Just wanted to post something relevant to a conversation that is going on at GMG.

Of the recruits/former UNT players that have moved on (Or never showed up),where they are now in their basketball careers.

Previous staff:
Mansa El
Tallahassee Community College (JUCO)
has started 19 of 21 games, averaging 12 ppg, 29 mins per game

Brittani Bailey
TWU (D2)
has played in 10 games out of 18, averaging 2.9 ppg, 8 minutes per game

Jeanee' Thompson
TWU (D2)
has played in 18 games with 1 start, 3.4 ppg, 9.7 mins per game

Mimi Goodman
UNT
Does not play, but on the bench for all the games

Ryan Green
UT-Arlington (D1)
Has never played in 1 game, did do the high jump for track, but is MIA on any rosters this year
www.utamavericks.com/board/viewtopic.php...mp;t=58&start=10

Did not qualify/left (SS recruits):
Brittany Thompson
Kilgore (JUCO)
Was leading the region in rebounding/scoring. Doesn't look like she is on the roster any more.

Lakevia Taylor
Is not on anyone's roster - no news

Kendra Calvin
Is not on anyone's roster - no news

Of the Slinker recruits, the only 1 that may have been worthy of staying was El - but, she's at a JUCO, surely she had other offers from other schools, along with UNT - she had to go JUCO? The 2 that left for TWU are getting minimal minutes on a D2 squad. Green, that opted out of her scholarship is a dud. I would like to say this was not a "good squad" as suggested. Maybe as UNT fans, this is the type of talent/players you've become accustomed to... these players came from the "shallow end" of the talent pool... because 3 of the 4 freshman are better than the 2 at TWU and the one that is still not playing.

As far as the "suspensions" that occured, well - since I have proven (on paper) that the above recruits were not up to "standard", I'm sure simply trusting SS judgement that "suspensions" were warranted is good enough for me. I can't believe MG Fans would take the stance of "how dare she?". It's her team and she has to set the standard. Taking the "L", is better than compromising your integrity.

Of the 3 that left/didn't qualify that were SS Recruits... I have said in previous posts - not everyone is D1 material. Sometimes a kid will get an offer from a few "small schools" and "better schools" and they don't weigh their options for their choice. They let ego and unrealistic expectation get in their way. They get to a D1 program and find that they really aren't D1 material (commitment, sacrifice, academic expectation), even though physically and raw talent - got them "the look". It's so much more than putting a basketball through a hoop. If it were easy - everyone that plays would be at the D1 level.

Similar to "hiring" for a job - you interview candidates, try to find out as much as you can about an individual, work on a good relationship/rapport, and THINK you have a good fit. As a "hiring manager" you do a background check and other research to "qualify" your candidate. Until they actually start the "job", it's kind of like a business deal - some just don't work out favorably. If you go through the list of commitments at ANY college - there are always incoming/existing players that just don't work out. They couldn't pass the entrance exam, they had a change of heart, they're not the big fish anymore... the list is endless. You're talking about teenage females that have to make probably one of the biggest decisions in their life and are basically signing a contract for a long term commitment. I know alot of ADULTS that struggle with that...

Let's just trust that SS knows best. She obviously has a qualified eye for talent, she knows what kind of talent will work with her style. She has been recruiting for some time and has upped the ante with the talent she has brought in. The only borderline talent she has brought in (IMO) is Hawkins, but with development - looks like she will be fine, too. If they were winning this year (confidence, chemistry and consistency had kicked in)... we wouldn't even be addressing this.

I think waving good bye to the ones that didn't work out and embracing the coach will be better when incoming recruits read these boards and know that MG Fans love their teams and support the coaches.



** Please feel free to plagiarize my research!

Why post a relevant comment to something on another forum? Would it not be better to submit your comments directly to that thread were the full context of the post can be viewed? I appreciate the history, but wonder about some of your points.

Of the Slinker recruits, the only 1 that may have been worthy of staying was El - but, she's at a JUCO, surely she had other offers from other schools, along with UNT - she had to go JUCO? The 2 that left for TWU are getting minimal minutes on a D2 squad. Green, that opted out of her scholarship is a dud. I would like to say this was not a "good squad" as suggested. Maybe as UNT fans, this is the type of talent/players you've become accustomed to... these players came from the "shallow end" of the talent pool... because 3 of the 4 freshman are better than the 2 at TWU and the one that is still not playing.

It is nice you defend Stephens recruits with vigor but so eagerly throw Slinker's players under the bus. The fact are that a lamb duck Slinker was lucky to get anyone in her last class. The squad left to Stephens was senior heavy but not a bad group. I guess you have written off the senior group that including Amber Jackson, Tricia Lee, Jo Hall and Yari Escalara. Never mind that any of these players were higher rated coming out of high school than any freshmen recruited last year. Back to that dud, Green. She was an all state basketball player and the state 5a champion in the high jump. Does that mean she can make it in college basketball, of course not, but it does indicate that she was a fairly disciplined athlete. I think she should have been given a chance. As far as El, you do recognize that Stephens named her the MVP of the club. As far as the two who left for TWU, you do remember that lowly D2 TWU beat NT this year?

I guess I and other UNT fans have become to accustomed to "shallow end" recruiting to understand the dynamics of putting together a squad that has lost games by 30,44,39,59,48 and 68 points this year.

As far as the "suspensions" that occured, well - since I have proven (on paper) that the above recruits were not up to "standard", I'm sure simply trusting SS judgment that "suspensions" were warranted is good enough for me. I can't believe MG Fans would take the stance of "how dare she?". It's her team and she has to set the standard. Taking the "L", is better than compromising your integrity.


I am not sure you have proven anything on paper or otherwise. Again Slinker last class was questionable which was understandable under the circumstances, but I am not sure I can make the leap that there is a correlation between talent and discipline issues. As far as the suspensions, if it had been one or two players; I might agree with you. Frankly, "I thrust the head coach's judgment" is not a very compelling reason to base an opinion. The facts are that she suspended just about everyone on the team,some multiple times. I have no idea why, I suppose the suspensions were warranted; but I still contend that an experienced coach would have navigated through the problems with a lot less damage.

Of the 3 that left/didn't qualify that were SS Recruits... I have said in previous posts - not everyone is D1 material. Sometimes a kid will get an offer from a few "small schools" and "better schools" and they don't weigh their options for their choice. They let ego and unrealistic expectation get in their way. They get to a D1 program and find that they really aren't D1 material (commitment, sacrifice, academic expectation), even though physically and raw talent - got them "the look". It's so much more than putting a basketball through a hoop. If it were easy - everyone that plays would be at the D1 level.


Taylor, I guess is the one you are referring to; as she is the only one to my knowledge that actually got to NT. Yes, recruiting is a very inexact art and there are always going to be recruits at every level that do not contribute for one reason or another. Calvin was a risk I think from the start. Thompson did not finish even her high school season. I do wonder why you categorize players recruited by Stephens as you do, while Slinker's recruits are just sub-standard or "shallow water" players. At least, all of Slinkers' last class got into school.

Similar to "hiring" for a job - you interview candidates, try to find out as much as you can about an individual, work on a good relationship/rapport, and THINK you have a good fit. As a "hiring manager" you do a background check and other research to "qualify" your candidate. Until they actually start the "job", it's kind of like a business deal - some just don't work out favorably. If you go through the list of commitments at ANY college - there are always incoming/existing players that just don't work out. They couldn't pass the entrance exam, they had a change of heart, they're not the big fish anymore... the list is endless. You're talking about teenage females that have to make probably one of the biggest decisions in their life and are basically signing a contract for a long term commitment. I know alot of ADULTS that struggle with that...

Until the teen reference at the end I didn't know if you were commenting about recruiting or the hiring of a coach?

Let's just trust that SS knows best. She obviously has a qualified eye for talent, she knows what kind of talent will work with her style. She has been recruiting for some time and has upped the ante with the talent she has brought in. The only borderline talent she has brought in (IMO) is Hawkins, but with development - looks like she will be fine, too. If they were winning this year (confidence, chemistry and consistency had kicked in)... we wouldn't even be addressing this.


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A trite adage but one that almost always applies in recruiting. I don't really see any upgrade in recruiting but I don't want to get in that discussion again. Just ignore the fact that the team is 4 players under the limit and has had little success. Also Stephens quote last year that one of her recruits was already better than Amber Jackson does jar the qualified eye for talent a bit. I'd just add that to her unfortunate comment that she thought her team matched up well with WKU in a pre-game interview. I guess that the three C's not having kicked in is not a coaching issue.

think waving good bye to the ones that didn't work out and embracing the coach will be better when incoming recruits read these boards and know that MG Fans love their teams and support the coaches.


Another fan who thinks message boards are a major factor in recruiting. Ignore the team record, the fact the team is in the bottom 5% in the NCAA in about every defensive category as well as 330 out of 332 in turnovers. I know it is because they are young and has little to do with coaching.

As much fun as this banner is, I do hope that SS turns the program around. I think she is going to have to slowly dig herself out of a hole that she has helped to create. Do to the total apathy of NT toward women's basketball, she should get her full contract to succeed.

Unfortunately... I am unable to gain access to GMG. Probably better for everyone involved. The negativity on that board and the gloating that goes on after a loss - by "fans"... kind of disheartening.

You make some good points... I especially like the one about TWU beating UNT earlier this year. Bailey and JT did not play. So, what affect did they have on the outcome of that game? It was 2 freshman, a soph & a junior that got UNT back into that game at the end.

Might I ask, where was BJ while they were getting blown out the water in KY & TN? A senior leader (6th in the conference in scoring) that produced 7 & 3 points, respectively in those blow outs. If she were on any of the teams that we play against - she would be 4th or 5th option (at best). Someone wrote that the blowout games were lost in the first 5 minutes... I would like to add - where is the senior leadership, taking control of the younger players and getting everyone composed? A coach can only call but so many time-outs - the starters set the tone for the game.

You cannot even argue (with the exception of El), that any of the players that left were D1 material. Green (we'll never know how good her skills were because she doesn't play ANYWHERE) asked for a release. Based on the things that were written, it's safe to infer that she had an over-bearing parent involved because within weeks of enrollment at UTA - the mother went on & on about how much they loved UTA and how much Green wanted to be there. She's not even on the track roster this year. Something "smells" funny. That's the type of "loyalty" they had to UNT and with that attitude... "don't let the door hit you...".

As far as polls/ratings and the like are concerned - all are subjective. Like I said - once you get past the top 25 national recruits - it's anyone's game. So, on "paper" if Slinker had so many higher rated players - why didn't the win column reflect it? I would also like to point out that your coveted Amber Jackson was not a consistent starter - even as a Red Shirt Freshman - until her sophomore year. If she was THAT NICE... I'm just saying... Let's compare apples to apples. Godbolt has only missed 3 starts as a TRUE FRESHMAN (18 yrs old) has 268 points on the year so far. As a RS Freshman (that means Jackson was at least 19), Jackson had 14 starts and averaged 7 ppg and finished her first year with 205 points. Jackson was "technically" a sophomore... The way you tell it - I was thinking Jackson should have been the next WNBA first round draft pick. I guess you're right - beauty is in the eye of the beholder... cause I'm not really seeing what you see. Were you referring to the "developed" player with disciplinary issues?

Let's talk about the other Freshman that you referenced. As a True Freshman, Lee averaged 11 mins and 2.4 ppg and finished her season with 66 points. If I were to match up by size/position - I would say the closest "fit" would be Cuffie who is averaging 13.8 minutes per game and 4.2 ppg and all ready has 100 points on the season. Hall, as a True Freshman averaged 6.7 mins per game and 2.4 ppg with 55 points after her freshman year. We can go with either Brown (12.6 mins per game/ 2.2 ppg /43 season points) or Hawkins (11.3 mins per game/ 1.5 ppg / 31 season points). So, I can see where maybe Brown or Hawkins could be comparable... but considering the disciplinary issues that Hall encountered her Senior year... I'll take Brown & Hawkins. Escalera came in as a transfer so, we could probably match her up with Hudson, which - is a stretch - just because Hudson is battling some injuries... but for arguments sake - Escalera averaged 24.2 mins per game her first year, 6.9 ppg, and had 220 points for the season. Hudson is averaging 19.6 mins per game, 6.6 ppg, and has 92 points so far this season (she's played in 14 of 24 games). If I add the other 69 points we could assume she would score if she had played (based on her ppg average), she would have 161 points on the season thus far (assuming, of course). If I compared her to Hughes who averages 24.1 mins per game, 8 ppg, and has 193 points on the season so far, better on paper?

I believe there is more upside with the SS recruits. In my opinion, of course. I haven't heard of any "suspensions" thus far, so it's obvious the players respect the coach and the rules.

So, hold your ground - I enjoy the banter. I cannot agree on alot of your points just because I have no loyalty to Slinker or any of her players (except Torru) and even though the team has suffered some devastating losses - is not the "be all - end all" to what lies ahead for the future. This team is much more talented than what existed and after graduation - they will be an even better team.

We've mortgaged the future with 2 questionable signings in November. These girls aren't D1 material!

Cooley wrote:
We've mortgaged the future with 2 questionable signings in November. These girls aren't D1 material!

This is kind of contradictory as well... You WANT the coach to get kids from TX, she does - now, they are not good enough.


Why don't you think they're D1 material?

Cooley - I'm going to have to revoke your basketball analyst title. First Burwell & Hughes... now the incoming talent. Your skills are suspect. There is still time for you to jump back on the bandwagon. I won't tell anyone you jumped off.

Laura McCoy was named a McDonald's All-American Nominee

flowermoundleader.com/articles/2010/02/04/sports/9892.txt