RebKell's Junkie Boards
Board Junkies Forums
 
Log in Register FAQ Memberlist Search RebKell's Junkie Boards Forum Index

Australian Opals 2020
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    RebKell's Junkie Boards Forum Index » WNBA
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
root_thing



Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Posts: 7365
Location: Underground


Back to top
PostPosted: 12/13/19 1:01 am    ::: Australian Opals 2020 Reply Reply with quote

"Basketball Australia have named the players that will comprise the Chemist Warehouse Australian Opals for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020. The Opals are in the group that will see action at the Palais des sports du Prado in Bourges, France from February 6-9 and will play against Puerto Rico, Brazil and hosts France."

Australia 20-player pool for the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020:

Rebecca Allen
Abby Bishop
Sara Blicavs
Liz Cambage
Katie-Rae Ebzery
Darcee Garbin
Cayla George
Kelsey Griffin
Tessa Lavey
Tess Madgen
Ezi Magbegor
Lauren Mansfield
Leilani Mitchell
Lauren Nicholson
Jenna O'Hea
Nicole Seekamp
Alanna Smith
Stephanie Talbot
Marianna Tolo
Sami Whitcomb

http://www.fiba.basketball/olympics/women/2020/news/cambage-allen-smith-headline-australia-s-olympic-pool



_________________
You can always do something else.
Richyyy



Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 24326
Location: London


Back to top
PostPosted: 12/13/19 6:10 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Not sure I'd bother to show up if I were Kelsey Griffin. She could be the best player in camp and she'd still need Mitchell and Whitcomb to get hurt to be on the final squad.



_________________
Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 01/12/20 5:47 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Final Opals team for the olympic qualifying tournament
(Feb 7 vs France, Feb 9 vs Puerto Rico, Feb 10 vs Brazil)

Leilani Mitchell
Katie-Rae Ebzery
Nicole Seekamp
Stephanie Talbot
Lauren Nicholson
Rebecca Allen
Jenna O'Hea
Alanna Smith
Ezi Magbegor
Cayla George
Marianna Tolo
Elizabeth Cambage



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
lynxmania



Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 10697
Location: Minnesota


Back to top
PostPosted: 01/12/20 6:28 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Go Steph! Smile


Richyyy



Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 24326
Location: London


Back to top
PostPosted: 01/12/20 11:45 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Luuuc wrote:
Final Opals team for the olympic qualifying tournament
(Feb 7 vs France, Feb 9 vs Puerto Rico, Feb 10 vs Brazil)

It amuses me that likely the only meaningful game in the Australia group is the very first one being played. Brazil-Puerto Rico is almost certainly a playoff for the third qualifying spot, before the Aussies and French play a meaningless matchup and then get to blow everyone else out for the rest of the weekend.

Wish we were in this group.



_________________
Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 01/13/20 6:32 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Richyyy wrote:
Luuuc wrote:
Final Opals team for the olympic qualifying tournament
(Feb 7 vs France, Feb 9 vs Puerto Rico, Feb 10 vs Brazil)

It amuses me that likely the only meaningful game in the Australia group is the very first one being played. Brazil-Puerto Rico is almost certainly a playoff for the third qualifying spot, before the Aussies and French play a meaningless matchup and then get to blow everyone else out for the rest of the weekend.

Wish we were in this group.

It's the group of ... life?

Bad news for Jenna O'Hea. Hurt her wrist in the OT game on Sunday and it turned out to be a fracture. Out for 10-12 weeks. Big blow for the Southside Flyers.
Sara Blicavs replaces her in the Opals 12.



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 02/03/20 4:47 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Tessa Lavey is the injury replacement for Nicole Seekamp



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 02/19/20 7:58 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

3x3 Squad for the OQT:
Rebecca Cole
Maddie Garrick
Keely Froling
Kelsey Griffin
Lauren Nicholson

The last couple are interesting additions



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Richyyy



Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 24326
Location: London


Back to top
PostPosted: 02/20/20 12:50 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Smart move. Tacitly acknowledging that Griffin's unlikely to make the normal team due to the naturalised player rules, so giving her a chance to be useful elsewhere. I think they made the 3x3 rules that you could have as many naturalised players as you like, so I wonder if Whitcomb might be thrown in as well if they actually make it to Tokyo.



_________________
Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 03/02/20 12:07 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Opals Olympic Squad (of 19 players) has been announced:
Rebecca Allen
Sara Blicavs
Elizabeth Cambage
Rebecca Cole
Katie-Rae Ebzery
Darcee Garbin
Cayla George
Kelsey Griffin
Tessa Lavey
Tess Madgen
Ezi Magbegor
Leilani Mitchell
Lauren Nicholson
Jenna O'Hea
Nicole Seekamp
Alanna Smith
Stephanie Talbot
Marianna Tolo
Sami Whitcomb

https://australia.basketball/blog/2020/03/02/australian-opals-announce-2020-olympic-squad/



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Shades



Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 63711



Back to top
PostPosted: 05/13/20 7:32 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

What is the ranking of PG’s on the Opals?
Is it...
Mitchell
Lavey
Seekamp

Is Kristy Wallace still on the future radar? Haven’t heard anything about her returning to ATL. Suddenly it’s a stacked position for them.

Shyla Heal is upcoming.
Jaz Shelley of Oregon University could be relevant.

Where does Mangakahia fit into all of this?



_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 05/13/20 9:40 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Atm I'd say it goes Mitchell, Ebzery, Lavey, Seekamp, but Seekamp's size kinda pushes her ahead of Lavey for a combo spot.
Wallace I'm pretty sure will be on the Opals radar pretty quickly once she is healthy and proves herself at WNBL level or better, but the knee has prevented that from happening so far. I doubt she'd be more than a faint blip on ATL's radar in 2020 though.

I suspect Mangakahia will jump fairly quickly to ~ #3 in the PG depth. She's probably not a great chance to make Tokyo, but as soon as Mitchell retires it's probably just a matter of whether or not she's ready to start or not because she's more of a pure PG than Ebzery.

Heal's role in the WNBL so far has been mostly as a 2, for which she is undersized at international/WNBA level. Last time I heard her interviewed she agreed that she still needed to prove her PG credentials so it will be interesting to see where she goes when WNBL free agency finally starts. I think she showed enough last season that a team will give her that responsibility. Now she needs a season to happen.



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Shades



Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 63711



Back to top
PostPosted: 05/13/20 1:51 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

I’m definitely on the Jaz Shelley bandwagon, if there is one. She wasn’t ranked very high in the 2019 ESPN rankings (not in the Top 100), but that might because she wasn’t scouted very much. Here’s the one scouting report ESPN had on her.

Quote:
June 2017: Agile floor general with a scorer's mentality in the back court; fundamental half-court manager penetrates and distributes, collapses the defense; manufactures, delivers off the dribble with range to the arc; an elite back court prospect in the world. (Olson)


She definitely has a scorer’s mentality, especially from three point land.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VL90V2iu3i0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

So now she’ll have a shot at starting for a very good Oregon team. There’s a very good (#1 rated) freshman class class coming in, so she’ll have to beat out a highly rated freshman PG. If she can do that, that should be huge for her basketball stock. Otherwise she’ll be stuck coming off the bench most of her college career.

2020 Oregon freshman class
#8 Sydney Parrish 6’0 G
#11 Te-Hina Paopao 5’9 PG (Gatorade POY for California in 2020)
#17 Kylee Watson 6’3 F
#19 Maddie Scherr 5’11 G
#22 Angela Dugalic 6’4 F

Scout on Te-Hina Paopao:
Quote:
Nike Tournament of Champions-December 2019: Athletic lead-guard with combo-game skills; drains jumpers with range beyond the arc; explosive off the dribble, finishes plays to the rim through contact; executes plays in half-court game, reads the defense and delivers results; unselfish playmaker, leader and teammate; a stock-riser in the class of 2020. (Olson)

Under Armour Nationals-July 2019: Athletic floor-leader with a scoring punch; explosive back court game breaks defenders down, rises on jumper with range beyond the arc; streaky deep range game, quick off the bounce, interrogates the defense and dishes in traffic; a superb guard in the class of 2020. (Olson)

USA Trials-May 2016: Athletic lead guard brings a scorer's mentality to the back court; quick first-step attack, pushes tempo and distributes in transition; elevates on jumper with smooth release, range to the arc. (Olson)


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQBUpbo4KWE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>



_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
ClayK



Joined: 11 Oct 2005
Posts: 11102



Back to top
PostPosted: 05/13/20 5:42 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Paopao was probably the second-best player in the country this year, behind Paige Bueckers. She's the real deal, a tall point guard who can shoot and run the show.



_________________
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā
Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 06/30/20 10:16 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V95meVPSPms" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V95meVPSPms



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
CamrnCrz1974



Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 18371
Location: Phoenix


Back to top
PostPosted: 06/30/20 10:22 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Shades wrote:
I’m definitely on the Jaz Shelley bandwagon, if there is one. She wasn’t ranked very high in the 2019 ESPN rankings (not in the Top 100), but that might because she wasn’t scouted very much. Here’s the one scouting report ESPN had on her.


Dan Olson - who also does the ESPN rankings - had her ranked as the 9th best international prospect in her class. Iliana Rupert (FRA) was #1, Laticia Amihere (CAN - SC) was #2, and Ania Makurat (POL - UConn) was #3 in the international rankings.

Using Shelley's player rating/scale, that would have had her between 37 and 41 in the 2019 high school class on Olson's list.


Stormeo



Joined: 14 Jul 2019
Posts: 4701



Back to top
PostPosted: 06/30/20 10:51 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Luuuc wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V95meVPSPms

I would've liked to see Cambage featured in the video with a speaking part. This is one of those times where ya want to hear what she has to say. Wink


Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 06/30/20 11:02 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Stormeo wrote:
Luuuc wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V95meVPSPms

I would've liked to see Cambage featured in the video with a speaking part. This is one of those times where ya want to hear what she has to say. Wink

It's a glaring omission, but I think a calculated one. I kinda like the decision.
Anyone who even occasionally follows her already knows her stance on this.
The one extra person I would have liked to see is Alice Kunek (who is in the 3x3 team rather than the Opals, so that is probably the reason she's not included)



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
Stormeo



Joined: 14 Jul 2019
Posts: 4701



Back to top
PostPosted: 06/30/20 11:09 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Luuuc wrote:
Stormeo wrote:
Luuuc wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V95meVPSPms

I would've liked to see Cambage featured in the video with a speaking part. This is one of those times where ya want to hear what she has to say. Wink

It's a glaring omission, but I think a calculated one. I kinda like the decision.
Anyone who even occasionally follows her already knows her stance on this.

Fair enough. I knew where she stood, I just think it would've been great for the Opals to see her put her thoughts into words on the video. She's probably more active on IG, which I'm not on a whole lot - I've really only seen that pic of her protesting while on a station roof. Surprised


Luuuc
#NATC


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 21900



Back to top
PostPosted: 07/12/20 8:05 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

I'm not really sure what the point of it is, but the latest Opals extended training squad was named today, so for the record:

Rebecca Allen
Zitina Aokuso
Sara Blicavs
Elizabeth Cambage
Rebecca Cole
Katie-Rae Ebzery
Darcee Garbin
Cayla George
Kelsey Griffin*
Shyla Heal
Tessa Lavey
Tess Madgen
Ezi Magbegor
Tiana Mangakahia
Leilani Mitchell*
Lauren Nicholson
Jenna O’Hea
Maddie Rocci
Jaz Shelley
Alanna Smith
Stephanie Talbot
Marianna Tolo
Sami Whitcomb*



_________________
Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
PickledGinger



Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Posts: 1350



Back to top
PostPosted: 07/13/20 3:12 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Probably looking something like this?

Leilani Mitchell / Katie-Rae Ebzery / Tiana Mangakahia
Stephanie Talbot / Rebecca Cole
Rebecca Allen / Jenna O'Hea
Kayla George / Alanna Smith
Elizabeth Cambage / Mariana Tolo / Ezi Magbegor

or if they decide on Whitcomb:

Katie-Rae Ebzery / Tiana Mangakahia
Sami Whitcomb / Stephanie Talbot / Rebecca Cole
Rebecca Allen / Jenna O'Hea
Kayla George / Alanna Smith
Elizabeth Cambage / Mariana Tolo / Ezi Magbegor


root_thing



Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Posts: 7365
Location: Underground


Back to top
PostPosted: 07/13/20 1:52 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Long lost sisters?


............Maddison Rocci (5-6)........................ Leilani Mitchell (5-5).....................Angela Marino (5-6)



_________________
You can always do something else.
Randy



Joined: 08 Oct 2011
Posts: 10911



Back to top
PostPosted: 07/13/20 3:28 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

I've never seen 2 (or 3) of them together at the same time. Could all be the same person. Maybe Superhero FLB, needed a couple secret identities.....


Richyyy



Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 24326
Location: London


Back to top
PostPosted: 07/13/20 4:03 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

If Mitchell can pass as one of the other two, maybe they could sneak a second naturalised player into the Olympics next year...



_________________
Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/
root_thing



Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Posts: 7365
Location: Underground


Back to top
PostPosted: 07/13/20 4:04 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Mitchell and Rocci together:



The real question is whose baby is Leilani holding? Did she sneak in a pregnancy when we weren't looking?



_________________
You can always do something else.
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    RebKell's Junkie Boards Forum Index » WNBA All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB 2.0.17 © 2001- 2004 phpBB Group
phpBB Template by Vjacheslav Trushkin