Majorly disagreed with prior posts. It bears repeating that we have a VERY young team made up of truly skilled players. I wouldn't think I would have to remind you all of this, but it seems I do. Alex Johnson was the best player in the state of Tennessee in 2015, and she didn't go to UTK or Vandy or Kentucky, she chose MT. Alex Smith is a true center with a real skill set unlike anything we've seen with our "Center" players in the past. We have a 6'0" wing in the style of Brandi Brown / Jackie Pickel coming in next year from Bartlett and sharpshooters from OH and WV who will make a major impact. Our core players are sophomores and freshmen. I mean, come on really, what do we expect with one senior starter and one junior? I'll go thru the starters.
F Alex Johnson - FR - Need I say more? She is likely to be CUSA Freshman of the Year. She is a true sensation inside and a major presence.
G Abbey Sissom - SO - She can drain three point shots like no other. She didn't score nearly 4,000 points at Cannon County because everyone else was crap. She's getting more confident and adding the shot off the dribble to her repertoire.
G Brea Edwards - SR - Brea is something special. I don't think we need to look very far to see what CRI and the staff's coaching has done in this regard - she is the scoring leader of the team and the core presence outside.
G Ty Petty - JR - Best PG in CUSA, more than likely. Getting better every day and she has a great attitude. Leadership qualities are growing each game - this is Ty Petty's team.
F Gabby Lyon - SO - CRI has said that of the 4 rotating posts, she's the least "naturally skilled." But she's the hardest working. And she's shooting over 60% for the year on FGs and 100% from 3 (albeit 1-1). Another example of getting better each and every day.
Perhaps it has been hard to tell but we're getting out of our "local players who are overlooked" shell and getting more to the nationally-recognized players we need. Alex Smith will be a tremendous presence inside over the next 4 years, Alex Johnson is Alex Johnson, and don't forget about our new guards coming in - including Jess Louro the FR from NJ. She is a tremendous shooter and will see more time now that Jones is off the team.
I know it is easy to criticize Insell's recruiting but come on. We have one of the youngest core groups of players we've had in a while and all of them coming back. Things are looking up, not down.