2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure update from aaron torres

[TheChamps990411]

“These past 2 years…..I didn’t see myself playing there” sure lines up with my timeline and what I was told last year.

Kids say the darndest things. Im sure his decision had nothing to do with the amount of money he was promised by the coach Car salesman. Next.

 

[aceboon]

My guess is we'll hear Hurley make a subliminal reference to these Toure quotes at some point in the future

 

[RuffRuff]

That's my point. He's both not good enough to be that guy, likely worse than our other options, and still a potential OAD. It is possible, though probably not the most likely option, but still reasonable enough that Calipari can tell him that while actually believing it.

Drake Powell was a OAD. 13% usage rate. Similar level of athlete without a productive game for college. Will Riley didn't help his team win anything. He had a decent season. He was worse than Liam. Bub Carrington's team didn't make the tournament, 109 ORTG. Cody Williams is another good recent example. He would've been our 8th best player last year on our #8 seed team. KyShawn George. Lots of examples of OAD's who aren't actually good enough to start as a freshman on a team with championship aspirations.

Absolutely 100% nailed it. What is year 1 ROI. I say low.

 

[david]

This year yes but next year? A starter to replace Mullins is our biggest need as of right now. If Toure is good enough to be a OAD then he coulda been that guy. Not sure he is that guy or if he’s better than Landrew tho.

He's worse than Landrew right now. You seem down on Landrew, not sure why, but he's going to be very good.

 

[mauconnfan]

The last 2 years huh? lol how many championships has Cal won in the last 2 years just curious?

Next, I didn’t see that quote until now so while I hope he does well, I don’t care either way.

 

[ScientificR]

It's so hard to say - everyone's personal situation is different. I don't think I'd judge a kid at this stage. Now if he goes and plays with Cal and burns rubber, doesn't amount to much, then can kind of say I told you so. Cal does that at times - had three kids ranked well ahead of Steph in that 23 class that have flamed out for the most part (meanwhile Dillingham & Shepard went lottery). There's a risk reward with Cal - he'll give you PT and allow you to shine, but he's not going to really polish you up. You better have the natural goods to do it. He will teach you how to manage your money though.

There is something a intoxicating about Cal/Ark. You'll get to play in the SEC in that big college environment for a coach that has reels of NBA alum. Having visited it recently, Fayetville is also a fun little college town. I do wonder why he let Fland go so easy.

I am probably the only Boneyard member who is Arkansas alumni (born/raised in Arkansas, U of Ark. grad, and lived in CT (Stamford) for 25 years). Fayetteville consistently rates as a top place to live in the U.S. The topography is like Litchfield County. Calipari is an attraction to potential recruits. He has a very different personality than Hurley (neither good nor bad). Arkansas basketball is very well funded in terms of NIL. John Tyson of Tyson Foods (chicken) is a big basketball booster and buddy of Calipari (even when he was at UK). Arkansas may have outbid UCONN for this particular player. Arkansas basketball has a lot of fan support.

 

[Samoo]

And the Torre thread goes…….boom. It was nice while it lasted but it never was Diamond Stone.

I didn't know Joe had any eligibility left, or that he was even still with us...

 

[caw]

The last 2 years huh? lol how many championships has Cal won in the last 2 years just curious?

Next, I didn’t see that quote until now so while I hope he does well, I don’t care either way.

I know if I am a kid I def go with the coach who was basically ran out of town at UK about a year ago.

Seriously though it sounds like he could be referring to the style of play at UConn isn't a good fit (shooters needed and not much one-on-one), and he's not completely wrong. He's a very good player but his style of play doesn't exactly mesh with the offense UConn has used the past three years.

 

[UConnKev]

 

[VanDunk]

“These past 2 years…..I didn’t see myself playing there” sure lines up with my timeline and what I was told last year.

Doesn’t sound like something a kid would want to write as he excitedly commits to a school. Sounds like something a bitter old coach with petty grievances and jealousy might write though.

 

[UCann]

DC weighing in lol…shows this was a total clown show. Seems to me like one or a combination of two things:

1. He dislikes UConn and always has. Maybe because people expect him to be a fan since he’s local (kids like to rebel), or remember UConn was not good when he was growing up. Maybe he liked other programs better. So, he uses this chance to put us down.

2. The actual recruitment - he maybe did not like the staff’s honesty, the level of work required in practice, and the money relative to what Cal would give.

Pretty simple, either way, not a critical piece and time to move on.

 

[QuickDraw]

Now this is funny

 

[Dove]

Donovan just Bristol Stomped Abdou!!

 

[Stinger92860]

Can always transfer. The doors of Gampel are open in 2026 for him when things tank in Arkansas. One and done is not just the pros with Cal any more. See Boogie Fland.

Not after his comments from yesterday, buh-bye

 

[NJHusky]

Don’t think I saw this article from Mike Anthony posted…gets into some comments from dad…UConn only offered 1/2 of what Cal paid

Link

Alternative access

 

[navery12]

I had the same initial reaction to that quote, and it's definitely not a great look on Toure's part. But after reading it about 15 times trying to figure out what he could have possibly meant I'm not sure it's so bad.

I think he may have just literally meant he didn't see himself playing here and getting minutes his freshman year, and he'd have to work to earn his minutes. Outside of the elite top 10 freshman it's been tough for freshmen to crack the rotation, which is just about the only "negative" I can see someone finding in the UConn program recently. And I use negative very loosely

 

[CL82]

Don’t think I saw this article from Mike Anthony posted…gets into some comments from dad…UConn only offered 1/2 of what Cal paid

Link

Alternative access

Thanks. This makes it clear:

“I wanted him at UConn,” Toure’s father, Mamoudou Toure, said after about a dozen family members and hundreds of classmates and friends gathered. “Easy for family. Easy for everybody. But we are on a team pulling out red carpets. A Bentley. Private jets. Doing all that. And I’m not getting that love at home. So …”

Hurley and his staff viewed Toure as a great kid and a nice player, one who should play four college years and could have an NBA future. They made a substantial offer, something north of $200,000 for Toure’s first year, and let that stand without much more to say. Arkansas, Mamoudou said, paid about double what UConn offered.

“Money is a big component,” Mamoudou said. “But there were teams that offered more money than Arkansas. It's not about money, like I told my son. I worked hard enough to build what little I have. I like people that respect me, respect my value, and they stay in communication with me. I could have gone to UConn if they had talked to me. But I have to look at what's the best interest of the family.”

It sounds like he wasn't a good culture fit.

 

[HW611]

Don’t think I saw this article from Mike Anthony posted…gets into some comments from dad…UConn only offered 1/2 of what Cal paid

Link

Alternative access

Here’s an interesting section.

Looking at Toure as a 4 year player would be pretty wild if true.

“Hurley and his staff viewed Toure as a great kid and a nice player, one who should play four college years and could have an NBA future. They made a substantial offer, something north of $200,000 for Toure’s first year, and let that stand without much more to say. Arkansas, Mamoudou said, paid about double what UConn offered.

“Money is a big component,” Mamoudou said. “But there were teams that offered more money than Arkansas. It's not about money, like I told my son. I worked hard enough to build what little I have. I like people that respect me, respect my value, and they stay in communication with me. I could have gone to UConn if they had talked to me. But I have to look at what's the best interest of the family.”

 

[Dooch]

Sounds like dad wanted to be wined and dined more than his kid did, lol

 

[drayenob]

Don’t think I saw this article from Mike Anthony posted…gets into some comments from dad…UConn only offered 1/2 of what Cal paid

Link

Alternative access

UConn wanted a midweek visit and then didn't return their calls.

“We wanted to go. We wanted it to be the first one,” Mamoudou said. “They had other priorities. … We only had Arkansas, Providence, and we were set to go to UConn. I was expecting to go to UConn. We thought it was done.
“Very disappointing because the whole family wanted to go to UConn. We wanted to go visit UConn, just like everybody else, on a weekend. UConn wanted us to go on weekdays. I told them I cannot go weekdays.”

“I said, you know what, UConn is bigger than me,” Mamoudou said. “Abdou is going to miss two days of school, let's go. And then we told them we're OK to go weekdays. And then, call, calling, a week or plus, reaching out to them. Nothing. Next call, they acknowledge, ‘Sorry we missed your call.’”

 

[TRest]

Here’s an interesting section.

Looking at Toure as a 4 year player would be pretty wild if true.

“
Hurley and his staff viewed Toure as a great kid and a nice player, one who should play four college years and could have an NBA future. They made a substantial offer, something north of $200,000 for Toure’s first year, and let that stand without much more to say. Arkansas, Mamoudou said, paid about double what UConn offered.
“Money is a big component,” Mamoudou said. “But there were teams that offered more money than Arkansas. It's not about money, like I told my son. I worked hard enough to build what little I have. I like people that respect me, respect my value, and they stay in communication with me. I could have gone to UConn if they had talked to me. But I have to look at what's the best interest of the family.”

If this is entirely a direct quote from the father, no thanks. Seems kind of like he's quoting dad than son all in the same paragraph.

 

[djct1999]

Spoken like a true CT legend!

 

[alexd]

Wow.... this is about the most I've ever read from a player/parents about how a recruitment went. Most of them keep it pretty general if anything at all publicly.

 

[k-walk]

It really sounds like we didn’t want this kid that much the deeper into the process we got. Not answering calls to set up a visit doesn’t make him sound like a priority at all.

 

[TRest]

It really sounds like we didn’t want this kid that much the deeper into the process we got. Not answering calls to set up a visit doesn’t make him sound like a priority at all.

I wouldn't know, but believe that staff and recruits are in constant texting contact. Maybe we had to recruit the parents, who expect phone calls, and it factored into the loss of interest.

 

[RuffRuff]

Here’s an interesting section.

Looking at Toure as a 4 year player would be pretty wild if true.

“
Hurley and his staff viewed Toure as a great kid and a nice player, one who should play four college years and could have an NBA future. They made a substantial offer, something north of $200,000 for Toure’s first year, and let that stand without much more to say. Arkansas, Mamoudou said, paid about double what UConn offered.
“Money is a big component,” Mamoudou said. “But there were teams that offered more money than Arkansas. It's not about money, like I told my son. I worked hard enough to build what little I have. I like people that respect me, respect my value, and they stay in communication with me. I could have gone to UConn if they had talked to me. But I have to look at what's the best interest of the family.”

All economics ultimately. The rest of it is pretty much fluff. It’s like valuing a stock on a budget. As expected UConn came in much lower, and set a price to what they thought his value was.

Family/kid probably saying too much, less is more. They seem like a pretty unsophisticated bunch when it comes to this stuff and probably part of what made them really fall for all the Cal attention. If red carpets is what they needed UConn was not the right place. Will be fun to follow his development and see how it plays out, in the portal era.

 

[RuffRuff]

It really sounds like we didn’t want this kid that much the deeper into the process we got. Not answering calls to set up a visit doesn’t make him sound like a priority at all.

My guess is the Toure camp put out their price point and Hurley said no thanks, why waste the time. I get the sense if a player comes in high balling with Dan Hurley they immediately go into a bucket. I’m sure agents that know him guide that type of approach, this camp just wasn’t advanced enough to be smart about it. That said, feels like it’s worth some closure but not sure what the standard is in closing out recruitment, some of this might just be some sour grapes because of it.

 

[HW611]

All economics ultimately. The rest of it is pretty much fluff. It’s like valuing a stock on a budget. As expected UConn came in much lower, and set a price to what they thought his value was.

Family/kid probably saying too much, less is more. They seem like a pretty unsophisticated bunch when it comes to this stuff and probably part of what made them really fall for all the Cal attention. If red carpets is what they needed UConn was not the right place. Will be fun to follow his development and see how it plays out, in the portal era.

Unsophisticated bunch?

If a job is recruiting you (or college for academic reasons) and you have two handle you this same way would you go to the one that’s not showing you love or valuing you?

I don’t understand how their decision making process is deemed unsophisticated. Arkansas checked all the boxes for them effort wise and results wise they were looking for. We didn’t check any boxes for them effort wise.

 

[HooperScooper]

Forget all the money stuff. It just sounds like the UConn staff didn’t want him. For whatever reasons. We don’t know entirely why that was. Have to trust the staff here.

 

[RuffRuff]

Unsophisticated bunch?

If a job is recruiting you (or college for academic reasons) and you have two handle you this same way would you go to the one that’s not showing you love or valuing you?

I don’t understand how their decision making process is deemed unsophisticated. Arkansas checked all the boxes for them effort wise and results wise they were looking for. We didn’t check any boxes for them effort wise.

It’s the divulging all the details to the press piece. Like someone said we never see a recruit and parents talk the dirt like this.