[joemontes]

So, responding to my own question, with 2023 #1 overall 6'1 Judea WATKINS 
committing to USC, she will spearhead the following collection of
also-ranked players at USC next season:

USC:
#1   (2023) -  Judea WATKINS  6'1  SF/SG
#8   (2022) -  Aaliyah GAYLES  5'9  SG
#11 (2018) -  Kadi SISSOKO  6'2  SF/PF  (2022 transfer from Minnesota/Syracuse)
#21 (2021) -  Clarice OKUNWAFO  6'6  C
#27 (2021) -  Rhaya MARSHALL  6'4  PF
#29 (2021) -  Taylor BIGBY  6'1  SG  (2022 transfer from Oregon)
#49 (2023) -  Malia SAMUELS  5'6  PG
#63 (2019) -  Koi LOVE  6'0  SF/PF  (2022 transfer from Arizona/Vanderbilt)
#72 (2019) -  Kayla WILLIAMS  5'7  PG  (2022 transfer from UC Irvine)

At least, Stanford gets to compete against USC and WATKINS twice next season.
After that, off they go to the Big 10....pretty much and sadly, off to oblivion...

? Next season twice? I thought they and UCLA were gone after 2022-13

At any rate, wish we could have her

UCLA and USC will compete as part of the Big 10 starting with the 2024-2025 season.
So, yes, USC will still be part of Stanford's PAC 12 schedule twice next season.

---

Unless HIDALGO pulls a surprise and heads west to Northern California, 
I think the trio of #10 OGDEN, #37 AGARA and #39 CLARDY 
is pretty much it for Stanford's Class of 2023.

And unless Tara and company goes the international route again
to add to this 2023 recruiting class, we can look forward to 4 openings
for the Class of 2024 which, to me, is very promising for Stanford.

[joemontes]

So, responding to my own question, with 2023 #1 overall 6'1 Judea WATKINS 
committing to USC, she will spearhead the following collection of
also-ranked players at USC next season:

USC:
#1   (2023) -  Judea WATKINS  6'1  SF/SG
#8   (2022) -  Aaliyah GAYLES  5'9  SG
#11 (2018) -  Kadi SISSOKO  6'2  SF/PF  (2022 transfer from Minnesota/Syracuse)
#21 (2021) -  Clarice OKUNWAFO  6'6  C
#27 (2021) -  Rhaya MARSHALL  6'4  PF
#29 (2021) -  Taylor BIGBY  6'1  SG  (2022 transfer from Oregon)
#49 (2023) -  Malia SAMUELS  5'6  PG
#63 (2019) -  Koi LOVE  6'0  SF/PF  (2022 transfer from Arizona/Vanderbilt)
#72 (2019) -  Kayla WILLIAMS  5'7  PG  (2022 transfer from UC Irvine)

At least, Stanford gets to compete against USC and WATKINS twice next season.
After that, off they go to the Big 10....pretty much and sadly, off to oblivion...

? Next season twice? I thought they and UCLA were gone after 2022-13

At any rate, wish we could have her

UCLA and USC will compete as part of the Big 10 starting with the 2024-2025 season.
So, yes, USC will still be part of Stanford's PAC 12 schedule twice next season.

---

Unless HIDALGO pulls a surprise and heads west to Northern California, 
I think the trio of #10 OGDEN, #37 AGARA and #39 CLARDY 
is pretty much it for Stanford's Class of 2023.

And unless Tara and company goes the international route again
to add to this 2023 recruiting class, we can look forward to 4 openings
for the Class of 2024 which, to me, is very promising for Stanford.

[ca245]

Hoops9092 was right. The give-away was the new puppy. She wasn't going to leave it behind.

[ca245]

Hoops9092 was right. The give-away was the new puppy. She wasn't going to leave it behind.

[81alum]

At least, Stanford gets to compete against USC and WATKINS twice next season.
After that, off they go to the Big 10....pretty much and sadly, off to oblivion...

? Next season twice? I thought they and UCLA were gone after 2022-13

At any rate, wish we could have her

USC and UCLA, barring the UC Regents taking adverse action on UCLA's move, join the Big Ten conference 1 August 2024 after the current Pac-12 media agreement expires.  So the teams will play in the Pac-12 for the 23/24 season.

And with the way transfers are going, she could stay at home for a year or two and then transfer somewhere else when USC starts all the death-flights on a weekly basis going back and forth the country so its WBB team can play in the Big 10.  The decision is clearly no longer a 4 year decision, in any case, and playing in the Big 10 is the opposite of staying home.

[81alum]

At least, Stanford gets to compete against USC and WATKINS twice next season.
After that, off they go to the Big 10....pretty much and sadly, off to oblivion...

? Next season twice? I thought they and UCLA were gone after 2022-13

At any rate, wish we could have her

USC and UCLA, barring the UC Regents taking adverse action on UCLA's move, join the Big Ten conference 1 August 2024 after the current Pac-12 media agreement expires.  So the teams will play in the Pac-12 for the 23/24 season.

And with the way transfers are going, she could stay at home for a year or two and then transfer somewhere else when USC starts all the death-flights on a weekly basis going back and forth the country so its WBB team can play in the Big 10.  The decision is clearly no longer a 4 year decision, in any case, and playing in the Big 10 is the opposite of staying home.

[jonnyss]

And with the way transfers are going, she could stay at home for a year or two and then transfer somewhere else when USC starts all the death-flights on a weekly basis going back and forth the country so its WBB team can play in the Big 10.  The decision is clearly no longer a 4 year decision, in any case, and playing in the Big 10 is the opposite of staying home.

true for away games, but she can drive over for dinner the rest of the school year and her family can drive same evening to half her games instead of none.

[jonnyss]

And with the way transfers are going, she could stay at home for a year or two and then transfer somewhere else when USC starts all the death-flights on a weekly basis going back and forth the country so its WBB team can play in the Big 10.  The decision is clearly no longer a 4 year decision, in any case, and playing in the Big 10 is the opposite of staying home.

true for away games, but she can drive over for dinner the rest of the school year and her family can drive same evening to half her games instead of none.

[BobK]

Plus one more game when usc plays at ucla

[BobK]

Plus one more game when usc plays at ucla

[CompSci87]

My hope is that Hannah Jump stays for her 5th year. 
Wagner will enroll at Oregon in January
Later today I’ll delete those 2023s no longer possible.
Remind me of possible 2026s please

Bob, please don't delete them. I'll start a new thread instead and omit them from it, like I did last year.

[CompSci87]

My hope is that Hannah Jump stays for her 5th year. 
Wagner will enroll at Oregon in January
Later today I’ll delete those 2023s no longer possible.
Remind me of possible 2026s please

Bob, please don't delete them. I'll start a new thread instead and omit them from it, like I did last year.

[BostonCard]

Unless HIDALGO pulls a surprise and heads west to Northern California, 
I think the trio of #10 OGDEN, #37 AGARA and #39 CLARDY 
is pretty much it for Stanford's Class of 2023.

And unless Tara and company goes the international route again
to add to this 2023 recruiting class, we can look forward to 4 openings
for the Class of 2024 which, to me, is very promising for Stanford.

2023 started very promising for Stanford as well.  Look at the "no longer possible" list for Stanford at the top of this thread... at this time last year, all of the following were considering Stanford
#1 Juju Watkins
#5 Hannah Hidalgo
#8 Montaya Dew
#10 Courtney Ogden
#15 Ashlynn Shade

It would have been an unbelievable 5 top-15 players.  Of course, not all were truly possible, but still, my point remains that one year before signing day, the sky is the limit.  But, FWIW, we are looking at the following top 15:

#1 Joyce Edwards
#9 Allie Ziebell
#10 Bianca Thomas
#14 Jordan Lee
#15 Toby Fournier

which looks comparable to what we were looking at this time last year.

BC

[BostonCard]

Unless HIDALGO pulls a surprise and heads west to Northern California, 
I think the trio of #10 OGDEN, #37 AGARA and #39 CLARDY 
is pretty much it for Stanford's Class of 2023.

And unless Tara and company goes the international route again
to add to this 2023 recruiting class, we can look forward to 4 openings
for the Class of 2024 which, to me, is very promising for Stanford.

2023 started very promising for Stanford as well.  Look at the "no longer possible" list for Stanford at the top of this thread... at this time last year, all of the following were considering Stanford
#1 Juju Watkins
#5 Hannah Hidalgo
#8 Montaya Dew
#10 Courtney Ogden
#15 Ashlynn Shade

It would have been an unbelievable 5 top-15 players.  Of course, not all were truly possible, but still, my point remains that one year before signing day, the sky is the limit.  But, FWIW, we are looking at the following top 15:

#1 Joyce Edwards
#9 Allie Ziebell
#10 Bianca Thomas
#14 Jordan Lee
#15 Toby Fournier

which looks comparable to what we were looking at this time last year.

BC

[BobK]

My hope is that Hannah Jump stays for her 5th year. 
Wagner will enroll at Oregon in January
Later today I’ll delete those 2023s no longer possible.
Remind me of possible 2026s please

Bob, please don't delete them. I'll start a new thread instead and omit them from it, like I did last year.

Thanks comp sci. All yours and thank you

[BobK]

My hope is that Hannah Jump stays for her 5th year. 
Wagner will enroll at Oregon in January
Later today I’ll delete those 2023s no longer possible.
Remind me of possible 2026s please

Bob, please don't delete them. I'll start a new thread instead and omit them from it, like I did last year.

Thanks comp sci. All yours and thank you

[chimera]

Good luck to Watkins at USC.  Can't ever fault someone for a personal decision like this.  I would assume it is mostly that she wanted to stay near home.  Maybe some NIL involved?  LA being home and being a place with many NIL opportunities couldn't hurt.  I do hope it works out for her.  USC has not done well for several years, is going to the Big 10 where travel will be a royal pain even if they charter, and has been a revolving door of transfers in and out.  Gottlieb did ok at cal for a while but ran that program into the ground.  There is no evidence she can build up a program to the level a talent like Watkins deserves.  But we shall see.  Maybe this commitment will be the start of something big for them.  Only one in this class so it may take a while.  Be a shame if Watkins doesn't get to play in the NCAAs or get far in them in her career there, but that is a real possibility.  Of course these days she could just transfer if things don't go well.  

We only have them in conference one year when she will be there I think.  I would assume we would play them non-conference often though.  That would make sense for both teams.

[chimera]

Good luck to Watkins at USC.  Can't ever fault someone for a personal decision like this.  I would assume it is mostly that she wanted to stay near home.  Maybe some NIL involved?  LA being home and being a place with many NIL opportunities couldn't hurt.  I do hope it works out for her.  USC has not done well for several years, is going to the Big 10 where travel will be a royal pain even if they charter, and has been a revolving door of transfers in and out.  Gottlieb did ok at cal for a while but ran that program into the ground.  There is no evidence she can build up a program to the level a talent like Watkins deserves.  But we shall see.  Maybe this commitment will be the start of something big for them.  Only one in this class so it may take a while.  Be a shame if Watkins doesn't get to play in the NCAAs or get far in them in her career there, but that is a real possibility.  Of course these days she could just transfer if things don't go well.  

We only have them in conference one year when she will be there I think.  I would assume we would play them non-conference often though.  That would make sense for both teams.

[Card10Fan]

I was more bummed when Rice chose UCLA than Watkins today. Simply because we knew how much academics mattered to her and she seemed like our type of recruit up and down. With Watkins, it was much less clear. How good is USC going to be with her? I mean their ceiling is just not that high with their current roster and level of recruiting.

[Card10Fan]

I was more bummed when Rice chose UCLA than Watkins today. Simply because we knew how much academics mattered to her and she seemed like our type of recruit up and down. With Watkins, it was much less clear. How good is USC going to be with her? I mean their ceiling is just not that high with their current roster and level of recruiting.

[BostonCard]

Minutes away from Hidalgo's announcement...

BC

[BostonCard]

Minutes away from Hidalgo's announcement...

BC

[triangle2]

Also a good reminder that this year’s and next year’s teams are very deep rosters. As in, 1994-95 deep. And we remember how loaded those pre-Olympics teams were.

It’s been a long time since we had a second team who could win a Sweet Sixteen game.

[triangle2]

Also a good reminder that this year’s and next year’s teams are very deep rosters. As in, 1994-95 deep. And we remember how loaded those pre-Olympics teams were.

It’s been a long time since we had a second team who could win a Sweet Sixteen game.

[Hoops9092]

Hidalgo commits to Notre Dame

[Hoops9092]

Hidalgo commits to Notre Dame

[Jskass]

Waste of a day. Good news is maybe we get another year of one or two seniors.

[Jskass]

Waste of a day. Good news is maybe we get another year of one or two seniors.

[BobK]

0 for 2. Such is life moving on.
I thought ND

[BobK]

0 for 2. Such is life moving on.
I thought ND

[joemontes]

Hidalgo commits to Notre Dame

Congratulations to Hannah and Notre Dame! 

I had a very strong inkling about this, coming from her 
"God first and foremost" persuasion in her twitter posts.
Given this, Notre Dame is the perfect environment 
for her overall university experience.

With this coupled with the earlier commit from #16 PROSPER
two days ago, Notre Dame comes out of nowhere
to forge a tie with Arizona for the 2023 #2 recruiting class.

Final Standings of Top 10 Recruiting Classes for 2023:

#1)  LSU:
02  (98)  -  Mikayla WILLIAMS   6'1  SG
07  (97)  -  Aaliyah del ROSARIO  6'5  C
44  (94)  -  Angelica VELEZ   5'7  PG
73  (93)  -  Janae KENT   6'1  SF

#T2) Arizona:
08 (97)  -  Montaya DEW   6'2  PF
14 (96)  -  Breya CUNNINGHAM   6'4  C
21 (96)  -  Jada WILLIAMS   5'7  PG

#T2) Notre Dame:
05 (97)  -  Hannah HIDALGO  5'6  PG
16 (96)  -  Cassandra PROSPER  6'2  PF
20 (96)  -  Emma RISCH  6'1  SG

#T4)  Duke:  
03 (97)  -  Jadyn DONOVAN  6'1  SG
27 (95)  -  Oluchi OKUNANWA  5'9  SG
29 (95)  -  Delaney THOMAS  6'2  PF

#T4)  South Carolina:  
13 (96)  -  Milaysia FULWILEY  5'6  PG
17 (96)  -  Chloe KITTS  6'2  PF
25 (95)  -  Tessa JOHNSON  5'10  SG
40 (94)  -  Sahnya JAH  6'1  SF

#T4)  UConn:
06  (97)  -  Kamorea ARNOLD   5'9  PG
15  (96)  -  Ashlynn SHADE   5'10  SG
41  (94)  -  Qadence SAMUELS   6'2  PF

#7)  Stanford:  
10  (97)  -  Courtney OGDEN   6'1  SF
37  (95)  -  Sunaja AGARA   6'2  PF
39  (94)  -  Chloe CLARDY   5'9  SG

#8)  North Carolina:  
04  (97)  -  Cierra TOOMEY  6'3   C
30  (95)  -  Reniya KELLY  5'5  PG 
90  (92)  -  Rylee GRAYS  6'3  C

#9)  NC State:
09  (97)  -  Zoe BROOKS  5'10  SG
55  (93)  -  Mallory COLLIER  6'3  C
56  (93)  -  Laci STEELE  5'11  SG
71  (93)  -  Maddie COX  6'2  PF

#10) USC:
01  (98)  -  Judea WATKINS  6'0  SG
49  (94)  -  Malia SAMUELS  5'6  PG

[joemontes]

Hidalgo commits to Notre Dame

Congratulations to Hannah and Notre Dame! 

I had a very strong inkling about this, coming from her 
"God first and foremost" persuasion in her twitter posts.
Given this, Notre Dame is the perfect environment 
for her overall university experience.

With this coupled with the earlier commit from #16 PROSPER
two days ago, Notre Dame comes out of nowhere
to forge a tie with Arizona for the 2023 #2 recruiting class.

Final Standings of Top 10 Recruiting Classes for 2023:

#1)  LSU:
02  (98)  -  Mikayla WILLIAMS   6'1  SG
07  (97)  -  Aaliyah del ROSARIO  6'5  C
44  (94)  -  Angelica VELEZ   5'7  PG
73  (93)  -  Janae KENT   6'1  SF

#T2) Arizona:
08 (97)  -  Montaya DEW   6'2  PF
14 (96)  -  Breya CUNNINGHAM   6'4  C
21 (96)  -  Jada WILLIAMS   5'7  PG

#T2) Notre Dame:
05 (97)  -  Hannah HIDALGO  5'6  PG
16 (96)  -  Cassandra PROSPER  6'2  PF
20 (96)  -  Emma RISCH  6'1  SG

#T4)  Duke:  
03 (97)  -  Jadyn DONOVAN  6'1  SG
27 (95)  -  Oluchi OKUNANWA  5'9  SG
29 (95)  -  Delaney THOMAS  6'2  PF

#T4)  South Carolina:  
13 (96)  -  Milaysia FULWILEY  5'6  PG
17 (96)  -  Chloe KITTS  6'2  PF
25 (95)  -  Tessa JOHNSON  5'10  SG
40 (94)  -  Sahnya JAH  6'1  SF

#T4)  UConn:
06  (97)  -  Kamorea ARNOLD   5'9  PG
15  (96)  -  Ashlynn SHADE   5'10  SG
41  (94)  -  Qadence SAMUELS   6'2  PF

#7)  Stanford:  
10  (97)  -  Courtney OGDEN   6'1  SF
37  (95)  -  Sunaja AGARA   6'2  PF
39  (94)  -  Chloe CLARDY   5'9  SG

#8)  North Carolina:  
04  (97)  -  Cierra TOOMEY  6'3   C
30  (95)  -  Reniya KELLY  5'5  PG 
90  (92)  -  Rylee GRAYS  6'3  C

#9)  NC State:
09  (97)  -  Zoe BROOKS  5'10  SG
55  (93)  -  Mallory COLLIER  6'3  C
56  (93)  -  Laci STEELE  5'11  SG
71  (93)  -  Maddie COX  6'2  PF

#10) USC:
01  (98)  -  Judea WATKINS  6'0  SG
49  (94)  -  Malia SAMUELS  5'6  PG

[81alum]

I do wonder if Tara will have a surprise up her sleeve, or else why has our annual announcement of the incoming class been delayed?  Could it be that Watkins and Hidalgo did not communicate their decisions in advance to the coaches?

[81alum]

I do wonder if Tara will have a surprise up her sleeve, or else why has our annual announcement of the incoming class been delayed?  Could it be that Watkins and Hidalgo did not communicate their decisions in advance to the coaches?

[chimera]

I am ok with losing these two recruits.  Of course they would have been great additions, but we have such a deep, young team.  The class just signed is very good as well.  If one or two of the seniors wants to stay a year, that would be fantastic.  Save the scholarships for 2024, otherwise, I hope.  Unless there is an amazing player they can get to sign in the spring, even out the classes a bit and try for a great 2024 class.  I never got the sense Hidalgo was coming our way.  Not surprised at her choice.

[chimera]

I am ok with losing these two recruits.  Of course they would have been great additions, but we have such a deep, young team.  The class just signed is very good as well.  If one or two of the seniors wants to stay a year, that would be fantastic.  Save the scholarships for 2024, otherwise, I hope.  Unless there is an amazing player they can get to sign in the spring, even out the classes a bit and try for a great 2024 class.  I never got the sense Hidalgo was coming our way.  Not surprised at her choice.

[Deejaatee]

Neither of these decisions surprises me. Watkins staying close to home. I like her choice of USC over UCLA. Better fit in playing style with Gottlieb as coach. And just seeing the transfers USC has brought in this year, suggests to me that Lindsey will bring in the players she needs to surround Watkins. 

As someone else posted here, Hidalgo to ND also makes sense given her faith, and opportunity to play close to home. And she know the responsibility given to a scoring PG by Ivey, as she can see what Miles is allowed to do. 

So good for each of them. 

I am excited to see what we get with Ogden, specifically. Let's not forget she is the #10 ranked player in this class. And with the growth of Agara in size, she should bring some Belibi type toughness in a larger body. And we get another combo guard with a quick and powerful approach (similar to Nivar) in Clardy that can shoot at all 3 levels. 

WIth the rest of the team already in place, I think we are set for the next few years with these 3 coming onboard.

[Deejaatee]

Neither of these decisions surprises me. Watkins staying close to home. I like her choice of USC over UCLA. Better fit in playing style with Gottlieb as coach. And just seeing the transfers USC has brought in this year, suggests to me that Lindsey will bring in the players she needs to surround Watkins. 

As someone else posted here, Hidalgo to ND also makes sense given her faith, and opportunity to play close to home. And she know the responsibility given to a scoring PG by Ivey, as she can see what Miles is allowed to do. 

So good for each of them. 

I am excited to see what we get with Ogden, specifically. Let's not forget she is the #10 ranked player in this class. And with the growth of Agara in size, she should bring some Belibi type toughness in a larger body. And we get another combo guard with a quick and powerful approach (similar to Nivar) in Clardy that can shoot at all 3 levels. 

WIth the rest of the team already in place, I think we are set for the next few years with these 3 coming onboard.

[BobK]

Other than Lindsay isn't much of a coach, see cal now 3 years later. Still nice post Deejaatee

[BobK]

Other than Lindsay isn't much of a coach, see cal now 3 years later. Still nice post Deejaatee