Gandy Malou-Mamel UConn's next Hakeem? The Amazing Story of how UConn's Future Big came via Ireland

[@calvinh.4682]

I'm a UCONN fan and I'm aware that she has committed to UCONN. However, I still want UCONN to acquire at least one productive Big from the portal for the 2024/25 season. I don't wanna see UCONN be totally dependent on Janna El Alfy who is recovering from a major injury (achilles). I love your reviews but this one is bubbling over with sarcasm uh😂

[@helgar791]

💯El-Alfy, IMO, is a potential AA. But as you've said, how in the world could Geno depend on just El-Alfy next year? Even if Janna is the next coming of Stewie, with the way injuries have devastated this team for 4 years Geno would have to have early onset dementia not to pick something up from the portal.

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Yep. Great post. UConn need Aaliyah to stay or they need a post out of the portal. They can’t just assume ice or Jana will work out.

[@helgar791]

@@TheDisruptiveOne Too many of you guys here are making far too much sense. I may have to stop saying common sense isn't common.

[@jeromedanielson4422]

America doesn’t have any bigs? Why is Geno going overseas getting underdeveloped players? A work in progress type isn’t going to get them another natty!

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

@@jeromedanielson4422 bigs see what has happened to deberry, brady, and patterson. And they are not coming. Missing Roberson was a huge loss.

[@DirectionlessStudent]

Nice job on this. You know what they say: You can't teach size. Worth a shot.

[@usveteran9893]

She is very raw. But I can also see with the right training and patience her skill set will improve.

[@back2sports]

me too

[@mplou699]

Geno's history with BIGS is lacking, but he's no longer getting the BIGS in the USA. Go on outside of the USA because naturally talented USA BIGS are going anywhere but UConn.

[@emmra2218]

​@mplou699 I've said this myself. But keep hope alive I guess 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@theodoremorehouse6460]

The problem is: UCONN has no recent history of success with developmental “ projects.” Piath Gabriel; DeBerry; etc. Who have we taken in the last decade who was in that category, who became a star? Don’t get too excited

[@SM-nn7dd]

Welp. I'm nervous... this seems like Amari DeBerry round 2.

[@chestermicek]

@SM-nn7dd, I wrote exactly the same comment. Let's hope that Geno buys a boat anchor and a heavy chain which only stretches 6' from the bucket. That way he can make sure that Ghandi doesn't get mentally confused and begin to think that 30' jumpers are the way to score. I watched Geno waste Piaf because he was in love with Dewberry's 3-point jumper. Piaf had a nice hook shot from close in & she got lost in the competitive shuffle like Saylor Poffenbarger did. Here's a rule of thumb: 6'5" tall girls should learn the back to the basket post moves that Drew Timmy had at Gonzaga and they should stay 5' to 6' from the basket on offense.

[@nastaunz]

😂😂😂

[@dlssteward9702]

Or less

[@giftcardbill]

Nice take. Geno would not have recruited her unless he saw a great upside.

[@mplou699]

I see it as "grasping for straws".

[@bbwng54]

@@mplou699 I see it as desperation- he needs bigs with Aaliyah's departure and Ice Brady and unproven Jana El Alfy as the only viable bigs (forget about Amari).

[@emmra2218]

​@bbwng54 that's the main problem. Geno plays talent he doesn't develop it. Point blank and truth is they didn't develop Amari and now everyone dismisses her as worthless which is nonsensical. They had an obligation to develop that young lady and instead decided to abandon her much like yourself. They beat the breaks off the Canada team but he gave Amari minimal minutes absolutely shameful. That was the game to coach her up and get her in game performance synced but he sat her. I'm actually disgusted by how he treats her. He's had more bigs transfer out over the past couple of years than he's had in his entire time at UCONN. You guys need to be honest about his treatment of Amari. If Gandy comes to UCONN unskilled and raw, she will gain little at UCONN. UCONN doesn't develop skill they play skilled players. If they don't have what they need to step on the court and produce, she's gonna be a could been

[@karonmoore6769]

Geno may see an “upside”, but unless she produces she’ll have the Amari experience at UConn.

[@giftcardbill]

It's certainly possible. Hope it doesn't happen.

[@buzzard6410]

I hope that wearing number 42 she isn't another DeBerry

[@ronnutter6063]

Well, you can't teach size, as the old saying goes, but I am singularly unimpressed with her skills. She's got a long way to go before she is competitive against the good bigs in NCAA competition.

[@anthonybauco6471]

I am fine with limited skills so long as she is willing AND able to improve. Look at Lauren Betts. How much different would our team look if we had Stanford's throw-away big?

[@waltermaguire1433]

Geno has made a few mistakes, for sure. But, you will all be disappointed when UConn slips on ring number 12 next year. Go Paige, Azzi, Jana, Ice, Aubrey, Ashlynn, Kaitlynn,Sarah, KK, and add Ayanna, Morgan, Allie, Qadence and Caroline as they recover. You would Love to have these Women!

[@byronrhynes4403]

Thanx u God 🙏🙌 Praise the Lord 🙏🙌 N Jesus name 🙏🙌 Amen 🙏🙌 Go! Huskies 💪

[@paulsamora1348]

IMO based on her mother (Allision Feaster) background i say she will go to SC. She is a Harvard grad, works for the Celtics and is highly involved in Social Justice issues.

[@waldolydecker8118]

so your brain told you that her mother graduating from Harvard, working for the Celtics and being "highly involved in Social Justice issues" meant that the daughter would be going to South Carolina? lol Do you know that when the player narrowed her selection down to her 3 final choices, South Carolina was NOT even one of them? So much for "Social Justice issues" predicting where you think somebody will go play ball.

[@arthur-ri4zo]

UCONN wasted scholarship slots with Piath Gabriel. Now they've wasted 3 years of scholarship so far on Amari DeUseless. Give Gandy a chance................🏀.

[@coachjbusone]

They’re back ….go Geno

[@Brian1958]

Can you say Amari?

[@deekwilliams3255]

What about Deberry? She's raw? Never developed or tried to play her

[@MkVi-mf3mr]

Same thoughts same type of player also. From geno’s track record this probably isn’t a good thing

[@anthonyyusef5897]

Deberry wasnt raw, she has no motor. On a team with no size and she cant get into the rotation.

[@helgar791]

DeBerry isn't raw. She hasn't many basketball instincts, she isn't aggressive on either end of the court, she doesn't know how to use that big body, she's slow, I've never seen her put her head down and bust it up or down court, she reads the ball off the rim worse than any player I've ever seen at UConn, and she has poor footwork at either end. In other words, although she's one of the nicest young women to ever play at UConn, she's a bust.

[@bbwng54]

@@helgar791 Unfortunately, I agree with you. Geno said that she had "great footwork" as a freshman, but nothing else has graduated.

[@helgar791]

@@bbwng54 I wish for all the world I disagreed with you.

[@jazzsoul6067]

Hakeem didn't start playing basketball until he was 12.

[@luerodgers1795]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Piath Gabriel vibes. UConn should play small ball again next season. There will be no proven posts on the roster. I am a bit concerned about the development of bigs. Nelson Ododa was the last success and even she had her critics.

[@arthur-ri4zo]

Ododa was a stiff. Against crap teams she's get a couple of easy buckets. Against quality post players. She was useless .

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

@@arthur-ri4zo she could defend. it is why she is a pro right now.

[@arthur-ri4zo]

@@TheDisruptiveOne Anyone 6'5" or up automatically gets into the pros. Another example of a useless UCONN big was Natalie Butler.

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

@@arthur-ri4zo deberry won't

[@billlavallee9362]

Re not developing bigs, let’s see what Jana does. As far as past failed UConn bigs go, where is Piath thriving these days? (Nowhere.😄) Anyway Gandy is only a kid, so it’s too early to proclaim her a stiff.🤨

[@Kirbyisagumball]

Geno this is not the move 🤣

[@richardbruno6070]

Can she play, or is she a project?

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Project.

[@back2sports]

Project but it is early.

[@chrisj6express]

All you Uconn fans should know by now geno and his recruiting is sub par at best. Athletic bigs aren’t going there because he don’t know how to use them, he’s still thinking what worked in the past years is relevant

[@jazzsoul6067]

Another Amari DeBerry, not even.

[@jeromedanielson4422]

Another DeBerry? Oh no, not again!

[@chestermicek]

Let's hope she's not another Amari Dewberry.

[@dmartin6246]

Geno is nothing but a " Has been.....

[@arthur-ri4zo]

You'll never accomplish 1% of what he's done.

[@SealedCassettes]

Dumb contribution.

[@cbrend22]

He was be fasetious. C'Mon.

[@pet-pros]

Transfer portal, please. UConn is too established to be taking on “projects.” Gustin’s 16.9 & 15.5 would be lookin real good in Storrs.. just sayin!

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

She actually went in the portal last summer before returning to BYU.

[@waltershreffler4564]

What's the deal with Geno and foreign athletes all of a sudden? Sorry, but the greatest college program in history shouldn't be main-lining athletes with passports in their baggage.

[@mplou699]

Exactly, but the exceptionally talented USA BIGS are going to other colleges, not UConn.

[@bbwng54]

@@mplou699 Aaliyah Edwards is a foreign player from Canada. Look at the NBA- they started going outside the US over a decade ago to get outstanding players. The women's game has become a global sport.

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Geno has gone overseas because American prospects are telling him no.

[@hxatherruless]

Irish, to be exact.

[@jackfanning7952]

Too little, too late. UConn is a dinosaur. Their time has come and gone. This is the age of the chicken.

[@J61082]

Geno looks bad

[@back2sports]

I should have touched up the photo. Sorry geno

[@daveyhansen]

Just don't claim to be Irish.

[@hxatherruless]

She is Irish, confirmed.

[@daveyhansen]

Being a citizen of Ireland does not make you Irish.@@hxatherruless

[@davidkusch3466]

Geno needs to retire. He recruits damaged goods in Fudd and Patterson. Now he recruits a “project”?? He already has a “project in El Ally.

[@arthur-ri4zo]

Time for you to retire.

[@SealedCassettes]

@@arthur-ri4zo LOL

[@richardking888]

Another clod that misses lay ups... 🐺s have enough of those players already.