April 2021 Recruiting Thread

[JordyG]

While I like the idea and agree with the concept, I don't think it actually applies specifically to the players mentioned. Moriah was the next PG when she committed, and what she really needed to learn as a freshman was how to use her skills, specifically her speed within the team and not outrun them. Kelly and KLS started as freshman, and KML was used as the designated spot up shooter (as was KLS) as a freshman and worked into a more complete role as the team built around her. Kiah never developed as a significant offense threat, nor did Kelly. And I don't think Coombs spent enough time in the program to determine what she was lacking - it just wasn't a good fit - same for AEH.

Geno generally tries to find a simple role for freshman and then expands their roles as they progress. With the best players he pushes them harder to expand their comfort zone, with more limited players he helps them find their level.

You're mostly right, but wrong about Coombs. Her shot was, and still is broken, and it was notable from the moment she stepped onto the court.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

2023 Chloe Briggs' first two games this season:

30 points, 20 rebounds, 11 assists

30 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists

 

[visitor123]

Aubrey is a world class athlete but unfortunately this is true- she needs to become a better offensive player to warrant more minutes because this program requires it. The following is a list of recent UCONN players that had this same challenge of being world class defenders and had to learn to contribute more of the offensive end to warrant more minutes: Kelly Faris, Moriah Jefferson, Kiah Stokes, & Mikayla Coombs. Conversely these players had to learn to become better defenders KLS, KML and Azura. UCONN is one of the few programs out there were you don't get to specialize.

Kiah Stokes averaged 4.5 points as a Junior and a Senior. Stokes offered almost nothing offensively other than rebounding and put backs. She was a key contributor due to her defense. Faris averaged 6.7 points, shooting 43% as a Junior playing 29 minutes a game. Griffin averages 6.2 points on 52% shooting.

Obviously we're way oversimplifying here but Griffin can absolutely be a high level contributor as a defensive and rebounding specialist if you want to call her that. It's baffling to me so many on this board are extoling the virtues of Muhl's intangible offensive contributions but thinks Griffin can't play basketball. Griffin is a much more dynamic defender for multiple positions and is actually a better fit with 3 offensive stars in Azzi, Paige and Williams than Muhl would be playing along side them.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Kiah Stokes averaged 4.5 points as a Junior and a Senior. Stokes offered almost nothing offensively other than rebounding and put backs. She was a key contributor due to her defense. Faris averaged 6.7 points, shooting 43% as a Junior playing 29 minutes a game. Griffin averages 6.2 points on 52% shooting.

Obviously we're way oversimplifying here but Griffin can absolutely be a high level contributor as a defensive and rebounding specialist if you want to call her that. It's baffling to me so many on this board are extoling the virtues of Muhl's intangible offensive contributions but thinks Griffin can't play basketball. Griffin is a much more dynamic defender for multiple positions and is actually a better fit with 3 offensive stars in Azzi, Paige and Williams than Muhl would be playing along side them.

One big difference is that final team Stokes was on was only about 6 deep. Harder to fit Griffin into a team that's about 10 deep.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

With the U16 trials beginning next month I've nailed down 19 of the 20 invitees. There will be only 30 total players trying out due to Covid restrictions.

Known UConn POI bolded:

Delaney Thomas
Madison Booker
Zoe Brooks
Riley Stack
Olivia Anderson
Aubrey Shaw
Mary Ashley Groot
Chloe Spreen
KK Arnold?
Jada Williams
Judea Watkins
Jayden Donovan
Tatum Greene
Milaysia Fulwiley
Corey Allen
Kendall Dudley
Breya Cunningham
Kennedy Ume
Taliyah Parker

Taliah Scott appears to be the 20th invitee.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

A tweet from last fall ended with a Shade jumper:

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Another 2020 tweet:

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[AmeriConn]

If there are no transfers and Westbrook coming back, and the possibility of signing a guard in the 2022 class, if my math is correct UCONN doesn't have any room to sign anyone else!

It’s the new math.

 

[oldhusky]

If there are no transfers and Westbrook coming back, and the possibility of signing a guard in the 2022 class, if my math is correct UCONN doesn't have any room to sign anyone else!

First that isn't really a problem. After getting Brady and Patterson I suspect the strategy is try for one from Rice and Bransford and call it a day. If we get one of those, we don't need the other. If Rice committed you might have to pull the offer to Bransford and visa versa. Then the other possibility is both go elsewhere. In that case there might still be a couple of more marginal prospects left, but rather than fill that last spot with someone who is unlikely to make a difference, I would leave it open.

The way the transfer portal has been going, I would probably rather have one spot to fill that way (only if needed) than a recruit rated outside of the top 20 or so. With so much turnover the strategy might be load up on all 15 assuming there will be attrition, and when that happens you can target the specific need in the transfer portal.

 

[Calbysdad]

That’s not true. With all the scorers we will have, sometimes we only need a good defender rebounder, shot blocker and a hustle player in AG

I understand your point but would add - if UConn has a significant improvement in outside shooting and scoring, by nature, wouldn't the need for the specialists that only rebound and shot block decrease? There were many quarters last season where the shooting went south and Geno put AG in. She helped to minimize the scoring from the opponent but didn't help much with offense efficiency. If better shooters are on the court more often, this need becomes much less of a necessity.

 

[UcMiami]

I understand your point but would add - if UConn has a significant improvement in outside shooting and scoring, by nature, wouldn't the need for the specialists that only rebound and shot block decrease? There were many quarters last season where the shooting went south and Geno put AG in. She helped to minimize the scoring from the opponent but didn't help much with offense efficiency. If better shooters are on the court more often, this need becomes much less of a necessity.

You can rely on defense a lot more than offense - it is amazing how contagious bad shooting can become, one person misses a few and suddenly everyone is missing a few. And if Geno decides to put his pressure/trapping defense in place having long fast jumpers to rotate in is a nice thing.

 

[BobbyJ]

This is Jenica Lewis class of 2026. I'm just trying to process what I've seen here. Look at the court awareness and range on some of these 3s. And this kid is an 8th grader??

 

[CocoHusky]

This is Jenica Lewis class of 2026. I'm just trying to process what I've seen here. Look at the court awareness and range on some of these 3s. And this kid is an 8th grader??

If you think that is crazy (and it is) peep her 6th grade video.

6th Grader Handing Out BUCKETS To HS Competition! Jenica Lewis is NEXT UP!

Follow Us On Social Media!Twitter: http://Post original url/2zHv7dJInstagram: http://Post original url/2inVlI4Facebook: http://Post original url/2zNPZNQ

youtu.be

 

[Bald Husky]

If you think that crazy (and it is) peep her 6th grade video.

6th Grader Handing Out BUCKETS To HS Competition! Jenica Lewis is NEXT UP!

Follow Us On Social Media!Twitter: http://Post original url/2zHv7dJInstagram: http://Post original url/2inVlI4Facebook: http://Post original url/2zNPZNQ

youtu.be

Don't need to get hopped up on 2026 possibilities, I might be dead by then. LOL

 

[JordyG]

Ashlynn Shade posting up a taller defender and shooting a fadeaway over her last weekend.

She may call it the MJ, but that's the Allen Iverson fade, no doubt.

 

[BobbyJ]

If you think that is crazy (and it is) peep her 6th grade video.

6th Grader Handing Out BUCKETS To HS Competition! Jenica Lewis is NEXT UP!

Follow Us On Social Media!Twitter: http://Post original url/2zHv7dJInstagram: http://Post original url/2inVlI4Facebook: http://Post original url/2zNPZNQ

youtu.be

Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.

 

[letsgogirls]

Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.

Since she's so young she still has some development to do obviously but this little girl has some scary potential.

 

[CocoHusky]

Alright, something ain't right here. A) There's no way she's 11 years old in this video. She looks 17. B) She's NOT playing against 6th or even 8th graders here. She's running the show against HS kids. C) Kids in 6th grade don't even know what a P&R is. She runs it seamlessly. You know what I'm thinking- Bueckers and Fudd weren't this advanced and physically developed in 6th grade. Or probably even in 8th grade. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say this kid is a prodigy.

I first saw Elena Delle Donne play when she was 11 she was doing all of this and much more.

 

[BobbyJ]

I first saw Elena Delle Donne play when she was 11 she was doing all of this and much more.

Yeah, she was OK. I guess. ?

 

[MooseJaw]

This is Jenica Lewis class of 2026. I'm just trying to process what I've seen here. Look at the court awareness and range on some of these 3s. And this kid is an 8th grader??

Gee with all those shots I would have enjoyed at least one jump shot. She has range, ball control, court awareness. I just cringe when all outside shots are two handed chest push shots. I hope someone helps her develop a real jump shot.

 

[mudcat]

Actually, we already have a player like that. This past season Liv shot 27% from the arc. Dorka shot 20%.

DJ 2019-2020 numbers were much better. She shot around 40% from 3 and her 2 pt and free throw percentages were also significantly higher. This year she had to sit out twice because of injury and covid and never got into good shape or form. I think she's much better than this year's statistics indicate.

 

[mudcat]

I think of Evelyn Adebayo last season. Evelyn was the best player on a mediocre Murray St team. Many of us thought she would be a contributor at UConn. Unfortunately, Evelyn struggled to learn the system at first and it was very difficult for her to adjust to being a role player off the bench after being the “go to” player at Murray St.

Dorka’s not coming to Storrs and she’s likely not on Geno’s radar. Anyone who believes so is fooling themselves.

This did not age well

 

[mhshuskies]

No indication of interest in Maya Nnaji? She is a highly ranked big and already familiar to Paige?

 

[TheGOAT23]

Yeah, she was OK. I guess. ?

I have seen Azzi play in AAU tournaments when she was in the 6th and 7th grade. She was running the point like a high schooler while playing on a team with girls two years older than her. Some just have “it” at a young age.