Olivia Vukosa, the latest highly-rated recruit for the UConn women’s basketball team, just kicked off her college career in serious style. Monday night’s exhibition victory over Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena was her first real taste, and she absolutely showed up, proving she’s ready to roll right now.
Vukosa’s Debut Was Pure Fire
You know, sometimes you read about these high school legends, Gatorade Players of the Year, and you wonder how that talent translates to the college game. Well, Vukosa answered that question immediately. This 6-foot-5 center out of Christ the King in New York, who was the national Gatorade player of the year, is way more than just a physical presence. She checked into the game with 1:39 left in the first quarter, replacing Morgan Cheli, and wasted no time. Her first basket was a silky-smooth reverse layup off a pass from Ashlynn Shade. Later, in the second quarter, she scored inside with her left hand, then drove, posted up, spun, and hit a right-handed bank shot off the glass. She played 18 minutes, hitting 4 of 8 shots for a cool 10 points, and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. That, my friends, is an encouraging debut.
The Offseason Grind Made Her Ready
It’s clear that this isn’t just raw talent. Vukosa arrived at UConn back in June, and coach Geno Auriemma made sure she hit the ground running. He talked about the biggest change for her being conditioning and learning how to treat herself like a college player, not a high schooler. Auriemma said, “We gave her a lot to do over the summer, working out, how you’re going to train, and nutrition and recovery, all the things that young players are kind of new to. And she came back and changed her body and looks great in an environment where, every day, that’s what we’re spending a lot of time on.” That prep work, focused on endurance, strength, and conditioning, is why she could step right in and make an impact. You can’t show off your skills if you can’t keep up, and Vukosa absolutely kept up.
Monday night’s game was an exhibition, basically a highly-organized practice, and while Syracuse isn’t the toughest opponent UConn will face, it wasn’t meaningless. It was a chance for Vukosa to get used to the uniform, new teammates, the crowd, and a new level of play. The season officially kicks off November 2 against Cornell. What she showed us Monday is just a taste. With all the tools she’s got, it’s gonna be wild to watch what she does in the coming months and years.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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