Why do you think she came in January instead of coming in August. She is going to get a jump like TQ and LG did by coming in early. We had this same conversation at the beginning of this season when yall clearly stated that TQ and TH would barely see the floor this year and I told you guys that these two were going to get a lot of time this year. I know talent when I see it. Mark this down. Noelle is going to play a lot next year because NH will graduate. First thing that is said about her is that she is a 6 feet 4 inchers power forward. This tells you she will be playing the 4 spot, maybe some 5. Secondly this is what CB said about her:
"In Noelle, we are adding impactful length and athleticism to our front court," said Banghart. "An elite rebounder and shot blocker, Noelle will add immense value to our interior." This statement right here tells you that she is already ahead of Thomas on the defensive end. Notice CB said impactful length and athleticism which is what this team will not have at the four next season after IN and NH graduates. I am talking about at the 4 and 5 spots. An elite rebounder and shot blocker. BT does not have this right now. She did not have last year as a freshmen nor does she have it this year. Notice the word elite. You cannot teach or coach this, plus she is coming in early and not waiting to August. Her strength and conditioning will be there along with her offensive skills by coming January. If you do not understand what CB is telling us then I do not know what to tell you. This young lady is bringing the same defensive prowess at MG did for us the last 2 years when she was at UNC plus she is taller.
I think she came in Jan because (a) she is willing and (b) she wanted to start D1 level basketball training. Players like Grant and Harpring have really rare access and resources for continuous professional training while in HS. Queiroz and Bofia, less so. CB has alluded to these disparities as a factor in early enrollment.
edit: Bofia did play at a pretty elite High school program with a proven coach from the W. She had some key camp invites like the US Army NG camp, though she did not get team USA camps like Harpring and Grant. So she is ahead of someone like Zubich who played in a less competitive area and probably had less camps. And ahead of Astakhova who had reportedly never done weight training.
January enrollment does not directly lead to freshman playing time though. See Shaver, Will. It certainly will help, though.
If you want to compare her to Thomas, Thomas lead UNC in both blocks and rebounds per minute played as a freshman last year. That was ahead of Ustby and Gakdeng, who are <checks notes> pretty good. No, I am not saying she is better than those two. But she has demostrated defensive ability. She has clearly taken a step back this season. I suspect , but do not know for sure, that it is related to her documented offseason injury that kept her out this summer. Thomas's trouble last year (and this one) is finishing on offense. Her FG% is bad for a center. But we know that Bofia has the same deficiency, right now at least.
So we are talking about potential growth curves here, not what people are capable of right now. Neither you nor I, nor probably the coaching staff right now, know what the future will hold. We are speculating on potential. My guess is that Bofia's potential is at least a year away.
Seems odd to me that you continually downplay Harpring's readiness to come in and contribute immediately; you think her stock is too high. Yet you do the opposite for Bofia, labelling her already above some pretty highly regarded players already on the team who are contributing right now.
In regards to your prognostications, you said that Brooks would start from day one and would be leading the season towards the end. She was your top choice on the entire team. You also said that Hull would break out. And Henderson. And I guess Queiroz, but I do not remember that one. They are all coming along nicely, but all pretty similar rotational players at this point.
