Lots of new faces. While I appreciate Kaela Davis choosing Tech and giving it a go as an Electrical Engineering major, I think Tech will be just fine next season. The team often sat back and watched Kaela force shot after shot. When she was on, she was terrific. When not, well, I'll just stop here. I thought the best player last season for Tech was Aaliyah Whiteside. And, quite frankly, I didn't even think it was close.
Looking at the '15-'16 Lady J's, I see a team who should contend for a return to the NCAAT. The ACC will be super tough as usual. Hopefully, the ACC will release ACC opponents soon so we will see who in addition to Clemson we have both a home and away game this upcoming season.
Point Guard: Soph. Imani Tilford returns and likely has first shot at the starting role on Day 1 when practice opens. However, she will be tested by talented incoming freshman Ciani Cryor. I expect these two to share the point position throughout the season and the team will love it. They are both pesky defenders who set up their teammates with a pass-first mindset. I expect Imani to open up her scoring game a little more this season. With Davis no longer around, that frees up a LOT of shots for the rest of the team for that matter.
Shooting Guard: I believe Sr. Aaliyah Whiteside will take over Davis' position as the starter and Soph. Antonia Perreson will get good minutes here as well. Perreson played a lot of point last year, but I believe her best role is at the 2. She showed some strong outside shooting capabilities during the 2nd half of the season last year. With Cryor now in the fold and 2 solid point guards, this allows Coach Jo to move Perreson over to what I believe is a more natural position for her.
Small Forward: Hard to call Jr. Katarina Vuckovich as "small" with her tall, lean and lanky 6'3" frame. But, I think she moves into the starting 5 and gets her out to where she can use her outside shooting prowess while defending smaller forwards as well. Her time has definitely arrived and I see a very strong season ahead for her. Talented wing Dejoria Howard from South Carolina enters as a true freshman and I see her contributing right away. UTEP transfer Irene Gari will also compete for playing time in her one season at Tech and she could spend some time at the 4 off the bench as well. If Gari shows she can make some outside shots and play Coach Jo's brand of defense, she'll get more playing time as will Howard. Lots of nice interchangeable parts with these 3.
Power Forward 1: Speaking of interchangeable parts, to me the 2 post positions are just that for Tech and so I'll list us with 2 PF's since we don't really have what I'd call a true "center". One starter will be Soph. Zaire O'Neil. She really came on strong during the 2nd half of the season in particular during her initial campaign with the Lady J's this past season before ending with a knee injury in postseason. I believe she will return 100% in time for preseason practices. Like Roddreka Rogers, if they both had another 4 inches of height not only would they be playing for UConn but they'd be a 1st round WNBA selection. Both are Coach Jo's types of players. Lots of energy, hustle and fight. Incoming 6'3" freshman, Martine Fortune, likely will get some playing time at one of these 2 post positions off the bench.
Power Forward 2: Sr. Roddreka Rogers (aka The Motor, aka Double Double Machine) will start at the other post position and some combination of redshirt frosh Erin Garner and true frosh Chelsea Guimaraes from Portugal will battle for playing time to spell The Motor. We have good depth in the post now and that helps because it allows Vuckovic to work more outside (as well as Gari). In a pinch if Coach Jo needed it, Katarina could play some 4 as might Gari though I'm hopeful they won't be needed.
While we lose The Double Double Machine after this season, we get Hofstra transfer Edeferioka for 2 seasons after she sits out the mandatory transfer year next season. I saw Edeferioka twice this past season in games against JMU and she will do well. She is taller, has good moves in the paint, and gets after it like Coach Jo wants.
Coach Jo already has a commit from Osborne HS (Marietta, GA) guard Zutorya Cook who will compete at both guard positions. Tech is reportedly in the running for ranked guards Jacaira Allen 5'11" from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Dominique Toussaint 6'0" out of New York City. Either would be nice additions to replace Whiteside at the 2-guard spot. Coach Jo should have 5 ships to hand out to freshmen and/or grad transfers. And that is counting that Edeferioka already has 1. I know Coach Jo has her eyes set on some other players and I expect we'll attract another international player or two. It will really be interesting if she could land Ciani Cryor's teammate at Neuman Goretti HS in Philly, the number 1 ranked HS girls basketball team in the nation this past season by the way. She is Felicia Aiyeotan and she stands 6'9". I have no idea if Coach Jo is recruiting her or if she has any interest in the Lady J's. But, if we are and she is, it may help that we have Cryor in the fold. You never know.
The '15-'16 version should be fun to watch and getting back to a style of play Coach Jo desires. That is, defense creating havoc. More players who can get up and down the court. Less reliance on one player. Good depth allowing players to give their all and less drop off from starters to backups. More of a T-E-A-M approach by the players. That by the way should not be construed as a shot at Kaela Davis. It is a fact she can be a terrific scorer at times. 5 will beat 1 most all the time though.
Looking at the '15-'16 Lady J's, I see a team who should contend for a return to the NCAAT. The ACC will be super tough as usual. Hopefully, the ACC will release ACC opponents soon so we will see who in addition to Clemson we have both a home and away game this upcoming season.
Point Guard: Soph. Imani Tilford returns and likely has first shot at the starting role on Day 1 when practice opens. However, she will be tested by talented incoming freshman Ciani Cryor. I expect these two to share the point position throughout the season and the team will love it. They are both pesky defenders who set up their teammates with a pass-first mindset. I expect Imani to open up her scoring game a little more this season. With Davis no longer around, that frees up a LOT of shots for the rest of the team for that matter.
Shooting Guard: I believe Sr. Aaliyah Whiteside will take over Davis' position as the starter and Soph. Antonia Perreson will get good minutes here as well. Perreson played a lot of point last year, but I believe her best role is at the 2. She showed some strong outside shooting capabilities during the 2nd half of the season last year. With Cryor now in the fold and 2 solid point guards, this allows Coach Jo to move Perreson over to what I believe is a more natural position for her.
Small Forward: Hard to call Jr. Katarina Vuckovich as "small" with her tall, lean and lanky 6'3" frame. But, I think she moves into the starting 5 and gets her out to where she can use her outside shooting prowess while defending smaller forwards as well. Her time has definitely arrived and I see a very strong season ahead for her. Talented wing Dejoria Howard from South Carolina enters as a true freshman and I see her contributing right away. UTEP transfer Irene Gari will also compete for playing time in her one season at Tech and she could spend some time at the 4 off the bench as well. If Gari shows she can make some outside shots and play Coach Jo's brand of defense, she'll get more playing time as will Howard. Lots of nice interchangeable parts with these 3.
Power Forward 1: Speaking of interchangeable parts, to me the 2 post positions are just that for Tech and so I'll list us with 2 PF's since we don't really have what I'd call a true "center". One starter will be Soph. Zaire O'Neil. She really came on strong during the 2nd half of the season in particular during her initial campaign with the Lady J's this past season before ending with a knee injury in postseason. I believe she will return 100% in time for preseason practices. Like Roddreka Rogers, if they both had another 4 inches of height not only would they be playing for UConn but they'd be a 1st round WNBA selection. Both are Coach Jo's types of players. Lots of energy, hustle and fight. Incoming 6'3" freshman, Martine Fortune, likely will get some playing time at one of these 2 post positions off the bench.
Power Forward 2: Sr. Roddreka Rogers (aka The Motor, aka Double Double Machine) will start at the other post position and some combination of redshirt frosh Erin Garner and true frosh Chelsea Guimaraes from Portugal will battle for playing time to spell The Motor. We have good depth in the post now and that helps because it allows Vuckovic to work more outside (as well as Gari). In a pinch if Coach Jo needed it, Katarina could play some 4 as might Gari though I'm hopeful they won't be needed.
While we lose The Double Double Machine after this season, we get Hofstra transfer Edeferioka for 2 seasons after she sits out the mandatory transfer year next season. I saw Edeferioka twice this past season in games against JMU and she will do well. She is taller, has good moves in the paint, and gets after it like Coach Jo wants.
Coach Jo already has a commit from Osborne HS (Marietta, GA) guard Zutorya Cook who will compete at both guard positions. Tech is reportedly in the running for ranked guards Jacaira Allen 5'11" from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Dominique Toussaint 6'0" out of New York City. Either would be nice additions to replace Whiteside at the 2-guard spot. Coach Jo should have 5 ships to hand out to freshmen and/or grad transfers. And that is counting that Edeferioka already has 1. I know Coach Jo has her eyes set on some other players and I expect we'll attract another international player or two. It will really be interesting if she could land Ciani Cryor's teammate at Neuman Goretti HS in Philly, the number 1 ranked HS girls basketball team in the nation this past season by the way. She is Felicia Aiyeotan and she stands 6'9". I have no idea if Coach Jo is recruiting her or if she has any interest in the Lady J's. But, if we are and she is, it may help that we have Cryor in the fold. You never know.
The '15-'16 version should be fun to watch and getting back to a style of play Coach Jo desires. That is, defense creating havoc. More players who can get up and down the court. Less reliance on one player. Good depth allowing players to give their all and less drop off from starters to backups. More of a T-E-A-M approach by the players. That by the way should not be construed as a shot at Kaela Davis. It is a fact she can be a terrific scorer at times. 5 will beat 1 most all the time though.
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