What Constitutes A "Surprise" To You?

What Constitutes A "Surprise" To You?
by dillon77 (2019-04-18 12:20:07)
Edited on 2019-04-18 12:24:33

In reply to: Good points posted by joeyt28

It's an intriguing concept...

- A prospect that people have not heard of?
(I think in this day and age of social media, it's hard not to see who coaches are interacting with...)

- Someone affiliated with multiple schools?
(Based on what I think you're saying, Aliyah Boston choosing South Carolina over ND and virtual hometown favorite, UConn, would fall in that catgory)

In looking at ND's verbal commitments:
- Alli Campbell was interested in ND, but was something of a pleasant surprise from a process standpoint by committing so early. That helps not only to have a bird in hand, but with planning down the road.
- Nat Marshall. Had a finalist list of a lot of the usual suspects, but it looked like it got down to Stanford and ND. So were in a good place, but Stanford's been on a roll. But we won that, so that's a good, solid win.

I'd put Caitlin Clark in the same place: has visited Oregon schools, very familiar with Iowa schools and there's ND. But that's a tough competition. In the past, perhaps the Catholic background would, should, to the trick but this does not seem to the case.

And Maddy Westbeld strikes me as not necessarily being a top-line option but is moving up the list as things fall out. The trouble is sometimes those kinds of players find other ports of call. I'll bet MPG would agree with me that post/forward Naz Hillmon might've been one of those when she went to Michigan.

So, I'm interested in what you're thinking of. Enjoy the give and take. Thanks.

surprise

Someone you thought was leaning or going elsewhere, only to pick ND. I'd put Kelly in this category if she ends up committing (but seems less highly regarded than Clark).

For example, while I'm excited about Marshall, the buzz was she was probably an ND lean, especially after Stanford got filled up. I'd put Westbeld here too. Same with Brunelle and Peoples.

Yes, your Boston example works well. I'd probably put Briana Turner in this category, too. Jenna Brown would fit the surprise, at least for me, although she eventually de-committed.

Happy to be wrong about this, but it seems like ND tends to get most of the players they "should" (Skylar, Jewell, Jackie, Ali, Taya) but misses out on a couple more who seems like "should" go versus the surprises we end up getting. Of course, MM and staff are experts at developing talent.

Thanks...Get Where You're Coming From

Most of the "should" prospects you cite I totally agree with.
But sometimes the staff makes sure they get to that classification: Campbell might be a case in point. Scrawny 5'9" PG comes to Recruitapalooza and loves the place/staff/other possible teammates. MM and Niele have her back for virtually private camps. They kinda sealed the deal that way.

Dani Patterson was down to ND, UVA and Tennessee and many in Knoxville thought she was a Vol, given her love for Parker and a positive visit.
Maybe not the surprise you're looking at, but a good get.

It will be interesting to see where the next surprise situation comes up.
Getting a Cook to transfer? Fudd?

Fudd

Interesting: When Sam committed and she was there I would have thought Fudd was an ND lean. Now with Paige to UConn, who knows. She's clearly a national top prospect, and ND is due for a win with such a person after some close misses with Cox, Walker, Westbrook, etc. of late.