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Texas A&M Women's Basketball

Gary Blair analyzes recent roster additions for Aggie WBB

May 14, 2020
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Key notes from Gary Blair interview

  • We're going to have a ton of graduates, and I'm doing what today's youth are doing. I've been on more calls and texts than I've ever been on in my life. I prefer to meet in person and form personal relationships, so I hope this is not something that catches on in the coming months. I greatly enjoy meeting with these girls, so I miss being able to do that.
     
  • We're probably number one in the country in transfers and junior college pickups. We went out and found a bunch of players that didn't know exactly what the future held. Life is about second chances, and sometimes the four-year plan at one university doesn't work out. I am a product of failure, and these kids coming in are realizing that we have a great senior class coming back, but they aren't scared. They are coming to compete and try and help this team win a championship. I'm excited to have them.
     
  • Ella Tofaeono is the most delightful kid I've ever met. She is going to be a fan favorite. If she ever goes into broadcasting, she will be a hit. She sent me a picture yesterday of herself branding a calf. She's just a unique kid. She is looking forward to getting here and playing in College Station. Tofaeono is going to add right to Ciera Johnson at the five position. She is going to go in there, knock people down, and just smile at them afterward and speaking in her Australian accent. She is just a great player but an even better kid.
     
  • Destiny Pitts ranked as the #2 transfer in the country this offseason. She played two and a half years at Minnesota. They came in on an official visit in January. There was a conflict in Minnesota with the coaching, and she felt the need for a new start. She stayed true to herself and looked at four schools in total and decided to come here. She made 81 three-pointers in her sophomore year. That is more than we have had from anyone in the last five years. She is a great, articulate student, and she will be here in ten days. We're excited to have her in the fold.
     
  • I recruited Zay Green hard out of high school, and sadly, we lost her to Tennessee. Thankfully, I got her this time around. She is going to be dynamite for us. I actually signed her mother during my last year at Stephen F. Austin, but I took the job at Arkansas that spring and never got to coach her. Now I get a chance to coach her daughter, so that will be very special for me.
     
  • We are hoping to get a few of our girls eligible immediately. We have to go through the waiver process, but we are optimistic we can figure it out. Everything goes through the labor process, which is going to be a mess this summer with all the transfers we are expecting to see.
     
  • The good thing for us, though, is that we expect Jordan Nixon to be able to play right away. She will give us versatility. She can play at the two or the one for us as a Sydney Carter type. One thing about her is that she is from Harlem, New York, and she had four people close to her die from COVID-19. She went back to Harlem to be with her family, and she should be coming back soon, but can you imagine losing four people you are really close to like that? We are happy to be here to support her at this time.
     
  • Here's the one thing about our roster: We are going to have three Greens. Hopefully, they will bring us green as well. When talking about ball-handlers, we are looking forward to having McKinzie Green have the first crack at it, but don't forget about Jordan Nixon. Sometimes you have to put your best five shooters on the court, and Nixon is one of those five for us, so it will be a great battle to see who gets to play the point for us.
     
  • Vic Schaeffer had done everything he could do in Starkville, except win a championship. They had just built their dream house when they moved back to Austin. Perhaps the timing was just right, and the money most certainly was. Texas is not going to settle for mediocrity, and they have their eyes set on the NCAA tournament. When the NCAA tournament was canceled, Texas decided to go after him, and they got a good one.
Discussion from...

Gary Blair analyzes recent roster additions for Aggie WBB

7,819 Views | 4 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by cs69ag
Rudybryan
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Boy did I love this quote Ella Tofaeono is going to go in there, knock people down, and just smile at them afterward and speaking in her Australian accent. Looks like we finally have another Aggie to take up Kelsey Assarian's mantle can't wait for our new assassin to take the court.

Next quote I like - we expect Jordan Nixon to be able to play right away. She will give us versatility. She can play at the two or the one for us as a Sydney Carter type. .....Time for A&M to hire Sydney Carter to mentor these kids and teach them her drop dead defense......and if I remember she is one hell of a shooter and I am willing to take bets. Imagine coming into our 10th Anniversary of our NC and having one of our stars on staff to carry the tradition....

Oh looky here - Destiny Pitts made 81 three-pointers in her sophomore year. That is more than we have had from anyone in the last five years. We have recruited a REAL 3 point shooter. Time to party.

So if we all ever get out of CCP19 jail we may have a great season to look forward to.....what are your thoughts?
cs69ag
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AG
Ella may need to play a lot! Hope Cierra will be back close to 100%!

M. Green really did not play all that much as a freshman....especially with games on the line.
She has been in the system and so has Nixon as far as practicing. GB is hard on point guards.
Hopefully both will play and play well! Likely the key to the team along with Cierra and Ella handling the 5 position.

We are loaded with Jones, Wells. Wilson, Z. Green and Pitts! Hopefully the two transfers will be eligible.
Doubt any of the 4 fish coming in will play much, but you never know. Takes awhile to learn D on the college level and all of GB's plays and options.

If the 5 position and the point work out, the rest will come down to chemistry and a rotation that uses all the talent and keeps players fresh. Hopefully we won't be dog tired at end of the games due to only 5-6 players playing almost all the minutes! Would love to see a team that could press more full court with 8-10 players wearing the other team out!!

We have been a weak 3 ball shooting team overall for years with a few exceptions....Sounds like Pitts along with Kayla can solve that, and maybe Nixon shoots the trey well too!

Should be back to a balanced attack and scoring on offense. Our 2011 NC team was strong at all 5 positions...no weaknesses. I remember Syd Carter as our best player on D, and someone who got hot in some big games and in big game changing moments. Her team leading points vs. bu in Dallas was huge and was one of the biggest reasons we got to the Final Four. When we were down to Stanford by 10 late in the game and the tv announcers were already talking Stanford vs, ND for the NC, Syd hit a big jump shot to ignite a run that won the game! White and Adams poured it on and Syd Colson made that unbelievable full court play and perfect pass to Tyra to win the game! Those memories never get old.

GB and staff have the talent and some depth to make a deep run...and if we get there, GB has proven that in one shinning moment you can be better than you ever thought you could be! To dream a little farther, in the 2021 NCAA tournament, there is an Austin regional and the Final Four is set for San Antonio
fitzwatema
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AG
I really like the look of this team, if Gary just uses all of his weapons!
I sure hope Ella Tofaeono can bring the moxey of Kelsey Assarian and Destiny Pitts can rain down the baskets from 3 point land. Add in what the Aggies know they have in N'dea Jones, Kayla Wells, Cierra Johnson, Jordan Nixon among others this could be a special team. He still needs to develop his incoming freshman because this team is loaded with seniors that will be hard to replace.
cs69ag
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AG
What would happen if the 6' 7" fish, Kenyal Perry, was able to contribute her first year!
I am not counting on it as I think she is a 'project" on offense as she is a 3 star recruit and GB said she reminded him of Rachel Mitchell....hopefully he meant height and not lack of touch around the basket.

Would be great to have a tall 5 player who could dominate on both ends at some point in their Aggie career.
Not just be someone who is 6'7" and that is about all you can say about them as a player.
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