Geno Locks Down Yet Another Good Player
The Story: The women’s basketball team locked down its first commitment from a player in the Class of 2021 when Saylor Poffenbarger wrote on Twitter yesterday that she will be heading to Storrs.
WHO IS POFFENBARGER? A 6-foot-2 guard from Middletown, Maryland, Poffenbarger, entering her junior year of high school, is ranked the No. 21 player in the class by ESPN. She had more than 20 scholarship offers and turned heads playing for USA Basketball’s U16 national team, averaging 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship last month.
A friend on Twitter put it best: “Imagine playing for the USA Women’s Basketball Team, being a gold medalist, and committing to the UConn women’s basketball team team (arguably the best team in the league for awhile) all before your junior year of high school.” It’s good to be Poffenbarger.
WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART: Poffenbarger told ESPN she felt comfortable speaking with Geno Auriemma since the Huskies began recruiting her, and after speaking to him on the phone Wednesday afternoon, she was compelled to commit and called him back that night. “I feel it,” she said. “I don’t want to wait.” A UConn fan since childhood, she said she grew up watching Maya Moore and now will have the chance to follow in her footsteps.
RECRUITING IMPACT: Remember those days not too long ago when Geno was only able to land one high school recruiting target and critics were throwing dirt on the Huskies’ grave? The bell is ringing. UConn, which has the top player in the Class of 2020, Paige Bueckers, on board, as well as guard Nika Muhl and forward Mir McLean, is now venturing into 2021 waters. The Huskies have two more scholarships open following the upcoming season and could make even more of a splash in their recruiting.
Brimah Gets His Chance With Pacers
The Story: Former UConn center Amida Brimah signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers last night after excelling while playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the Summer League.
ABOUT TIME: Brimah’s contract is not guaranteed and is essentially an invitation to training camp, but it’s a good sign for a player who has been on the cusp of reaching the NBA after excelling in the G League each of the past two seasons.
Brimah went undrafted out of UConn in 2017 and began his professional career playing for the Chicago Bulls in the Summer League before joining the San Antonio Spurs for training camp. He spent the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with their G League team, the Austin Spurs, and was named to the All-Defensive team each year.
SUMMER STANDOUT: Although Brimah started just one of the six games he played for the Nets in Las Vegas this month, he averaged 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while playing 12.5 minutes per game. With career G League averages of 7.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, the Pacers are hoping it’s time he makes the leap. If not, he could end up resuming his career with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, their G League affiliate.
Morning Read
TOP PLAYERS IN TOWN: UConn will host one of the NCAA’s new College Basketball Academy camps beginning Monday, but several of its recruiting targets will not be attending. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
SCHEDULE STRUGGLES: The departure of UConn from the AAC will lead to difficulties in scheduling for the football teams remaining in the conference. (Houston Chronicle)
