2022 Recruits

[VOLINVONORE]

Yes, I did get to see her last week and agree that she can play,,,it's the two-sport thing that I can't get past...Personally, I want my potential recruit to be BB exclusive by her sophomore season if I am recruiting her for a next level.

I can't say this is a factor for Coach K, but it would be for me.
But that just one of my idiosyncrasies.

I like that she is a 2 sport player. To me, it shows that she is a really good athlete that can progress and play the one in which she excels at the next level. I would not pass on a player simply because she is plays 2 sports. As a coach, one has to coach her well enough to excel in the game you coach.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I like that she is a 2 sport player. To me, it shows that she is a really good athlete that can progress and play the one in which she excels at the next level. I would not pass on a player simply because she is plays 2 sports. As a coach, one has to coach her well enough to excel in the game you coach.

It's a coaching thing, you wouldn't understand
I don't coach two sports bc I want to be the nest at one, I want my players to have this same mentality
Ace may be a great player,,,I will decide that when I see her in person in a couple of weeks
until then, it is a moot point

 

[Amb3096]

I like that she is a 2 sport player. To me, it shows that she is a really good athlete that can progress and play the one in which she excels at the next level. I would not pass on a player simply because she is plays 2 sports. As a coach, one has to coach her well enough to excel in the game you coach.

Good thing there are those less experienced coaches who took a chance on 2-sport athletes like Lauren Cox, Elena Delle Donne, Glory Johnson, Anriel Howard, Gabby Williams, and others. So brave...

 

[Coach Jumper]

Good thing there are those less experienced coaches who took a chance on 2-sport athletes like Lauren Cox, Elena Delle Donne, Glory Johnson, Anriel Howard, Gabby Williams, and others. So brave...

yes, they make u p a vast percentage of the elite players of WCBB.

Like I said, I will assess Ace when I see her in person in a couple of weeks,,,this is just MY quirk, not everyone's

 

[River67]

If I were on the Lady Vols staff, Avery Strickland would be a must-sign recruit, because she, IMO, is absolutely guaranteed to be mature enough to make working as hard as possible to become the very best Lady Vol she can possibly be her No.1 priority in her young life.

I don’t know how many people understand just how rare a quality that is today. Too many young people lack the maturity to understand that placing their highest priority on looking good in Instagram pics and personal video blogs isn’tgoing to help their game — getting in the gym and getting up shots WILL.

Players that want so much to prove they are worthy of being Lady Vols are, sadly, too often passed over. I think a player like Avery Strickland would be, in so many ways, a major boost to the program.

 

[sgacock]

Just for fun and way too early, here is a quazi-cumulative ranking of 2022 Prospects. Note that Prospect Nation has not yet "ranked" prospects.

All of the prospects that I rank have been ranked in the Top 44 of at least three of the four services that have made "rankings." I have added in players who were Top 44 in at least two services, but have not calculated their average ranking. (please feel free to advise me of mistakes)

PLAYER BLUE HOOP PREP ASGR AVG PROSPECT SCHOOL
STAR GURLZ GIRLS Rank Nation
1. LAUREN BETTS, 6-7 Post, CO. 1 1 1 1 1 4.5
NINE Finalists: Arizona State, Baylor, UConn, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, SCar, Stanford, UCLA

2. ISUNEH BRADY, 6-3 Post, CA 5 2 2 2 2.75 4.5 UCONN

3. JANIAH BARKER, 6-2 F, FL 2 4 3 4 3.25 4.5

4. TIMEA GARDINER, 6-2 F, UT 3 6 8 3 5 4.5

5. KIKI RICE, 5-11 PG, MD/DC 7 5 4 5 5.25 4.5

6. AYANNA PATTERSON, 6-2 W, IN 6 3 5 8 5.5 4.5
Purported Offers include Tenn Maryland, UCLA, Louisville, Notre Dame, Scar, UConn and many others

7. KK BRANSFORD, 5-10 G, OH 4 9 6 9 7 4.5
Top 12: Arizona, Baylor, UConn, Duke, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, UNC, Notre Dame, Tenn. Texas, UCLA

8. LONDYYN JONES, 5-5 PG, CA 8 7 9 10 8.5 4.5

9. MAYA NNAJI, 6-4 F, MN 14 8 7 7 9 4.5

10. AALIYA GAYLES, 5-9 PG, NV 11 11 10 6 9.5 4.5

11 ASHLYN WATKINS, 6-3 Post, SC 9 12 11 23 13.75 4.5

12. AALIYA SMITH, 5-5 PG, WI / 10 19 17 15.33 4.5

13. ZYANNA WALKER, 5-8 PG, KS / 13 15 22 16.7

14. ASHLON JACKSON, 5-10 G, TX / 19 22 11 17.33 4.5

15. SYDNEY BOWLES, 6-1 W, GA 19 18 17 18 18 4.5

16. GRACE V. SLOOTEN, 6-3 F, OH 23 14 23 14 18.5

16. SA’MYAH SMITH, 6-2 F, TX 18 15 14 27 18.5

18. BRIANNA McDANIEL, 5-10 G, IN 12 / 13 31 18.66

19. TONIE, MORGAN, 5-10 OG, FL 41 23 18 / 21.33 4.5

15. RUBY WHITEHORN, 6-0 G, MI 35 16 20 20 22.75 4.5

16. ALEXIA MOBLEY, 6-2 W, OH 21 31 12 28 23 4.5 LOUISVILLE

17. LAZARIA SPEARMAN, 6-3 F, GA 24 27 25 19 23.75

18. SHAY BOLIN, 6-3 F, MA 34 20 26 24 26 4.5

19. CHANCE GRAY, 5-9 PG, OH 42 26 40 32 27 4.5

20. COTIE McMAHON, 5-11 W, OH 9 37 28 21 28.7

21. D. LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS, 6-1 SF, OK 28 35 24 / 29

22. MILA REYNOLDS, 6-2 SF, IN 15 41 32 / 29.3 MARYLAND

23. MYA PETTICORD, 5-9 PG, mi / 21 33 37 30.33 4.5

23. PARIS CLARK, 5-10 PG, NYC 16 44 31 / 30.33 4.5

25. REAGAN BEERS, 6-3 PF, CO / 22 35 35 30.67

26. NYLA HARRIS, 6-1 SF, FL / 39 34 30 34.33

27. AUMARI WILLIAMS, 6-3 Post, AR 31 28 37 42 34.5

28. YSABELLA FOUNTLEROY, 6-1 F, MO 40 / 27 39 35.33 4.5



Prospects Received Two Top 40 Rankings
Kennedy Basham
Amini Muhammed
SANIYA GLENN
JENNAH ISAI
TALYSIA COOPER
KAYLA OLDCARE
Saniah Tyler
PARIS MILLER

 

[VolFuture2k22]

Just for fun and way too early, here is a quazi-cumulative ranking of 2022 Prospects. Note that Prospect Nation has not yet "ranked" prospects.

All of the prospects that I rank have been ranked in the Top 40 of at least three of the four services that have made "rankings." I have added in players who were Top 40 in at least two services, but have calculated their average ranking. (please feel free to advise me of mistakes)

PLAYER BLUE HOOP PREP ASGR AVG PROSPECT SCHOOL
STAR GURLZ GIRLS Rank Nation
1. LAUREN BETTS, 6-7 Post, CO. 1 1 1 1 1 4.5
NINE Finalists: Arizona State, Baylor, UConn, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, SCar, Stanford, UCLA

2. ISUNEH BRADY, 6-3 Post, CA 5 2 2 2 2.75 4.5 UCONN

3. JANIAH BARKER, 6-2 F, FL 2 4 3 4 3.25 4.5

4. TIMEA GARDINER, 6-2 F, UT 3 6 8 3 5 4.5

5. KIKI RICE, 5-11 PG, MD/DC 7 5 4 5 5.25 4.5

6. AYANNA PATTERSON, 6-2 W, IN 6 3 5 8 5.5 4.5
Purported Offers include Tenn Maryland, UCLA, Louisville, Notre Dame, Scar, UConn and many others

7. KK BRANSFORD, 5-10 G, OH 4 9 6 9 7 4.5
Top 12: Arizona, Baylor, UConn, Duke, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, UNC, Notre Dame, Tenn. Texas, UCLA

8. LONDYYN JONES, 5-5 PG, CA 8 7 9 10 8.5 4.5

9. MAYA NNAJI, 6-4 F, MN 14 8 7 7 9 4.5

10. AALIYA GAYLES, 5-9 PG, NV 11 11 10 6 9.5 4.5

11 ASHLYN WATKINS, 6-3 Post, SC 9 12 11 23 13.75 4.5

12. AALIYA SMITH, 5-5 PG, WI / 10 19 17 15.33 4.5

13. ZYANNA WALKER, 5-8 PG, KS / 13 15 22 16.7

14. ASHLON JACKSON, 5-10 G, TX / 19 22 11 17.33 4.5

15. SYDNEY BOWLES, 6-1 W, GA 19 18 17 18 18 4.5

16. GRACE V. SLOOTEN, 6-3 F, OH 23 14 23 14 18.5

16. SA’MYAH SMITH, 6-2 F, TX 18 15 14 27 18.5

18. BRIANNA McDANIEL, 5-10 G, IN 12 / 13 31 18.66

19. TONIE, MORGAN, 5-10 OG, FL 41 23 18 / 21.33 4.5

15. RUBY WHITEHORN, 6-0 G, MI 35 16 20 20 22.75 4.5

16. ALEXIA MOBLEY, 6-2 W, OH 21 31 12 28 23 4.5 LOUISVILLE

17. LAZARIA SPEARMAN, 6-3 F, GA 24 27 25 19 23.75

18. SHAY BOLIN, 6-3 F, MA 34 20 26 24 26 4.5

19. CHANCE GRAY, 5-9 PG, OH 42 26 40 32 27 4.5

20. COTIE McMAHON, 5-11 W, OH 9 37 28 21 28.7

21. D. LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS, 6-1 SF, OK 28 35 24 / 29

22. MILA REYNOLDS, 6-2 SF, IN 15 41 32 / 29.3 MARYLAND

23. MYA PETTICORD, 5-9 PG, mi / 21 33 37 30.33 4.5

23. PARIS CLARK, 5-10 PG, NYC 16 44 31 / 30.33 4.5

25. REAGAN BEERS, 6-3 PF, CO / 22 35 35 30.67

26. NYLA HARRIS, 6-1 SF, FL / 39 34 30 34.33

27. AUMARI WILLIAMS, 6-3 Post, AR 31 28 37 42 34.5

28. YSABELLA FOUNTLEROY, 6-1 F, MO 40 / 27 39 35.33 4.5



Prospects Received Two Top 40 Rankings
Kennedy Basham
Amini Muhammed
SANIYA GLENN
JENNAH ISAI
TALYSIA COOPER
KAYLA OLDCARE
Saniah Tyler
PARIS MILLER

NOTES: Hoopgurlz is still using ranking by Dan Olson (no longer the ESPN ranker) from the 2022’s freshman year. Olson (CGBR) has yet to release a ranking either btw... And as you mentioned ProspectNation chose not to rank 2022 due to incomplete data and opportunities to see prospects (like players sitting out). BLUESTAR is in a slew of drama right now too but I can see them and potentially ASGR remaining constant....

but I agree this will be very valuable to see how things play out after the pandemic dust settles

 

[Voltopia]

It will be interesting to see how the recruiting services are impacted by the pandemic. In the short term, I would expect there might be a few "surprises" but there's so much footage and only so much change you'll see in a player's senior year ... I would expect a lot of the rankings to be as accurate as they are in previous years (as to how accurate they are, that's a different question, although as I've said elsewhere there's an evident correlation between recruiting rankings and results in ensuing seasons so I feel they're improved dramatically from the dark ages). But then you get to 2023 and I wonder if the changes, not only at the high school level but in the availability of practice, summer leagues, AAU, etc., will have a pronounced impact there. Hmm. It will be interesting.

 

[sgacock]

NOTES: Hoopgurlz is still using ranking by Dan Olson (no longer the ESPN ranker) from the 2022’s freshman year. Olson (CGBR) has yet to release a ranking either btw... And as you mentioned ProspectNation chose not to rank 2022 due to incomplete data and opportunities to see prospects (like players sitting out). BLUESTAR is in a slew of drama right now too but I can see them and potentially ASGR remaining constant....

but I agree this will be very valuable to see how things play out after the pandemic dust settles

Agree that's why I said way too early. Yeah, I figure HoopGurlz will be the first to update. Blue Star is the most inconsistent with the other services.

 

[sgacock]

It will be interesting to see how the recruiting services are impacted by the pandemic. In the short term, I would expect there might be a few "surprises" but there's so much footage and only so much change you'll see in a player's senior year ... I would expect a lot of the rankings to be as accurate as they are in previous years (as to how accurate they are, that's a different question, although as I've said elsewhere there's an evident correlation between recruiting rankings and results in ensuing seasons so I feel they're improved dramatically from the dark ages). But then you get to 2023 and I wonder if the changes, not only at the high school level but in the availability of practice, summer leagues, AAU, etc., will have a pronounced impact there. Hmm. It will be interesting.

The Top Ten or Eleven are very consistent.

 

[VolFuture2k22]

The Top Ten or Eleven are very consistent.

I thought that too until the 2021 Hoopgurlz evaluator change

 

[Voltopia]

The Top Ten or Eleven are very consistent.

They really have been for the most part (aside from the Rhyne Howards out there). If you look at the number one recruits over the last ten years of Hoopgurlz, all but one won a national title. Almost every team save Mississippi State (Gary Blair / Vic Schaefer voodoo magic) had a few top ten recruits on their championship teams. And UConn got the top recruit in back to back years and then went on to win 4 in a row -- although they also signed 3 more top ten in the same two year window, so. There's something to the idea that the best teams sign the best recruits, which could explain the correlation. There's also something to "they're ranked high because the top schools are recruiting them." But, there's also something to getting those top kids and having the right talent around them, and getting them to their junior or senior years and they have a gear that other players juuuuuust barely don't have. And they take over the tournament. Like Baylor with Lauren Cox, or Notre Dame and Young/Ogunbowale. And there's almost always a few of those in each class -- the ones who everyone knows will be impact players. I think because it's a smaller talent pool with a less mature development system, you tend to get a few big outliers on the top end, and then occasionally you get the generational ones - Holdsclaw, Taurasi, Parker, Moore, Stewart, so on. I remember seeing a fourteen year old Candace Parker and knowing then she would be a huge top recruit. She just stood out in every way imaginable. Not that my seeing that was unique; everyone saw it. It was impossible to miss. Same for a few others I imagine. They're just big time and having them on your roster changes the landscape. Heck, had Tennessee signed Wilson, Holly Warlick would still be the coach, in my opinion. So. It's interesting.

 

[sgacock]

Re-post with better formatting

PLAYER …………………………………………………… BLUE ……HOOP….PREP…ASGR…. AVG...PROSPECT...COMMITMENT
……………………………………………………………………STAR…….GURLZ…GIRLS…………….RANK……..NATION……….SCHOOL

1. LAUREN BETTS, 6-7 Post, CO…………………….1……………1………..1…………1………….1…………….4.5.....
Nine Finalists: Arizona State, Baylor, UConn, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oregon, SCar, Stanford, UCLA

2. ISUNEH BRADY, 6-3 Post, CA…………………….5………….. 2………..2……………2…………2.75………..4.5…………..UCONN

3. JANIAH BARKER, 6-2 F, FL…………………………2………….. 4………..3…………..4………….3.25……….4.5

4. TIMEA GARDINER, 6-2 F, UT……………………..3…………..6………...8………….3…………..5…………...4.5

5. KIKI RICE, 5-11 PG, MD/DC……………………….7……………5…………4………….5…………..5.25……….4.5

6. AYANNA PATTERSON, 6-2 W, IN ………………6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3…………5………….8…………..5.5………..4.5
Purported Offers include Maryland, UCLA, Louisville, Notre Dame, Scar, UConn, Tenn and many others

7. KK BRANSFORD, 5-10 G, OH……………………. 4…………..9…………6………….9……………7…………..4.5
Top 12: Arizona, Baylor, UConn, Duke, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, UNC, Notre Dame, Tenn. Texas, UCLA

8. LONDYYN JONES, 5-5 PG, CA…………………….8………….7………….9………..10…………..8.5……….4.5

9. MAYA NNAJI, 6-4 F, MN………….,..,..,.,………14…………8………….7………….7……………9………….4.5

10. AALIYA GAYLES, 5-9 PG, NV……………………11………..11………..10…………6……………9.5………4.5
Top Nine: Georgia, UCLA, So.Cal, LSU, Louisville, TexTech, Cal, Duke, Arizona

11 ASHLYN WATKINS, 6-3 Post, SC………………..9…………12………..11………..23…………13.75…...4.5

12. AALIYA SMITH, 5-5 PG, WI………………………./………….10………..19………..17…………15.33……4.5

13. ZYANNA WALKER, 5-8 PG, KS…………………./…………..13………..15…………22………..16.7………….

14. ASHLON JACKSON, 5-10 G, TX………………../……………19………..22…………11………..17.33……4.5

15. SYDNEY BOWLES, 6-1 W, GA…………………19………….18………..17………..18…………18………..4.5

16. GRACE V. SLOOTEN, 6-3 F, OH………………23………….14………..23………...14……….18.5…………..

16. SA’MYAH SMITH, 6-2 F, TX……………………18………….15………..14…………27……….18.5…………..

18. BRIANNA McDANIEL, 5-10 G, IN ……………12…………. /………….13…………31……….18.66……….

19. TONIE, MORGAN, 5-10 OG, FL………………41…………..23………..18…………./…………21.33…...4.5

15. RUBY WHITEHORN, 6-0 G, MI………………35…………..16………..20………..20………..22.75……4.5

16. ALEXIA MOBLEY, 6-2 W, OH…………………21…………..31………..12………..28………..23………..4.5……LOUISVILLE

17. LAZARIA SPEARMAN, 6-3 F, GA………….24…………..27………..25………..19………..23.75………..

18. SHAY BOLIN, 6-3 F, MA………………………. 34…………..20………..26………..24………..26………..4.5

19. CHANCE GRAY, 5-9 PG, OH………………….42…………..26………..40………..32………..27…………4.5

20. COTIE McMAHON, 5-11 W, OH…………….9……………37………..28………..21………..28.7…………..

21. D. LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS, 6-1 SF, OK……….28…………..35………..24…………/………….29……………..

22. MILA REYNOLDS, 6-2 SF, IN………………….15………….41………..32…………/…………..29.3…………………..MARYLAND

23. MYA PETTICORD, 5-9 PG, mi…………………/……………21………..33……….37………….30.33……..4.5

23. PARIS CLARK, 5-10 PG, NYC………………….16………….44………..31………./…………….30.33…….4.5

25. REAGAN BEERS, 6-3 PF, CO…………………./…………….22………..35……….35………….30.67…………

26. NYLA HARRIS, 6-1 SF, FL………………………/……………..39………..34……….30………….34.33………

27. AUMARI WILLIAMS, 6-3 Post, AR……….31……………28…………37………42………….34.5..........
Top Ten: Ark, UK, GTech, MsSt, OkieSt, WVU, Vandy, Bama, Notre Dame, Wake

28. YSABELLA FOUNTLEROY, 6-1 F, MO…….40……………./………….27………39………….35.33……..4.5



Prospects Received Two Rankings
Kennedy Basham
Amini Muhammed
SANIYA GLENN
JENNAH ISAI
TALYSIA COOPER
KAYLA OLDCARE
Saniah Tyler
PARIS MILLER

 

[lfvol]

They really have been for the most part (aside from the Rhyne Howards out there). If you look at the number one recruits over the last ten years of Hoopgurlz, all but one won a national title. Almost every team save Mississippi State (Gary Blair / Vic Schaefer voodoo magic) had a few top ten recruits on their championship teams. And UConn got the top recruit in back to back years and then went on to win 4 in a row -- although they also signed 3 more top ten in the same two year window, so. There's something to the idea that the best teams sign the best recruits, which could explain the correlation. There's also something to "they're ranked high because the top schools are recruiting them." But, there's also something to getting those top kids and having the right talent around them, and getting them to their junior or senior years and they have a gear that other players juuuuuust barely don't have. And they take over the tournament. Like Baylor with Lauren Cox, or Notre Dame and Young/Ogunbowale. And there's almost always a few of those in each class -- the ones who everyone knows will be impact players. I think because it's a smaller talent pool with a less mature development system, you tend to get a few big outliers on the top end, and then occasionally you get the generational ones - Holdsclaw, Taurasi, Parker, Moore, Stewart, so on. I remember seeing a fourteen year old Candace Parker and knowing then she would be a huge top recruit. She just stood out in every way imaginable. Not that my seeing that was unique; everyone saw it. It was impossible to miss. Same for a few others I imagine. They're just big time and having them on your roster changes the landscape. Heck, had Tennessee signed Wilson, Holly Warlick would still be the coach, in my opinion. So. It's interesting.

You are spot on IMO. The correlation should be indisputable.

 

[therickbol]

It's a coaching thing, you wouldn't understand
I don't coach two sports bc I want to be the nest at one, I want my players to have this same mentality
Ace may be a great player,,,I will decide that when I see her in person in a couple of weeks
until then, it is a moot point

I have been coaching for 17 years. I encourage all my players to play multiple sports in middle and high school. There are way more advantages than disadvantages to playing multiple sports. And then throw in the fact that medical personnel from professional sports (NBA for example) have concluded that specializing in one sport at a young age is a leading contributor to professional athletes that have chronic injuries.

 

[GameTime]

 

[MLTS05]

It’s been really tough to get in contact with evaluators/ coaches. Usually I know where a person is leaning but now I don’t know a thing. I’m gonna be just as surprised for our 2020 recruits like everyone else. I do agree we need a top 5 recruit to pair along with Horston

 

[37620VOL]

I have been coaching for 17 years. I encourage all my players to play multiple sports in middle and high school. There are way more advantages than disadvantages to playing multiple sports. And then throw in the fact that medical personnel from professional sports (NBA for example) have concluded that specializing in one sport at a young age is a leading contributor to professional athletes that have chronic injuries.

I think this is especially true with baseball, pitchers are getting to the league with 3 times the miles on them than they used to. With basketball, I would expect to see the negative effects show up in the knees and ankles.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I have been coaching for 17 years. I encourage all my players to play multiple sports in middle and high school. There are way more advantages than disadvantages to playing multiple sports. And then throw in the fact that medical personnel from professional sports (NBA for example) have concluded that specializing in one sport at a young age is a leading contributor to professional athletes that have chronic injuries.

did you ever watch a soccer player set a pick...they can move in soccer.
Did you ever watch a volleyballer jump v a Basketballer,,,totally different jump...BB one foot, V-ball 2 feet on the jump.
Softball players get used to waiting on action to come their way, v Bballers having to play both on the ball and off the ball.

I am a mechanics coach first and foremost...very few sports I want my prodigies to play: swimming, tennis, track are some I don't mind.
Like I said, it is a me thing,,,so I do not expect anyone to understand

 

[therickbol]

did you ever watch a soccer player set a pick...they can move in soccer.
Did you ever watch a volleyballer jump v a Basketballer,,,totally different jump...BB one foot, V-ball 2 feet on the jump.
Softball players get used to waiting on action to come their way, v Bballers having to play both on the ball and off the ball.

I am a mechanics coach first and foremost...very few sports I want my prodigies to play: swimming, tennis, track are some I don't mind.
Like I said, it is a me thing,,,so I do not expect anyone to understand

Actually the things you just pointed out are the exact reasons the medical experts do NOT recommend specialization. Your muscles, tendons, ligaments need to perform the different tasks/motions common with different sports. Although they may seem like minor differences they are big differences in the development of the body. Repeating only "basketball movements" over and over again for years makes your body more injury prone.

 

[GameTime]

 

[stllvf]

what comes first - a very successful team that attracts the best athletes OR the top players committing to a mid- to take it to the top. One example of the latter is the UNC class of a decade ago when top HS players committed. and we know that none of them stayed. Miss State is the second example, a couple of players were better than ranked and a good coach.

South Carolina is now benefitting from several consecutive years of top players wanting to be coached by Staley. Louisville IMO is similar to Georgia in the days of the LVs run - Andy recruited well but not enough to beat the LVs. Top 10 - top 4 but .

 

[GameTime]

what comes first - a very successful team that attracts the best athletes OR the top players committing to a mid- to take it to the top. One example of the latter is the UNC class of a decade ago when top HS players committed. and we know that none of them stayed. Miss State is the second example, a couple of players were better than ranked and a good coach.

South Carolina is now benefitting from several consecutive years of top players wanting to be coached by Staley. Louisville IMO is similar to Georgia in the days of the LVs run - Andy recruited well but not enough to beat the LVs. Top 10 - top 4 but .

Oh no, you mentioned Louisville....Darth will be here fantasizing about Coach Waltz again...

 

[Coach Jumper]

Oh no, you mentioned Louisville....Darth will be here fantasizing about Coach Waltz again...

oh no you mentioned darth

 

[lfvol]

what comes first - a very successful team that attracts the best athletes OR the top players committing to a mid- to take it to the top. One example of the latter is the UNC class of a decade ago when top HS players committed. and we know that none of them stayed. Miss State is the second example, a couple of players were better than ranked and a good coach.

South Carolina is now benefitting from several consecutive years of top players wanting to be coached by Staley. Louisville IMO is similar to Georgia in the days of the LVs run - Andy recruited well but not enough to beat the LVs. Top 10 - top 4 but .

For a formerly storied program, a new coach usually convinces some top players to come resurrect it and play for them. Dawn convinced top kids to play for her without a great tradition. Winning at a nationally relevant level before attracting top kids is a long shot.