(2024) - F Zania Socka-Nguemen to INDIANA

[TTT]

Kinda reminds me of when Steve Alford was selected for the Olympic team coached by Bob Knight.  That turned out rather well.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Opening game of the U19 World Cup.  USA over Korea 134-53.  Zania played 10 min. scoring 9 pts. on 3-4 FG; 1-1 on 3s; 2-2 FT.  She had 5 reb; 3 were offensive boards.   Women play Hungary tomorrow.

[Stuhoo]

5 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Opening game of the U19 World Cup.  USA over Korea 134-53.  Zania played 10 min. scoring 9 pts. on 3-4 FG; 1-1 on 3s; 2-2 FT.  She had 5 reb; 3 were offensive boards.   Women play Hungary tomorrow.

Of note: the coach of this US team is the best women’s hoops coach in the land.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

US defeated Hungary 79-49.  Zania played 7 minutes; scored 3 points and had 2 rebounds.  Team plays Israel on Tuesday.

[mickey one]

I think Zania deserves more time on the floor. I do not understand the "politics" of these national teams, i.e. who is on the team and who is not; who plays and who does not. Didn't the US shoot like 2 for 16 from 3 against Hungary? Wouldn't someone like Maya Makalusky fill that need for better 3-point shooting? Kayleigh Heckel is on the team again. You can't convince me she is going to play ahead of KK Arnold at UConn next year. And Heckel was a sub at USC last year behind other freshmen. How is she on the national team year after year?

I guess the test will be whether this team can get past France and Canada. For CTM's sake, I hope they do.

[Stuhoo]

2 hours ago, mickey one said:

I think Zania deserves more time on the floor. I do not understand the "politics" of these national teams, i.e. who is on the team and who is not; who plays and who does not. Didn't the US shoot like 2 for 16 from 3 against Hungary? Wouldn't someone like Maya Makalusky fill that need for better 3-point shooting? Kayleigh Heckel is on the team again. You can't convince me she is going to play ahead of KK Arnold at UConn next year. And Heckel was a sub at USC last year behind other freshmen. How is she on the national team year after year?

I guess the test will be whether this team can get past France and Canada. For CTM's sake, I hope they do.

Zania was a freshman backup last year. The only reason she's on the team is as a favor to Coach Moren. If she was one of the better players in practice she would play more.

[mickey one]

12 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Zania was a freshman backup last year. The only reason she's on the team is as a favor to Coach Moren. If she was one of the better players in practice she would play more.

Kayleigh Heckel was a freshman backup to another freshman at USC last year. She will be a sophomore backup at UConn next year. The only place Heckel reliably starts and gets major PT is on the national team!

Jeez. You are accusing CTM of mere favoritism by including Zania on the team? Is there any evidence for that? Strange stuff for an IU fan base forum.

[Hoosierfanyuh]

1 minute ago, mickey one said:

Kayleigh Heckel was a freshman backup to another freshman at USC last year. She will be a sophomore backup at UConn next year. The only place Heckel reliably starts and gets major PT is on the national team!

Jeez. You are accusing CTM of mere favoritism by including Zania on the team? Is there any evidence for that? Strange stuff for an IU fan base forum.

It’s not uncommon lol. Painter gets his guys on the USA yearly 

[Stuhoo]

10 hours ago, mickey one said:

 

Jeez. You are accusing CTM of mere favoritism by including Zania on the team? Is there any evidence for that? Strange stuff for an IU fan base forum.

Not “accusing.” Just stating. It’s not in any way scandalous; it’s just kinda true.

Heckel averaged 17 mpg, 6 ppg, 2 apg, and 1.3 steals as the first guard off the bench on a team that went to the national championship game.

For  a final four UCLA Zania  got into less than 1/2 of their games, never played ten minutes in a game that was in any way meaningful, and had 24 points for the entire season. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

USA cruised to a 114-40 beat down over Israel.  The women will play again on Wednesday with their opponent still to be determined.  Zania played 13 min. scoring 4 points on 1-2 FG; 2-2 FT; 7r; 1s

[HoosierHoopster]

6 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

USA cruised to a 114-40 beat down over Israel.  The women will play again on Wednesday with their opponent still to be determined.  Zania played 13 min. scoring 4 points on 1-2 FG; 2-2 FT; 7r; 1s

The 7 boards in 13 minutes is very solid, and the better part of those stats. 

Now @Stuhoo will come on to post yeah but it was against a lousy Israel team! Lol :)

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, HoosierHoopster said:

The 7 boards in 13 minutes is very solid, and the better part of those stats. 

Now @Stuhoo will come on to post yeah but it was against a lousy Israel team! Lol :)

That they beat 114-40.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of coach giving her practice time and experience against the best in the world of her age. It can only help her development and be great for the program in recruiting.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Another nail biter NOT.  USA overwhelms China 122-57.  Thursday is a rest day and they'll face France on Friday.

Zania played 13 min. and scored 4p on 2-4 FG; 3r; 1b; 1t

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

France gave our USA team all it wanted but we pulled out a 70-65 win to advance to Saturday's semifinal.  I believe we'll face Spain.   CTM road her starters as Zania only saw 1 min. of action and Sydney Douglas and Addison Bjorn didn't play at all.  Douglas has been at the end of the bench with Zania in the tournament but Bjorn has been starting and the fact she didn't play at all maybe suggests some kind of injury.  But that's speculation on my part.

[TTT]

Maybe, Zania can be a positive contributor for IU Ladies next season.  High Stardom doesn’t seem to promising given she had a year of college and under 19 tournament is development tournament.

Looking at pic of  Nevaeh Caffey on back of Edessa Noyan while playing around …..Navaeh looked like she was 10 years old.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

USA defeats Spain 70-58 and will play Australia on Sunday for the championship.  Zania played 7 min. scoring 2 pts; 2 reb; 1 stl; 1 to.  She also committed 3 fouls in her 7 min.  After sitting out yesterday's game, Addison Bjorn was back in action.  Sydney Douglas again did not play.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Coach Moren does it again.  USA U19 women defeat Australia 88-76 in the gold medal game.  

Zania Socka - IU Commit
Date	Gms		Pts		FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
134-53  W			9		3	4	1	1	2	2	5	0	0	0	0	10
79-49  W			3		1	2	0	0	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	7
114-40 W			4		1	2	0	0	2	2	7	0	0	0	1	13
122-57  W			4		2	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	1	0	13
70-65  W				0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
70-58  W			2		1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	3	0	1	7
88-76  W			0		0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Count/Avg	6		3.7		50%		100%		71%		2.9	0.0	0.6	0.1	0.3	7.4

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/article/indianas-teri-moren-zania-socka-ngueman-win-gold-medal-with-usa-basketball-251903328/

[HoosierHoopster]

On 7/20/2025 at 6:07 PM, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/article/indianas-teri-moren-zania-socka-ngueman-win-gold-medal-with-usa-basketball-251903328/

HC for U19 Gold, 3 prior golds as an assistant, 10 straight 20 win seasons, an EE and 2 SW 16s -- have said it before but we're very lucky to have Moren leading the Women, she's hands down a top flight, winning coach. 

Now if she can just keep growing the program with more size and athleticism we'll be back in deep tourney runs. Would love to see her push on to the next level, she's scratching at it.

[TTT]

Barring injury, foul troubles and will have to finish in traffic it would be a surprise to me if Zania is not an All Big Ten performer this year.  Athleticism, strength with size with talent level can run the floor….with a coaching staff tailor made for her.