This Freshman Class

[mathboy]

I think this year's freshman class will cut a new swath through the BIG as they mature. I am really impressed by this group of recruits, at all positions. I think this class will lbe much like the class that just left in that many of the team's starters for the next 4 years will come out of this group, and they will have a strong record of success. On paper, this might be the best class since the one that fell apart with the Curries leaving.

Not only will they nicely suppliment the upperclassmen this coming year, but they have every possiblity of competing and winning the BIG. With some of the kids in later classes, I am very impressed that Purdue Womens Basketball will continue to improve.

 

[destewart]

Next year's class has the makings of what is needed to restore Purdue wbb to an elite level. This could provide a nice compliment to the highly ranked 2015 recruits.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

I agree. I think this year's class fills voids with good players who are also strong leaders that we just lost in the last year or so. The following (2015) year's class could make us really good since we have 3 highly rated talented players coming in. Even the class after that has a high ranked player already. I see a really good blend of size and speed. If ballhandling improves we could be on our way back. I miss the old days so maybe it just might happen again.

 

[illiniboiler]

Des, this positive statement from you means a lot. You tend to not look with rose colored glasses.It does seem Coach V's recruiting is on the upgrade. With Maryland and Rutgers joining the BT it is much needed. Some programs are going to slide, but it appears many have gotten some good recruits. For example, in Champaign where I live, they are ecstatic over some of the new blood including a 5 star center.

 

[mathboy]

Originally posted by destewart:
Next year's class has the makings of what is needed to restore Purdue wbb to an elite level. This could provide a nice compliment to the highly ranked 2015 recruits.

I agree with you about next year's class (2015). It is going to be special.

However, this 2014 incoming class is nothing to sneer at. I think Hall will prove to be a very servicable PG, maybe starting right away, depending on Wilson's status. Tiara Murphy will have to work some to pry that position away from her in 2015.

Both Bodnar and Horrocks will be effective BIG post players. I really like Bodnar's game in that she sometimes looks a bit like Erin Lawless (don't crucify me for the comparison). Horrocks is tall and smooth from what I've seen. She is now listed as 6'5". I will bet that one of these two is going to find a starting spot on the team and not give it up for 4 years. They both seem to have a hard edge to their game, and are tough players.

I think the real sleeper in this class is Erica Moore. Her injury kept her from being more highly ranked this year. I have seen tapes of several of her games, and when she is healthy, she is an absolute beast in the paint. The term "Man amoungst boys" comes to mind, but with the appropriate gender changes. Athletic, fast, with good handles and great footwork, she is extremely competative. She will be a really nice player for Purdue. She and Dominic McBryde might be a hell-of-a 1-2 punch along the front line in 2015.

Adrianna Keys is the only one who might get lost in this group. She is a wing/Off guard coming into a team that has some good wings, with Bays, Clemons, and Thorton. Add in Moore, and It will be tough for her to get time in the front court.

Where I see a hole in this year's team is at shooting guard, replacing Courteny Moses sharp shooting. Hamby doesn't look like she is ready for that load, although she would seem to have the qualifications to carry it. KK was also a sharp shooter. I think we will miss that deadly outside shooting touch.

 

[BoilerPride08]

Wilson's status with the team is in 100% good standing, there shouldn't be any more questions. The kid made a mistake and learned from it. Done deal. She will be the team's full time starter at PG this year and, barring injuries, should be that for her senior year as well.

Hall is classified as a combo guard. She can distribute but can also shoot it especially from behind the arc. She will split time at both the PG (when necessary) and SG spots along with Morrissette and Hamby this year.

With Redmon's unexpected departure, it leaves the door open for one our incoming frosh posts to get plenty of playing time along with Clemons and Bays, who should be penciled in as starters in the post. My bet is on Moore as I feel she is the most polished post player coming in if she is 100% healthy and in shape. Bodnar and Horrocks will see time if they can quickly adjust to the speed of the game. Horrocks needs to work on her body/athleticism.

Keys is the big unknown in the class, IMO. She is a guard/wing player and was a very good scorer for her team in high school. Underrated by scouts because of injury. We have an opening for that type of perimeter scorer with the loss of Houser and Moses. If she surprises, she could see some time out on the perimeter. If not, might redshirt.

PG/SG
Wilson, Hall, Morrissette, Hamby

SG/SF
Perry, Thornton, Keys

Posts
Bays, Clemons, Horrocks, Bodnar, Moore

 

[WaltV]

I am very surprised to see that you listed Thornton as a possible shooting guard. I saw her in high school, and I have seen her at Purdue. I don't know that I have ever seen her take a three, and her strength seems to be around the basket---a short post.

 

[mathboy]

Originally posted by WaltV:
I am very surprised to see that you listed Thornton as a possible shooting guard. I saw her in high school, and I have seen her at Purdue. I don't know that I have ever seen her take a three, and her strength seems to be around the basket---a short post.

+1

Thorton has always been an in-the-paint player to me. She can drive and rebound, but I alway cringe a bit when she drives because her weakness seems to be ball handling. She seems to be a fill-in-the-gaps type player. She doesn't make too many mistakes, and seems to be good at defending the guards on the other team. Her length and size would give some opposing guards fits. However, I don't think she has much of an offensive game, and what she has is as a post/forward position.

 

[mathboy]

Originally posted by BoilerPride08:
Wilson's status with the team is in 100% good standing, there shouldn't be any more questions. The kid made a mistake and learned from it. Done deal. She will be the team's full time starter at PG this year and, barring injuries, should be that for her senior year as well.

Hall is classified as a combo guard. She can distribute but can also shoot it especially from behind the arc. She will split time at both the PG (when necessary) and SG spots along with Morrissette and Hamby this year.

With Redmon's unexpected departure, it leaves the door open for one our incoming frosh posts to get plenty of playing time along with Clemons and Bays, who should be penciled in as starters in the post. My bet is on Moore as I feel she is the most polished post player coming in if she is 100% healthy and in shape. Bodnar and Horrocks will see time if they can quickly adjust to the speed of the game. Horrocks needs to work on her body/athleticism.

Keys is the big unknown in the class, IMO. She is a guard/wing player and was a very good scorer for her team in high school. Underrated by scouts because of injury. We have an opening for that type of perimeter scorer with the loss of Houser and Moses. If she surprises, she could see some time out on the perimeter. If not, might redshirt.

PG/SG
Wilson, Hall, Morrissette, Hamby

SG/SF
Perry, Thornton, Keys

Posts
Bays, Clemons, Horrocks, Bodnar, Moore

Good to know Wilson is 100% good with the team. A while back we had a couple very negative posts on this board or the Old Gold board that indicated Wilson was a disruptive and negative influence on the team. It was some catty stuff that a rival might have posted, but it stuck with me. It made me a bit concerned about WIlson's future with the team.

I am no expert, but I though Hall was a nationally ranked Point Guard? Obviously, in Purdue's offense, all the guards get involved in handling the ball, so the distinction between PG and SG is foggy.

Didn't one of her guards leave the team at the end of the year? I had it in my head that it was Morrissette. It's been a while since I gave the womens basketball team too much of a thought. It has been a long summer and many other things have clouded my recall.

As for the posts, Clemons, Bodnar and Horrocks are true back-to-the-basket centers. Bays and Moore are both more along the lines of power forwards, playing facing the basket. I don't quite know how to classify Thornton - maybe small forward? I really don't consider her as a guard, except perhaps on the defensive side. Perry is a tall guard who slides into the post to create match-up issues. In fact, I think Perry could become a nightmare for opposing teams this year.

 

[boilerluv]

No guards left. Camille Redmon graduated in May and left, but she was not a guard, as you know. And as for Ashley Morrissette--I think everybody is overlooking this young woman. She was an extremely successful high school player in Ohio, and heavily recruited. She has a "delicate" look and needed a year in the weight room, for sure, (and a year's experience in the Purdue program, obviously) but she can shoot the 3. SV has said (and said again, very recently) that Morrissette is the best shooter on the team. Period. I don't think we have seen the "real" Morrissette yet, and when we do, we are going to be happy.

This post was edited on 7/24 8:42 AM by boilerluv

 

[illiniboiler]

Great and important that Wilson is in good standing. She will be a major factor for two years.
I think Thornton (who will play inside) and Perry will get a lot of minutes.They are more experienced than the frosh and both have shown some great potential.
Morrisette has loads of ability and she will be a significant factor in her years left at Purdue.
Coach V has a wealth of options. Barring significant injury or other weird things which seems to plague our program, unfortunatley, it will be her job to make this talent into a very effective team. She has a great deal more to work with than she had a few years back. The Curry curse may be lifting.

This post was edited on 7/24 11:34 AM by illiniboiler

 

[mathboy]

Regarding Thornton, Versyp likes to have a 6' defensive specialist on her roster every year. Since we often face high scoring guards, this DS is often a guard, or at least has guard like spped and agility. Is this year's version Thornton? Maybe. I will bet Thornton draws the defensive assignment of stopping the other team's best scoring guard. That's her role, maybe?

She is not a scorer at this level. At least not so far in her career. However, at 6', she can intimidate the guards on the other team just a bit. Hey, it is just my theory.

 

[TC4THREE]

I agree with you about next year's class (2015). It is going to be special.

However, this 2014 incoming class is nothing to sneer at. I think Hall will prove to be a very servicable PG, maybe starting right away, depending on Wilson's status. Tiara Murphy will have to work some to pry that position away from her in 2015.

Both Bodnar and Horrocks will be effective BIG post players. I really like Bodnar's game in that she sometimes looks a bit like Erin Lawless (don't crucify me for the comparison). Horrocks is tall and smooth from what I've seen. She is now listed as 6'5". I will bet that one of these two is going to find a starting spot on the team and not give it up for 4 years. They both seem to have a hard edge to their game, and are tough players.

I think the real sleeper in this class is Erica Moore. Her injury kept her from being more highly ranked this year. I have seen tapes of several of her games, and when she is healthy, she is an absolute beast in the paint. The term "Man amoungst boys" comes to mind, but with the appropriate gender changes. Athletic, fast, with good handles and great footwork, she is extremely competative. She will be a really nice player for Purdue. She and Dominic McBryde might be a hell-of-a 1-2 punch along the front line in 2015.

Adrianna Keys is the only one who might get lost in this group. She is a wing/Off guard coming into a team that has some good wings, with Bays, Clemons, and Thorton. Add in Moore, and It will be tough for her to get time in the front court.

Where I see a hole in this year's team is at shooting guard, replacing Courteny Moses sharp shooting. Hamby doesn't look like she is ready for that load, although she would seem to have the qualifications to carry it. KK was also a sharp shooter. I think we will miss that deadly outside shooting touch.

Interesting to see how that class turned out.

 

[destewart]

Next year's class has the makings of what is needed to restore Purdue wbb to an elite level. This could provide a nice compliment to the highly ranked 2015 recruits.

This demonstrates that I gave SV a long leash and that she proved unworthy of the confidence!