Charlie Creme and just about everyone else in the WBB world has written off the Wildcats as "one hit wonders." To them, Aari and Arizona were just a one time shooting star in the basketball firmament. It was great while it lasted, but they've moved on now, back to the humdrum Wildcats . . . Aari's gone. Charlie just projected Arizona as an eight seed in his too early 2022 bracket, along with DePaul, Georgia, and Florida Gulf Coast.
Wait just an everlovin minute, people!
Adia Barnes is no "one hit wonder." She's an exceptional person and an even better recruiter and coach. There's passion and fire behind those dark eyes. Great players can feel it. That's why Aari left Washington with her . . . and the two of them transformed a perennial cellar-dweller down in the desert into a national supernova.
Not-so-great players can feel it too - and want to be part of what she's puttin down. When she winks and smiles at them for putting out super maximum effort - they catch fire and shock the country by whipping UConn on nationwide TV. That's what she does . . . and major recruits watched it happen and want to be part of it.
I'll give you an inkling of how enormous that upset was. Because the eastern sports media was so overwhelmingly positive that Paige Bueckers and her team of Huskies would win the 2021 NCAA Women's Tournament, you had to bet $450 in Vegas on the Huskies - in order to win $100. Or you could bet $350 on the "field" (the other 63 teams) and if any one of those other teams won the tournament, you would win $100. In other words, Stanford, South Carolina, N.C. State, Maryland, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Louisville (the other one and two seeds) were all just chopped liver in the eyes of the WBB establishment and the odds-makers.
The pundits have all moved on, but I think Tara knows the truth about Adia Barnes. You hear about players who will run through a wall for a coach. That's the calibre of coach we're talking about down in Tucson.
How hard is it to replace a scorer like Aari McDonald?
It's hard. But Adia doesn't mind hard, and she's well on her way. She just got a firm commitment from Anna Gret Asi, an Estonian 5'-10" star who is a prolific three point shooter. She's also mobile and aggressive off the dribble - has a deadly pull-up jump shot and a lethal hook shot with either hand. A fantastic freshman prospect.
Aaronette Vonleh is a five star recruit, the No.# 38 player in the 2021 class. She's a 6'-3" post player who is built large, quick, powerful, and nimble. Her older brother's in the NBA.
Madison Conner is a 5'-11" four star freshman recruit who averaged 20 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds for her senior season in high school. She's a good three point shooter and can score right or left off the dribble.
Koi Love is a 6' junior forward transfer from Vanderbilt who averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds last season in the SEC.
Taylor Chavez is a senior guard transfer from Oregon who will be a strong back-up point guard for Shaina Pellington.
Ariyah Copeland is a 6'-3" grad transfer from Alabama who was a double/double machine in the paint last season and had the 3rd highest shooting percentage in the nation at 61%.
Gisela Sanchez is a 6'-3" freshman forward from Spain. She's talented, agile, and committed. She comes from the same team in Spain as Helena Pueyo.
Trinity Baptiste graduated and signed with a Russian pro team for the next season.
The returning players from the national runner-up team in 2021:
Sam Thomas 6' grad student, captain, and emotional leader. Next season she'll increase her scoring average to make up for the loss of Aari.
Cate Reese is a 6'-2" post player with a lot of talent and an even bigger heart. She'll increase her scoring average next season.
Bendu Yeaney is a 5'-10" guard.
Lauren Ware is a 6'-5" post player.
Helena Pueyo is a 6' junior guard.
Shaina Pellington is a 5'-8" senior point guard understudy of Aari McDonald. She's super fast and ultra quick, much like her mentor.
Marta Garcia transferred to Florida Atlantic.
Tara Manumaleuga transferred to TCU.
There is no available information on the remaining players from the 2021 roster: Mara Mote, Derin Erdogan, or Semaj Smith.
By March of next year, Arizona will be rounding into shape as a dangerous challenger to the Stanford Cardinal. Expect to see a starting lineup something like this:
Sam Thomas 6'-0" grad student guard.
Shaina Pellington 5'-8" senior point guard
Anna Gret Asi 5'-10" freshman guard
Cate Reese 6'-2" senior forward
Aaronette Vonleh 6'-3" freshman post player
Adia will have this team playing like Wildcats. Next season will be one to remember. I've got my season tickets - do you?
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