got some shots off cleanly, while others were contested. She was called for traveling at least twice and took a big Eurostep (Asianstep?) a few times. My guess would be about 20 points, maybe half of Roland Park's 47 points. Mir clearly had double-digit rebounds. My best guess is 16-18. When she grabs the ball, she stands out--literally, because she's a foot higher than everyone else.
Mir seems to be a competent ball handler. She tried to beat double-teams with the dribble and did so sometimes, while losing the ball 2 or 3 times.
Her speed seems good. She was probably the fastest player on the floor. She does not seem as fast as Aubrey, however, as very few players are.
Mir's strength is her leaping ability. (Her listed 5'11" height seems about right.) She gets off the floor faster than anyone this side of Gabby Williams. Like Gabby, she can go up a second time. She also rebounds the ball near its apex. Think Gabby. Think also Aubrey. Think Human Pogo Stick. Overall, I see her as a slightly shorter version of Aubrey. She has the same leaping ability, perhaps more; she has perhaps a bit less speed; and she has the same reluctance to shoot from the outside. Can she dunk? I don't know, but she may be close.
Mir has played volleyball, done track and field, and played basketball in high school. She will focus on hoops at UConn, which will help her development. She is raw but has some incredible tools. Few players have her vertical leap. She is definitely the rebounding McLean.
For Eric: Mir's attitude was fine, and her effort was excellent. In some videos of the Middletown game, she appeared to be taking plays off. There was none of that tonight. Absolutely none. Both Mir and Saylor play hard. When they get to UConn, they will play even harder.
I hope to see her again this season.
Edit--Additional thought: Remember the inbound plays when Aubrey was defending on the baseline and snatched the would-be passes out of the air? Yep, Mir did that tonight. She should be devastating in the full-court press.
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