2016 recruiting

Was at the Cedar Hill game against Plano West tonight. Cedar Hill won earlier in the year. Tonight, it was Plano West' turn squeeking out a 59 to 57 win. I was told Natalie Chou had 19 and Joyner Holmes had 23. Holmes guarded Chou the second half and held her to 4 points I believe. I'll never understand how the coach from Cedar Hill did not have Joyner Holmes taking the shot on the last 3 possessions. Holmes is BEYOND EXPLOSIVE. Texas has not had this type of athlete in a long time, IF EVER. At one point she blew by her defender on the baseline, went up with authority and laid the ball of the glass. She was undercut by the defender and was called for an offensive foul when it clearly should have been an "and 1". Her hand was literally up above the cylinder when she let it go. She hit at least 4 or 5 beautiful midrange jumpers, showing off her soft touch. Can't wait to see her in burnt orange next year!!!
 
Really an excellent tussle at CH-PW game last night. PW led most of the game but couldn't put CH away. Two late free throws by Chou broke the 57-all tie as she went coast to coast after a CH basket. Here a few thoughts to support and supplement Bobcat's observations:
1. EXPLOSIVE is the best word to describe Holmes. As Bobcat use an appropriate adjective for her............"BEYOND" explosive. There were more than a handful of times when she saw and opening and simply exploded........very dynamic. She has a gear that other players don't have. And under control. And is a finisher.
2. Holmes seems to pace herself at times as she has to play the entire game. My initial thoughts was she needed to be in better shape. WRONG ! She played all except perhaps 10 seconds (as did Chou) so she simply has to pick her spots. When she knows she has some backup in college, she will be much better as those explosive plays will be more frequent.
3. MUCH better offensive game this year. She has a legitimate jumper .........not a set shot.......so at her size........a jump shot will be almost un-blockable. A legitimate jumber at 6'-3" is very unique. She has a sweet stroke from mid-range..........as well as the free throw line.........very encouraging. Her one three point try looked good as to form but didn't connect.........but I think she will have that capability early on in college. I was very pleasantly surprised as to her improved shooting.
4. Defensively she is simply outstanding. She guarded Chou all night.........even full court and at the three point line. She did a marvelous job....even though Chou did make a couple of baskets on the drive.
5. Being my fair and biased self..........I would take Holmes over Chou if I had the choice........as most all would. Chou is going to be an excellent addition to Baylor......and she is certainly in the top 5-10 in the nation. But the combination of size, athleticism, skills, explosiveness, etc. elevate her definitely above Chou.
6. Holmes is an outstanding passer with excellent court vision and creativity. She did make a couple of unusual passing errors but typically was simply excellent.
7. She is unselfish to a fault. As Bobcat mentioned, it is unfathomable that she didn't get the ball in some sort of called play on the last 3 possessions....especially the last one when trailing by 2.
8. CH is an excellent team but Holmes makes them. CH made a lot of errors that kept them behind most of the game................ with their freshman point guard making a lot of them. The PG is an amazing talent but she is incredibly immature as her body language was very poor. She will get better in that regards (hopefully) as she grows up and is someone to watch out for. To the coaches credit, she lit into her with 2 minutes to go after an unforced error by the PG and poor body language. Just wished the coach had calibrated her earlier.
9. I drove home last night with a big smile knowing Holmes will be wearing burnt orange in a few short months. She will bring something special to the team and with better players around, we are all in for a 4 year treat! Get ready.
 
As an added feature to the my earlier CH-PW thoughts...........
1. Mulkey and 2 of her assistants were at the game. They sat on the CH side, 6 rows in front of me. I was hoping to see some bad behavior to report to ya'll but she was ok last night. The CH coach came across the court and gave Mulkey a big hug before her team took the court for warmups. Must have been a former player (? Collins) as she was young but I couldn't remember her. At half time Mulkey went over to the PW side and talked and hugged Chou's parents. Several students asked for photos with Mulkey and she obliged. I was hoping to see some UT representation but maybe our coaches were out recruiting for 2017!
2. Regarding the play that Bobcat described where Holmes blew by her defender on the baseline........I was desperately hoping for the exhilarating "and one"......but alas........charging foul on Holmes. Regardless of the call, it was a very impressive drive. As a long time former high school & college referee and AAU coach......I thought it the correct call. However, I had a mid-court CH viewpoint and it might look totally different from another angle such as the PW side. Guess I have to go with the best vantage..........the baseline ref who made the call. That play was at a critical time and could have changed the game ........so very disappointing. There is a reason the block/charge is the toughest call in all basketball........at any level.
 
flash34 said:
As an added feature to the my earlier CH-PW thoughts...........
1. Mulkey and 2 of her assistants were at the game. They sat on the CH side, 6 rows in front of me. I was hoping to see some bad behavior to report to ya'll but she was ok last night. The CH coach came across the court and gave Mulkey a big hug before her team took the court for warmups. Must have been a former player (? Collins) as she was young but I couldn't remember her. At half time Mulkey went over to the PW side and talked and hugged Chou's parents. Several students asked for photos with Mulkey and she obliged. I was hoping to see some UT representation but maybe our coaches were out recruiting for 2017!
2. Regarding the play that Bobcat described where Holmes blew by her defender on the baseline........I was desperately hoping for the exhilarating "and one"......but alas........charging foul on Holmes. Regardless of the call, it was a very impressive drive. As a long time former high school & college referee and AAU coach......I thought it the correct call. However, I had a mid-court CH viewpoint and it might look totally different from another angle such as the PW side. Guess I have to go with the best vantage..........the baseline ref who made the call. That play was at a critical time and could have changed the game ........so very disappointing. There is a reason the block/charge is the toughest call in all basketball........at any level.
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I was at the end towards the basket where the foul was called. At least from my perspective, the defender was "sliding sideways" to get in front of Holmes who had already left her feet. I am generally pretty objective about those things and felt it should have been an "and 1". I know Joyner's AAU coach quite well, and spoke with him at halftime and after the game. He just thinks she is unguardable (if there is such a word lol). Generally, officials at the high school level are not accustomed to such EXPLOSIVE athleticism and I can see where it can "appear" at times as though Holmes is bullying her opponents.
 
Bobcat,

Thanks for your views.........excellent comments. For sure we see the same in Holmes which is the most important view. I was musing on the drive home.........if the Horns will be better next year with Holmes in place of Imani? Realizing lots of dynamics change when we lose Rodrigo, Davenport, and Sanders. However, you can make a simple case that Holmes will essentially replace Imani and others will adequately replace R, D and S. Replacing 6'-7" and her blocks, presence, etc will be difficult........I love what she brings to the game. I think my conclusion now that I have seen Holmes, is that the Ladies will be better (later in the year). Certainly it will be different as Holmes' game is not post-up like Imani. But her all around game both inside and outside, ball handling, defense, etc. sure gives me good vibes about team improvement. For sure there will be times with Lang at the traditional low post and Holmes all over the court. If the pt guard from St Louis gets healthy for the fall and can replace Rodrigo in the PG/SG rotation with McCarty; Underwood can eventually contribute to replace Davenport-Sanders; with the twins fitting in; and with improvements from other returnees, I am very optimistic by later in the season that the team could be better than this year's version. The record may not be as good early ...........as the coaches figure out how it all fits, but may be better at the end. It is good time to be a Lady Longhorn fan.
 
Gulf Coast Commodores win conference crown:
http://www.gcathletics.com/articles/womens_basketball/2015-2016/LadyCommodoresclinchPanhandlecrown.htm

Audrey-Ann had 14 pts on 5-10 shooting, including 2-4 from BTA. She had 13 rebs for the game. Next game for Gulf Coast will be in the state tournament March 3-5 in Ocala.

Audrey-Ann played in 21 of 26 games and started 20. She averaged 9.6 rpg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bpg and 12.5 ppg. She hit 49.3% from the field, 45.2% from BTA and 61.9% from the FT line. Nice season so far as the team heads into the playoffs. :hookem2:
 
Not really a Texas matter but seems former UT coach/current UNT coach Jalie Mitchell is using her old recruiting ties to the Mean Green's advantage - she received a commitment from Parkway North 2016 PF Mya Johnson today - one of Alecia's teammates. Good on her.
 
I guess I missed this. Just checked to see whatever happened to Sabrina Ionescu, #1 rated guard in 2016 class. She's still not committed, according to Hoopgurlz. At one point Texas was on her top four list, but now Hoopgurlz only lists California and Oregon as possibles. We would have been in guard heaven if we could have gotten both her and Sutton, especially now that Sutton may not be ready to play until later next season, depending on her recovery time. All of a sudden we could use another top guard.
 
Dr. D said:
I guess I missed this. Just checked to see whatever happened to Sabrina Ionescu, #1 rated guard in 2016 class. She's still not committed, according to Hoopgurlz. At one point Texas was on her top four list, but now Hoopgurlz only lists California and Oregon as possibles. We would have been in guard heaven if we could have gotten both her and Sutton, especially now that Sutton may not be ready to play until later next season, depending on her recovery time. All of a sudden we could use another top guard.
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Yes, Ionescu decided not to make a decision last Fall but instead wait until the Spring. She is torn between Cal (her long time favorite) and Oregon (where her twin brother has committed to walk on for hoops).

As for us, our guard situation is a bit shaky going into next season. We lose 3 senior guards -- Brady, Empress, and Celina. And, only signed one 2016 guard in Sutton, who as you noted, is going to be rehabbing from her ACL surgery for the next several months. Unless the plan is to play Jada Underwood at guard, we definitely did not replace what we are losing after this season. Part of the depth issue is Lashann Higgs not producing this season like many of us (perhaps the coaches, too) thought she would. We know that Brooke and Ariel will get their starter minutes in the backcourt; but, after that, Foman has been getting the most minutes recently, followed by Higgs. To start next season, this is what I see:

PG: Brooke/Tasia/Alecia
SG: Ariel/Higgs
SF: Underwood/Brianna/Hosey
 
Moooooo said:
Yes, Ionescu decided not to make a decision last Fall but instead wait until the Spring. She is torn between Cal (her long time favorite) and Oregon (where her twin brother has committed to walk on for hoops).

As for us, our guard situation is a bit shaky going into next season. We lose 3 senior guards -- Brady, Empress, and Celina. And, only signed one 2016 guard in Sutton, who as you noted, is going to be rehabbing from her ACL surgery for the next several months. Unless the plan is to play Jada Underwood at guard, we definitely did not replace what we are losing after this season. Part of the depth issue is Lashann Higgs not producing this season like many of us (perhaps the coaches, too) thought she would. We know that Brooke and Ariel will get their starter minutes in the backcourt; but, after that, Foman has been getting the most minutes recently, followed by Higgs. To start next season, this is what I see:

PG: Brooke/Tasia/Alecia
SG: Ariel/Higgs
SF: Underwood/Brianna/Hosey
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Agree except I think Brianna will be the starting SF at the start of the season. Re: Alecia's rehab:

 
Moo.......on paper your lineups looks wonderful. For sure... Underwood could be THE KEY. Scanning your lists...... beyond Brooke and at times Ariel...........where is the shooting coming from? It is a real stretch(but we can hope) to plan on a freshman being a starter at the 3 early-on to give the team the scoring. Higgs, Briana and Hosey have not shown me that they can improve their shooting in 6 months to a point that teams won't back off them and help on Brooke and our posts. The wildcard is Holmes. She can play outside (at the 3 position) and excel........and let one of the twins play 4.......as they supposedly are both shooters. That would be a better shooting line-up as we simply have to have more shooters in the lineup. That big lineup goes against the trend of playing small with 3 guards.........but once again...........the lack of a proven true shooter(not scorer) at the 3 is troubling. If Sutton can come back quickly and give us a shooting/scoring guard from the 1 or 2, then Brooke and Sutton may play together and Ariel will slide to the 3......for the small ball look. Lots of uncertainty right now with most coming because of the injury to Sutton. Foman, Brianna, Hosey and Higgs are all good complementary players but at this point not Big 12 difference makers. It will all work out ok but how is still to be determined.
 
For sure, we never know how freshmen will play their first season in college. We saw what Brook and Ariel did in 2014-15; then, we have seen Higgs and Hosey in 2015-16. Definitely night and day as far as the results.

Each class contributes differently based on team needs. For the 2016 class, we will definitely need them to hit the ground running and contribute big time, unless the 2015 class makes a huge rebound come next Fall.
 
Naismith Girl’s All-American Team (three teams, 15 players) includes five players going to the Big 12 and two going Texas. :hookem:
They got Natalie Chou as undecided although she has already signed with Baylor. PG Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.), is undecided. Wonder if the Texas staff is still recruiting her.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/9800-2/
 
BabHorn said:
PG Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.), is undecided. Wonder if the Texas staff is still recruiting her.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/9800-2/
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As much as I would love to have her on the team, she announced in November that she had trimmed her Final 4 to 2 in November, California and Oregon. Cal is in her backyard and Oregon either gave her twin brother a scholarship or took him as a walk-on.
 
Audrey-Ann had 17 points, hauls in 17 rebounds, 6 blocked shots, and 3 for 6 from 3 point land in Gulf Coast first tourney game!!!!! Can you say ACTIVE????
 
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UTFORLIFE said:
I got to watch a lot of Underwood and Holmes and I feel that Underwood could end up being better. Just MO
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I think Jada will be a good player at Texas, but Joyner has the kind of physical gifts that you just can't teach. If Coach Aston runs an offense that fits her skill set and gets the most out of her Joyner will be an impact player from day one.
 
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A few weeks ago, I asked the question whether anyone had actually seen Audrey-Ann play......live or recorded. No one admitted to it; however, someone had seen her sister playing in practice against the boys and had some good things to say. Well, yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to watch the last five minutes of the first half, and the second half of Gulf Coast's game in which she scored 17 points and 17 rebounds. So in my usual "fair and biased" manner, the following is a scouting report for your pleasure or not.
  • She hit her first two three pointers of the second half to give her 3 for 4 for the game from BTA.
  • Got an offside rebound, and made a "putback and one" three point play.
  • Made a nice difficult catch and bank for a short two.
  • She has excellent shooting form from the 3 point line and free throws. Wonderful mechanics. Just a pure shooter.
  • Her best offensive skill is as a catch and shoot 3 point specialist. Does not have any recognizable short or mid-range game.
  • Her rebounding is limited to those that come close to her...........doesn't really have any significant lateral quickness to gather rebounds any distance away. Since she is significantly taller (6'-3") than the opposition at the JUCO level, that increases her rebounding and makes her 17 rebounds seem less. She will not be a difference maker as a rebounder at the D1 level. However, you cant teach 6'-3" so she is an asset.
  • She has good fundamental knowledge of defense.......help side, blocking off ball side of her player from entry, blocking out, etc. Works hard at it.
  • She will be a significant liability on the defensive end due to lack of foot speed and lateral mobility. She tries really, really hard but think Kelsey Lang type defense on the pick and roll. The Baylor and OU "bigs" will have a field day inside on her.
  • She looked like she had some passing skills but made perhaps 5 passing turnovers in the second half alone. Seemed she was trying too hard to force it inside to King.
  • Her coach uses her to inbound after all scoring plays so she must have some good passing skills but the turnovers seemed like something we have seen too much in the Horns games for my liking.
  • She will have a place on the team as she is an improvement over Aborawa and Diani. However, she is not a difference maker for next year. I believe she will be a back-up for Lang that will come in and stretch the defense. Her defense will hurt; however, in some situations against larger line-ups she can play with Lang. I was hoping for so much more.
  • I also believe that Underwood is a better player with more diverse/rounded skills. They are entirely different players (5'-11" vs 6'-3") so it is unfair to compare the two and they will be used differently.
The next game can be see live and free on the internet at http://www.njcaa.org/landing/index. If you have time, watch it and provide your own fair and biased scouting report of Audrey-Ann. You may see something entirely different than I did !
 
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