2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure update from aaron torres

[cellocgg]

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.’”

So Toure wasn't a huge priority for Hurley's crew. They probably know something we don't. I don't think we missed out on much

 

[Chin Diesel]

When you saw the list PC, UConn, Walmart, it was obviously about the Benjamins. And it was always unlikely that UConn would fly him from Tweed to Bradley on a private jet.

UConn really needs a small airport near campus.

 

[bendm]

UConn really needs a small airport near campus.

Isn’t it called Bradley ?

 

[Stasher599]

Bummed it went down like this and would love to have had him come to UConn. Never felt like he was a priority and his family obviously felt the same.
I don’t believe he was a 4 year guy and think he will be in the league in two years.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

UConn really needs a small airport near campus.

Helipad on top of the Werth Center.

 

[Dogdeacon]

This is exactly what I thought. Had no idea why people were making it about money when he didn't mention money once.

"The past 2 years, I see what they're about and didn't see myself playing there" = "these past 2 years freshmen have barely played, and I don't want to ride the pine all year." I thought it was clear as day, although he definitely could've worded it better. I'm sure it wasn't easy to find the right words in the moment.

On behalf of Liam McNeeley & Steph Castle, What?!

 

[HailUConn]

I give a ton of credits to our coaches. They really go out of their way to recruit high character kids, the likes of Mullins and Furphy who wants to get coached hard and the competition to go with it. Nothing is taken for granted. This is the way, the Huskies way and our way! !

 

[HW611]

On behalf of Liam McNeeley & Steph Castle, What?!

These are two top 10 OAD players. Outside of those instant lottery players, freshmen have a very short leash.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Hoo boy those quotes from the dad are something else… It wasn’t about the money… But it was about the money… It was about the Bentleys… But it wasn’t about the Bentleys…we should have gotten a weekend official visit, blah blah blah.

This was a “close call”. Sorta. Pretty clear the staff saw important potential concerns with the kid and his family/handlers. On and off the court. In retrospect seems very much like a courtesy recruitment.

 

[jibsey]

This is exactly what I thought. Had no idea why people were making it about money when he didn't mention money once.

"The past 2 years, I see what they're about and didn't see myself playing there" = "these past 2 years freshmen have barely played, and I don't want to ride the pine all year." I thought it was clear as day, although he definitely could've worded it better. I'm sure it wasn't easy to find the right words in the moment.

Liam didn’t play? Mullins won’t play? If he is top 25 and believes in his own talent I don’t see that as the reason unless Arkansas is less loaded than we are next season then maybe.

 

[KingAG]

Seems like sour grapes..

 

[UCfor3]

UConn did what they think was best for them and Toure did what he thinks is best for him. Zero issue with that. That's the way it's supposed to go. Just don't go all scorched earth in the media like a jilted lover.

 

[HooperScooper]

I had to laugh at this. Can you see Hurley picking up a recruit in a Bentley? Lol

Anyway, a Bentley down at Arkansas, huh?

“Two Bentleys,” Mamoudou said.

Two Caliparis, after all.

“His son picked us up at the airport in the Bentley,” Mamoudou said of visiting Arkansas, where the family was initially greeted by Brad Calipari, a Razorbacks assistant. “John Calipari himself gave us a tour of the campus in his Bentley.”

 

[caw]

These are two top 10 OAD players. Outside of those instant lottery players, freshmen have a very short leash.

There have been 8 freshmen the last two years. If you are going to eliminate the 2 OADs, I will eliminate the three projects Ross/Singare/Abraham.

That leaves Ball, Stewart and Nowell. They are probably closer to where Toure lands, though maybe closer to Ball than Stewart.

Ball and Stewart were really just behind better players, with a starting five that was the best in the country (maybe the best in the country in the past 10+ years) when healthy and one of the best sixth men in the country to boot in Diarra, not to mention Samson. Those seven ate up almost all the PT that year.

Even then, Ball got a ton of PT early in the year, when Castle was out especially. He was over 25 per game for the first 14 games, IIRC.

Stewart I think you could argue had a tighter leash but he was also had quite a few games over 10 MPG throughout the year.

Nowell, I still have not gotten any clear answer on him. I know it was reported he was injured but even in games he played he had a tight leash at a position UConn needed help at.

I'd say Nowell is the only one who really had a super tight leash amongst the three freshmen you might expect to get PT who weren't top ten in their class but he was also the one with the clearest lane to PT, so take what you will from that.

 

[HW611]

There have been 8 freshmen the last two years. If you are going to eliminate the 2 OADs, I will eliminate the three projects Ross/Singare/Abraham.

That leaves Ball, Stewart and Nowell. They are probably closer to where Toure lands, though maybe closer to Ball than Stewart.

Ball and Stewart were really just behind better players, with a starting five that was the best in the country (maybe the best in the country in the past 10+ years) when healthy and one of the best sixth men in the country to boot in Diarra, not to mention Samson. Those seven ate up almost all the PT that year.

Even then, Ball got a ton of PT early in the year, when Castle was out especially. He was over 25 per game for the first 14 games, IIRC.

Stewart I think you could argue had a tighter leash but he was also had quite a few games over 10 MPG throughout the year.

Nowell, I still have not gotten any clear answer on him. I know it was reported he was injured but even in games he played he had a tight leash at a position UConn needed help at.

I'd say Nowell is the only one who really had a super tight leash amongst the three freshmen you might expect to get PT who weren't top ten in their class but he was also the one with the clearest lane to PT, so take what you will from that.

This is a fair breakdown. Think one thing to note about their playing time is that we usually limited what they did. Pretty much when they did play they were strictly spot up 3 point shooters. It was the same way for Hawkins and Andre their freshman years.

Which just wouldn’t be a great use of Toure’s talents even if he did get on the court.

 

[Stinger92860]

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.

At least they will have the carpeting, Bentley, and private jets. Also sounds like his dad will be moving into a dorm room with his son.

200K vs 400K, after taxes the delta is about 115K. They may go through that quickly.

I side with Hurley and it’s his decision. Lots of red flags here. It’s not that he did not get love from UConn, it’s that UConn did not think he was a priority and it makes complete sense when you read the quotes.

 

[Mr. French]

I had to laugh at this. Can you see Hurley picking up a recruit in a Bentley? Lol

Anyway, a Bentley down at Arkansas, huh?

“Two Bentleys,” Mamoudou said.

Two Caliparis, after all.

“His son picked us up at the airport in the Bentley,” Mamoudou said of visiting Arkansas, where the family was initially greeted by Brad Calipari, a Razorbacks assistant. “John Calipari himself gave us a tour of the campus in his Bentley.”

He thinks he’s a movie character. It’s corny.

And if BRAD Calipari picked me up in a Bentley I’d immediately turn around.

 

[caw]

This is a fair breakdown. Think one thing to note about their playing time is that we usually limited what they did. Pretty much when they did play they were strictly spot up 3 point shooters. It was the same way for Hawkins and Andre their freshman years.

Which just wouldn’t be a great use of Toure’s talents even if he did get on the court.

That is true and fair. It will be interesting to see if Hurley does implement more traditional offense into the system this year as he says he wants to (I think I am remembering that correctly).

I've said before, I don't think Toure is a great fit for UConn's system (or what it was the past few years) but that has little to do with PT, or opportunities for freshmen at UConn.

 

[HooperScooper]

Hoo boy those quotes from the dad are something else… It wasn’t about the money… But it was about the money… It was about the Bentleys… But it wasn’t about the Bentleys…we should have gotten a weekend official visit, blah blah blah.

This was a “close call”. Sorta. Pretty clear the staff saw important potential concerns with the kid and his family/handlers. On and off the court. In retrospect seems very much like a courtesy recruitment.

I really don’t think it was all about the money. Or else the Toure family could have shopped around like Dybantsa did. Toure had a lot of scholarship offers but it doesn’t appear he shopped around for high offers.

What is clearly apparent is that the UConn staff didn’t prioritize Toure. I’ve never heard a staff tell a recruit in the fall they can’t visit on a weekend. Was it that all the available weekends were saved for the other recruits they were prioritizing? And not returning the phone call is kind of strange. I do wonder whether UConn would have even recruited Toure if he wasn’t a Connecticut kid.

In the end none of this matters. UConn is prioritizing who they want. Which is all I care about since I trust the staff. It’s just interesting to hear stories about the inside workings of recruiting since none of us know what goes on. Would always love to be a fly on the wall when the staff develops their recruiting strategies.

 

[NJHoops]

I’ve never heard a staff tell a recruit in the fall they can’t visit on a weekend. Was it that all the available weekends were saved for the other recruits they were prioritizing? And not returning the phone call is kind of strange. I do wonder whether UConn would have even recruited Toure if he wasn’t a Connecticut kid.

In the end none of this matters. UConn is prioritizing who they want. Which is all I care about since I trust the staff. It’s just interesting to hear stories about the inside workings of recruiting since none of us know what goes on. Would always love to be a fly on the wall when the staff develops their recruiting strategies.

I think when only one side gets to tell a public story and something sounds off, based on all other prior knowledge you have, there’s probably a bit more that’s been left unsaid or interpreted/remembered differently.

The Toure family seems happy, and UConn is still going to be great. Worked out well for everyone, I think.

 

[NJHusky]

I do wonder whether UConn would have even recruited Toure if he wasn’t a Connecticut kid.

this ^ 100% is the vibe I got from the article

 

[UCan3]

After seeing that quote, I don’t have any hard feelings - my son simply shrugged and said “Dad, not every player is cut out to play at UConn.”

I had to agree w/ him there!

 

[CL82]

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.

Hurley has said that if money is your top priority, he doesn't think that you are a good culture fit. I'm reading between the lines, but I think that that may have been the basis for the disconnect. It's all good. Hurley is obviously happy with County and hopefully Toure has a good experience with Arkansas and Calipari.

 

[CL82]

Helipad on top of the Werth Center.

And Bentleys, we are clearly coming up short Bentleys.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Well in case anyone was wondering why this kid wasn’t a priority, they made it super obvious…