2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure update from aaron torres

[HW611]

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.

I personally like the transparency, if everything is true.

 

[Palatine]

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.

 

[TRest]

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

It really might be as simple as making an unrealistic demand upfront and refusing to come off of it. Plenty of fish in the sea.

 

[NJHoops]

We know this staff is incredibly hard working and relentless. If they didn’t put in the work “effort wise,” the process was a decision, not a mistake. Am I surprised if someone tries to frame it differently and derogatorily? Of course not.

I also think his “last two years” comment may be getting misinterpreted a little. Obviously the program has been successful with winning and player development, it’s a fact not an opinion. My interpretation is that he’s talking about his specific recruitment over the last two years.

They do recognize the individuality of players and then coach and recruit them accordingly, but if a guy’s takeaway is that they were very honest about his game and showed how they could develop and improve weaknesses and that’s seen as a negative, then things worked out. At the end of the day, they just weren’t into each other all that much, and that’s fine.

 

[jibsey]

I remember Calipari’s style of offense at Kentucky. Not as structured and more 1 on 1 individual breakdowns. UConn’s offensive “style” is quite complex, take time to learn and team oriented with a lot of motion. Maybe he doesn’t like that? Both coaches are defense oriented so other than that I don’t know what style he’s talking about.

 

[djct1999]

It simple. This isn’t just about the money and Toure made an extremely sensible decision given the circumstances. It’s about UConn and the value this staff placed on Toure and his fit. Toure’s profile doesn’t match what they are looking for. This is only a talking point because where he is from. It’s possible and probable both sides made the right decision. We could slam Toure if the gap was 100k or 150k. It wasn’t. In that case, no on here would leave the type of money on the table that Toure would have had to to play in Storrs. Good luck to the kid and let’s all move on.

 

[Matrim55]

It simple. This isn’t just about the money and Toure made an extremely sensible decision given the circumstances. It’s about UConn and the value this staff placed on Toure and his fit. Toure’s profile doesn’t match what they are looking for. This is only a talking point because where he is from. It’s possible and probable both sides made the right decision. We could slam Toure if the gap was 100k or 150k. It wasn’t. In that case, no on here would leave the type of money on the table that Toure would have had to to play in Storrs. Good luck to the kid and let’s all move on.

I hate when Connecticut kids go elsewhere but yeah, this is 100% correct. We're THE national program now and that means we get to be choosy, including with kids from our own backyard.

I wish the kid nothing but the best (and in this case, I hope "the best" means moving on from Arkansas after one year to a less odious program where he can develop into a pro).

 

[Nameless]

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

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.

 

[Umami Zen]

Dad Toure was pretty forthcoming about their decision. Appreciate his honesty. It was a decision made in the best interest of the family. Game changing money. Let's try to get Landrew on board.

 

[Dooooooomed]

 

[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.