Would You Rather Sign the No. 1 Ranked Class or the No. 1 Ranked Player?
Posted November 19th, 2007 by Glenn
No. 1 Class
71% (85 votes)
No. 1 Player
26% (31 votes)
Other
3% (4 votes)
Total votes: 120
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in this case, #1 player
I agree that it does depend on what a particular team needs, but in the case of UCONN and Tennessee, I would have to say #1 player, hands down. Just look at what Maya Moore is able to accomplish OFF THE BENCH for UCONN. None of players off Tennessee's number one class can come close to matching that. And with the class of '08, Tennessee might have the number one class, but 4 of the members of that class are wing players. If they switch one of them to shooting guard, they are going to be the back up for bjorklund, and then only one of the three remaining are going to start, and one is pretty much going to have no impact at all because they will be third string. Tennessee needed to get some more guards in there, and if they would have done that, then maybe their number one class would be better than UCONN's number 1 player (who is going to get a better supporting cast than Taurasi, Charles, and Moore). However, let's see how these Tennessee kids handle the fact that they could be the go-to player on any team in the country, and they are going to be riding the bench for four years.
Personally, I think it's okay to rank players beforehand, but let's not rank classes until after they've shown what they can do for four years.
#1 Ranked Player will often lead the team
Look at DT everyone. She won 3 championships, the last two with what many considered only one other top tier player (I myself tend to disagree). The number 1 player often pays more dividends than a #1 recruiting class. The #1 player usually is used to, and LOVES the spotlight, is a natural leader and most of all, has the desire to continue to be #1. While you can't discount how important a good or great supporting cast is, I will still take the #1 player and fill in with some lower ranked players than take 2 or three players who are ranked high in the top ten.
I think it would depend on
I think it would depend on who that number 1 player is. There are, once in a while, individuals whose total package (skills, make-up, maturity) can be worth 2/3 really good players. These are the types of players who have the gift of being able to elevate those around them. That's the wild card as I see it. As a UConn fan, Diana Taurasi was one of these types. Candace Parker is another. But, they don't come around very often. We'll see.
Players
It's not the best players, it's the right players.
Some players think they can do it, some playrs know they can do it, & some just do it!
Re:
I think it truly depends on the individual you are signing. I know basketball consist of five players but a real baller or leader will make does around him or her better. Then if we sign a number one rank class, are there enough balls to go around or will everyone know their role. Consider that when you make your decision.
No. 1 Class
I'd prefer to have the #1 class than the #1 player. The game of basketball consist of 5 players not 1. I believe you have a better chance of winning more games with top class than a top player. I'm sure the #1 player can improve the team but you still need an overall good team to win games.
Number1
Id rather build arround the number 1 player like uconn has 3 top 10 players this year and noty just elenadd.Also uts waste of a schooly on Briana bass helps uconns class cancel out uts.Plus rutgers signed 5 top25 to rival uts.Also sydney smallbone of uts so called number 1 class to come in this year has not been inpressive to me.Go uconn!Go big east!
No.1 Class vs No. 1 Player
A number one class is simply a sum of ranking numbers for the girls. It can and does contain a lot of players who play the same position. A player is a known superior entity and in some cases like Maya Moore, extremely superior. The difference between her and the number 2 player is huge. The same is true for next year in the person of EDD. She is a unique player who will be hard to stop from scoring. She is going to the same school as Moore and plays a difference position. Having two number ones on the court beats the heck out of a number 4 and a number 11 on the court with a 7 and 8 ranked player on the bench waiting for their turn to prove to be ineffective against the number ones. Spread it out to three number ones as UCONN has done, and they beat the number one class hands down. Geno also recruits with more balance and the numbers by the rankings may not show his classes as number one, but they will end up that way when all is said and done. Number one players will rule unless they are surrounded by players with little talent, but what girls would not want to go where she blends in with the team and program style. Draft quality and diversity, not pure numbers. The practice of just grabbing all the ranked players you can will not beat the planned approach.
Reference:
Michael and Kareem
What if
What if I had asked the question differently: Would you rather have three straight No. 1 players (ala Connecticut) or two straight No. 1 classes (ala Tennessee)? That changes things a bit, doesn't it?
Glenn,
www.HoopGurlz.com
All Girls. All Ball. All the Time.
No 1 Player
Being a Lady Vol fan, I'd like to say that I'd rather have two number one classes than three number one recruits, but I'm not sure that's how I really feel. A number one class without a number one player can get you to the final four but it seems to take that special something extra to get you the championship. I expect that Tennessee and UConn would be celebrating a lot fewer championships if Holdsclaw, Taurasi and Parker had gone elsewhere.
What I'd really like, though, is some data. What is the NCAA championship success rate of number 1 classes vs that of number 1 players? It might be difficult to separate the two since it's likely that many number 1 players were either part of the number 1 recruiting class or played with a number 1 class that was a year ahead or behind them. Perhaps the best approach would be to look at the last 10 NCAA champions to see how many of them did not have either a number one player or a number one recruiting class.
This is all assuming, of course, that your measure of success is an NCAA championship. If your standard is something less than that, I'd say to go for the number one class. You'll likely have more consistent success and will have fewer worries that a single injury will end your season early.
Yes
Yes that does change things. Having two number one classes is a better choice. But, I still think that your coaches ability to bring everyone together is more of a factor in winning a national championship. I know you did not ask that question but I felt it was an important point to make.
I'm not sure
I think in the men's game, it would be a slam dunk: If you had three straight No. 1s (and they stayed together), you'd be penciling yourself into the Final Four, for sure.
Glenn,
www.HoopGurlz.com
All Girls. All Ball. All the Time.
If other ...
... what are you saying that you'd prefer?
Glenn,
www.HoopGurlz.com
All Girls. All Ball. All the Time.
The Winning Combination!
Having the number one class or the number one player does not always create the next national champion. There is a formula that coaches strive for and players work very hard to achieve. It doesn't have to be the best of the best, although it can help. When everything is clicking and the ball bounces off that rim for the rebound it can be the most beautiful thing to watch. I say, with the right fit and combination of players for your team is the best scenario.
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