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Two more elite recruits have signed on with the UConn women

Two more elite recruits have signed on with the UConn women, one being Player of the Year Christyn Williams, the other 6-4 dunker Olivia-Nelson Ododa who won the Powerade Jam Fest. Huskies’ head coach Geno Auriemma never stops reloading as he tries for his 12th national championship

By Arnie Leshin

Arnie Leshin

After dominating 2nd seeded, reigning national women’s champion South Carolina, top-seeded University of Connecticut was looking ahead to Saturday’s NCAA semifinals against another No. 1 seed, Notre Dame. in Columbus, Ohio.

No way are these undefeated Huskies (35-0) looking beyond that, but just a glance at their prize recruits proves once again how well they reload.

They lose two seniors, Gabby Williams and Kia Nurse, but Geno Auriemma, the man behind the record 11 national championship, could look ahead, but won’t, not now.

But look what’s coming his way. Christyn Williams, a 5-foot-11 guard out of Central Christian in Little Rock, Ark., was named Gatorade National

Player of the Year, the second-straight for UConn, and follows on the heels of 2001, 2012, and 2011 winners, as well as Maya Moore in 2007 and Tina Charles in 2006, and Megan Walker last year.

The award was presented to Williams by Elena Delle Donne, who surprised Williams with the news and the trophy. Delle Donna, the No. 1 player in the WNBA, was also chosen as Player of the Year while in high school, declared for the Huskies, and then took a bus home to Delaware after two days at UConn.

This adds to Williams’ selection as Morgan Wootten Player of the Year that followed a state championship as well as the Naismith Player of the Year and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s High School Player of the Year.

And right after she signed with UConn, she was named a McDonald’s All-American. Wednesday, she will compete in the annual McDonald’s All-American Game.

Joining her is yet another Husky on the way, and this 6-4 Olivia-Nelson Ododa dribbled, skied and dunked, making her way to the finals at the Powerade Jam Fest in Atlanta. She is seeking to become the first girl to win this since Candance Parker in 2004.

Ododa gained the finals with 188 points versus Duke recruit Zion Williamson and Kansas recruit Quentin Grimes. And yes, it’s a contest that includes both genders. Ododa scored 100 points and nothing but 10s from the judges, to head the field of eight of, seven of whom were boys.

Then came a second remarkable dunk before the other girls mobbed her. She moved to the baseline for her second attempt, and threw down another stuff that gave her an award of 88.

She added another trophy to her collection when her team, which included Roman Langford and Candice Wiggins, won the Legends and Stars Shootout.

Now Williams and Odoca come together for the McDonald’s All-American game. It will be shown on ESPN Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time Zone.

But for the present UConn team, first things first. It will play in the closing game of the Final Four after Mississippi faces Louisville in the opener at the home of Ohio State.

 

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