Do We Change Recruting Strategies for the Women Now?

[spongeandshoot]

My fear is that now that WSU is going to get more looks from American players, we abandon the international recruiting strategies.

I sure hope not.

During this tournament, I saw quite a few musical chairs with players swapping teams.

We didn't have that problem.

We had a cohesiveness that you just don't see in sport anymore...and I think that is because we had so many international players and it created a bond because they are all new...they are all in the same boat...they are all far from home etc.

I think if we get more American players here, they are more likely to transfer if they don't get what they want right away.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

My fear is that now that WSU is going to get more looks from American players, we abandon the international recruiting strategies.

I sure hope not.

During this tournament, I saw quite a few musical chairs with players swapping teams.

We didn't have that problem.

We had a cohesiveness that you just don't see in sport anymore...and I think that is because we had so many international players and it created a bond because they are all new...they are all in the same boat...they are all far from home etc.

I think if we get more American players here, they are more likely to transfer if they don't get what they want right away.

Just my 2 cents.

Nope. Just give Kamie more money. Let her keep doing what she's doing. If the American players want to come here fine. Otherwise, 8 nations on the team works for me. And they all appear to love being Cougs. Did ya see the tweet from Shania Twain that she is in Switzerland and couldn't make it, but would be watching the game? I read that she is in Spokane on April 28 (?). Wouldn't it be cool if the team got to go up there and meet her? Maybe sing that song on stage?

 

[SaveFerris]

I would doubt the strategy changes although the base talent level should continue to grow. Ethridge has called the program a "development program" and gone on to say they are looking for players to grow and develop over time. However, she's also said they hope to get more attention from American players as well. The last 2 cycles that's been the case. Gardner/Glazier last class and 3 next year in Villa/Covill/Kpetikou although Kpetikou is from Niger with a similar path as Bella (Rwanda to Idaho).

I totally agree on international players being a big part of the recruiting foundation. Their motivations for coming to the US are probably a bit different in a lot of cases than American athletes. They aren't nearly as concerned with Pullman being Pullman. Biggest thing is stability has been a crucial part of their success. International players transfer, but my bet is the rate is a bit less than Americans.

 

[spongeandshoot]

Nope. Just give Kamie more money. Let her keep doing what she's doing. If the American players want to come here fine. Otherwise, 8 nations on the team works for me. And they all appear to love being Cougs. Did ya see the tweet from Shania Twain that she is in Switzerland and couldn't make it, but would be watching the game? I read that she is in Spokane on April 28 (?). Wouldn't it be cool if the team got to go up there and meet her? Maybe sing that song on stage?

That would be cool.

She really needs to sing Man...I feel like a Cougar.

That would go viral

 

[spongeandshoot]

I would doubt the strategy changes although the base talent level should continue to grow. Ethridge has called the program a "development program" and gone on to say they are looking for players to grow and develop over time. However, she's also said they hope to get more attention from American players as well. The last 2 cycles that's been the case. Gardner/Glazier last class and 3 next year in Villa/Covill/Kpetikou although Kpetikou is from Niger with a similar path as Bella (Rwanda to Idaho).

I totally agree on international players being a big part of the recruiting foundation. Their motivations for coming to the US are probably a bit different in a lot of cases than American athletes. They aren't nearly as concerned with Pullman being Pullman. Biggest thing is stability has been a crucial part of their success. International players transfer, but my bet is the rate is a bit less than Americans.

Yeah I didn't get to watch as much ball this year as I would like. For some reason, the women weren't on Pac 12 International that much this year. I used to always get their games down here.

So I was astsounded when I watched the Pac 12 tourney and would see a player and was like wait a minute...you were just on another Pac 12 team last year!

In any event, I sure hope we keep the international flavor.

I think the community and family feel in Pullman helps them adapt as opposed to going to a commuter school

 

[SaveFerris]

Yeah I didn't get to watch as much ball this year as I would like. For some reason, the women weren't on Pac 12 International that much this year. I used to always get their games down here.

So I was astsounded when I watched the Pac 12 tourney and would see a player and was like wait a minute...you were just on another Pac 12 team last year!

In any event, I sure hope we keep the international flavor.

I think the community and family feel in Pullman helps them adapt as opposed to going to a commuter school

The in-and-outs within the conference in terms of transfers last year was incredibly high. WSU and Stanford are the only programs who seems able to keep their roster intact season-over-season. Turnover is the new norm, so hopefully we are able to keep it up. Leger-Walker is obviously as talented as anyone in the conference, but we have won with IQ, toughness, and chemistry. This year we added a greater level of experience. I have to think that continues to be the recipe moving forward for recruiting. It only takes 1 or 2 stinkers to cause some havoc with culture.

I really think the character piece is a big part of their recruiting strategy whether it's international or American players.

 

[Observer11]

That would be cool.

She really needs to sing Man...I feel like a Cougar.

That would go viral

RAHR.

That's hot.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

My fear is that now that WSU is going to get more looks from American players, we abandon the international recruiting strategies.

I sure hope not.

During this tournament, I saw quite a few musical chairs with players swapping teams.

We didn't have that problem.

We had a cohesiveness that you just don't see in sport anymore...and I think that is because we had so many international players and it created a bond because they are all new...they are all in the same boat...they are all far from home etc.

I think if we get more American players here, they are more likely to transfer if they don't get what they want right away.

Just my 2 cents.

I think the women's team is doing the mid-GU men's team success way. Get a ton of amazing international players that fall a bit under the radar. Then once the momentum is going get a couple more of the highly rated domestic players to join to make the jump.

Regardless, the current formula is working, and working well.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Yeah I didn't get to watch as much ball this year as I would like. For some reason, the women weren't on Pac 12 International that much this year. I used to always get their games down here.

So I was astsounded when I watched the Pac 12 tourney and would see a player and was like wait a minute...you were just on another Pac 12 team last year!

In any event, I sure hope we keep the international flavor.

I think the community and family feel in Pullman helps them adapt as opposed to going to a commuter school

I'm thinking that Kyle Smith follows a similar blueprint. The international recruits have been an important component to the men's team success as well.

Glad Cougar

 

[kougkurt]

I'm thinking that Kyle Smith follows a similar blueprint. The international recruits have been an important component to the men's team success as well.

Glad Cougar

And not eligible for NIL deals

 

[Observer11]

Am I the only one who sees the similarities of Kammie/Smith and John Chaplin?

Chappy built a dynasty with African recruits and other international athletes.

 

[7ICoug]

Only thing is that we were all over international WBB recruits even prior to Kammie. And Smith also is all over both. But you're right Chappy was as well.

 

[SaveFerris]

Chappy was the innovator on going international.

Honestly, I don't know why any coach wouldn't do it in Pullman other than if rules made it difficult like I believe they have for T&F. For hoops, it's a no brainer.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Only thing is that we were all over international WBB recruits even prior to Kammie. And Smith also is all over both. But you're right Chappy was as well.

On the Men's side, we never pursued international players, ever. So says Aron Baynes, Brock Motum, Thomas Abercrombie, Nikola Koprivica, Fabian Boeke, Jeff Varem and Rodrigo de la Fuente.

 

[mikalalas]

On the Men's side, we never pursued international players, ever. So says Aron Baynes, Brock Motum, Thomas Abercrombie, Nikola Koprivica, Fabian Boeke, Jeff Varem and Rodrigo de la Fuente.

That is a list that spans 3,4 multiple coaches, at 1,2,3 per coach, and spans about 15+ years.

And 4,5 names on that list weren't very good.

Here is Smith's list:

Efe, Gueye, Jaki, Chinyelu, Canadian(Brain is not remembering), and I am sure I am missing 1,2,3 more.

Smith's list has 5,6+ compared to the other list that have 8, and that's just in 4;years compared to 15 years for the other list.

Also with the exception of Baynes, Motum, from 2 different coaches, Smith's list has, had better players on his list then the other list.

This shows that while WSU did the once in a while OCCASIONAL recruiting of international players, WSU, and it's coaches in men's bball didn't really focus or start to focus seriously on international players until Smith.

It also shows that Smith is the better international recruiter.

 

[spongeandshoot]

Only thing is that we were all over international WBB recruits even prior to Kammie. And Smith also is all over both. But you're right Chappy was as well.

That is correct.

I think June should get some credit as she got the ball rolling in that direction and brought in our all time leading scorer

 

[Glad Cougar]

That is a list that spans 3,4 multiple coaches, at 1,2,3 per coach, and spans about 15+ years.

And 4,5 names on that list weren't very good.

Here is Smith's list:

Efe, Gueye, Jaki, Chinyelu, Canadian(Brain is not remembering), and I am sure I am missing 1,2,3 more.

Smith's list has 5,6+ compared to the other list that have 8, and that's just in 4;years compared to 15 years for the other list.

Also with the exception of Baynes, Motum, from 2 different coaches, Smith's list has, had better players on his list then the other list.

This shows that while WSU did the once in a while OCCASIONAL recruiting of international players, WSU, and it's coaches in men's bball didn't really focus or start to focus seriously on international players until Smith.

It also shows that Smith is the better international recruiter.

Smith by far has done the most and best international recruiting of all WSU basketball coaches. But Tony had a pretty good pipeline going for his 3 years as head guy, thanks largely to Ben Johnson's connections to Australia: Baynes, Abercrombie, and I give majority credit to Tony& Ben for recruiting Motum (who had verballed to Tony but signed his LOI with Bone). Bennett also brought in Boeke & Kopravica over those three years. But Smith has taken it to a higher level.

Glad Cougar

 

[Loyal Coug1]

That is a list that spans 3,4 multiple coaches, at 1,2,3 per coach, and spans about 15+ years.

And 4,5 names on that list weren't very good.

Ok Mik, I typically scroll past your inane and insane posts, but I can't let this one slide. Which 4,5 guys on my list weren't very good? I'll give you Boeke, but among the rest? Did you see Varem Play? Nik? De la Fuente? Abercrombie? Won't even mention Baynes and Motum. I saw them all play.

Please enlighten us on which of these players "weren't very good". And that was not over a 15+ year span.

 

[SaveFerris]

Smith by far has done the most and best international recruiting of all WSU basketball coaches. But Tony had a pretty good pipeline going for his 3 years as head guy, thanks largely to Ben Johnson's connections to Australia: Baynes, Abercrombie, and I give majority credit to Tony& Ben for recruiting Motum (who had verballed to Tony but signed his LOI with Bone). Bennett also brought in Boeke & Kopravica over those three years. But Smith has taken it to a higher level.

Glad Cougar

That's an important point. Each coach and staff have to build their own connections overseas. My understanding with international recruiting is players have handlers that play a big role in where the players go in the US. At least that's what I have heard on the men's side. Daugherty obviously built great connections overseas. Kamie's might go all the way back to K-State although no idea how much Deb Patterson recruited internationally. Point being, it seems to start and end with the coach rather than the program.

 

[Coug1990]

That's an important point. Each coach and staff have to build their own connections overseas. My understanding with international recruiting is players have handlers that play a big role in where the players go in the US. At least that's what I have heard on the men's side. Daugherty obviously built great connections overseas. Kamie's might go all the way back to K-State although no idea how much Deb Patterson recruited internationally. Point being, it seems to start and end with the coach rather than the program.

I don't know how much Patterson recruited internationally either. We do know that Kamie had KL-W at Northern Colorado. So, we did know that she did do some international recruiting.

According to Elise Woodward, Kamie kept Daugherty's main person responsible for international recruiting on staff in Kate Werner.

 

[jourdand]

I’m not sure about the women but on the mens side a lot of the international players are coming to the states to play prep ball making recruitment a tad easier and cheaper. It’s not just our team either look around the country and the PAC12 and the rosters are loaded with international players. 5 of the 10 first team all PAC12 players are international players.

 

[SaveFerris]

I don't know how much Patterson recruited internationally either. We do know that Kamie had KL-W at Northern Colorado. So, we did know that she did do some international recruiting.

According to Elise Woodward, Kamie kept Daugherty's main person responsible for international recruiting on staff in Kate Werner.

Good point on Kate Werner.

 

[cougcowboy]

On the Men's side, we never pursued international players, ever. So says Aron Baynes, Brock Motum, Thomas Abercrombie, Nikola Koprivica, Fabian Boeke, Jeff Varem and Rodrigo de la Fuente.

I was so bummed when Rodrigo left. He was finding a groove. He could have helped that team a lot