Roster make-up and recruiting for 2017 and beyond | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Roster make-up and recruiting for 2017 and beyond

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UConn needs a 3 point shooter for next year.

We're not going to go to a 3 guard offense often. Look: at the makeup of the team, you have 4 kids at the forward spots, Hamilton, Larrier, Facey and Diarra. Two of those are going to spend a lot of time on the floor in Hamilton and Larrier. At both the 3 and the 4. There are really only 3 guards to rely on, with Cassell seeing some spot time. Of course, the guards will have some improved play making abilities and running the offense (Alterique seems to be a better penetrator and passer than Gibbs, and Adams should improve).

But who is the 3 point shooter? Hamilton improves? Purvis becomes even better? Adams improves?

Seems to me that Myles Powell, who went to Seton Hall, would have actually seen some playing time at UConn next year in 3 guard offensive sets.

Since UConn has an extra scholarship for next year, I would not be surprised to see yet another grad transfer.
It would be nice to get another shooter but don't forget that Vance Jackson is coming in as a shooter. I can definitely see a lineup with him and DHAM at the forward positions together especially if Larrier can't shoot the 3 much.
 
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Reposting this from another thread, since I think it's useful info to have on hand as we 1) start to close in on more 2017s, and 2) start hearing about 2018s we may be recruiting.

Here's our latest scholarship grid, courtesy of @tcf15:
DTvamh3.jpg


There is a chance, from what we've heard, that Brown enters as a 2016 and is a freshman next year. There's also a chance that Purvis or Hamilton are gone after this year (though I think it would be a mistake for either/both).

Regardless, we can rest assured that our roster is 95% done for next year.

And then it gets tricky. I'm going to assume that we'll be lucky enough to have Hamilton stay for his junior year, then head to the league. I'm also going to assume that KO closes on our two top targets for 2017: Point guard Makai Ashton-Langford and shooting guard Hamidou Diallo.

Going by @tcf15 's grid above, that would leave us with three open scholarships. It would also leave us with the following depth chart for the 2017-18 season:

PG: Adams (Jr.), Alterique (So.), MAL (Fr.)
SG: Diallo (Fr.)
SF: Larrier (Jr.), Jackson (So.)
PF: Durham (So.), Diarra (So.)
C: Enoch (Jr.), Brown (So.)

So I think we're done recruiting PGs for 2017 once we sign MAL. That means no Tremont Waters (4-star, top-60ish Connecticut kid) or Ishmael El-Amin (Khalid's kid, a top 200ish 3-star player).

You can see the lack of depth at wing. I suspect that's where we'd focus for the rest of the 2017 recruiting efforts (once we've wrapped up Diallo & MAL). Two names that jump out are Jay Jay Chandler, a fast-rising, 6-foot-4, 4-star SG from Katy, Texas, and Chaundee Brown, a 6-foot-6, 4-star SG from Florida. Both of these guys have a ton of offers from SEC and Big 12 schools, but none from Kentucky, Kansas or Texas (yet).

Our "reach" recruit at the SF spot is D.J. Harvey, a 5-star kid from Maryland. We're going up against everybody you'd expect for a guy like that - Duke, UNC, Maryland, etc. The local option is Jermaine Samuels, a top 60 recruit from Massachusetts. He's been to campus multiple times and I believe was at Midnight Madness last year, but am not 100% sure.

I wouldn't be shocked if we got two wings from that group, or another wing who we start recruiting out of nowhere since we have need.

The other issue is that there are only 4 true bigs, though I suspect Jackson will spend a good deal of his time on the court as a stretch 4. We're not recruiting a ton of PFs, but one who we are on is Malik William, a 4-star, top-100 player from Florida (and Chaundee Brown's teammate). He is completely earthbound at this point in his physical development, but he's described as a brilliant passer with a high IQ and a monster rebounder thanks to his long arms and big old butt. The comparison folks have made is to the kid from St. Joe's who tore us up in the tourney back in 2014.

Maybe even more interesting is that we're apparently still going hard after Nick Richards, a 5-star C from NYC who played, I believe, on the same AAU team as Diallo. I assumed, once we got Zach Brown, that we were likely going to back off on other elite 2017 centers. But I guess not (no complaints here!).

The other thing to note: No seniors. There are three guys (Adams, Enoch, Larrier) who probably have a decent chance to work themselves into NBA prospects by then, but none is a lock. Diallo may very well come in as a one-and-done if his improvement curve continues, and Zach Brown's 7-foot-1, so if he's at all decent he'll get interest.

However, this does kind of put our 2018 recruiting in flux, which is why we haven't heard that much about it as of yet. KO's not offering as many guys from that class early in the cycle, which is a drastic change from what he did in 2016 and 2017.

Here's the NERR list of the top 75 '18s: http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/new-england-class-of-2018

We've reportedly been in to see Swider & Reeves, but no offers yet as far as anyone knows. In fact we've only offered 5 2018s so far: 5-star PG TJ Moss from Memphis; 5-star wing Cameron Reddish from Pennsylvania; a pair of 5-star PFs in Nazreon Reid of New Jersey and Marvin Bagley from Arizona; and 5-star center Mamadou Doucoure from NYC.

We are competing against exactly who you'd expect for each of those guys.

Like I said at the top, things can and will change. But hopefully this gives people an idea of what we have going forward and what KO's looking for.
Love the charts. Good times ahead!
 
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It would be nice to get another shooter but don't forget that Vance Jackson is coming in as a shooter. I can definitely see a lineup with him and DHAM at the forward positions together especially if Larrier can't shoot the 3 much.

While I do like the fact that our recruiting class is ranked so high, almost everyone coming in except for Alterique is going to be glued to the bench. They will not provide immediate support to next year's team. In other words, I don't expect Vance and Diarra to play much at all. Durham will probably redshirt. Next year's team is essentially this year's team + Alterique + Larrier and - (Shonn + Sterling) with a lot of improvement from Adams.
 
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Something to keep in mind regarding DHam is his brother. I don't think DHam or Isaac Hamilton are all that good as wing prospects for the NBA but Isaac did put up some strong numbers on a mediocre team, if he declares for the draft it wouldn't surprise me if DHam joins him.
 
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Hamilton testing the waters going into his junior year would be smart. he should come back though and work on his abysmal shooting efficiency .
 
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Purvis is going to start next year as a starter. So are Brimah, Hamilton and Adams. If Gilbert pushes someone to the bench as the season prgresses more power to him, but that will have as much to do with team chemistry as individual talent.

The single key to next year will be the same single key to this year -- can Brimah be a beast for 32 minutes a game staying healthy and staying out of foul trouble. We know he can change games on D at his best, and we've seen more rebounding lately. I still think there is a huge upside that needs nothing more than consistency and avoiding fouls.

I expect Hamilton to be back, but I'm not shocked if he leaves either. We all know that the reality of one's NBA prospects is often less than the picture of the prospects being painted by one's hanger ons.

Eh, its alot more to this team and next year's team being succesful than Brimah. Our guard and wingplay from Gibbs/Purvis/DHam, 3 guys that we were hoping to push this team to elite on the perimeter has been erratic and spotty throughout the season. If the latter two return and then you insert Adams for Gibbs and then Gilbert for Adams its the same thing. They need to be alot more consistent with their play, Purvis and DHam's shooting and lack of offense has been the difference in alot of these close losses the past two seasons. The guys with the ball in their hands and that are counted on for scoring need to put the ball in the basket and limit the dumb mistakes with the ball.
 
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Something to keep in mind regarding DHam is his brother. I don't think DHam or Isaac Hamilton are all that good as wing prospects for the NBA but Isaac did put up some strong numbers on a mediocre team, if he declares for the draft it wouldn't surprise me if DHam joins him.
Isaac Hamilton? He wouldn't get drafted if there was three rounds.
 

krinklecut

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Isaac Hamilton? He wouldn't get drafted if there was three rounds.
I believe he has brothers playing overseas right now, he's the youngest of 5, 4 of which are boys
 

Matrim55

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Isaac Hamilton? He wouldn't get drafted if there was three rounds.
Maybe, but that would be a mistake from somebody. He averaged 16/4/3 on 47/38/81 shooting splits in a good conference, and is 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan. Alford's a terrible coach, but Ike's a good player who could fit at the end of somebody's rotation as a 3-point specialist and secondary ball-handler.

Alford had to try to make that UCLA team bad, btw. He's worse than Crean.
 
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Whether we add another shooter or not, if Hamilton returns, that is our most experienced and talented roster since 2009. That is why that Adams shot against Cincy is so huge. They go from letting another game slip away to learning how to close out a game and go on to win a championship. Huge trait to learn this year. They will also get invaluable NCAA experience. This is all huge heading into next year where they are really set up nicely to have a special season.
 
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Maybe, but that would be a mistake from somebody. He averaged 16/4/3 on 47/38/81 shooting splits in a good conference, and is 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan. Alford's a terrible coach, but Ike's a good player who could fit at the end of somebody's rotation as a 3-point specialist and secondary ball-handler.

Alford had to try to make that UCLA team bad, btw. He's worse than Crean.
Wonder if Prince Ali is gonna transfer: http://www.bruinsnation.com/2016/3/...l-is-another-athletic-guard-going-to-transfer
 
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Isaac Hamilton? He wouldn't get drafted if there was three rounds.


I don't think either DHam or Isaac are great prospects(Jordan Hamilton wasn't either), but there have been worse players than him with lesser stats who have gone pro. Plus I don't think everything is kosher in UCLA land right now under Alford.
 
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Whether we add another shooter or not, if Hamilton returns, that is our most experienced and talented roster since 2009. That is why that Adams shot against Cincy is so huge. They go from letting another game slip away to learning how to close out a game and go on to win a championship. Huge trait to learn this year. They will also get invaluable NCAA experience. This is all huge heading into next year where they are really set up nicely to have a special season.

Really? Over 2011? That was a talented roster. Three future NBA in Kemba, Jeremy and Napier. Oriakhi is in Italy, Okwandu was a 7 foot body that was passable, Roscoe Smith a top 20 recruit. There was some talent on that team, no?
 
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I'm honestly surprised he hasn't announced it yet. What I wonder is if we'll jump back in -- though somehow I doubt it.
I wouldn't mind having Ali transfer to UConn. Would be a nice option at the wing for 2017. But, I'm not sure a player has ever de-committed from school, committed elsewhere, then transferred to the school they de-committed from the following year.
 
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I'm honestly surprised he hasn't announced it yet. What I wonder is if we'll jump back in -- though somehow I doubt it.
Yeah he did back out of a commitment. Purvis never commited, though he was close.
 
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UConn needs a 3 point shooter for next year.

But who is the 3 point shooter? Hamilton improves? Purvis becomes even better? Adams improves?

Yes, yes, and yes.
 
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Really? Over 2011? That was a talented roster. Three future NBA in Kemba, Jeremy and Napier. Oriakhi is in Italy, Okwandu was a 7 foot body that was passable, Roscoe Smith a top 20 recruit. There was some talent on that team, no?
The key word, though, is EXPERIENCE. Of all the players you mention, three of them - as good as they were - were still freshmen. So maybe the 2011 team had more talent, but definitely less experience than next year's team, provided Hamilton returns.
 
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It'll be interesting to see if Alford continues to put Bryce at the 1 with Lonzo Ball coming in next year. Lonzo should be the starter from day 1.
That would be just be insane. Lonzo, a top ten prospect and future NBA player, must have some sort of agreement in place .

Having said that lavine was sitting behind little alford, and arguably would still be sitting behind him right now as a junior . Instead he is starting in the NBA while playing pg a ton.
 

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In terms of immediately eligible guys isn't the youngest Barry supposedly transferring? Think he's a three though.
 
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In terms of immediately eligible guys isn't the youngest Barry supposedly transferring? Think he's a three though.
Canyon Barry was in the link, but I didn't separate him out.

He's been a volume scorer for Charleston without great percentages. I think @upstater is right: if we pick up a grad transfer, we're looking for a utility guy who can 3 and d.
 

Matrim55

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In terms of immediately eligible guys isn't the youngest Barry supposedly transferring? Think he's a three though.
Yeah, he's transferring. Only seen him a few times, but it looks like he can toggle between SG and SF pretty readily.

Doesn't seem to have the vision that his brothers did, going by his raw assists and APG totals, and doesn't seem to be a dead-eye shooter. I doubt he would start, and I doubt he wants to go to a place where he wouldn't start, so...
 
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