POLL: Who was Geno's biggest recruiting jackpot?

[uconnfan68]

Lobo was a top 10 recruit though, I think the poll is players who weren't.

I picked Kelly Faris, because of course.

But it says biggest jackpot, and she was that. I think Kara was a close second there. Huge presence.

 

[pap49cba]

Lobo started it all.

 

[semper]

This isn't about big gets, the EDD, Stewie,KML,D, Maya world, is my understanding. This is about biggest surprises....turn around to a fabulous player from one whose stats weren't stellar. I think Tiff belongs on the list too.

 

[Tonyc]

The recruiting class that ended Tenn was EDD Doty and Maya. Thats knife that ended Tenns reign of competeing with UConn.

 

[semper]

Yeah but those three weren't surprises...they were very highly ranked! Kelly should have been on the list, is right. I think she would have got some votes, but Birdie is the one I voted for.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

If you are going to answer a post, shouldn't you read and understand it first? For example, "Who among these players"!!!

 

[AllAmerRedHeads]

I picked Bird, only because Rebecca wasn't a choice. Without her, maybe we would have still been a powerhouse, but it wouldnt have happened as soon and maybe not to this point.

She was the right person at the right time.

 

[meyers7]

In answer to the OP, I think you have to go with Bird.

 

[alexrgct]

The key to building a great program is being able to keep recruits from your own back yard. Rebecca was a top 10 player, and had attention from everyone. UConn had never landed such players before. and it was still a team that had just a couple of NCAA appearances. Getting lobo confirmed that UConn was more than a bit player; a fact that was emphasized a season later when it went to its first final 4.

Does Rizz commit to UConn a year later without Lobo? Maybe. Maybe not.

Does UConn win a nc title in 95 and get loads of press without lobo? No.

Lobo was the building block for everything -- recruiting, fan interest, and success on the court. I can't believe there's even a debate.

The key question here is whether you think Rebecca delivered beyond the wildest dreams of someone recruiting a super-blue chip everyone expected to be great. If you think she did, and you've provided a good, admissible argument, then I concede she should be in this discussion and at the top thereof.

 

[Geno-ista]

Answer to orig qst- All of the Above!
2nd - I agree with every post above!

 

[Geno-ista]

I still try to figure out how DT won the 2nd and 3rd NC's- especially 2nd. So I don't know if it is DT, or these other highly improbable pieces like Conlon, Barb Turner? We can make cases for everyone above. What was Kerry B. Ranked out of HS?

 

[intlzncster]

The key question here is whether you think Rebecca delivered beyond the wildest dreams of someone recruiting a super-blue chip everyone expected to be great. If you think she did, and you've provided a good, admissible argument, then I concede she should be in this discussion and at the top thereof.

It's clear half the people unintentionally (read deliberately) ignored the parameters of the post. This particular board is often akin to herding cats.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

It's clear half the people unintentionally (read deliberately) ignored the parameters of the post. This particular board is often akin to herding cats.

Now that is funny.

 

[Icebear]

It's clear half the people unintentionally (read deliberately) ignored the parameters of the post. This particular board is often akin to herding cats.

You expected something else?

 

[SportsPageMike]

You are missing Mel Thomas. Plus, I know that her mom didn't really care for Geno much.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

You are missing Mel Thomas. Plus, I know that her mom didn't really care for Geno much.

Gossip, pure gossip, unless you can document or a mind reader. I await convincing.

BTW, as the parent of a DI athlete, I can tell you that I, on occasion, was defensive about coaching decisions, but I always tried to get over myself.

All parents need some time and some slack, and their thoughts do not have to be set in concrete.

 

[Icebear]

You are missing Mel Thomas. Plus, I know that her mom didn't really care for Geno much.

You are kidding right?!?

 

[hoopingcrane]

This could be fun. Of course defining "jackpot" is hard, though you recognize one when you see one. I guess you describe a jackpot as "The player whose contribution to UConn's program exceeded expectations most greatly."

You left off one player who most exceeded expectations, mostly because no one had any expectations or knew how good she was until she traveled further than any other recruit to get here- Svetlana!

 

[EricLA]

I picked Wolters, mainly because she was not effective (IIRC) her first year - all she had was height. But by her senior season she was NPOY. Bird, even tho ranked about 20, was considered by most a top 5 player, but because I think Blue Star was the only recruiting service around, and Sue chose to play AAU hoops NOT with the guy who ran Blue Star (Mike Flynn?), he rated her way low. So I guess she was a surprise if you go off their ratings, but not by anyone else who knew who Sue was... At least that's my recollection. If I got it wrong, I'm sure someone on here with a better memory will correct me!

 

[uconnell]

The term "Jackpot" means something unexpected so that is why I voted for Maria Conlon, the ever steady point guard!

 

[JoePgh]

You are kidding right?!?

I think there is a documented basis for this statement, and it is from Mel's book "Heart of a Husky". It wasn't as negative as the summary above indicates. As I recall, when Mel was still a senior in high school and was choosing between schools, she discussed the subject with her mother, and her mother offered her opinion that Geno was "full of himself". (Apparently he had not failed to repeat several times that UConn had won 5 National Championships.) Mel said that was actually what she wanted, and proceeded to choose UConn anyway.

There is no indication that I recall from the book that Mel's mother continued to have a negative opinion of Geno once her daughter became a valued part of the basketball team.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Rebecca lobo without a doubt. Most important recruit ever.

As has been mentioned, it's no doubt Kerry Bascom. She's the girl who put UConn on the map, leading them to the Final Four! Prior to her coming, UConn had absolutely no notoriety. I don't think Rebecca would have even considered UConn had it not been for the success and prominence that Kerry Bascom helped bring to the Huskies. Kerry was the FOUNDATION of UConn basketball and I'm sure Geno will totally acknowledge that. Lobo helped push UConn over the top (along with Jen and Nykesha and Jamelle but long before Rebecca, it was Kerry!

 

[Joobie]

I think if you look up "jackpot" in the dictionary, there is a photo of Diana next to the definition!

I chose Sue B because Diana is not on this list & IMO, she is the best point guard to ever come thru the program.

 

[asuwish]

This could be fun. Of course defining "jackpot" is hard, though you recognize one when you see one. I guess you describe a jackpot as "The player whose contribution to UConn's program exceeded expectations most greatly." None of my choices were high school top 10 recruits. They did receive some varying amounts of national attention coming out of high school, but didn't have "Future NPOY" or "Player who'd make every one of the 330+ Division 1 programs better" written in their recruiting profiles.

All seven of my choices won national championships, three have won NPOY, and all of them have made enormous contributions to the program (e.g., leadership, coaching, broadcasting) that go beyond "just" playing basketball well.

I wish I could have kept the list to six so that I could leave room for an option for "other". If you want to vote for other, give her a shout out in the thread! Sue Bird may have been the most heralded of recruits in the list, but as I recall she was ranked 15-20 and won two NCs and NPOY awards. Thus, I felt I had to include her.

Anyway, take your pick...

If this is about which player we never thought would end up great then this is easy. When Kara Walters came out of high school NOBODY wanted her. Her father, I believe is in the BC Hall Of Fame, and they didn't want her. Remember, she's 6'7" and wasn't highly recruited. Have a player that tall to practice against. She was heavy and slow. I heard Geno use to have her run stairs while the other girls practiced (I don't know if it's true or legend). Jen would be runner up because she was all state in high school in CT, but nobody envisioned her as a future All American and NPOY. I actually think we got what we expected from Jamelle and Kelly, tough hard nosed kids who wouldn't let themselves get out worked. Maria gave us more than I thought she would, but still was never an all conference player. Sue and Steph were McD's All Americans except we thought Sue would be the 2 guard and Kirsten Walters would play point.

 

[SportsPageMike]

{You are missing Mel Thomas. Plus, I know that her mom didn't really care for Geno much.}
[You are kidding right?!?]

Gossip and bull crap get you nowhere in life.