2019 Recruiting - WBB

Ashlee playing for Australia in Asian games late Oct.


Asia's Premier U18 Women's Continental Championship to be streamed LIVE

 

192 cm = 6 feet and 3.59055 inches
I hate it when people are not accurate. Nice catch dadave!

 

Some belated news about Endyia. Good showing on the Nike U17 Girls Elite Youth Basketball League.



High praise from Endyia's coach.

 

I am super excited about the two commitments Texas has for 2019 but I'm feeling pessimistic about adding more great players to the class. Maybe its the weather. It is not as if I have any actual information. To my eye, the roster looks pretty solid for next year, but a small class this year could put a lot of pressure on recruiting for 2020.

 

Horns missed out on her when she chose Stanford over Texas and UCLA. But Ashten Prechtel sounds like one heck of a player and person.
Stanford women's basketball recruit Ashten Prechtel on fast track to stardom

 

Two more OVs to go for Endyia before she makes her decision.

 

3 years playing in the Alzheimer’s All Star Classic, 3 MVPs for Celeste.

 

Maori Davenport committed to Rutgers Friday per ESPNW.

 

Not a surprise considering both her father and brother played at Mizzou . . .

 

Did her mom play at Kansas? Would explain how they made the Final 3.

 

It will be interesting to see how fits into Missouri’s system.

 

Well, that's a bummer, but somewhat unsurprising?


And uhhhh, Miss State suddenly has open scholarships. Hunh

 

Women's basketball prospect Rickea Jackson narrows list to Mississippi State, Rutgers, South Carolina

 

Did not know that Texas was eliminated by Rickea, "Where Jackson ends up at college is still a mystery, but she has narrowed her list to Mississippi State, Rutgers and South Carolina. Schools that were previously under consideration include Louisville, Tennessee, Ohio State and Texas."

Women's basketball prospect Rickea Jackson narrows list to Mississippi State, Rutgers, South Carolina

 

I’d assume that closes the door on Zia Cooke as well.

 

Well unsure if we can assume that Zia Cooke is out of the picture for Texas as well? Zia and Rickea seemed to have been joined at the hip during the recruiting process. I would bet Zia's announcement will following along with Rickea.

Endyia Rogers may be the last potential commitment we have a chance to pick up in this recruiting cycle. Which is a very good thing. She is getting a lot of praise from the prognosticators.
A three person class of:
Endyia Rogers, Celeste Taylor and our Aussie, Ashlee Hannan would be fine. As has been mentioned in many posts the 2020 class will now be a major focus with tons of Texas talent to recruit! Let the season begin!!

 

Laeticia Amihere?

 

Zig Latecia has already eliminated Texas from her final list of choices.

 

Some of those 2020 recruits looking more critical now. But, hey, there is still the 2019 spring and summer transfer festival ....

 

Got it.

A bit off topic, but I was struck by Aston's most recent press conference. We all know she practices a defense-first philosophy, but it appears she wants to push that even further this year. Comparing the Final Four teams to her team, she thought we came up short in the dedication and effort necessary to field an elite defensive team.

With the crippling injuries we'll have to manage this year, it sounds like the team has some challenges in developing a starting five that can make that happen.

 

Hoop you make a very good point. Grad transfers is a relatively new element to adding players to the roster. There could well be someone who emerges this off season that could make an impact to this recruiting class.

 

Would be great if we found a JUCO out there so as to help balance the 2-person class of Chasity and Destiny; ideally, a small forward 6'0+ who could shoot from the perimeter would be hitting the jackpot.

 

I have to wonder if attendance numbers and student enthusiasm aren't factors in girls' decisions about whether to come here. I really hope this is being addressed.

 

I’m sure it’s somewhat of a factor but every recruit is different.

 

Plus attendance is ticking upwards.

 

Endyia on what I am pretty sure is her last official visit. Personally I don’t get all the love for USC women’s sports when their AD openly disrespects them.

 

That's good! I wasn't aware of that. Do you know by how much?

 

Well....... yes and no.

Google tells me: Women's Basketball Attendance

And here is one telling screenshot:



Specifically the increase from 2016 to 2017 was (gulp) 823.

Many of you remember the "Jody days" when they opened up the upper tier for overflow and I wish we could get back to those days. The "content" (team play) is just as good as the old days, but I don't know how to get butts in seats.

 

Unfortunately, this only happened for select games. I wish attendance had been consistently that high.


Discussing attendance, it has not always been good. In the year prior to winning the national crown in 1985-86, attendance was only 2,290 a game. It jumped the 1985-86 season to 4,264. Attendance peaked two seasons later at 8,841. After declining for several years to a low of 5,740, in 1993-94, attendance reached over 7,400 for the next four seasons with a high of 8,009 in the 1994-95 season. Those four years were followed by a decline in the next six seasons reaching 5,356 in 2001-02. The next year, the run to the final four resulted in attendance topping out at 5,398. But the promise of that run got attendance up to 7,191 the following season. Failure to reach the final four the next two years was met with declining attendance to 5,636 in 2005-06.



Jody’s last season as head coach was seen by 5,044 in the stands. Gail Goestenkors taking over as head coach resulted in an uptick in attendance to 5,452 in her first year.

Attendance continued to drop through Karen’s first three seasons to a low of 3,385 in 2014-15. The last three seasons since has seen an uptick in attendance beginning in 2015-16 of 3,700; 2016-17 of 3,813 and last season of 4,636.


It’s a slow process but as long as the team keeps winning and reaching deep into the NCAAs, attendance will continue to grow. The biggest thing, imo, is how to get students wanting to come to the games. Less than a 100 per game, and that being generous imo, is not going to work. Students provide an energy and enthusiasm that will greatly enhance the atmosphere at the games. They can easily pump up attendance by several hundred per game and create a loud and rowdy atmosphere. I don’t know if all enjoy that but the few games that they came to last season were some of the more enjoyable games I attended.


It was encouraging to see new and younger faces in the crowd last season. It was discouraging to see old faces missing. The old crowd I have seen for many years is starting to disappear, age being a big factor. I hope that more people will come to watch this team and the others to come in the future because they are among the best in the nation and deserve to have a full house every time they play at home.

 

Great post, Babhorn. I don't completely understand why so few students come to the games. Yea, the FEC is not very convenient, but it is not THAT far away. Is basketball just not as well liked as volleyball here? Doesn't make sense to me. Gregory Gym is fantastic, I agree, and easy for students who live at places like Jester to get to. Is that the only explanation? I'm puzzled.