Diamond DeShields transferring from UNC

[uh_no]

Whatever else one may not like about UConn, Geno has always run a team-first program. Hard to imagine him as enabler for an outsize ego.

Baylor, on the other hand ...

has geno ever taken a transfer? that said, they apparently recruited her pretty hard...

they also have 3 guards coming in as freshmen this year, so would certainly be loaded there.

he doesn't put up with egos...if she had an attitude she'd be swimming a lot of laps.

[uh_no]

FYI:

apparently she is good friends with https://www.prospectsnation.com/stor...cooper-control Te'a cooper, who is coming out next year, and had committed to UNC in 8th grade...and has now decommitted, the theory being that they want to play together somewhere.

[CameronBornAndBred]

FYI:

apparently she is good friends with https://www.prospectsnation.com/stor...cooper-control Te'a cooper, who is coming out next year, and had committed to UNC in 8th grade...and has now decommitted, the theory being that they want to play together somewhere.

To date Cooper, a 5-foot-8 powerfully built lead guard, has been on six college campuses – Duke, Georgia, Louisville, North Carolina, Pitt and Tennessee.

She can still come to Duke. Diamond can cheer her on from whatever school she winds up at.

I was curious to see what happened to Trisha Stafford-Odom, she was the recruiting force that brought in Deshields and her class, and the number one class before that one (and then of course the number classes at Duke.) She took a head coaching job at some small California school. I wonder if her absence played a part in either Deshields going or Cooper's decommittal.

Cooper doesn’t believe she was too young to commit, but with so much time passing since her verbal commitment, things on the ground changed.

You would not expect a player to leave because an assistant wasn't there, but there is no denying that Stafford is a serious force on the recruiting trail. No idea what she sells those girls, but it is some potent stuff.

[dukelifer]

This is actually pretty shocking--De Shields had a very good season and looked to be one of the key pieces for UNC next year. Perhaps there is some personal reason for the decision.

Personal or - I hate to say this- academic.

[Duvall]

Personal or - I hate to say this- academic.

Possible, but I think if it were academic UNC wouldn't look so surprised at her departure. They wouldn't that it was academics, but they wouldn't say that her reasons were unknown either.

[-bdbd]

Did it ever come out about what she had done to cause Coach P to decline the opportunity to shake her hand after the game in Chapel Hill?
P got a lot of flack for that, but I never heard about the reason why I assumed it was some sort of dirty play thing.


Honestly, very glad to see her go - would have been a pain to deal with for 3 more years over there...

[bluedevilsince72]

With her ego and legit talent, maybe she becomes 1st women to go pro and make $ playing in Europe?

"Hey, hey, look at me, look at me!"

This certainly helps Duke a lot. UNC was on the rise after 5-6 of mediocrity. Big name recruits are certainly going to have 2nd thoughts about going to UNC.

I think she couldn't stand Coach Calder just like every fan in the ACC has disliked him for the last 20 years. I don't think she wants to spend 1 more second around the guy.

[awhom111]

With her ego and legit talent, maybe she becomes 1st women to go pro and make $ playing in Europe?

"Hey, hey, look at me, look at me!"

This certainly helps Duke a lot. UNC was on the rise after 5-6 of mediocrity. Big name recruits are certainly going to have 2nd thoughts about going to UNC.

I think she couldn't stand Coach Calder just like every fan in the ACC has disliked him for the last 20 years. I don't think she wants to spend 1 more second around the guy.

While it is rare, players have left college early for Europe before. The most notable example is Epiphanny Prince from Rutgers and she seemed to do pretty well for herself. Either way, if I am her next school, I would not expect more than two years out of her.

[bluedevilallie]

I think there is a real possibility that she may end up at South Carolina. They have the #1 recruit coming in--perhaps if she is as egotistical as I have heard--she wants to be part of a dynamic duo.

Im glad shes leaving personally... don't want to listen to my UNC friends go on about how awesome she is for the light blue....

[CameronBornAndBred]

I think there is a real possibility that she may end up at South Carolina. They have the #1 recruit coming in--perhaps if she is as egotistical as I have heard--she wants to be part of a dynamic duo.

Im glad shes leaving personally... don't want to listen to my UNC friends go on about how awesome she is for the light blue....

In her class, Diamond was #3, Allisha Gray was #7, Jessica Washington was #14, and Stephanie Mavunga was #23.

South Carolina has #1 A'ja Wilson and #7 Jaterie White, both of whom will play next year while Diamond sits on her butt. I don't see the logic of wanting to leave her stellar class for one that is less impressive, regardless of having the #1.
By the way, you can see the effect of Stafford-Odom no longer being on UNC's staff; they have squat for recruits coming in next year. Their highest rated is #52 Jamie Cherry.

Edit...don't mean to imply she won't be at SC, just that the logic of that explanation would not make much sense. (Dang, A'ja is tall!)

[Gargoyle]

DeShields reportedly to transfer to TN.

http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-spo...eal-deshields/

[FerryFor50]

On a side note, weird week for the Deshields family...

http://www.kens5.com/news/Ouch-Astro...255881601.html

[Here is a Turtle]

DeShields reportedly to transfer to TN.

http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-spo...eal-deshields/

That's an interesting choice. At least their egos will match.

[sagegrouse]

That's an interesting choice. At least their egos will match.

Here's a paragraph from the Wikipedia article on Dad Delino, which shows his early hoops prowess:

Early life

DeShields was born in Seaford, Delaware and played for Seaford High School. DeShields was to attend Villanova University where he would have played point guard on the basketball team; however, after being selected as the 12th overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft, he chose a career in baseball.

Delino has been a manager in the Reds organization for the past four seasons -- now the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in AA. FWIW, Delino made $23 million in his major league career.

As shown in the above post Diamond's brother, Delino Jr., is in AA.

Looks to me that Diamond wanted a different situation than she found at UNC and, whether or not she consulted Pop DeShields, she was in a position to get advice from professional athletes in the family.


Sage Grouse
'Gee! Naming your daughter after your profession is an interesting idea. Do you think mine would have objected to Economista or Econometrica?'

[BD80]

... Sage Grouse
'Gee! Naming your daughter after your profession is an interesting idea. Do you think mine would have objected to Economista or Econometrica?'

Well, as "Diamond" is emblematic of baseball, might I suggest "Bull Grouse?"

[uh_no]

DeShields reportedly to transfer to TN.

http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-spo...eal-deshields/

so the tea cooper rumors seem to have held some water.

[MCFinARL]

Here's a paragraph from the Wikipedia article on Dad Delino, which shows his early hoops prowess:



Delino has been a manager in the Reds organization for the past four seasons -- now the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in AA. FWIW, Delino made $23 million in his major league career.

As shown in the above post Diamond's brother, Delino Jr., is in AA.

Looks to me that Diamond wanted a different situation than she found at UNC and, whether or not she consulted Pop DeShields, she was in a position to get advice from professional athletes in the family.


Sage Grouse
'Gee! Naming your daughter after your profession is an interesting idea. Do you think mine would have objected to Economista or Econometrica?'

She might have liked those better than "Dismal Science."

[CameronBornAndBred]

DeShields has released a statement on her transfer. It doesn't say why she is leaving, but it seems it won't be an ugly exit. To her credit, she says she is not talking to other schools yet until she finishes out her exams and the school year.
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/deshiel...rms-/13592173/

[CameronBornAndBred]

Her transfer to the Vols is now official. That works for me, I don't like them any less than I don't like the Tarheels, so I still get to smile every time she loses.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/deshiel...vols/13724430/

[uh_no]

DeShields' choice of Tennessee comes one week after guard Te'a Cooper, a 2015 prospect from Powder Springs, Georgia, verbally committed to the LadY Vols. Cooper, who is friends with DeShields, had been committed to North Carolina before re-opening her recruitment last fall. Cooper is expected to sign with the Lady Vols in November.

twist: cooper decommitted from UNC becuase she didn't want to play with diamond, and diamond just won't leave her alone. verballing to the vols was a ploy to get diamond to go there, and cooper will actually commit to duke.