Scout's Take: A'ja Wilson's Options

Scout's Take: A'ja Wilson's Options
Scout's Take: A'ja Wilson's OptionsA'ja Wilson

The No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2014, Aj’a Wilson of Hopkins, S.C., just finished up with the last of her four official visits this weekend as the 6-foot-4 forward was on campus at South Carolina spending time at the SEC school. Wilson is the last major chess piece yet to make a decision in the class of 2014 and could potentially have a great impact on the state of women’s college basketball for the next few years depending on where she decides to go to college.

With Wilson’s “star” potential in mind ,we wanted to take a look at her potential destinations, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee and examine the potential impact she could have on each program.

Connecticut

What they Have: Throughout the ranks of women’s college basketball it seems like the entire field is chasing the trail blazed by Geno Auriema and the Connecticut Huskies. This year is no different as they have managed to navigate the fourth most difficult schedule in the country according to college RPI and stay undefeated during the process. Next year the Huskies bring in the No. 4 overall recruiting class in the country but this spring they will lose two major contributors in senior guard Bria Hartley and senior post Stephanie Dolson. While they have replaced the loss more so on the perimeter with top prospects such as Sadie Edwards and Kia Nurse, the loss of Dolson may take a larger toll on the No. 1 program in the country.

What Wilson Brings: Adding a prospect like Wilson would alleviate some of the burden left by a player like Dolson. Wilson has the size to play around the basket but the versatility to step away from the rim and create mismatch problems for opposing teams. A potential frontcourt duo of Aj’a Wilson and Breanna Stewart would cause opposing offenses all sorts of problems around the rim.

North Carolina

What they Have: Although they are young, Tar Heels are off to an outstanding start this season. With a starting lineup that usually consists of four freshmen and a sophomore, the future is very bright at Chapel Hill. What’s even more exciting for fans of the North Carolina women’s basketball program is that it is currently a top 10 program in the AP poll without a senior on the roster. Right now North Carolina has one class of 2014 prospect signed for the current recruiting class, point guard Jamie Cherry

What Wilson Brings: Adding Wilson would give North Carolina another potential superstar player to pair with Diamond DeShields and create one of the more explosive lineups in the country. Wilson would pair with the No. 1 overall recruiting class from a year ago and give them even more firepower. North Carolina would use her size and athleticism in their up-tempo style of play, allowing her to grab defensive rebounds and push the break.

South Carolina

What They Have: South Carolina is off to an excellent start this season as they sit atop the SEC in first place and the No. 7 overall ranking in the country according to the current AP poll. They currently have a roster with an abundance of talent in the frontcourt as well as the backcourt in addition to the No. 9 overall recruiting class in the country coming to campus next fall. With a true point guard like Bianca Cuevas joining one of the best post players in the class in Jatarie White, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has talent on the way to help entice Wilson to stay close to home.

What Wilson Brings: Wilson would give South Carolina a dynamic offensive threat that could potentially flourish into a major star given the talent around her in Columbia. She would come in with a talented core of juniors and sophomores already in place to help her ease in as a true freshman and then be able to grow up in the program with a lot of help around her because of the talented freshman already signed to Staley and her staff.

Tennessee

What They Have: This year’s Lady Vols team is very young and have managed to navigate the toughest schedule in the country according to college RPI and stay in the top 10 of the national polls. With only one senior on the roster, Meighan Simmons, there is certainly reason to be excited about the next couple of year’s in Knoxville. Currently Tennessee has the No. 11 recruiting class in the country with signatures from Alexa Middleton, Jamie Nared, and Kourtney Dubar. For a roster that only has 10 players currently active (not including Jannah Tucker who enrolled in January) adding that kind of depth will be much needed.

What Wilson Brings: With Simmons leaving next season Tennessee will lose their leading scorer and adding a player with the ability of Wilson could give them an easy way to replace that production. Wilson has the skill set and athleticism to be a potential star in Orange and her presence in Knoxville could give them something that they don’t have on the roster right now, an inside outside threat that can create shots for others based off her presence alone.


Moore is the Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report and international scouting report. He has been a member if the women's basketball community for more than six years as a trainer and evaluator. He can be reached at keil@prospectsnation.com.

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