Cal needs to go after Tess Heal hard to land another scorer. Charmin Smith only has six scholarship players returning and only a single starter, Lulu Twidale, at shooting guard. None of the others have any proven ability to score points at the Div I level. Last season, the Bears had five starters that all averaged in double-figures.

Tess Heal only received 21.5 minutes per game at Stanford and averaged 8 points as a junior. She was, however, the best shooter on the Cardinal. Her FG% was, 50.3%, her three-point accuracy was 49.3% and her free throw percentage was 87.5.

At Santa Clara, she played virtually the entire game and averaged 19.5 and 17.6 points during her sophomore & freshman seasons, respectively. She played PG for the Broncos and averaged 4.5 assists per year. If Cal could land this Aussie to pair with Lulu Twidale, Charmin would have two double digit scorers in the lineup. If one assumes that frosh PG, Puff Morris, will project out there, too, that would make three. Also, it would give Cal's backcourt two-point guards that can handle the ball. Lulu Twidale had the second most turnovers behind Marta Suarez.

The six returnees plus the four freshmen in the class of 2025 adds up to ten players. This means that the HC can bring in 4-5 transfers from the portal. I think Charmin can use one or two to grab a couple of guards that can score. The other two or three scholies should be "earmarked" for frontline help from the portal. GO BEARS!

First, Marta and NIL: Technically, she can't get any money. Under the table, she can get the going rate. It's not like anyone's enforcing any of this.

Tess Heal: Heal had nice numbers at Santa Clara, but couldn't start for a mediocre P4 team. There are questions about her size, strength, quickness and athleticism -- at the level Cal wants to be at. At best, Heal would be a treading water move for Cal; she's not going to start for a top-shelf ACC team, or even play much.

ClayK said:

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First, Marta and NIL: Technically, she can't get any money. Under the table, she can get the going rate. It's not like anyone's enforcing any of this.

Tess Heal: Heal had nice numbers at Santa Clara, but couldn't start for a mediocre P4 team. There are questions about her size, strength, quickness and athleticism -- at the level Cal wants to be at. At best, Heal would be a treading water move for Cal; she's not going to start for a top-shelf ACC team, or even play much.

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"Can get the going rate?" How does that work with the Visa restrictions?

Don't know, but off the top of my head -- a payment goes to her family in Spain?

mbBear said:

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ClayK said:

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So let's just use Marta Suarez as an example ...

1) She's going to have a pro career in Europe, so she wants to come out of college as polished and ready as possible. If she feels a different program will help her improve, then she'll move on.

2) As with anyone, she will listen to money. If a Big 10 school offers her $100,000 and Cal offers $50,000, the choice is obvious.

3) Players like to win and play with other good players. Lulu is a good player. What other good players are guaranteed to be on the Cal roster next year? Presumably Marta can find a team with more returning talent.

4) Facilities. Yes, a practice gym. And a modern arena with good crowds would be nice too.

These are the hurdles Charmin and a large number of other P4 coaches must overcome. And there's not enough talent to go around.

If Tess Heal didn;'t play the same position as Puff, she would be a great get, but it makes little sense to have two point guards, a shooting guard and no inside depth. Cal's limited money has to go to fours and fives, it would seem.

In the short run, Charmin needs to get lucky. In the long run, Cal's football team needs to start winning lots of games so the athletic department and the collective have more money available for players and facilities.

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I don't understand how she is eligible for NiL money.

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pretty good question there. According to my AI, international student-athletes on F-1 visas face restrictions, generally limiting them to on-campus employment and potentially missing out on NIL opportunities in the US.
Canadian players have been able to find loopholes, but that really seems to be it.

wifeisafurd said:

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mbBear said:

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ClayK said:

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So let's just use Marta Suarez as an example ...

1) She's going to have a pro career in Europe, so she wants to come out of college as polished and ready as possible. If she feels a different program will help her improve, then she'll move on.

2) As with anyone, she will listen to money. If a Big 10 school offers her $100,000 and Cal offers $50,000, the choice is obvious.

3) Players like to win and play with other good players. Lulu is a good player. What other good players are guaranteed to be on the Cal roster next year? Presumably Marta can find a team with more returning talent.

4) Facilities. Yes, a practice gym. And a modern arena with good crowds would be nice too.

These are the hurdles Charmin and a large number of other P4 coaches must overcome. And there's not enough talent to go around.

If Tess Heal didn;'t play the same position as Puff, she would be a great get, but it makes little sense to have two point guards, a shooting guard and no inside depth. Cal's limited money has to go to fours and fives, it would seem.

In the short run, Charmin needs to get lucky. In the long run, Cal's football team needs to start winning lots of games so the athletic department and the collective have more money available for players and facilities.

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I don't understand how she is eligible for NiL money.

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pretty good question there. According to my AI, international student-athletes on F-1 visas face restrictions, generally limiting them to on-campus employment and potentially missing out on NIL opportunities in the US.
Canadian players have been able to find loopholes, but that really seems to be it.

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We will see what happens . Maybe she liked playing in the SEC. Has someone convinced her that she needs to play next year at a program that will win more? It should be explained to her that the Rutgers Men didn't make the tournament and will have 2 players top 5 in the NBA Draft.
Not that I know anything, but I think she has to be much more consistent to make any real money.

Maybe there's a grad program somewhere else she's interested in?

CalWSportsFan said:

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Maybe there's a grad program somewhere else she's interested in?

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Very fair. And that was my point... just trying to check boxes and/or "blame" the school and coach that's being left is a bit crazy...

I have a feeling if Alabama wanted to give Suarez money, they could find a way. But maybe I'm overly cynical and the stories about bags of cash in apartments and golden handshakes are just a myth.

ClayK said:

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I have a feeling if Alabama wanted to give Suarez money, they could find a way. But maybe I'm overly cynical and the stories about bags of cash in apartments and golden handshakes are just a myth.

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I think they have bigger fish to fry (ribs to roast) than someone at Suarez's level, but hey, this stuff can happen faster than you can say "Sabrina Ionescu"....
Definitely a "don't ask" "don't tell" topic for any Cal alums/fans. Besides the international influence on a solid women's basketball season, the Elite sports at Cal, the ones that win National Championships(yes, it can happen at Cal) have had a steady influence of international athletes.

To update my post above, Zahra King has also entered the transfer portal. Cal will only return five players now plus bring in four new recruits from the Class of 2025 for a total of nine. This will allow Charmin & Co to add up to 40% (6) of next year's roster from the transfer portal. The half dozen newcomers will have more proven potential than either Mafua or King. The Bears are really rolling the dice, but it sounds like it will be fun to watch!
GO BEARS!

ClayK said:

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. And a modern arena with good crowds would be nice too.

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A modern arena? What are you talking about?!?! Please provide an example of a college modern arena that you'd like to emulate.

Don't sleep on Missouri for Marta.

They just named Kellie Harper as their new WBB coach. The former Vols' head coach knows Marta very well. And vice versa.

I agree that a packed Harmon would be great.

But for a 17-year-old recruit, Pauley Pavilion or one of the big arenas in the Big 10 is going to be much more attractive. What I would like or we would like is irrelevant -- what makes a young woman say "I want to play basketball there" is what matters. And I don't think Harmon rings the bell for most recruits.

I believe Cameron at Duke has 6,000. Didn't hurt them.

If your arena is big and you have a small crowd it is much more noticeable. When i was in Philadelphia, the Palestra only seated about 5,000. Didn't hurt Big Five basketball.

wvitbear said:

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I believe Cameron at Duke has 6,000. Didn't hurt them.

If your arena is big and you have a small crowd it is much more noticeable. When i was in Philadelphia, the Palestra only seated about 5,000. Didn't hurt Big Five basketball.

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That's the point I was making. Haas at 10k for women's basketball doesn't appear to be a problem in comparison to Pauley Pavillion. And doesn't Pauley still have that thing where one end of the court is closer to the spectators than the other? And Clay, just curious, do you continue to call our place "Harmon" out of sentimentality, or is there more to it than just that?

CalWSportsFan said:

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Marta to TCU. Glad it's not the ACC.

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TCU is one of the money teams

They will be very good

All five of TCU's starters last year had positive assist/TO ratios under Mark Campbell. So that will be interesting to watch.

CalWSportsFan said:

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Marta to TCU. Glad it's not the ACC.

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Strictly a $ and exposure decision, right?

annarborbear said:

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All five of TCU's starters last year had positive assist/TO ratios under Mark Campbell. So that will be interesting to watch.

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Not really. As long as you're not dividing by zero, aren't ALL assist-to-turnover ratios positive?

brevity said:

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annarborbear said:

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All five of TCU's starters last year had positive assist/TO ratios under Mark Campbell. So that will be interesting to watch.

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Not really. As long as you're not dividing by zero, aren't ALL assist-to-turnover ratios positive?

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I refer to positive as greater than 1.0 (i.e, more assists than TO's).

And again, it will be interesting to watch how a coach who produces teams with more assists than TO's will deal with Marta's past TO issues.

Actually Marta is a better fit on a team with lots of good ballhandlers because in general, TCU won't be turning the ball over that much. You can live with some turnovers -- it's just when you have a team that turns the ball over that it really hurts.

And it's interesting. If indeed Marta can't get any money, why is she going to the school noted for high payouts? She's already established herself, reputation-wise, for Euro play, and won't be a starter/go-to player at TCU, most likely.

Kamryn has committed to Utah. Big 12 not ACC.

SFCALBear72 said:

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Kamryn has committed to Utah. Big 12 not ACC.

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Of Note: Through NIL @ the University of Utah, The Football players, along with WBB, MBB, and Women's and Men's gymnastic players get a new leased vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee or a Pick-up Truck.
Does it snow a lot in Salt Lake City? It would not be my choice of cities, but I wish her well.

Ashfield63 said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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Kamryn has committed to Utah. Big 12 not ACC.

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Of Note: Through NIL @ the University of Utah, The Football players, along with WBB, MBB, and Women's and Men's gymnastic players get a new leased vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee or a Pick-up Truck.
Does it snow a lot in Salt Lake City? It would not be my choice of cities, but I wish her well.

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Yes, a fair amount, but that kind of vehicle helps a lot. It's also a city that has the infrastructure to deal with that much snow.