Ruffin-Pratt: Master of All

[glenn]

Chris Hansen profiles a 2009 guard who may be the best all-around player in the country:

http://hoopgurlz.com/story/master-all

[intelligenthoodlum]

Great article, sports fans. The IH has been into Miss Tierra since she was a 7th-grader, playing pick-up with the boys on the playgrounds of Alexandria. I still think that Tierra's best position for college or pro is as a Jason Kidd-type of PG. Do any of you all think that any of these colleges will have the intellectuals or the guts to play her like that?

[fhire]

Great article, sports fans. The IH has been into Miss Tierra since she was a 7th-grader, playing pick-up with the boys on the playgrounds of Alexandria. I still think that Tierra's best position for college or pro is as a Jason Kidd-type of PG. Do any of you all think that any of these colleges will have the intellectuals or the guts to play her like that?

I believe that T. Pratt can play 1-3 and might be best used as a slasher at the 3 spot. She has the knack of getting to the basket and putting pressure on the defense. However IH I can see her at the point because of her defensive skills ans court vision she has that Essence Carson vibe about her.
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[smokeyhip]

I don't know IH if using her at the point at least full time, would be the proper way to utilize all of her skills. She is versitle and can play the point at the next level but as a 3 she becomes dangerous. Just one mans opinion.....

[scoutnwhoops]

Whatever it takes to keep her on the floor and exploiting mismatches. If you paired her with another combo guard who can score and let them feed off each other, maybe with Doty in the back court. I'd take those two any day.

[fhire]

Whatever it takes to keep her on the floor and exploiting mismatches. If you paired her with another combo guard who can score and let them feed off each other, maybe with Doty in the back court. I'd take those two any day.

Her and K. Rushdan would be murder to deal with or Shenise Johnson or April Sykes
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[first2no]

IH,

I could see your point about her position in H.S. I think she is used to having the ball in her hands because of High School. She is the one with the ball in her hand in the 4th quarter. She gets a lot of her teamates involved but she scores when she has to. I think she would be able to make the transition. I would like to see a college allow her to play like Clevland and Miami allow L.James and D.Wade to play. They score when they have to they play the point when they have to and they (especially D.Wade) play defense when they have to. If she could get a coach that allowed her to play like that then that would be the ideal situation for her in my opinion.

[intelligenthoodlum]

No major-D-1 program in America is going to let Miss Tierra play like D. Wade or like King James 23, dominating the ball like that in the half-court offense. If she's lucky, she might find someone at that level who'll let her rock-and-roll like Jason. Now, sports fans, she could always go play in the MEAC or the SWAC, if she wants to get to play like Dwyane or LeBron...

[first2no]

I don't think James or Dwayne dominate the ball both are un-selfish and the offense is initiated through them because they are great passers. If the shot clock is running down the ball goes through them because they can create their own shot. They both can play the point when their is no point guard on the floor. The NBA has a twenty four second shot clock and in my opinion besides Kobe and Iverson (In Philly) no one dominates the ball for the entire shot clock. When I say play her like james and Dwade I mean in terms of their versatility! I'm pretty sure she will not have to go to the SWAC or MEAC to find a school that will use her versatility.

IH you also like the 09 girl from Texas because she can dunk well make sure you check the girl you say you have liked since 7th grade because she to is dunking now. Ask someone who was at the Virginia AAU State Tournament last week in Hampton. What a difference a year makes!!!!!

[intelligenthoodlum]

1. The points are more evenly distributed with the Nets than they are with Cleveland or with Miami. This could mean many things; but to the IH, it means that without a dominant center, Jason Kidd is able to make more plays for more of his teammates on a nightly basis. In college women's basketball, there are very few dominant centers, especially who are any good.
2. Which is one of the main reasons why I think Miss Tierra can be SPECIAL for college as that type of point guard. She may be very good in college as a wing player, a Kodak Moment, even. But I don't see her as SPECIAL as a college wing, especially with all of these 6'0"-6'4" l-o-n-g and bOuNcY wings coming through now, with some handle and some shooting touch.
3. Miss Tierra may very well end up being the consensus #1-ranked player in the 2009 class; but as of right now, I'm still drafting Brittany Griner #1. Basketball is a game of height; the closer a player is to the basket, horizontally AND vertically, the easier it is to score the ball, and the easier it is to defend the basket. And when that player has the MOVEMENT of a wing, with enough of the relevant athleticism, the IH drafts that person as soon as he can...

[first2no]

Thats exactley how GM's get fired! As much as you claim to know about basketball I think it really sums it up when you say you would draft a girl 1st that you have only seen dunk the ball on video and a 5 minute hi-light clip. I won't debate this one with you because thats just ridiculous. Let them go head to head even with her height and I guanrantee you that TRP would tear her a brand new hind part! Put your money up!! Thats not even close!!

[intelligenthoodlum]

f2n, it's not even about the dunking with Miss Brittany; it's about the dunking WITH EASE, and it's about the MOVEMENT she showed, as a 6'6"-6'7" TENTH-GRADER. And she hasn't even really started growing into her body yet! And she already has a knack for shot-blocking/altering that most current college posts--on the women's side--can only dream of having.
Miss Tierra may very well be the best player in our galaxy, and she may very well be the most versatile girl in the history of high school girls basketball. And I'm on record as being into her quite a bit, from way back. But you can ALWAYS find a 5'10"-5'11" wing, at whatever level of blazer, to spice up a major-D-1 college women's program.
Even though the girls/women's game has gotten taller and more athletic in such a short period of time, you STILL can't find a high school girl who is 6'6"-6'7", who has real movement RIGHT NOW, even though she hasn't really grown into her body yet, who can run the court, rebound and block shots FOR REAL, AND can dunk with ease and agility.
Tierra may be able to destroy Brittany 21-0 in a one-on-one game right now; but I guarantee you Tierra wouldn't be able to do that to Brittany when they're both juniors in college, assuming Brittany goes to the right school for her...

[teammom4]

I love her and her game! Have not been fortunate enough to see her over the past year but I will definitely get out to see her/them this summer! Hopefully next month when they all visit us in DC! I remember the games at G'Town last year were almost empty, with the exception of my big mouth, you could hear a pin drop. I would bet the house that won't be the case this year:p

[first2no]

f2n, it's not even about the dunking with Miss Brittany; it's about the dunking WITH EASE, and it's about the MOVEMENT she showed, as a 6'6"-6'7" TENTH-GRADER. And she hasn't even really started growing into her body yet! And she already has a knack for shot-blocking/altering that most current college posts--on the women's side--can only dream of having.
Miss Tierra may very well be the best player in our galaxy, and she may very well be the most versatile girl in the history of high school girls basketball. And I'm on record as being into her quite a bit, from way back. But you can ALWAYS find a 5'10"-5'11" wing, at whatever level of blazer, to spice up a major-D-1 college women's program.
Even though the girls/women's game has gotten taller and more athletic in such a short period of time, you STILL can't find a high school girl who is 6'6"-6'7", who has real movement RIGHT NOW, even though she hasn't really grown into her body yet, who can run the court, rebound and block shots FOR REAL, AND can dunk with ease and agility.
Tierra may be able to destroy Brittany 21-0 in a one-on-one game right now; but I guarantee you Tierra wouldn't be able to do that to Brittany when they're both juniors in college, assuming Brittany goes to the right school for her...


IH,

don't get frustrated with my post and try and be sarcastic about TRP! "Best Player in the Galaxy" Bottom line is this you are the number one hater in our area. If TRP played for Team Unique then maybe she wouldn't be just an ordinary 5"10 - 5"11 Wing Player. You said the same thing about Monica Wright "I can find 100 people that can do what Monica Wright Can do" ACC Rookie of the Year right? I guess there are 100 people who are 5"10- 5"11 that can win that award. You use to brag about Assia Bussie but now she doesnt run with you and team unique so all of a sudden she is not a RBR top 5 kid in the 09 class? You can sugar coat things however you want to but people see right through you. I love when you start you post off by saying "Ive been into this little darling since she was 4years old" How did TU do in the Deep South? I thought TU would be the best team in the Galaxy since you have the best players. I told you I'm not going to debate you about TRP and another kid because because like I said there is no comparison. You tell people on this board that Franklin and Bussie and many others are not ranked high on your fake me out RBR because they are playing age group aau (in your words little girls basketball) But then you say B.Griner is the best but you don't even know if she plays aau (LMAO!!!!!!) and if she does does she play up! Don't worry if TRP is the best in the Galaxy wory about trying to get TU to compete with some of these High School Teams in the D.C area. Is Griner better than everyone on TU? Is she better than everybody who has ever played for TU? According to your definition the answer would be "yes" She is better than Chasity Clayton, Monique Curry, Wanisha Smith, Yolanda Lavender, Maraha Strickland, Joy Cheeks, and all the other talented kids that TU had come through, all because the IH sees a 6"6 kid on a 5 minute Highlight!!!!(LMAO) When will Ms. Bussie be good enough to re-enter the RBR top 5. I mean she is 6"3 and taller than all the other 09's and she has good lateral movement and she can block shots so why is she not ranked ahead of TRP and Akeema Richards and Abby Reddick???(LMAO) When she was involved with TU she was ranked second in the 09 class! Chay Sheggog has great height and can do all those things that you mentioned but she is not high on your list but then again she doesnt play for TU! Funny Guy! But you still my blood brother!!

[intelligenthoodlum]

A-h-h-h, sports fans; the first argument on the new HoopGurlz.com website, betweek f2n and the IH. I can exhale now. The IH has been called fake by many people; the supreme hater; nothing more than a cheap hypemeister of Team Unique girls; and countless other more-than-colorful adjectives and nouns. But f2n has spoken, and now I feel so much more legit in being labeled an idiot and a jerk.
The fact is, sports fans, I don't ever recall saying that Brittany Griner was BETTER than Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. What I DID say was that I would draft Brittany first in that class, and I was very detailed and clear with my reasons why.
I have NEVER been negative in my discussions with anyone about Tierra; I've even had a conversation on the BatPhone about her and other top players in the MD/DC/VA region with f2n, and said that we at the Real Basketball Report would most likely have Tierra ranked #1, regardless of class, when our fall book comes out in September. What more does he want?
Yes, Tierra is almost all-that, to me. But the fact remains that THERE ARE many wing-guards, and wing-forwards, in America, in the 5'10"-5'11" range, who are blazers. And if Tierra IS the best wing in America right now, regardless of class, several of these wings are close enough to her in talent, and may be more athletic, and may have more upside, that it may be more important to draft a player like a Brittany Griner FIRST; lose out on drafting a Tierra Ruffin-Pratt; and THEN go draft a wing who is close enough to Tierra, and who may also be more athletic, and have more upside for the future.
In most ways, this is the same dilemna that seemed to be happening this past school season with the Maya Moore versus Vicki Baugh debates, on these boards. To the IH, Maya Moore IS Maya Moore, no doubt; she's my #1 in the class, as well. But would I draft Vicki Baugh first? NO DOUBT!
These message boards are populated predominantly by these girls, the parents, assorted fans, high school and summer coaches, and other co-signers. What ALWAYS fascinates me the most about most of these people, is that they really get upset when you genuinely complement THEIR player, and truly admire THEIR player, BUT YOU DON"T DO IT THE WAY THEY WANT YOU TO DO IT. What paranoia! What insecurity! What perfect registrants for the "Relax Room"!
I've never gotten frustrated with f2n over ANYTHING he's opined on these boards, because AT LEAST he'll put forth his own lists, and give some real opinions about players and teams. This is why no matter what, he's my Blood Brother. But the rest of these people are just bandwagon-jumpers and fan-club presidents, because they show NO intellectual thought processes, and the emotion they DO go overboard with is not even that comprehensive.
This by no means says that the IH is the final word on ANYTHING, sports fans. What I say on these boards--for the most part--is OPINION; and I have one, just like everyone else does.
And my opinion is that what separates Tierra from these other wings who I've seen so far in her class, and in most of high school regardless of class, is her court vision in the transition game, and her street sensibilities as a playmaker--which, to me, translates to her being a SPECIAL type of point guard in the college women's game, assuming she goes to the right school for her. Maybe she can become the next step after Noelle Quinn (having said that, maybe she'll end up being considered a top player in college, but still have a disappointing college career, like Noelle Quinn...).
As for these other girls in our region mentioned by f2n, there's no point in discussing any of them, with this fake beef as a backdrop. The only thing that would be accomplished would be to pit one girl versus another on this board, which REALLY WOULD qualify the IH as an idiot and a jerk. Why step down to the level of the true haters? Or to put it another way, why would I want to assist these second-rate haters in co-opting my Number-One Status?
You see, sports fans, what these co-signers do, when they get twisted up because they don't get their way, is to rely on that 6-year-old crutch, "You only hype Team Unique girls." Or that 7-year-old crutch, "Team Unique ain't all that; you just hype them all the time." Or that 9-year-old crutch, "You ain't all-that; the Team Unique girls were already all-that before they hooked up with you, and you started hyping them." And so forth, and so on.
Well, sports fans, I'd love to discuss the All-Universe status of Miss Tierra some more with you all--All-Galaxy ain't big enough, mind you--but it's the IH's Friday-afternoon Siesta time, and she ain't interesting enough to interrupt the flow of the Sangria, with lots of ice and fresh fruit...

[scoutnwhoops]

What ALWAYS fascinates me the most about most of these people, is that they really get upset when you genuinely complement THEIR player, and truly admire THEIR player, BUT YOU DON"T DO IT THE WAY THEY WANT YOU TO DO IT...

My man, the boards are just the tip of the ice berg. Try reading Glenn or my's email addresses. We have some classics. My fave is a father writing blasting us for have his kid ranked too low in the Top 100 and futher more telling us we were idiots for not ranking her older sister, who I think was an 03 or 04 recruit and our first rankings weren't until 2005. Too friggin funny!

[lboogie]

This is better than the Kevin Durant/Greg Oden draft frenzy.

Bottom-line both of these young ladies are tremendously talented and they are part of the generation of players that is going to forever change the women's game.

For the record TRP is #1 because 99% of women's bball is still played below the rim.

IH and F2N kiss and make nice!!!

[first2no]

LBoogie,

It's all good we go at it all the time. We keep each other on our toes because if he tries to post somthing slick he knows that I'm coming at him. Most of the time we vent a little and then it's on to the next debate!!

I'll take Maya Moore, TRP and Monica Wright and IH can have Baugh, Garner and who ever else is 6"4 and I will take all his money!!