AP story on Diamond DeShields

#1
Fingers

Fingers

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
6,408
Likes
43,251
#1
DeShields heads to Colorado next week to begin training for the World University Games, which takes place July 4-13 in Gwangju, South Korea. Lady Vols center Mercedes Russell also is part of the U.S. team's roster, and Tennessee's Holly Warlick is an assistant coach.
Click to expand...

"It's great that we can get some runs in before we actually start to play our scheduled games (for Tennessee)," said DeShields, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining. "It will be very helpful just seeing where you're at, playing some of the top talent in the world."
Click to expand...

She's savoring the return to the court. DeShields got a chance to measure her progress during the World University Games tryouts.

"I just kept telling myself to do everything you can and try not to look bad," DeShields said. "Even though I was a little slower, I made up for it by just being talkative, trying to be a leader and encouraging people and just showing the committee members I was able to be a leader."
Click to expand...

Busy summer helps Lady Vols' DeShields adapt to new team
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#3
#3
If you can't get excited about this upcoming season....then give up.
This IS the season !
 
#4
#4
I think one area where this team will excel is steals and forcing turnovers. With Cooper,Carter, and Deshields on the floor we may average 12 to 15 steals per game. I think were going to force most teams into 20 or more turnovers and this will be huge all season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#5
#5
diamond will be able to take over games, something we haven't had I awhile, plus the team should feed off her and also be more confident!! imo
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#6
#6
The feeding off of Diamond, should be like the white shark did on that girl Chrissy in the beginning of "Jaws." She will be the straw that stirs the orange drink.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#8
#8
It is going to be at least a decent summer for Lady Vol fans as we'll get to see Diamond and Mercedes play in the World University games. Then the entire team takes a trip to play a few games in Italy.
While were waiting on those games here comes the Rocky Top League with all eleven Tennessee players currently on the roster playing starting next Monday.
 
#9
#9
Busy summer helps Lady Vols' DeShields adapt to new team

"DeShields averaged 18 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game while her freshman year at North Carolina."


"I think she'll fit right into a team and we'll understand that it's not just about Diamond and her talent," Warlick said. "It's about this team and how we're going to move forward as a group. I'm excited she's here. She's fit in very, very well."

"Mercedes is a huge talent," Warlick said. "We didn't know how bad her feet were (in 2013-14), actually we didn't know it was a factor until after the season when she told us. She got one fixed and realized how much pain she was playing in, so then she got the other fixed. I think she's playing pain free and she looks great."

that is great to hear about Russell

thanks for the link Fingers :hi:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#10
#10
Just a curious thought about Russell's feet....Holly said she wasn't aware all season her feet were a problem....Did anyone ask her why she ran so awkward running down the court...

I mean the first time when I saw her run, my alarm bell went off...She didn't look right....She had no smoothness to her gait, she seemed to struggle getting up and down the court, and I could see that from the 19th row, not sure of the section, before you ask.

Not slamming Holly here, but please pay attention to your players...If a girl lumbers and stumbles down the court, instead of running, that might be worth looking into...

It is good to read she is feeling great now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#11
#11
When you look back it, it does look visible but thats bc we know now that it was her feet. How do you know if the player doesn't tell you. She's old enough to let people know that her feet hurts and thats what she did at the end of the season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#12
#12
GameTime said:
Just a curious thought about Russell's feet....Holly said she wasn't aware all season her feet were a problem....Did anyone ask her why she ran so awkward running down the court...

I mean the first time when I saw her run, my alarm bell went off...She didn't look right....She had no smoothness to her gait, she seemed to struggle getting up and down the court, and I could see that from the 19th row, not sure of the section, before you ask.

Not slamming Holly here, but please pay attention to your players...If a girl lumbers and stumbles down the court, instead of running, that might be worth looking into...

It is good to read she is feeling great now.
Click to expand...

I agree... I was like "this is the #1 Player in the Country", but now it all make sense.

BTW I like Diamond... swag, fire and desire!

Hope the Lady Vols have a good season, I'll be watching.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#13
#13
Daddy Choc, nice to read your post....Once people get away from all the crazy talk, message boards are often a nice place to be...Chest pounding and saber rattling is very juvenile by all of us.

I went back and looked at some old film of Russell playing in HS....She went up and down the court like everyone else, fine...Not sure when the injury happened, but I do remember a comment when the injury was revealed she said it had got progressively worse, until walking, much less running, was a problem...I know toward the end of the year, before the red shirt, I winced several times watching her run..It looked way to odd.

My wife is a supervisor at UT and often saw her before the injury became public...She use to tell me she walks odd, something is not right with that girl......My bride played center at her college too, and has a keen eye for movement...If a player did not move right, or struggled getting up and down the court, they attacked her first...

By the way, I watched the video of Maya presenting the trophy for HS Gatorade Player to Russell...She (Maya) is a well spoken person that carries herself like a fine woman...
I'll probably be stoned for saying that.

In any event stay well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#14
#14
GameTime said:
Daddy Choc, nice to read your post....Once people get away from all the crazy talk, message boards are often a nice place to be...Chest pounding and saber rattling is very juvenile by all of us.

I went back and looked at some old film of Russell playing in HS....She went up and down the court like everyone else, fine...Not sure when the injury happened, but I do remember a comment when the injury was revealed she said it had got progressively worse, until walking, much less running, was a problem...I know toward the end of the year, before the red shirt, I winced several times watching her run..It looked way to odd.

My wife is a supervisor at UT and often saw her before the injury became public...She use to tell me she walks odd, something is not right with that girl......My bride played center at her college too, and has a keen eye for movement...If a player did not move right, or struggled getting up and down the court, they attacked her first...

By the way, I watched the video of Maya presenting the trophy for HS Gatorade Player to Russell...She (Maya) is a well spoken person that carries herself like a fine woman...
I'll probably be stoned for saying that.

In any event stay well.
Click to expand...

No stones, Gametime, as usual your post is well written and sensible. But I still have another day of pariah hood :cray: to serve before I am forgiven (LadyVol1908 said so), so my support is limited at best.
 
#15
#15
Smallvol#1 said:
No stones, Gametime, as usual your post is well written and sensible. But I still have another day of pariah hood :cray: to serve before I am forgiven (LadyVol1908 said so), so my support is limited at best.
Click to expand...

Lmaooo, you're free smallvol!
 
#16
#16
GameTime said:
Daddy Choc, nice to read your post....Once people get away from all the crazy talk, message boards are often a nice place to be...Chest pounding and saber rattling is very juvenile by all of us.

I went back and looked at some old film of Russell playing in HS....She went up and down the court like everyone else, fine...Not sure when the injury happened, but I do remember a comment when the injury was revealed she said it had got progressively worse, until walking, much less running, was a problem...I know toward the end of the year, before the red shirt, I winced several times watching her run..It looked way to odd.

My wife is a supervisor at UT and often saw her before the injury became public...She use to tell me she walks odd, something is not right with that girl......My bride played center at her college too, and has a keen eye for movement...If a player did not move right, or struggled getting up and down the court, they attacked her first...

By the way, I watched the video of Maya presenting the trophy for HS Gatorade Player to Russell...She (Maya) is a well spoken person that carries herself like a fine woman...
I'll probably be stoned for saying that.

In any event stay well.
Click to expand...
Idk why you think you'll be stoned for saying that. I haven't seen one poster or post attacking Maya's character, just her collegiate coach.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#20
#20
And if anyone took my comments about Maya's recruitment as any sort of insult to her personally, I can assure you that is not the case. By all means, I think Maya is a class person and an awesome player who represents herself and her school very well. UConn fans should be proud to have her as an alumnus.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top