2023 Recruiting

Sitting this year out due to 2nd transfer, but possibly still 2 years eligible afterwards

Adam wrote:Sitting this year out due to 2nd transfer, but possibly still 2 years eligible afterwards

I, and others, have not reported on Piath Gabriel earlier simply because she is not on scholarship and is working to get her academic credits up to speed to perhaps play during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. But as she is now listed on the roster and is in the team picture (wearing #36, a number that will not be allowed during games), here is a little about her.

Urged by her older brother to do so because he enjoyed his time in Portland, Gabril contacted the UP coaching staff and asked if she could transfer to Portland.

She is not eligible to travel with the team, but on a positive note, she will be an excellent "practice player" as the Pilots gear up to play a rigorous schedule.

Highly recruited out of high school, with offers from Louisville, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio State, West Virginia and Miami-Florida, but getting very little playing time at UConn and UMass, at 6-5 and skilled, she has the potential to be a star in the WCC.

Fun facts: Her family is originally from South Sudan, and her older sister Karima played basketball at DePaul, Boston College and Cal State Fullerton.  Her brother Wenyen, played at Kentucky before having stints with the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trailblazers, and the LA Lakers.  He is now on the Boston Celtics roster.

DoubleDipper wrote:

Adam wrote:Sitting this year out due to 2nd transfer, but possibly still 2 years eligible afterwards

I, and others, have not reported on Piath Gabriel earlier simply because she is not on scholarship and is working to get her academic credits up to speed to perhaps play during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. But as she is now listed on the roster and is in the team picture (wearing #36, a number that will not be allowed during games), here is a little about her.



She is not eligible to travel with the team, but on a positive note, she will be an excellent "practice player" as the Pilots gear up to play a rigorous

Coach Meek does not share your inclination to pretend Ms. Gabriel is not here and intent on making the team. His public and open welcome of Ms. Gabriel seems appropriate notwithstanding concerns that she may fail academically. She is taking a big rsk. There is, as you point out, a great reward for the team, and probably her, if she makes it.

Good luck to her.

Thanks for the information.

up7587 wrote:Looking at the team picture, Piath, listed at 6'5", appears to be slightly taller than Lucy Cochrane who is listed at 6'6".

Similarly, frosh Dyani Ananiev (#2), listed at 6'1", appears to be slightly taller than frosh Lainey Spear (#20) who is listed at 6'2".

Just my random observations.

I always find it interesting / funny with player heights. We just did Emma's proper height in recruiting profiles, taken not wearing any shoes. Probably should have added 2 inches to 6'1" lol, as Emma was always taller in photos than girls listed 6'0" in her first year. Happens every year I think... can draw a line across from Emma (11) 5'11" to Kianna (25) 6'0" in the above photo too (or Melika beside her at 5'9" but looks taller), but less certain with sitting... posture, long legs...  

DoubleDipper wrote:
I, and others, have not reported on Piath Gabriel earlier simply because she is not on scholarship and is working to get her academic credits up to speed to perhaps play during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. But as she is now listed on the roster and is in the team picture (wearing #36, a number that will not be allowed during games)

Not so! A new rule this year allows NCAA players to wear numbers 0- 99 for the first time since Bill Russell wore #6.


https://defector.com/college-basketball-players-can-wear-digits-above-5-again

up7587 wrote:Looking at the team picture, Piath, listed at 6'5", appears to be slightly taller than Lucy Cochrane who is listed at 6'6".

Similarly, frosh Dyani Ananiev (#2), listed at 6'1", appears to be slightly taller than frosh Lainey Spear (#20) who is listed at 6'2".

Just my random observations.

Also seems as if Flo Dallow, listed at 6' 0"" in the back right is taller than Kennedy Dickie listed at 6'0" likewise,, and next to her on the right. Flo also maybe taller than Lainey Spear at 6'1".in the back left.

Interesting. I have no idea whether.posture plays any part or.even angle.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyJusZNy57C/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The three freshman-women aligned side by side for . . .. .height comparison. Maybe to show off their smiles too.

Apparently you have to scroll a bit to get to the picture of all three.

Given the track record with Emma and Dyani, are we prepared to admit that when a wbb player is  given a stated height in Australia it is more apt to be accurate than the stated heights given here?
Otherwise,, we would have  to believe that they are understating their player heights in Australia, which I don't think their doing.

Or are these given heights pretty suspect no matter who is reporting?

With Dyani listed at 6'1 and Laney at 6'2, this photo, even if posture or shoes came into play, would suggest the heights are the other way around for sure.

I attribute it to metric conversion and people down there spend their lives upside down.

Dyani is closer to 6’3”. I’m 6’4” and standing next to her she is right there with me. I gave her a hard time for her 6’1” label. She gave a coy laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

Regardless of their height, it would appear the three freshmen, Dyani, Rhyan, and Lainey, will be counted on to play this season, and will NOT redshirt.

On the men's team, it appears four of the five freshmen will redshirt this season...the lone exception being Tyler Harris.

Meet #20 Lainey Spear...

https://twitter.com/i/status/1719913379735928880

(Todd and) Kristen Hepton Spear's daughter, Lainey, is mature for her age and really fun to be around...just like her "favorite teammate," Flo.  

(It's funny, redshirt freshman Florence Dallow has always been everyone's favorite "little sister" on the team, and now she is in the projected rotation.)