2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure update from aaron torres

[RuffRuff]

I thought he was banned from the state?

Ever since he stole Camby? End of day, good to see Toure getting some love and hope he lands in the best place for him.

Had a chance to meet Cal at the 2024 draft. Said hello passing through the hall on way out and he stuck his hand out to shake - seemed like a very nice guy.

 

[UCTitleTown]

When

Ever since he stole Camby? End of day, good to see Toure getting some love and hope he lands in the best place for him.

Had a chance to meet Cal at the 2024 draft. Said hello passing through the hall on way out and he stuck his hand out to shake - seemed like a very nice guy.

When he said he could swoop in and get any recruit if he really wanted him (obviously pre-NIL), I determined I could never call him a nice guy.

 

[BGesus4]

Ever since he stole Camby? End of day, good to see Toure getting some love and hope he lands in the best place for him.

Had a chance to meet Cal at the 2024 draft. Said hello passing through the hall on way out and he stuck his hand out to shake - seemed like a very nice guy.

Ted Bundy knew how to shake people’s hands too

 

[gsmooth]

Forgive me for not knowing this, but has Abdou Toure made an official visit to UConn? If he hasn't, I hope the Hurley and staff can get Clingan to talk to Toure and preferably when wearing his 2 championship rings. Clingan can relate to Toure and talk about going to UConn as an in-state recruit and the financial benefits of getting developed to be drafted higher in the NBA draft.

 

[gsmooth]

Ted Bundy knew how to shake people’s hands too

Yup. It was known that Ted Bundy was a very nice guy when meeting people.

As for Calipari, I am not going to lie, losing Marcus Camby hurt considering he was living on Garden Street right there in Hartford and went to Hartford Public.

Let's see how Toure's recruitment plays out.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ted Bundy knew how to shake people’s hands too

Eh - not sure I'd clump Cal into the serial killer bucket. I'm sure over the years, if he was a true phoney, word would have gotten around well before he sent his 100th kid to the NBA. I get the sense he just enjoys being in a kitchen with a kids family, being the guy that gets them to the NBA. That's his thing, and if he wins along the way, it's gravy. There is no reason to hate the guy, ok to disagree with what he stands for as a coach (a recruiter first, second and third).

 

[HW611]

Eh - not sure I'd clump Cal into the serial killer bucket. I'm sure over the years, if he was a true phoney, word would have gotten around well before he sent his 100th kid to the NBA. I get the sense he just enjoys being in a kitchen with a kids family, being the guy that gets them to the NBA. That's his thing, and if he wins along the way, it's gravy. There is no reason to hate the guy, ok to disagree with what he stands for as a coach (a recruiter first, second and third).

Yeah and at the end of the day when a guy is saying he can help you make $100 million for your family, then proceeds to show you the list of guys he did that for, it’s hard to ignore.

Championships are nice, but a title isn’t going to pay your bills in 10 years.

 

[superjohn]

Eh - not sure I'd clump Cal into the serial killer bucket. I'm sure over the years, if he was a true phoney, word would have gotten around well before he sent his 100th kid to the NBA. I get the sense he just enjoys being in a kitchen with a kids family, being the guy that gets them to the NBA. That's his thing, and if he wins along the way, it's gravy. There is no reason to hate the guy, ok to disagree with what he stands for as a coach (a recruiter first, second and third).

It's an insult to Ted.

If you actually believe Calipari is all about just being the guy who gets kids to the NBA and winning is just gravy if it happens he really is a master and has conned you.

 

[RuffRuff]

It's an insult to Ted.

If you actually believe Calipari is all about just being the guy who gets kids to the NBA and winning is just gravy if it happens he really is a master and has conned you.

Sounds a bit conspiracy theory to me TBH.

 

[superjohn]

Sounds a bit conspiracy theory to me TBH.

Yep, that's it. Getting guys to the NBA is Calipari's main goal. If he actually wins some games and championships it's nothing more than an added bonus.

Stick with that!

 

[RuffRuff]

Yep, that's it. Getting guys to the NBA is Calipari's main goal. If he actually wins some games and championships it's nothing more than an added bonus.

Stick with that!

Not sure what your message is here - that Calipari is such a bad guy that comparing him to Ted Bundy is an insult to Ted, or whether his priority is winning at the college level?

I think it's fairly well known that Calipari puts a lot of emphasis on OAD 5 star recruits and lauded himself for getting kids from needy families to the NBA, at the cost of producing a winning roster/system. It's why UK ran him out of town. Winning seemingly takes a back seat to being an NBA pipeline.

 

[superjohn]

Not sure what your message is here - that Calipari is such a bad guy that comparing him to Ted Bundy is an insult to Ted, or whether his priority is winning at the college level?

I think it's fairly well known that Calipari puts a lot of emphasis on OAD 5 star recruits and lauded himself for getting kids from needy families to the NBA, at the cost of producing a winning roster/system. It's why UK ran him out of town. Winning seemingly takes a back seat to being an NBA pipeline.

Of course I don't think he's worse than Ted Bundy, good lord.

You've completely bought Calipari's entire act, it's pretty hilarious.

 

[RuffRuff]

Of course I don't think he's worse than Ted Bundy, good lord.

You've completely bought Calipari's entire act, it's pretty hilarious.

Or maybe I'm not as cynical?

Listen, if we are dating back to his mis-doings in his earlier days at Umass & Memphis, we can dice through Calhoun's darker days as well. He was no saint. It was more a sign of the times. Are we ready to run the car over Roy Williams too? Do we get into the game of creating a scorecard on who's the shadiest? Sean Miller just got the HC gig at Texas - no saint. Calipari got another SEC gig. At some point, all of these guys are doing things to try to stay ahead. Some cross the line, or get caught. Not sure if the Yard is the jury when they are getting rehired by top programs.

Unless you know something I don't, it's not about buying into him as much as it is about staying open minded and objective, not convicting someone I don't know personally because I don't like him based on what I think I know, or over indexing on what I do know without balancing against relativity. We ready to de-crown John Wooden too?

 

[BGesus4]

Eh - not sure I'd clump Cal into the serial killer bucket. I'm sure over the years, if he was a true phoney, word would have gotten around well before he sent his 100th kid to the NBA. I get the sense he just enjoys being in a kitchen with a kids family, being the guy that gets them to the NBA. That's his thing, and if he wins along the way, it's gravy. There is no reason to hate the guy, ok to disagree with what he stands for as a coach (a recruiter first, second and third).

Has that not gotten around?

 

[superjohn]

Or maybe I'm not as cynical?

Listen, if we are dating back to his mis-doings in his earlier days at Umass & Memphis, we can dice through Calhoun's darker days as well. He was no saint. It was more a sign of the times. Are we ready to run the car over Roy Williams too? Do we get into the game of creating a scorecard on who's the shadiest? Sean Miller just got the HC gig at Texas - no saint. Calipari got another SEC gig. At some point, all of these guys are doing things to try to stay ahead. Some cross the line, or get caught. Not sure if the Yard is the jury when they are getting rehired by top programs.

Unless you know something I don't, it's not about buying into him as much as it is about staying open minded and objective, not convicting someone I don't know personally because I don't like him based on what I think I know, or over indexing on what I do know without balancing against relativity. We ready to de-crown John Wooden too?

You're still missing the point. Calipari knew he couldn't win championships anymore so he said his job is about sending guys to the NBA.

The job of every high major college basketball coach is to win games and to win championships. Calipari is a salesman and he sold you on his bull^^^t.

 

[RuffRuff]

You're still missing the point. Calipari knew he couldn't win championships anymore so he said his job is about sending guys to the NBA.

The job of every high major college basketball coach is to win games and to win championships. Calipari is a salesman and he sold you on his bull^^^t.

I'm honestly not sure he sold me on it. It's been pretty apparent that actually coaching the players was a distant second to recruiting players he thought could win by rolling a ball out there. BUT, this is what he seems to get off on, enjoys and he's unwilling to change.

Last year was a great case - started Fland over a former NCAA Final 4 Senior. Once Fland went down, they got better. The guy just loves his draft picks.

 

[Kenny11]

Cal should take his shoes off before he steps in the damn living room

 

[RuffRuff]

Cal should take his shoes off before he steps in the damn living room

And based on Toure, his socks too.

 

[TheHorde]

I’ve come to the realization that any recruit that would choose Calipari isn’t a player that I think would fit what UConn wants and is about under this staff. I’ll sleep just fine if a player UConn offered commits there. Those kids might well shine and play at the next level, but so will many of the kids that come here.