McKenna Woliczko insight

Ironman39

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The reality of having the “nicest”/greatest women’s basketball player the country has ever witnessed a mere 2 years ago? Dumb ***
Will Ferrell Elf GIF by filmeditor
 

nu2u

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Woliczko and Bjorn both exhibit elite level talent and would have similar impact at Iowa IMO. The highlight videos don’t paint a complete picture but after numerous views it appears that Woliczko is more adept at handling/shooting with either hand.

Kind of nitpicking because, again, I think either player would be a great addition.
 

Herkylian

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Dec 27, 2022
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That would be awesome! Does EJ have any inside sources / unique insight or is he spit-balling like the rest of us?
If you check his bio there it says he's a WBB "National Scout" and has about 14K followers. I actually came across him a few weeks ago after watching his video where he interviews McKenna which is a great watch. So definitely someone who has spoken personally with her at the very least, and has some pulse on WBB.

Fingers crossed as many seem to think Addison is a UConn lean currently but that could have changed after the visit. I think McKenna delaying her commitment until after Addison's visit, plus Iowa is the only school they both have in common might be a sign. We shall see, but that would be phenomenal if so!
 

jedhawk77

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If you check his bio there it says he's a WBB "National Scout" and has about 14K followers. I actually came across him a few weeks ago after watching his video where he interviews McKenna which is a great watch. So definitely someone who has spoken personally with her at the very least, and has some pulse on WBB.

Fingers crossed as many seem to think Addison is a UConn lean currently but that could have changed after the visit. I think McKenna delaying her commitment until after Addison's visit, plus Iowa is the only school they both have in common might be a sign. We shall see, but that would be phenomenal if so!
I was just going to ask, who is this guy. I thought we we would have a better chance at Lewis than Bjorn but I'm no insider. You def cannot argue if we get 2-top 15 players in a class, even if they are similar in skillset. Great problem to have and can always pick up a PG in the portal. Go Hawks!
 

DTP2

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Apr 22, 2006
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I'm curious why so many good players still want to play at UCONN. Probably a stupid thought on my part, but why do you want to help that program win again.
Rumor has it that Bjorn is locked to UConn, but UConn only has two scholarships, and rumor has it that Olivia Vukosa and Jerzy Robinson are also locked to UConn. If Robinson commits to UConn, I think Iowa has a real chance of get Bjorn.
 

hawkbr

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Jul 14, 2024
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I'm curious why so many good players still want to play at UCONN. Probably a stupid thought on my part, but why do you want to help that program win again.
It's not hard to know. If a girl wants to win a natty or be the first pick in the WNBA, which are goals most of them have, it makes perfect sense to choose the team that has won the most and has the most first picks ever.
 

DTP2

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It's not hard to know. If a girl wants to win a natty or be the first pick in the WNBA, which are goals most of them have, it makes perfect sense to choose the team that has won the most and has the most first picks ever.
I'm sure plus being wanted by that program must be very flattering. That said, it just seems like helping a school to win for umpteenth time seems less challenging and special. Probably just a dumb thought on my part.
 

hawkbr

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Jul 14, 2024
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I'm sure plus being wanted by that program must be very flattering. That said, it just seems like helping a school to win for umpteenth time seems less challenging and special. Probably just a dumb thought on my part.
I agree with your point of view. And at the same time, I can understand the point of view of the girls who dream of playing at UConn. In Bjorn's case, I think it's a bad decision for a 5* recruit to give up being a key player with 25-30 MPG at Iowa or Kansas, for be a role player with 10-15 MPG and watch of the bench as UConn plays another Final Four. But if that's what she wants, ok.
 

Ironman39

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I'm sure plus being wanted by that program must be very flattering. That said, it just seems like helping a school to win for umpteenth time seems less challenging and special. Probably just a dumb thought on my part.
Caitlin Clark and to a lesser extent, JuJu Watkins (among others), don't get the same national appeal if they had gone the cookie cutter route of feeding the UConn machine.
 

nu2u

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I'm curious why so many good players still want to play at UCONN. Probably a stupid thought on my part, but why do you want to help that program win again.
The story of Caitlin Clark and her desire to receive a UCONN offer is pretty well documented. But Auriemma had Bueckers as his PG target and the rest is history.
 

Max Rebo

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I'm curious why so many good players still want to play at UCONN. Probably a stupid thought on my part, but why do you want to help that program win again.
I always think of the scene in "Moneyball" when Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are talking about the offer Pitt's character got to manage the Red Sox. They're talking about the salary offer -- which was big -- and Jonah's character says, "You're not doing it for the money ... You're doing it for what the money says. And it says what it says to any player that makes big money. That they're worth it."

I think it's the same for many of these recruits and the offers they get from blueblood programs, regardless of the sport. They don't choose the blueblood program because they really want to go to that school ... they choose the blueblood program because of what it says to play for that program ... that they're worth it; that they are an elite player. It can be an incredible appeal.

 

the24fan

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I always think of the scene in "Moneyball" when Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are talking about the offer Pitt's character got to manage the Red Sox. They're talking about the salary offer -- which was big -- and Jonah's character says, "You're not doing it for the money ... You're doing it for what the money says. And it says what it says to any player that makes big money. That they're worth it."

I think it's the same for many of these recruits and the offers they get from blueblood programs, regardless of the sport. They don't choose the blueblood program because they really want to go to that school ... they choose the blueblood program because of what it says to play for that program ... that they're worth it; that they are an elite player. It can be an incredible appeal.


Well the fact that Iowa is most likely going to land Mckenna tells me that the Hawks have reached that spot. The CC effect is playing out in real time and it may well keep Iowa in the powerhouse status for years to come. Goes to show you what one generational player can do for a program
 

Max Rebo

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Well the fact that Iowa is most likely going to land Mckenna tells me that the Hawks have reached that spot. The CC effect is playing out in real time and it may well keep Iowa in the powerhouse status for years to come. Goes to show you what one generational player can do for a program
Or we're the Oakland A's.
 
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Hawkangler

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Last Wednesday we got the news of a commitment within the next week.. tomorrow would be the last day for within.

Hoping we either get an commitment tomorrow or an announcement that she’ll announce Wednesday.
How will we find out where she is announcing?
 
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Kceasthawk@77

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I agree with your point of view. And at the same time, I can understand the point of view of the girls who dream of playing at UConn. In Bjorn's case, I think it's a bad decision for a 5* recruit to give up being a key player with 25-30 MPG at Iowa or Kansas, for be a role player with 10-15 MPG and watch of the bench as UConn plays another Final Four. But if that's what she wants, ok.
The same exact scenario that MW could face at S Carolina........
 

Kceasthawk@77

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Caitlin Clark and to a lesser extent, JuJu Watkins (among others), don't get the same national appeal if they had gone the cookie cutter route of feeding the UConn machine.
CC22 was just different in that regard, and Juju was never leaving her families historic ties in Southern California..
 
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chipackhawk

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The same exact scenario that MW could face at S Carolina........
I promise you every athlete that is considered a 5* has no intentions of being the one at the end of the bench. And if fans are so sure they would be at schools like UCONN and South Carolina, what does that say for Iowa seemingly needing them to come? Seems there is a bit of a Napoleon Syndrome going on.
 

Kceasthawk@77

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I promise you every athlete that is considered a 5* has no intentions of being the one at the end of the bench. And if fans are so sure they would be at schools like UCONN and South Carolina, what does that say for Iowa seemingly needing them to come? Seems there is a bit of a Napoleon Syndrome going on.
I understand that every top level athlete :intends to be a key player right away. She may very well be. Just think she'd have a better shot to be a starter right out of the gate at Iowa given Hannah will be gone, and Staley has had lots of 5 stars on the bench who didn't play a lot the first couple of years. Cardosa didn't start right away, and neither did Fulwiley.....Same thing at UConn. Kia Stokes, (Gregs daughter) was a player Iowa really pushed hard to get, and she went to UConn, and sat on the bench for most of her career. Still she ended up in the WNBA, but she'd probably have had a bigger impact at Iowa then she did at Uconn.
 

Conn53victor

Junior
Oct 15, 2014
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I understand that every top level athlete :intends to be a key player right away. She may very well be. Just think she'd have a better shot to be a starter right out of the gate at Iowa given Hannah will be gone, and Staley has had lots of 5 stars on the bench who didn't play a lot the first couple of years. Cardosa didn't start right away, and neither did Fulwiley.....Same thing at UConn. Kia Stokes, (Gregs daughter) was a player Iowa really pushed hard to get, and she went to UConn, and sat on the bench for most of her career. Still she ended up in the WNBA, but she'd probably have had a bigger impact at Iowa then she did at Uconn.
I checked out Stokes’ stats at UConn. She started a total of 7 games including only 4 her senior year. And she was the first round, 11th pick in the WNBA draft.
 

Conn53victor

Junior
Oct 15, 2014
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