2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure update from aaron torres

[RuffRuff]

I don't think UConn got all that close to the rumored number, so it absolutely makes sense for him to take option A. If option B were closer, it's a conversation. But as I outlined in a long post in a different thread, the UConn staff is not going to get over their skis on the cap for a bench guy with portal, internationals, and retention still up in the air.

They didn't - because they didn't think he was worth it. Cal & English did. Hurley also has a lot of mouths to feed next year - why would you go all in on a kid who may be a Ferrari at some point, but unlikely to be that year one? Not only is it a bad use of funds, but it's also poor precedent in the locker room.

 

[HW611]

Cal chases shiny things. Historically he would get a lot of them in one class, and see what worked. What's to say Toure isn't just another shiny object? Just because he's CT doesn't mean he's not.

This sounds like you think you're the best scout on the planet, better than 247 & Finkelstein, who lives on the circuit.

And yes, the staff did a great job here, very Warren Buffett. The evaluated the ROI for year one and didn't bite because he was around the corner.

I feel like I know what I’m watching. There’s plenty of people who do.

Toure is going to be great under Cal though. He's actually really good.

 

[Inyatkin]

It's yet to be determined if Kim English can coach, but at least we know he can recr................

 

[djct1999]

How do you know they said no to more $$? Are we talking about coming here or staying here? I think there's a big difference. I'm sure we've outbid some people along the way for players, too.

Staying here.

 

[djct1999]

Cal buys the players looking to get bought.

 

[RuffRuff]

I feel like I know what I’m watching. There’s plenty of people who do.

Toure is going to be great under Cal though. He's actually really good.

Finkelstein & Hurley probably think they know what they're watching, especially when they see kids live and spend time with them. YouTube is pretty limiting, lol. If you're not at a Peach Jam or watching these kids regularly playing live against real peers, what do you know?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Feels like a very reasonable choice, given the situation. Clearly UConn wasn’t happening for a number of reasons. If Arkansas dropped a bag, he gets a payday and we know Cal will still be there next season, which absolutely a question with English.

 

[HW611]

Finkelstein & Hurley probably think they know what they're watching, especially when they see kids live and spend time with them. YouTube is pretty limiting, lol. If you're not at a Peach Jam or watching these kids regularly playing live against real peers, what do you know?

Our staff definitely knows what they’re watching.

It’s why they never bothered with that group and instead offered Castle when he wasn’t even a top 30 player and best offer was Georgia Tech (shoutout Kimani for that find).

They also found Hawkins outside of the top 50 (Kimani again I think) and Sanogo outside of the top 100. Those rankings meant nothing to them.

 

[Nameless]

Nothing personal but this is such a dumb take. Sure we can criticize him. He took the quick bag and an easy path. He could have come to UConn, still have done very well financially, earned his spot and become a ct legend. If we can’t criticize him, can we applaud guys like Alex, Solo, and Stewie who said no to more money elsewhere because they see the intrinsic value UConn adds?

He took the bag because of ego. His camp couldn’t stand the fact that he probably wouldn’t start at UConn. Trust me, the staff did the right thing here showing some interest as a courtesy. If he was from any other state, he wouldn’t even be on their radar.

So on one hand you're saying he's lucky to have even been on the staff's radar, implying he doesn't fit the roster. On the other you're saying we can be critical of him because he took the money and the "easy" path.

Well if he really didn't even deserve to be on the staff's radar, what is there to be critical of? You're saying we should criticize him for taking a 7 figure paycheck and going somewhere he is actually wanted, over taking less money to go somewhere he isn't? Where he likely doesn't even get minutes his first season? In what world does that make logical sense?

With all due respect, you say he made an ego driven move, but your post is so obviously ego driven. It sounds like you're hurt that he didn't want to come here, and being critical of him to feel better about the situation.

As I said earlier in the thread, this just wasn't the best fit for either party. Him not coming here is neither and indictment of the staff for not reeling him in, nor is it an indictment of his character. Sometimes there is just a better situation and you have to take it.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Would have liked to see him in a Husky uniform but best of luck to him…unless we face him in the tourney.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Our staff definitely knows what they’re watching.

It’s why they never bothered with that group and instead offered Castle when he wasn’t even a top 30 player and best offer was Georgia Tech (shoutout Kimani for that find).

They also found Hawkins outside of the top 50 (Kimani again I think) and Sanogo outside of the top 100. Those rankings meant nothing to them.

Almost positive Hawkins was top 50 and Sanogo was top 100.

 

[HW611]

Almost positive Hawkins was top 50 and Sanogo was top 100.

Meant where they started. Not finished.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Would have liked to see him in a Husky uniform but best of luck to him…unless we face him in the tourney.

Glad he's going away. I didn't want us playing him in the Big East.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Meant where they started. Not finished.

Same.

 

[FriarJ]

Congrats to FriarJ or whatever the name is for being my first ever muted poster! Just a brutal day for Providence all around, hate to see it.

Did I hurt your feelings somehow? What the heck?

 

[FriarJ]

@FriarJ I thought PC’s best and final offer was <$1mill because they spent all the money on a Carrie underwood show?

I’m pretty sure that’s BS. Btw, these LNM performers are break even or revenue producers. The tickets aren’t cheap and it usually sells out the AMP. They have had Zac Brown, John Legend, and others like that recently.

 

[FriarJ]

Well, even those different paths presumably were paying a lot of $. I just checked the PC board, if they had a Toure thread going it's gone now.

It’s called Recruiting News on the freeboard. The pay board has a couple of them.

 

[Inyatkin]

Did I hurt your feelings somehow? What the heck?

I mean, you popped over for no apparent reason to say "Do better, guys," which is condescending and irritating, so you're going to get some pushback.

 

[FriarJ]

I mean, you popped over for no apparent reason to say "Do better, guys," which is condescending and irritating, so you're going to get some pushback.

True, but blocked? That’s weak sauce. And I was responding to a post about how we treat a dirtbag after he spurned us. I get it though, kids are fragile.

 

[AntG168]

1.3 million is a lot..

Congrats kid.

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

His loss. He'll probably transfer here next year

 

[RuffRuff]

True, but blocked? That’s weak sauce. And I was responding to a post about how we treat a dirtbag after he spurned us. I get it though, kids are fragile.

English losing a local kid to Cal while tossing him an extra 100K is unlikely to help in his journey to not getting punted after this year. He's in on a lot of these kids without landing any. Not sure being a bridesmaid in recruiting impresses the administration or fans much.

 

[FriarJ]

English losing a local kid to Cal while tossing him an extra 100K is unlikely to help in his journey to not getting punted after this year. He's in on a lot of these kids without landing any. Not sure being a bridesmaid in recruiting impresses the administration or fans much.

It doesn’t impress me. Throw a bunch of money spend a crazy amount of time pursuing and then lose out. We don’t offer 1.4, I know you would like him to be embarrassed but don’t make stuff up.

To your point though, he has to win, this year. I frankly was ready to pull the plug last year but I’m on board for this year. Let’s see. The losses were one thing but the techs and getting into it with fans were disgraceful. You want to be a jerk on the sidelines? You better win.

 

[80shusky]

Best of luck to Toure and congratulations to the young man. Perhaps our paths will meet again.

 

[BGesus4]

If cal has another mediocre to bad year he’ll be looking for the exit hatch. No guarantee Toure ends up there even if he announces for them