2022 Recruits

[Amb3096]

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.

SC and MSST did it the hard way: they started with some very good (not great--at least on paper) players and parlayed moderate success (or great success in MSST's case) into successful recruitment hauls. Take away Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch, and it's a less of a gimme for A'ja Wilson to pick SC. Same with the success MSST had with Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan, which paved the way for Rickea Jackson, Madison Hayes and some high profile transfers.

Time to see if Kellie can do the same after Rennia graduates. She's still have Horston and a supporting cast of very good (but maybe not great) players, so she needs to start taking some scalps to get the top 10 kids to sign up.

 

[Mr. Doo Wop]

SC and MSST did it the hard way: they started with some very good (not great--at least on paper) players and parlayed moderate success (or great success in MSST's case) into successful recruitment hauls. Take away Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch, and it's a less of a gimme for A'ja Wilson to pick SC. Same with the success MSST had with Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan, which paved the way for Rickea Jackson, Madison Hayes and some high profile transfers.

Time to see if Kellie can do the same. She's got Horston and a supporting cast of very good (but maybe not great) players, so she needs to start taking some scalps to get the top 10 kids to sign up.

I think Davis is more than a supporting cast player.

 

[Amb3096]

I think Davis is more than a supporting cast player.

I meant to say for next season, not this season.

 

[lfvol]

SC and MSST did it the hard way: they started with some very good (not great--at least on paper) players and parlayed moderate success (or great success in MSST's case) into successful recruitment hauls. Take away Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch, and it's a less of a gimme for A'ja Wilson to pick SC. Same with the success MSST had with Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan, which paved the way for Rickea Jackson, Madison Hayes and some high profile transfers.

Time to see if Kellie can do the same after Rennia graduates. She's still have Horston and a supporting cast of very good (but maybe not great) players, so she needs to start taking some scalps to get the top 10 kids to sign up.

I’d agree with most of that. I know MSST rose up. But I don’t consider them in the top tier. UConn and SC probably deserve their own tier. But, I suppose you could add Stanford, ND and maybe Baylor.

Their are some surprising program landing some top ten prospects though, just not many of them.

 

[hammer22]

2022 known offers:
- Ayanna Patterson - 6-2 W - #3
- KK Bransford - 5-11 G - #9 [top-9]
- Zyanna Walker - 5-8 PG - #13
- Grace Vanslooten - 6-3 F - #14
- Sa'Myah Smith - 6-2 F - #15
- Shay Bollin - 6-3 F - #20
- Amina Muhammad - 6-4 F
- Cotie McMahon - 5-11 W - #37
- Karly Weathers - 5-9 G - NR
- Flaujae Johnson - 6-0 G - NR
- Kailyn Gilbert - 5-8 PG - NR

 

[Amb3096]

I’d agree with most of that. I know MSST rose up. But I don’t consider them in the top tier. UConn and SC probably deserve their own tier. But, I suppose you could add Stanford, ND and maybe Baylor.

Their are some surprising program landing some top ten prospects though, just not many of them.

I think all the schools you mentioned, plus Oregon (strong recruiting will help keep them relevant), MSST and Louisville are the current elite teams. I put MSST there by virtue of 2 consecutive championship games, a #1 seed the following year, and a strong season in a rebuilding season. TBD if Nikki can keep them there, but for now I think they are firmly entrenched in the top. If she has a good season this year, then I think she will continue their recent trend of strong recruiting in spite of '21 recruiting being less than spectacular.

 

[Darth_Vol]

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.

This increased pressure from coaches (and parents) for sport specialization is one of the worst things to happen to youth sports. It astounds me that it's so prevalent given the overwhelming medical evidence against it...

 

[Darth_Vol]

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.

 

[lfvol]

I think all the schools you mentioned, plus Oregon (strong recruiting will help keep them relevant), MSST and Louisville are the current elite teams. I put MSST there by virtue of 2 consecutive championship games, a #1 seed the following year, and a strong season in a rebuilding season. TBD if Nikki can keep them there, but for now I think they are firmly entrenched in the top. If she has a good season this year, then I think she will continue their recent trend of strong recruiting in spite of '21 recruiting being less than spectacular.

Good summary. I agree about Oregon’s recruiting. It’s an example of being competitive with top ten players without breaking through with national results. Would you agree that UConn and SC are a notch above others especially considering recruiting top five talent?

 

[Amb3096]

Good summary. I agree about Oregon’s recruiting. It’s an example of being competitive with top ten players without breaking through with national results. Would you. To agree that UConn and SC are a notch above others especially considering recruiting top five talent?

On paper, SC and UConn are a notch above everyone else with recruiting. But even last season, UConn, with two #1 players, looked below Oregon and Baylor who were getting it done with lower ranked players. Of the two, I'd say SC looks a cut above the rest and UConn is with the rest of the elite pack...unless they get Fudd.

 

[hammer22]

Ace’s stock is rising:

 

[GameTime]

Ace’s stock is rising:

The girl has a pure stroke....She is Aces with me.

 

[GameTime]

 

[gule]

lonesome dove?

 

[Coach Jumper]

 

[GameTime]

 

[GameTime]

 

[sisaq]

Amen!

 

[37620VOL]

I saw an eagle get its tail kicked by a couple of geese.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Ace’s stock is rising:

When we sign her, Tennessee's stock will also rise.

 

[GameTime]

When we sign her, Tennessee's stock will also rise.

I wish she was coming next season.....Hell, this season would be even better.
The pure shooter....

 

[Gamecockfan77]

SC and MSST did it the hard way: they started with some very good (not great--at least on paper) players and parlayed moderate success (or great success in MSST's case) into successful recruitment hauls. Take away Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch, and it's a less of a gimme for A'ja Wilson to pick SC. Same with the success MSST had with Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan, which paved the way for Rickea Jackson, Madison Hayes and some high profile transfers.

Time to see if Kellie can do the same after Rennia graduates. She's still have Horston and a supporting cast of very good (but maybe not great) players, so she needs to start taking some scalps to get the top 10 kids to sign up.

Yes, South Carolina won the SEC and was a #1 seed the year prior to Wilson arriving.

Alaina Coates was a freshman on that team and was probably its highest recruited player at #28.

Staley won fairly big with non blue chip players. I don't think South Carolina truly turned the corner on recruiting until after its National Championship directly lead to the class that were freshmen last season.

It was very incremental.

 

[djtee]

2022 known offers:
- Ayanna Patterson - 6-2 W - #3
- KK Bransford - 5-11 G - #9 [top-9]
- Zyanna Walker - 5-8 PG - #13
- Grace Vanslooten - 6-3 F - #14
- Sa'Myah Smith - 6-2 F - #15
- Shay Bollin - 6-3 F - #20
- Amina Muhammad - 6-4 F
- Cotie McMahon - 5-11 W - #37
- Karly Weathers - 5-9 G - NR
- Flaujae Johnson - 6-0 G - NR
- Kailyn Gilbert - 5-8 PG - NR

Why not offer Maya Nnaji, 6-4 ?

 

[Terrells Bay88]

Yes, South Carolina won the SEC and was a #1 seed the year prior to Wilson arriving.

Alaina Coates was a freshman on that team and was probably its highest recruited player at #28.

Staley won fairly big with non blue chip players. I don't think South Carolina truly turned the corner on recruiting until after its National Championship directly lead to the class that were freshmen last season.

It was very incremental.

I find it funny that most people have forgotten that in 2009 Dawn landed the #2 rank player in Kelsey Bone. Bone did transfer her freshman year but it was evident that Dawn has some recruiting prowess early at her time at SC.

 

[Enten/Eller]

Yes, South Carolina won the SEC and was a #1 seed the year prior to Wilson arriving.

Alaina Coates was a freshman on that team and was probably its highest recruited player at #28.

Staley won fairly big with non blue chip players. I don't think South Carolina truly turned the corner on recruiting until after its National Championship directly lead to the class that were freshmen last season.

It was very incremental.

The hiring of Jolette Law also coincides with the uptick.