[BillBradley]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

[BillBradley]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

[Card10Fan]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

Agreed she will have to earn her starting spot. However, Betts is in the same recruiting tier as Haley Jones and Cameron Brink were. Elite and top level. Both Jones and Brink were eventually starters their freshman seasons. We are incredibly deep.

[Card10Fan]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

Agreed she will have to earn her starting spot. However, Betts is in the same recruiting tier as Haley Jones and Cameron Brink were. Elite and top level. Both Jones and Brink were eventually starters their freshman seasons. We are incredibly deep.

[joemontes]

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

That is very true...most likely BETTS will come off the bench, at least during the OOC schedule of Stanford to start next season...

When you think about it, when was the last time a Stanford team (or any college team, for that matter) assembled FIVE (5) POST C/PF players who were former McDonalds All-Americans, which Stanford will have next season with seniors BELIBI and PRECHTEL, junior BRINK, sophomore IRIAFEN and freshman BETTS?

The closest thing would be in the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 season when Stanford had FOUR (4) POST C/PF former McD AAs in its line-up (and all of them were Top 10 players as well):

2009-2010 season:  APPEL (#3 in 2006) ; PEDERSEN (#4 in 2007)  Nneka OGWUMIKE (#6 in 2008) ; TINKLE (#10 in 2009)

2010-2011 season:  PEDERSEN (#4 in 2007)  Nneka OGWUMIKE (#6 in 2008) ; TINKLE (#10 in 2009) ; Chiney OGWUMIKE (#1 in 2010)

Potentially the 1994-1995 season, when Stanford had seniors Anita KAPLAN and Rachel HEMMER, as well as freshmen Kristin FOLKL, Olympia SCOTT, Naomi MULITAUAOPELE, Heather OWEN and even seldom-used Chandra BENTON (who was the top Oregon HS player of 1994), although I cannot find any online records of McD AA girls teams in 1991 and 1994...

No wonder, all those three past teams reached the Final Four! 


Speaking of BETTS, there is one thing, though, that I think sets her apart from BELIBI, PRECHTEL, BRINK and IRIAFEN, which is why she was ordained the undisputed #1 recruit in the nation - she really is an immovable force inside the lane, and her offensive moves around the basket is so fundamentally sound because she really knows how to engage herself into a squared and totally balanced position. I saw this in full display during the 2020 U19 Worlds where she dominated the bigs of the other countries. And it definitely helps that she is 6'7 with long arms....

When I was watching video clips of 6'6 Ayoka LEE score 61 points last week, mostly around and under the basket versus undersized defenders, the first thing that entered my mind was "Wow, this is a preview of what Lauren BETTS can do for Stanford as early as her sophomore year..."

[joemontes]

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

That is very true...most likely BETTS will come off the bench, at least during the OOC schedule of Stanford to start next season...

When you think about it, when was the last time a Stanford team (or any college team, for that matter) assembled FIVE (5) POST C/PF players who were former McDonalds All-Americans, which Stanford will have next season with seniors BELIBI and PRECHTEL, junior BRINK, sophomore IRIAFEN and freshman BETTS?

The closest thing would be in the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 season when Stanford had FOUR (4) POST C/PF former McD AAs in its line-up (and all of them were Top 10 players as well):

2009-2010 season:  APPEL (#3 in 2006) ; PEDERSEN (#4 in 2007)  Nneka OGWUMIKE (#6 in 2008) ; TINKLE (#10 in 2009)

2010-2011 season:  PEDERSEN (#4 in 2007)  Nneka OGWUMIKE (#6 in 2008) ; TINKLE (#10 in 2009) ; Chiney OGWUMIKE (#1 in 2010)

Potentially the 1994-1995 season, when Stanford had seniors Anita KAPLAN and Rachel HEMMER, as well as freshmen Kristin FOLKL, Olympia SCOTT, Naomi MULITAUAOPELE, Heather OWEN and even seldom-used Chandra BENTON (who was the top Oregon HS player of 1994), although I cannot find any online records of McD AA girls teams in 1991 and 1994...

No wonder, all those three past teams reached the Final Four! 


Speaking of BETTS, there is one thing, though, that I think sets her apart from BELIBI, PRECHTEL, BRINK and IRIAFEN, which is why she was ordained the undisputed #1 recruit in the nation - she really is an immovable force inside the lane, and her offensive moves around the basket is so fundamentally sound because she really knows how to engage herself into a squared and totally balanced position. I saw this in full display during the 2020 U19 Worlds where she dominated the bigs of the other countries. And it definitely helps that she is 6'7 with long arms....

When I was watching video clips of 6'6 Ayoka LEE score 61 points last week, mostly around and under the basket versus undersized defenders, the first thing that entered my mind was "Wow, this is a preview of what Lauren BETTS can do for Stanford as early as her sophomore year..."

[2006alum]

I agree that Betts will need time to adjust to college and to Tara's expectations on defense, for sure. But Betts will not be your average freshman post. She tore up the U19 and many of her teammates were college players. A mobile 6'7" post with insane wing span and quick feet is just such a rarity. And as Joe said, she is deft around the paint and squares off so well. I much more impressed with her U19 performance than Brink's and they were comparably among the youngest and least experienced on their respective teams... And we all know how good Brink is!

[2006alum]

I agree that Betts will need time to adjust to college and to Tara's expectations on defense, for sure. But Betts will not be your average freshman post. She tore up the U19 and many of her teammates were college players. A mobile 6'7" post with insane wing span and quick feet is just such a rarity. And as Joe said, she is deft around the paint and squares off so well. I much more impressed with her U19 performance than Brink's and they were comparably among the youngest and least experienced on their respective teams... And we all know how good Brink is!

[WBB fan]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

Tara has started very, very few frosh bigs at the beginning of the season, though some broke in quite soon. For example, Brink last year. I know that Nneka did not start her freshman year, but she had Appel ahead of her (who had also not started much if at all her frosh year). Not sure about Chiney, though she was starting later in the year. Just can't remember if it was at the beginning. Rachael Hemmer and Kayla Pederson did start from day one, but Val Whiting did not. She never started her freshman year, but she was still national freshman of the year.
And then there was Kristen Folkl, who, IIRC correctly, never started, just Tara's thing about the fact that she was only a "part-time" player. Of course, she did wind up being a 1st team All American for both Volleyball and Basketball, but she didn't start, as least definitely during her 1st year.

[WBB fan]

Dodson also has figured out something at N.D. She is averaging 12.6 pts per game this season with double digit scoring in seven of her last eight games and going over 20 points four times this season.

One difference for Dodson is that ND has a brutally short rotation; as a result, she’s getting to take lot of shots. As an example, she jacked up 22 shots in their loss to Duke. It looks like she’s thriving on a team that needs to use her as a one of 2-3 primary scoring options. Realistically, Stanford wasn’t ever going to be a team that needed that many shots from her. Perhaps her shot selection has also improved. I always got the sense that the Stanford coaches got frustrated when she took shots outside of her spots.

Glad Dodson is doing well at another school.  We just have so many talented low post players and Dodson would have been 4th in the depth chart behind Brink, Belibi and Iriafen.  We use Prechtel more as a wing on offense so I’m not including her.

And to that point, I think it's a bit premature to anoint Betts a starter - even as the #1 in the class. She will be competing against the senior versions of Belibi and Prechtel, the junior version of Brink, and the sophomore version of Kiki. That's a lot of experience from some national championship caliber players for an incoming freshman to dislodge. Strength/conditioning, pace of play, mastering the sets - it's so different than high school or AAU. Plus, Tara isn't going to just start her from day 1 - she will have to beat out the players ahead of her. As a reference point, Kiki and Demetre are damn good and they are averaging ~6 minutes a game as freshmen. Deep, deep team.

Tara has started very, very few frosh bigs at the beginning of the season, though some broke in quite soon. For example, Brink last year. I know that Nneka did not start her freshman year, but she had Appel ahead of her (who had also not started much if at all her frosh year). Not sure about Chiney, though she was starting later in the year. Just can't remember if it was at the beginning. Rachael Hemmer and Kayla Pederson did start from day one, but Val Whiting did not. She never started her freshman year, but she was still national freshman of the year.
And then there was Kristen Folkl, who, IIRC correctly, never started, just Tara's thing about the fact that she was only a "part-time" player. Of course, she did wind up being a 1st team All American for both Volleyball and Basketball, but she didn't start, as least definitely during her 1st year.

[BillBradley]

She's crazy good, for sure and obviously will be an incredible player for us over time. I'm really excited she's coming to The Farm and I'm not "down on her" at all. 

I've only seen a few of the U19 games on YouTube, but honestly she didn't wow me to the point where I think she's going to move into the starting lineup her freshman year. As a benchmark, I  don't think the 19 year old international competition is close to what it will be like to play against her Stanford teammates who are older and way more experienced.

She is big and strong with great hands and is very mobile, but doesn't stack up in a lot of ways to Cam and Fran (speed, dribble attack, defense mainly). In fact, in a few of the U19 games I watched, players often dribbled right by her. Highly doubtful she's received the top tier defensive coaching that the Stanford veterans have. I could see her stepping on the court to guard Cam or Fran and doing just fine in back to the basket, low block defensive post drills. But she would likely get torched guarding them at the high post or keeping up in transition. Prechtel is becoming more of a specialist to stretch the court for us, so not a great comparison there. Her game seems most similar to Kiki's, albeit bigger and longer. 

Her length and size are the main differentiators for her. I could see her dominating against other smaller, thicker posts where Cam or Fran can't move them. She also might be best suited to guard other big low block players like Aliyah Boston where the others can't. For sure, she could be an impact player in certain situations.

[BillBradley]

She's crazy good, for sure and obviously will be an incredible player for us over time. I'm really excited she's coming to The Farm and I'm not "down on her" at all. 

I've only seen a few of the U19 games on YouTube, but honestly she didn't wow me to the point where I think she's going to move into the starting lineup her freshman year. As a benchmark, I  don't think the 19 year old international competition is close to what it will be like to play against her Stanford teammates who are older and way more experienced.

She is big and strong with great hands and is very mobile, but doesn't stack up in a lot of ways to Cam and Fran (speed, dribble attack, defense mainly). In fact, in a few of the U19 games I watched, players often dribbled right by her. Highly doubtful she's received the top tier defensive coaching that the Stanford veterans have. I could see her stepping on the court to guard Cam or Fran and doing just fine in back to the basket, low block defensive post drills. But she would likely get torched guarding them at the high post or keeping up in transition. Prechtel is becoming more of a specialist to stretch the court for us, so not a great comparison there. Her game seems most similar to Kiki's, albeit bigger and longer. 

Her length and size are the main differentiators for her. I could see her dominating against other smaller, thicker posts where Cam or Fran can't move them. She also might be best suited to guard other big low block players like Aliyah Boston where the others can't. For sure, she could be an impact player in certain situations.

[TheFarm07]

In any case, I think we will have the best and deepest frontcourt in the country next season. Brink, Belibi, Prechtel, Iriafen and then you add in Betts and Tara will have five players with different skill sets that she can mix and match depending on who we play. When you give a coach like Tara that many options to work with, as a fan, you just sit back and enjoy.

[TheFarm07]

In any case, I think we will have the best and deepest frontcourt in the country next season. Brink, Belibi, Prechtel, Iriafen and then you add in Betts and Tara will have five players with different skill sets that she can mix and match depending on who we play. When you give a coach like Tara that many options to work with, as a fan, you just sit back and enjoy.

[jonnyss]

espn article praises katie fiso '24 from the state of washington; doesn't mention stanford but does say she has an offer from harvard, implying strong academics.

video

[jonnyss]

espn article praises katie fiso '24 from the state of washington; doesn't mention stanford but does say she has an offer from harvard, implying strong academics.

video

[BobK]

Thanks John I added her

[BobK]

Thanks John I added her

[mbdude]

More on Fiso. already quite a few offers
Katie Fiso - PG - 2024 - EliteisEarned

[mbdude]

More on Fiso. already quite a few offers
Katie Fiso - PG - 2024 - EliteisEarned

[PalmTree]

More on Fiso. already quite a few offers
Katie Fiso - PG - 2024 - EliteisEarned

Agree she looks/sounds like a great player but it would seem a <little> awkward for us to jump in with an offer at this point when other schools offered well over a year ago - it's not like she was an unknown quantity all this time.  But that's just MHO on the morning after a nightmare 4 hour commute home last night.

[PalmTree]

More on Fiso. already quite a few offers
Katie Fiso - PG - 2024 - EliteisEarned

Agree she looks/sounds like a great player but it would seem a <little> awkward for us to jump in with an offer at this point when other schools offered well over a year ago - it's not like she was an unknown quantity all this time.  But that's just MHO on the morning after a nightmare 4 hour commute home last night.

[TheFarm07]

ESPN has an article up today that mentions Katie Fiso as a prospect who improved their stock this season. It doesn't mention Stanford as a possible destination.

However, we are listed as a suitor (as well as nearly every other Pac-12 school) for freshman (Class of '25) W/F Jasmine Davidson

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bask...cks-season

[TheFarm07]

ESPN has an article up today that mentions Katie Fiso as a prospect who improved their stock this season. It doesn't mention Stanford as a possible destination.

However, we are listed as a suitor (as well as nearly every other Pac-12 school) for freshman (Class of '25) W/F Jasmine Davidson

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bask...cks-season

[BobK]

As noted on our list Jazzy Davidson has visited Stanford.

[BobK]

As noted on our list Jazzy Davidson has visited Stanford.

[jonnyss]

katie fiso has grown to 6'0"

[jonnyss]

katie fiso has grown to 6'0"

[Grad Fan]

We look to be in pretty good shape with Davidson as her ‘dream’ school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5y8uRxp6KQ

[Grad Fan]

We look to be in pretty good shape with Davidson as her ‘dream’ school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5y8uRxp6KQ

[BobK]

Thank you Grad Fan. Great news great player

[BobK]

Thank you Grad Fan. Great news great player

[jonnyss]

anyone know if we still have a chance with juju watkins?

link

[jonnyss]

anyone know if we still have a chance with juju watkins?

link

[BobK]

https://usatodayhss.com/2022/klutch-sign...ale-client

A more detailed story

[BobK]

https://usatodayhss.com/2022/klutch-sign...ale-client

A more detailed story

[TheFarm07]

anyone know if we still have a chance with juju watkins?

link

From BobK's article, she said she hasn't narrowed down her choices yet, so it might be a while before she makes a decision. I hope we still do

[TheFarm07]

anyone know if we still have a chance with juju watkins?

link

From BobK's article, she said she hasn't narrowed down her choices yet, so it might be a while before she makes a decision. I hope we still do

[mbdude]

We look to be in pretty good shape with Davidson as her ‘dream’ school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5y8uRxp6KQ

Reminds one of Haley Jones, albeit left-handed

[mbdude]

We look to be in pretty good shape with Davidson as her ‘dream’ school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5y8uRxp6KQ

Reminds one of Haley Jones, albeit left-handed