[joemontes]

I think maybe too much emphasis is being put on Rice's decision.  We will be an excellent team either way.  Rest easy people.

If anything else, it's a fun exercise in speculative thought, because:

-  3 of her 5 finalists are PAC 12 teams

-  getting both the #1 and #2 overall recruit is a BIG DEAL, because it has only happened once before in WCBB, i.e., 10 recruiting classes ago, when #1 Breanna STEWART and #2 Moriah JEFFERSON  both went to UConn, and we know what happened after that - UConn wins 4 consecutive national championships!

I find the following pretty interesting:

Class of 2012 #1 overall Breanna STEWART was listed (by ESPN Hoopgurlz) as 6'3 and #2 overall Moriah JEFFERSON was listed as 5'7, and both chose UConn.  

Fast forward 10 years later to the current Class of 2022, where #1 overall Lauren BETTS is listed as 6'7, while #2 overall Kiki RICE is listed as 5'11.  BETTS committed to Stanford earlier this year, while RICE is set to reveal her college choice later today, with Stanford as a leading candidate.

Interesting set of coincidences include the fact that:

(1) 2012 #1 overall STEWART (PF) and 2022 #1 overall BETTS (Center) are both post players, while 2012 #2 overall JEFFERSON and 2022 #2 overall RICE are both PGs. 

(2) 2022 #1 overall 6'7 BETTS is 4 inches taller than 2012 #1 overall 6'3 STEWART, while 2022 #2 overall 5'11 RICE is also 4 inches taller than 2012 #2 overall 5'7 JEFFERSON. 

Hmmm....

[joemontes]

I think maybe too much emphasis is being put on Rice's decision.  We will be an excellent team either way.  Rest easy people.

If anything else, it's a fun exercise in speculative thought, because:

-  3 of her 5 finalists are PAC 12 teams

-  getting both the #1 and #2 overall recruit is a BIG DEAL, because it has only happened once before in WCBB, i.e., 10 recruiting classes ago, when #1 Breanna STEWART and #2 Moriah JEFFERSON  both went to UConn, and we know what happened after that - UConn wins 4 consecutive national championships!

I find the following pretty interesting:

Class of 2012 #1 overall Breanna STEWART was listed (by ESPN Hoopgurlz) as 6'3 and #2 overall Moriah JEFFERSON was listed as 5'7, and both chose UConn.  

Fast forward 10 years later to the current Class of 2022, where #1 overall Lauren BETTS is listed as 6'7, while #2 overall Kiki RICE is listed as 5'11.  BETTS committed to Stanford earlier this year, while RICE is set to reveal her college choice later today, with Stanford as a leading candidate.

Interesting set of coincidences include the fact that:

(1) 2012 #1 overall STEWART (PF) and 2022 #1 overall BETTS (Center) are both post players, while 2012 #2 overall JEFFERSON and 2022 #2 overall RICE are both PGs. 

(2) 2022 #1 overall 6'7 BETTS is 4 inches taller than 2012 #1 overall 6'3 STEWART, while 2022 #2 overall 5'11 RICE is also 4 inches taller than 2012 #2 overall 5'7 JEFFERSON. 

Hmmm....

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

[CardinalWBBFan]

Nivar dropped UNC; down to NC State and Stanford:
https://twitter.com/raoul_000/status/145...06349?s=21

[CardinalWBBFan]

Nivar dropped UNC; down to NC State and Stanford:
https://twitter.com/raoul_000/status/145...06349?s=21

[Softball Fan]

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

Thanks for posting.  You would think a head coach has enough self-restraint not to steal some of Rice's thunder from her big announcement.  But who knows.

I also don't put Arizona at the head of the list.  They are picked to finish fifth in conference.  Without analyzing their 2022 recruiting class the odds are against going from fifth in conference to national title contender.

[Softball Fan]

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

Thanks for posting.  You would think a head coach has enough self-restraint not to steal some of Rice's thunder from her big announcement.  But who knows.

I also don't put Arizona at the head of the list.  They are picked to finish fifth in conference.  Without analyzing their 2022 recruiting class the odds are against going from fifth in conference to national title contender.

[joemontes]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Well, as much as I am strongly predicting a Stanford outcome, weirder things can happen....  

Like Adia Barnes could have given Kiki RICE the sales pitch that she will mold her into the next Aari McDONALD who, this time around, will successfully lead Arizona to a national championship, and that somehow greatly appealed to the kid.  Plus the Wildcats also have an elite post player in 6'4 Maya NNAJI coming in, who is ranked #4 overall by the just released evaluation by Prospect Nation (Chris Hansen and Brandon Clay), #7 overall by ASGR and #9 overall by ESPN. 

Yup, you never know....

[joemontes]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Well, as much as I am strongly predicting a Stanford outcome, weirder things can happen....  

Like Adia Barnes could have given Kiki RICE the sales pitch that she will mold her into the next Aari McDONALD who, this time around, will successfully lead Arizona to a national championship, and that somehow greatly appealed to the kid.  Plus the Wildcats also have an elite post player in 6'4 Maya NNAJI coming in, who is ranked #4 overall by the just released evaluation by Prospect Nation (Chris Hansen and Brandon Clay), #7 overall by ASGR and #9 overall by ESPN. 

Yup, you never know....

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Well, as much as I am strongly predicting a Stanford outcome, weirder things can happen....  

Like Adia Barnes could have given Kiki RICE the sales pitch that she will mold her into the next Aari McDONALD who, this time around, will successfully lead Arizona to a national championship, and that somehow greatly appealed to the kid.  Plus the Wildcats also have an elite post player in 6'4 Maya NNAJI coming in, who is ranked #4 overall by the just released evaluation by Prospect Nation (Chris Hansen and Brandon Clay), #7 overall by ASGR and #9 overall by ESPN. 

Yup, you never know....

I am just relieved we dodged Duke. Remember just last year, new head coach Niele Ivey and Notre Dame snagged top PG Olivia Miles, who perhaps otherwise was headed out West. While I imagine Rice likes the young energy of Barnes and Coach Close and the potential for those two schools, at the end of the day, it's going to be awfully hard for a young lady who was raised by Ivy leagures (and attending a DC private high school where the tuition is nearly 50K!) to pass up a Stanford education. Simple as that. 

One new story line, however is her brother is a freshman on the Yale basketball team. Storrs, CT and New Haven are merely an hour or so apart so the siblings being in close proximity could certainly be appealing to them and their parents. Not sure that makes up for the lack of playing time behind Bueckers and Fudd as well as the total difference in academic appeal.

I initially thought Duke may have the slight edge, if anywhere else, simply on the "close to home" tug with a reputable university and the connections of Kara Lawson being from DMV and having played the PG spot (even attended the same school as Rice for a year, Sidwell).

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Well, as much as I am strongly predicting a Stanford outcome, weirder things can happen....  

Like Adia Barnes could have given Kiki RICE the sales pitch that she will mold her into the next Aari McDONALD who, this time around, will successfully lead Arizona to a national championship, and that somehow greatly appealed to the kid.  Plus the Wildcats also have an elite post player in 6'4 Maya NNAJI coming in, who is ranked #4 overall by the just released evaluation by Prospect Nation (Chris Hansen and Brandon Clay), #7 overall by ASGR and #9 overall by ESPN. 

Yup, you never know....

I am just relieved we dodged Duke. Remember just last year, new head coach Niele Ivey and Notre Dame snagged top PG Olivia Miles, who perhaps otherwise was headed out West. While I imagine Rice likes the young energy of Barnes and Coach Close and the potential for those two schools, at the end of the day, it's going to be awfully hard for a young lady who was raised by Ivy leagures (and attending a DC private high school where the tuition is nearly 50K!) to pass up a Stanford education. Simple as that. 

One new story line, however is her brother is a freshman on the Yale basketball team. Storrs, CT and New Haven are merely an hour or so apart so the siblings being in close proximity could certainly be appealing to them and their parents. Not sure that makes up for the lack of playing time behind Bueckers and Fudd as well as the total difference in academic appeal.

I initially thought Duke may have the slight edge, if anywhere else, simply on the "close to home" tug with a reputable university and the connections of Kara Lawson being from DMV and having played the PG spot (even attended the same school as Rice for a year, Sidwell).

[kat0189]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 
 All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

The plot thickens!!!

[kat0189]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 
 All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

The plot thickens!!!

[bl82]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Great sleuthing, Hoops9092!

[bl82]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Great sleuthing, Hoops9092!

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Great sleuthing, Hoops9092!

LOL. I should be a PI (private investigator), I know.

[Hoops9092]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Great sleuthing, Hoops9092!

LOL. I should be a PI (private investigator), I know.

[BobK]

Welcome to the Board Hoops 9092.

The Rice parents travel all over, closeness probably not a factor.

[BobK]

Welcome to the Board Hoops 9092.

The Rice parents travel all over, closeness probably not a factor.

[Softball Fan]

"One new story line, however is her brother is a freshman on the Yale basketball team. Storrs, CT and New Haven are merely an hour or so apart so the siblings being in close proximity could certainly be appealing to them and their parents." 


Another way to read it is the parents instilled in their children the importance of a good education.   WNBA earnings are not nearly enough to retire off of.  Her parents being CEOs know that.

Martyup, do you have two GIFs teed up; one happy and one sad.

[Softball Fan]

"One new story line, however is her brother is a freshman on the Yale basketball team. Storrs, CT and New Haven are merely an hour or so apart so the siblings being in close proximity could certainly be appealing to them and their parents." 


Another way to read it is the parents instilled in their children the importance of a good education.   WNBA earnings are not nearly enough to retire off of.  Her parents being CEOs know that.

Martyup, do you have two GIFs teed up; one happy and one sad.

[TheWildJacko]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Very interesting! Regarding the AZ angle, I could be totally wrong on this (I hope not!) but I think Adia Barnes' Instagram story is likely completely unrelated to Rice or any specific recruit. My reasoning:

1) I agree with paloalto that Barnes is very unlikely to steal Rice's thunder re: the announcement.
2) Kortney Dunbar just joined AZ as recruiting director in August and posted the photo of herself on her own Instagram account, which Barnes then reposted. The photo looks like it was taken at an AZ WBB preseason event or photo shoot or something like that and they're introducing Dunbar to the fans.

Again I could be totally off the mark but that's what I'm thinking!

[TheWildJacko]

Kara Lawson UNFOLLOWED KiKi Rice on Instagram last night (ouch!). This would suggest Duke was notified of her decision to go elsewhere last night. I had anticipated Duke to be a very probable destination being a strong academic, “close to home” storyline with a like able, young coach seeking to return their program to prominence. Interesting. 

Meanwhile, Adia Barnes went on Instagram and started posting some cryptic, celebratory “story” of her recruiting coordinator with clapping/dancing hands. I consider Arizona to be the least likely destination of the 5 finalists. 

All so fascinating. Thankfully it’s over today.

Very interesting! Regarding the AZ angle, I could be totally wrong on this (I hope not!) but I think Adia Barnes' Instagram story is likely completely unrelated to Rice or any specific recruit. My reasoning:

1) I agree with paloalto that Barnes is very unlikely to steal Rice's thunder re: the announcement.
2) Kortney Dunbar just joined AZ as recruiting director in August and posted the photo of herself on her own Instagram account, which Barnes then reposted. The photo looks like it was taken at an AZ WBB preseason event or photo shoot or something like that and they're introducing Dunbar to the fans.

Again I could be totally off the mark but that's what I'm thinking!

[Softball Fan]

Also do you spend 50k+/year to send your kid to a private high school so she can attend a college with a 85% acceptance rate?  Maybe.

[Softball Fan]

Also do you spend 50k+/year to send your kid to a private high school so she can attend a college with a 85% acceptance rate?  Maybe.

[Hoops9092]

Also do you spend 50k+/year to send your kid to a private high school so she can attend a college with a 85% acceptance rate?  Maybe.

Ha! My thoughts as well. All roads here lead to Stanford with Duke out of the picture.

[Hoops9092]

Also do you spend 50k+/year to send your kid to a private high school so she can attend a college with a 85% acceptance rate?  Maybe.

Ha! My thoughts as well. All roads here lead to Stanford with Duke out of the picture.

[Hulk01]

I cannot conceive of a scenario, other than an admissions issue, that leads Rice anywhere but to Stanford.
Three West coast schools and three excellent schools make her five-school short list,
The defending national champs from a world famous university have a major vacancy at point guard, right now.
Throw in Stanford weather.

Come on, enough anguish:
book her.

[Hulk01]

I cannot conceive of a scenario, other than an admissions issue, that leads Rice anywhere but to Stanford.
Three West coast schools and three excellent schools make her five-school short list,
The defending national champs from a world famous university have a major vacancy at point guard, right now.
Throw in Stanford weather.

Come on, enough anguish:
book her.

[kat0189]

Nivar dropped UNC; down to NC State and Stanford:
https://twitter.com/raoul_000/status/145...06349?s=21

"...Nivar is faced with a tough final decision between the Wolfpack and the Cardinal that she’s examining from every angle: potential teammates, program history, campus vibes, academic options and much more."

I wonder if "potential teammate" Kiki Rice choosing Stanford helps or hinders chances with Nivar.

[kat0189]

Nivar dropped UNC; down to NC State and Stanford:
https://twitter.com/raoul_000/status/145...06349?s=21

"...Nivar is faced with a tough final decision between the Wolfpack and the Cardinal that she’s examining from every angle: potential teammates, program history, campus vibes, academic options and much more."

I wonder if "potential teammate" Kiki Rice choosing Stanford helps or hinders chances with Nivar.

[BobK]

I don’t doubt that Nivar is referring to Rice abd not committing herself until Rice does

[BobK]

I don’t doubt that Nivar is referring to Rice abd not committing herself until Rice does

[BosCard]

I don’t doubt that Nivar is referring to Rice abd not committing herself until Rice does

I am not sure that Nivar's decision is impacted by Rice's.  The NivarFam twitter account (Nivar's mother) liked Rice's announcement on twitter.  If Rice chooses Stanford, we still have a scholarship available for Nivar and she gets to play with a talented teammate.  If Rice goes elsewhere, we have a stronger need for guard recruits and more playing time is available.  Either way the situation should be attractive for Nivar.

[BosCard]

I don’t doubt that Nivar is referring to Rice abd not committing herself until Rice does

I am not sure that Nivar's decision is impacted by Rice's.  The NivarFam twitter account (Nivar's mother) liked Rice's announcement on twitter.  If Rice chooses Stanford, we still have a scholarship available for Nivar and she gets to play with a talented teammate.  If Rice goes elsewhere, we have a stronger need for guard recruits and more playing time is available.  Either way the situation should be attractive for Nivar.

[Hoops9092]

More sleuthing. 

UCLA Coach Cori Close "liked" Kiki's tweet from today reminding everyone of her announcement. Assuming Kiki informed all coaches of her decision yesterday, either Cori is the opposite of Kara (and will continue to cheer on Kiki) or she's the one that received some good news.

KiKi also posted a photo on her instagram of her in a UCLA jersey (like on her actual page) years ago (2019, including a photo with Coach Close), and never went as far to do that with any other squad.

Prior tweets (as in before yesterday) had likes from two of Arizona's coaches (Adia and Erin Grant) but they have since gone silent on twitter.

[Hoops9092]

More sleuthing. 

UCLA Coach Cori Close "liked" Kiki's tweet from today reminding everyone of her announcement. Assuming Kiki informed all coaches of her decision yesterday, either Cori is the opposite of Kara (and will continue to cheer on Kiki) or she's the one that received some good news.

KiKi also posted a photo on her instagram of her in a UCLA jersey (like on her actual page) years ago (2019, including a photo with Coach Close), and never went as far to do that with any other squad.

Prior tweets (as in before yesterday) had likes from two of Arizona's coaches (Adia and Erin Grant) but they have since gone silent on twitter.

[old spanish trail]

Unfortunately, for some time I've thought UCLA would be her choice. It's an excellent school, somewhat different vibe than the Farm, and she would be striking out a bit on her own. Close is a great coach and will be there for the next four years for sure. So...

[old spanish trail]

Unfortunately, for some time I've thought UCLA would be her choice. It's an excellent school, somewhat different vibe than the Farm, and she would be striking out a bit on her own. Close is a great coach and will be there for the next four years for sure. So...