Geno has high praise for Griffin

Coach speaks highly of freshman’s athleticism

STORRS — Geno Auriemma doesn’t toss out praise loosely, especially when the conversation revolves around freshmen.

Ask him about Aubrey Griffin, though, and his stance changes.

“If you asked me, ‘How would you describe Aubrey?’ I would say, of all the best athletes I’ve ever had here, I don’t think there’s ever been a better athlete, let’s put it that way,” the UConn women’s coach said last week before First Night. “I’m not going to say she’s the best athlete we’ve ever had, but I don’t think there’s a lot, or any, that are way more athletic than her, to the point where she surprises herself sometimes, which is kind of scary.”

Consider that an enormous compliment from any coach, let alone one who has produced a who’s who of AllAmericans, national champions and Olympians. And it’s not just Auriemma who feels this way, either. Point guard Crystal Dangerfield, UConn’s lone returning senior starter, sees the same things Auriemma sees when she watches Griffin motor around the court.

“It’s evident like the second she picks up the ball,” Dangerfield said Tuesday before practice. “She’s fast … can jump, long, active. She’s going to be a great piece to our team.”

How great will be determined over these next few weeks, if not months, as Griffin, the 33rdranked recruit in the Class of 2019 by ESPN, adapts to life at

UConn. The Ossining, N.Y, product is one of four new players on this year’s squad, including one of two freshmen.

Auriemma, who’s approaching his 35th season in Storrs, believes that Griffin would’ve been rated even higher if not for a string of injuries in high school. The 6foot1 guard missed her entire sophomore year with a torn ACL and was sidelined for seven weeks last season with a highankle sprain. She returned in time to carry Ossining to the AA state championship and was voted 2019 Miss New York Basketball, in addition to competing in the McDonald’s AllAmerican game.

“She’s so athletic,” said freshman Anna Makurat, a 61 guard from Poland, who is also Griffin’s roommate. “She can become a great player. She just has to start believing in herself.”

Griffin expects to experience some growing pains this season, which as a freshman would be par for the course. Auriemma expects it, too.

But like Makurat, Auriemma also thinks that Griffin has the potential to be special. Both are trying to get that message across.

“She doesn’t realize how much talent she has yet,” Makurat said. “I think (the coaches are) going to help her find out about it. I think she’s the kind of player that can be unstoppable.”

Added Auriemma: “If you asked me how good of a basketball player Aubrey is, I would tell you I don’t know, and she doesn’t know.”

Griffin, the daughter of former NBA forward and current Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, is softspoken and evenkeeled. But teammates say she’s also sneaky confident, which they saw when see joined in on the coed dunk contest at First Night.

“When she does something, you’re like, ‘What?’ Dangerfield said. “We made a joke in the summer, she plays like (Clippers star) Kawhi (Leonard). Her mannerisms aren’t exactly orthodox, but they get the job done.

“I would say, of all the best athletes I’ve ever had here, I don’t think there’s ever been a better athlete, let’s put it that way.” UConn coach Geno Auriemma

“That’s a special player.” Griffin said she’s used to people telling her how good she is, and how good she can be. But she won’t let the outside noise change how she plays.

“I don’t really think about it, I just go out and play,” she said. “I always hear, ‘You don’t know how good you are,’ but I just go out and focus on getting better.”

With authority: Olivia NelsonOdoda stole the show at First Night, throwing down a onehanded slam to win the dunk contest.

The 6foot5 sophomore said she hadn’t planned on participating, but changed her mind at the urging of Dangerfield.

“I think it was just kind of spur of the moment, kind of something fun to do,” she said. “Aubrey and I, we were just like, ‘You know what, we’ll try it.’ ”

Hot ticket: According to a school spokesperson, UConn had sold 3,849 season tickets for Gampel Pavilion as of Tuesday afternoon, which is the most since the 200809 season. It’s up from the 3,475 that were sold for the oncampus venue last year.

Preseason accolades: Sophomore Christyn Williams is among 20 players on the watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best shooting guard.

Williams averaged 11.7 points and 3.2 rebounds last season and was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year. Last week, she was named to the conference’s preseason second team.

The finalists for the award will be announced in March.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn’s Aubrey Griffin during the First Night celebration in Storrs on Friday. The freshman has impressed coach Geno Auriemma with her athetic ability.