Recruiting

[CutDownTheNet]

Stumbled across this article because it triggered my WNBA alert.

Adalia McKenzie & Park Center Are Gunning For A State Championship

The future just keeps getting brighter for Park Center's Adalia McKenzie, who's hoping to bring home a state championship.

minnesota.cbslocal.com

The article also mentions she‘s interested in marine biology. Is the U on top for that curriculum?

The most popular states that have well-known schools with majors in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (the typical name for that major) are Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It looks like U of Minnesota does not have such a program at the undergrad level, as far as I can see. It looks like Div 3 Gustavus Adolphus might have such a major.

I went to a comprehensive web site that allowed to choose your major, and chose all schools with a major in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography that also had women's basketball programs, throwing away those no-name schools that are too small or that are not Division I. That gave me about 20 schools (not including Minnesota on that list, by the way) to which I added a few schools from varioius rankings per google search of "marine biology top universities." The parentheses preceding a school below) gives one or more rankings from various google searches (mostly top-10s but one with rankings out to 26). No preceding parentheses means not ranked academically for marine biology.

I then looked up their women's basketball team's current RPI (shown in parentheses after school name, along with league name) and got rid of those that were not NCAA Division I - which got rid of the best-ranked college - (1, 1) Eckerd College, and also eliminated (7, 7, 5) New England - both prestigious schools in Marine Biology, but not Div 1. The remaining schools were ranked in order of current RPI of their women's basketball team.

(11) South Carolina (1, SEC)
(3, 20) Oregon (2, Pac-12)
(14) Connecticut (4, American Athletic)
(8) Stanford (6, Pac-12)
(7) Princeton (9, Ivy)
(9, 13) UCLA (13, Pac-12)
(5) Oregon State (20, Pac-12)
(7) Texas A&M (21, SEC)
(1, 3) Duke (27, ACC)
Florida State (32, ACC)
(18) Rutgers (47, Big Ten)
(24) Alabama (72, SEC)
(4, 9) Stony Brook (73, America East)
(3) Coastal Carolina (96, Sun Belt)
(8, 22) UC San Diego (112, West Coast)
(23) Auburn (116, SEC)
(6, 6) Miami (118, ACC)
(5) Harvard (120, Ivy)
(10) UC Berkeley (124, Pac-12)
(2, 17) Boston U (128, Patriot)
(10) Washington (141, Pac-12)
San Jose State (145, Mountain West)
(9, 2) North Carolina (148, ACC)
(3) Maine (162, Amerca East)
(2) Cornell (190, Ivy)
(15) Rhode Island (209, Atlantic)
(8) New Hampshire (265, America East)
(26) FIU = Florida International University (310, USA)

By comparison, Minnesota has an RPI of 92 this year, and has a real good Biology department, but has no undergrad degree in Marine Biology and/or Biological Oceanography, as far as we know. (It does have Journalism, one of her other choices.)

Minnesota might seem to be of interest to Adelia McKenzie if she just majored in Biology, and then went on to a grad school in Marine Biology and/or Biological Oceanography. By the time she got here, Minnesota would no-doubt have a better RPI - let's estimate about a 50. But there are 11 schools with better (current) basktball RPIs than that.

If Adelia decides (before committing) that she wants to pursue Marine Biology as an undergrad major, the odds of her coming to Minnesota don't look that good, since there are plenty of schools that do have good Marine Biology programs and also better basketball teams (since she wants to be a WNBA draftee).

On the other hand, High School juniors typically don't truly know what their college majors will eventually be. Plus, even if she's sold on marine biology, studying general biology first (a necessity these days) plus playing close to home plus being coached by Lindsay Whalen, just might be enough advantages for her to want to be a Gopher.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Statement From Athletics Director Mark Coyle - University of Minnesota Athletics

The Big Ten announced today that it has canceled remaining athletic competition for the remainder of the school year.

gophersports.com

Gophers and Big Ten "suspend all on-campus and off-campus recruiting efforts for the foreseeable future."

University of Minnesota Athletics Director Mark Coyle has issued the following statement.

We agree with the Big Ten's decision to cancel all athletic competitions through the end of the school year. We also support the conference's decision to suspend all on-campus and off-campus recruiting efforts for the foreseeable future. At this time, we are working on arranging transportation for our teams who are competing out of state to return to Minneapolis. We will provide all necessary resources for our student-athletes, coaches and staff during this difficult time. Our main priority is to ensure the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, administrators, fans and media as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 virus.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

 

[whalenfan]

Kayla Mershon announced on her instagram that shes transferring from Nebraska to MN. So theres another 6'3 post for the squad. Would imagine theres a solid shot to get a waiver to play next year since shes coming home.

 

[Frink]

Kayla Mershon announced on her instagram that shes transferring from Nebraska to MN. So theres another 6'3 post for the squad. Would imagine theres a solid shot to get a waiver to play next year since shes coming home.

not really impressive numbers at Nebraska but she did have some solid offers coming out of high school. Have to hope a change of scenery will make a difference.

 

[samloupete]

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction unfortunately. Accepting Mershon as a transfer may mean no Sophie Hart. It is my hope that Gianna Kneepkens quickly commits before something else unexpected happens.

 

[Belzx009]

I like this recent trend. Minnesota kids! It will help the attendance too! It was local kids who put Minnesota on the map in the first place. Still hoping both Hart and Kneepkens become gophers. I am still not convinced there will not be a transfer out. Not looking for one, just saying.

 

[bball_craz_31]

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction unfortunately. Accepting Mershon as a transfer may mean no Sophie Hart. It is my hope that Gianna Kneepkens quickly commits before something else unexpected happens.

I'm guessing you are right that likely puts the end to any Hart being a gopher conversation. However with the current roster, with Mershon joining, weather she sits out or not, they likely have one scholarship available remaining for class of 2021. My vote is for Adalia McKenzie to get/take it hopefully. As of right now there is Hart, McKenzie, Kneepkens, Coley and Dague with a Gopher offer for 2021 and that's not even counting out of state offers, all for one more remaining scholarship to reach 15 mark.

however, I agree I could see a transfer, Possibly Tomancova or Ross get tired of the bench. Who knows.

The other issue is Class of 2022. with current roster, if Mershon shits a year with 2 years, remaining we will have only JUCO Woodard being a junior. Meaning one available scholarship for class of 2022. If Mershon gets a waiver, we have two available. That big sophomore class of Scalia, Powell, Sissoko, Tomancova, Ross and Grace is really where majority of the scholarships are sitting.

Maybe Mershon means a departure from Cumming?

 

[samloupete]

I like McKenzie as well but with her desire to get into the oceanography field it’s more likely that San Diego State or Pepperdine might be her destination followed by Scripps. Another note is that she is 5’8” by her own admission not 5’10”.

 

[bball_craz_31]

I like McKenzie as well but with her desire to get into the oceanography field it’s more likely that San Diego State or Pepperdine might be her destination followed by Scripps. Another note is that she is 5’8” by her own admission not 5’10”.

Here is the video:
The quote was "I was thinking about Journalism, or maybe something in the health field like being a Social Worker or also thought about Marine Biology, so I guess I have a lot of options" doesn't sound like she is on anything yet.

Previous video had Marquette, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois among teams mentioned so sounds like she is staying close to home. My view is with 1 available scholarship, it should be tagged for McKenzie till she states she is going elsewhere.

 

[LakevilleBro]

I like this recent trend. Minnesota kids! It will help the attendance too! It was local kids who put Minnesota on the map in the first place. Still hoping both Hart and Kneepkens become gophers. I am still not convinced there will not be a transfer out. Not looking for one, just saying.

It makes watching the game so much better, if there are a few MN players on the roster.

 

[GringaGopher]

Here's hoping Whalen can establish a trend of keeping the high quality MN players home.

 

[samloupete]

We need bigger guards. Right now we, for the most part, we have small guards except for Scalia.

 

[CutDownTheNet]

Here is the video:
The quote was "I was thinking about Journalism, or maybe something in the health field like being a Social Worker or also thought about Marine Biology, so I guess I have a lot of options" doesn't sound like she is on anything yet.

Previous video had Marquette, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois among teams mentioned so sounds like she is staying close to home. My view is with 1 available scholarship, it should be tagged for McKenzie till she states she is going elsewhere.

Yeah, from this post I'd say that her needing a Marine Biology school is overblown. None of the Marine Biology schools from my post #121 are in the set {Marquette, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois}. You only need to go to a Marine Biology school as an undergrad, if you really have a burning desire to start playing with baby dolphins already at the undergrad level. If you're a serious student, and don't need the hands-on right away, you're better off going to a good solid biology school like Minnesota as an undergrad, and then a West/Gulf/Atlantic coast Marine Biology school as a grad student.

Hope you're listening, Adelia ;-}.

 

[Shades]

If she wants to go to the WNBA, she won’t be listening to her little PG’s advice. But going to Minnesota probably isn’t the best road to the staying in the WNBA either.

 

[bball_craz_31]

Yeah, Banham and Zahui are not in the league still or anything. I may be incorrect by Lindsay Whalen and Janel McCarville seemed to do ok in the league. I think they might have even won a title or two.....or four in one case.

And a 15-year WNBA vet coaching at Minnesota.

You are right, no WNBA history from the gophers at all. stay away McKenzie, no hope here.

 

[samloupete]

Exactly

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

McKenzie is a dominant HS scorer no doubt about it, she has a college frame at the HS level. But what worries me a little is Park Center dosen't have the ball in her hands enough, they should have her bringing the ball up the court for her own development, running the point. For the few games I caught this year, she had her back to the basket way to much on offense. What happens is at the next level is her game translates from inside to outside and some adapt and some don't. I have seen this with some of the Hopkins kids over the years, they are just physically stronger then other HS kids..
Question for the experts: Name the best college power5 player from Hopkins in the last 5-7 years during the era where they have won several state championships?

 

[LakevilleBro]

McKenzie is a dominant HS scorer no doubt about it, she has a college frame at the HS level. But what worries me a little is Park Center dosen't have the ball in her hands enough, they should have her bringing the ball up the court for her own development, running the point. For the few games I caught this year, she had her back to the basket way to much on offense. What happens is at the next level is her game translates from inside to outside and some adapt and some don't. I have seen this with some of the Hopkins kids over the years, they are just physically stronger then other HS kids..
Question for the experts: Name the best college power5 player from Hopkins in the last 5-7 years during the era where they have won several state championships?

Without thinking too hard, Nia Hollie? You bring up a good point though.

 

[bball_craz_31]

McKenzie is a dominant HS scorer no doubt about it, she has a college frame at the HS level. But what worries me a little is Park Center dosen't have the ball in her hands enough, they should have her bringing the ball up the court for her own development, running the point. For the few games I caught this year, she had her back to the basket way to much on offense. What happens is at the next level is her game translates from inside to outside and some adapt and some don't. I have seen this with some of the Hopkins kids over the years, they are just physically stronger then other HS kids..
Question for the experts: Name the best college power5 player from Hopkins in the last 5-7 years during the era where they have won several state championships?

Nia Coffey Seemed to do pretty well in the big ten and came from Hopkins.


In reference to McKenzie in HS. Her Park Center team ran a (similar to gophers) 4 guard, 1 post lineup and often time McKenzie was the one expected to go into the paint. Her starting guards were 5'3 and 5'5. However throughout a game she could guard 1-5, not to mention rebound with the 4-5s as well as score in the paint, and hit the outside shots.

Was able to watch her game against Hopkins. Hopkins has Paige Bueckers, UConn recruit and top overall rated kid in the country as well as 4-5 Division one players. McKenzie guarded Buckers 95% of the time she was on the court, as well as put up 42 points against basically a D1 team in Hopkins. that's enough for me to know she will be able to have success at the next level. There is no Paige Bueckers in the Big Ten and even if so, she showed she was more than capable of playing against that level of competition.

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

Without thinking too hard, Nia Hollie? You bring up a good point though.

2.8ppg and 2.5 rpg her Sr year on a 16-14 team. She would of helped us this year though..

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

Nia Coffey Seemed to do pretty well in the big ten and came from Hopkins.


In reference to McKenzie in HS. Her Park Center team ran a (similar to gophers) 4 guard, 1 post lineup and often time McKenzie was the one expected to go into the paint. Her starting guards were 5'3 and 5'5. However throughout a game she could guard 1-5, not to mention rebound with the 4-5s as well as score in the paint, and hit the outside shots.

Was able to watch her game against Hopkins. Hopkins has Paige Bueckers, UConn recruit and top overall rated kid in the country as well as 4-5 Division one players. McKenzie guarded Buckers 95% of the time she was on the court, as well as put up 42 points against basically a D1 team in Hopkins. that's enough for me to know she will be able to have success at the next level. There is no Paige Bueckers in the Big Ten and even if so, she showed she was more than capable of playing against that level of competition.

Nia Coffey - yes great collegiate player.

 

[samloupete]

McKenzie by her own admission is not a good outside shooter. Her game in high school for the most part is going to the basket. That might not play so well in the Big Ten.

 

[Shades]

Yeah, Banham and Zahui are not in the league still or anything.

Banham is barely clinging to it, and she’s one of the best college players out of Minnesota (3000 pt club). If Sims wouldn’t be missing this season due to a rumored pregnancy, who knows if Banham would have made a team this season. Zahui is doing alright, but I doubt it’s because of her 2 years of development under Borton/Stollings. She’s just an innate beast.

I may be incorrect by Lindsay Whalen and Janel McCarville seemed to do ok in the league. I think they might have even won a title or two.....or four in one case.

Who was the Finals MVP the year McCarville won a championship? Who won the league MVP the following year? That’s right, it was a UConn player who was the MAJOR contributing factor in all the championships. I can tell WNBA isn’t your thing, but you can continue to delude yourself if you’d like. I’m surprised you don’t recommend McKenzie going to Xavier since two-time WNBA champion Amber Harris hailed from there. Five-time WNBA champion Rebekkah Brunson came from Georgetown. Might want to recommend that college.

And a 15-year WNBA vet coaching at Minnesota.

Yeah, and how is that working out? Two years in a row that they would have been in the WNIT. Woo hoo! Not exactly a strong selling point for a player with WNBA aspirations. Should McKenzie have WNBA aspirations at this point? If she’s not ranked in the Top 40 in the nation, probably not.

You are right, no WNBA history from the gophers at all. stay away McKenzie, no hope here.

I didn’t say there was no history here. It’s just not the best road if you have better options, as Bueckers realized.

 

[Shades]

McKenzie by her own admission is not a good outside shooter. Her game in high school for the most part is going to the basket. That might not play so well in the Big Ten.

If she’s 5’8-5’10, sounds like a huge red flag and a mid-major player to me.

 

[LakevilleBro]

Nia Coffey Seemed to do pretty well in the big ten and came from Hopkins.


In reference to McKenzie in HS. Her Park Center team ran a (similar to gophers) 4 guard, 1 post lineup and often time McKenzie was the one expected to go into the paint. Her starting guards were 5'3 and 5'5. However throughout a game she could guard 1-5, not to mention rebound with the 4-5s as well as score in the paint, and hit the outside shots.

Was able to watch her game against Hopkins. Hopkins has Paige Bueckers, UConn recruit and top overall rated kid in the country as well as 4-5 Division one players. McKenzie guarded Buckers 95% of the time she was on the court, as well as put up 42 points against basically a D1 team in Hopkins. that's enough for me to know she will be able to have success at the next level. There is no Paige Bueckers in the Big Ten and even if so, she showed she was more than capable of playing against that level of competition.

Sorry, I forgot about that Nia. I should have thought longer!

 

[MNGirlsHoops]

Banham is barely clinging to it, and she’s one of the best college players out of Minnesota (3000 pt club). If Sims wouldn’t be missing this season due to a rumored pregnancy, who knows if Banham would have made a team this season. Zahui is doing alright, but I doubt it’s because of her 2 years of development under Borton/Stollings. She’s just an innate beast.



Who was the Finals MVP the year McCarville won a championship? Who won the league MVP the following year? That’s right, it was a UConn player who was the MAJOR contributing factor in all the championships. I can tell WNBA isn’t your thing, but you can continue to delude yourself if you’d like. I’m surprised you don’t recommend McKenzie going to Xavier since two-time WNBA champion Amber Harris hailed from there. Five-time WNBA champion Rebekkah Brunson came from Georgetown. Might want to recommend that college.



Yeah, and how is that working out? Two years in a row that they would have been in the WNIT. Woo hoo! Not exactly a strong selling point for a player with WNBA aspirations. Should McKenzie have WNBA aspirations at this point? If she’s not ranked in the Top 40 in the nation, probably not.



I didn’t say there was no history here. It’s just not the best road if you have better options, as Bueckers realized.

Bueckers aside, I'm not sure I agree.. if you go to UConn you better be the best of the best, because being 7th man at UConn will not get you in the WNBA.
If banham would have went to UConn and accepted her role there do you think she would been drafted in WNBA? Maybe, but I'm not sure she would of got the minutes to be a first rounder.

 

[bball_craz_31]

McKenzie by her own admission is not a good outside shooter. Her game in high school for the most part is going to the basket. That might not play so well in the Big Ten.

A super athletic guard, who drives to the basket at will, has elite speed and rebounds from the guard position. A working 3-point shot...... sounds a lot like Kenisha Bell... how was she for the gophers?

 

[bball_craz_31]

Banham is barely clinging to it, and she’s one of the best college players out of Minnesota (3000 pt club). If Sims wouldn’t be missing this season due to a rumored pregnancy, who knows if Banham would have made a team this season. Zahui is doing alright, but I doubt it’s because of her 2 years of development under Borton/Stollings. She’s just an innate beast.



Who was the Finals MVP the year McCarville won a championship? Who won the league MVP the following year? That’s right, it was a UConn player who was the MAJOR contributing factor in all the championships. I can tell WNBA isn’t your thing, but you can continue to delude yourself if you’d like. I’m surprised you don’t recommend McKenzie going to Xavier since two-time WNBA champion Amber Harris hailed from there. Five-time WNBA champion Rebekkah Brunson came from Georgetown. Might want to recommend that college.



Yeah, and how is that working out? Two years in a row that they would have been in the WNIT. Woo hoo! Not exactly a strong selling point for a player with WNBA aspirations. Should McKenzie have WNBA aspirations at this point? If she’s not ranked in the Top 40 in the nation, probably not.



I didn’t say there was no history here. It’s just not the best road if you have better options, as Bueckers realized.

So McCarville and Whalen had nothing to do with winning got it. Thanks for clearing that up.

and Since I know little to nothing according to you, your expertise comes from? What high school team you coach? You been a college recruiter or coach? And since you don’t like Reeve as well, what WNBA team have you coached and GM for? Please enlighten us simple peasants.

 

[Shades]

Bueckers aside, I'm not sure I agree.. if you go to UConn you better be the best of the best, because being 7th man at UConn will not get you in the WNBA.
If banham would have went to UConn and accepted her role there do you think she would been drafted in WNBA? Maybe, but I'm not sure she would of got the minutes to be a first rounder.

McKenzie kind of has a Rutgers look to me. That team has put many many more players into the WNBA as compared to the Gophers. This may seem harsh or not possible, but it’s true.