Howard Herman: UConn's Mosqueda-Lewis is no star -- yet
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis is going to be a great college basketball player, and another in the line of great players to wear the uniform at the University of Connecticut.
But if you think the reigning Gatorade High School Player of the Year is getting the star treatment in Storrs, think again.
Mosqueda-Lewis is one of seven underclassmen - sophomores or freshmen - who are getting playing time for Coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies. The second-ranked Huskies haven't lost this year and have won 89 consecutive games at home, either in Storrs or Hartford.
The freshman from Southern California made her New England debut a year ago with her Mater Dei teammates at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield. Watching her play, you could understand what Auriemma saw in her to bring her across the country and play for UConn.
Twice, Mosqueda-Lewis has been the Big East freshman of the week. She scored 25 points in a win over then No. 3 Stanford - a team that undoubtedly was in the recruiting mix. She earned her second honor by making six 3-point baskets in Sunday's rout of Dayton.
As the Player of the Year, Mosqueda-Lewis comes with all kinds of baggage, the baggage that only the top players in America get to carry. Many believe she is the next Maya Moore or Diana Taurasi. In fact, around Storrs, Auriemma has dubbed her "Baby Jesus."
Mosqueda-Lewis' performance in a 90-34 win over Buffalo on Saturday was nothing to write home about. She was 0 for 8 from the floor and 0 for 5 from 3-point range.
"I never said she was the second coming and I never had her scoring 4,000 points and making everybody forget Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi and everybody else," Auriemma said. "And all those people out there who are saying I'm stupid for not starting her, I think she did it on purpose tonight, just to let everybody know Coach has a plan."
After Sunday's solid effort, the freshman seemed to get what Auriemma is preaching, and using a little tough love to get the result.
"He told me to stop being a baby and if I am missing, keep shooting," she said. "It doesn't matter. I'm not helping the team if I don't shoot."
Mosqueda-Lewis did have seven assists in that game, so it was obvious that she can help the Huskies without scoring.
So, if this UConn team doesn't belong to her yet, and Auriemma isn't going to hand it over to her now, it will soon enough.
- Howard Herman, Berkshire Eagle Staff