Al in Portal

[Ajs120102]

Uh oh

 

[Waterbury]

It's the right move for him. He has talent and he can showcase it somewhere, but he'd be third behind Cole and Gaff at UConn.

 

[UofCT]

Uh oh

Did he really call out Sid?

 

[UofCT]

Breaks my heart.

Dude. He's not dead.

 

[aburks41]

Outside of Sid, who else would we expect to be leaving...?

 

[Ajs120102]

Outside of Sid, who else would we expect to be leaving...?

No one. He’s just not trying to call out Sid alone. Carlton isn’t leaving. It’ll be just Sid. It’s professional speak. The two just don’t see eye to eye.

 

[navery12]

It seems like the emphasis was from Zags and not Hurley on Sid. At least from that tweet

 

[Psolo12]

Uh oh

basically calling out Sid to transfer. He's still a valued part of our program.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Best of luck Al. Thank you for all you did.

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Hope he finds a good landing spot.

 

[Mr. Hand]

Even though I knew it was coming, I still felt a serious twinge of sadness reading this.

Good luck Alterique, you still have a lot of fans here in Connecticut.

 

[aburks41]

"A move or two" so.... Sid is gone

 

[Tenspro2002]

Not surprised that he's leaving. He's been saying all year that this was going to be his last year.

A little surprised that he didn't just seek professional opportunities. I guess he decided it better to try to re-build his stock at the college level than to "sell low".

 

[Dooooooomed]

I too hope he's wildly successful wherever he goes (assuming it's not Cuse or some other deplorable).

 

[LStudfellow]

Once again we see why we are in such good hands with this coaching staff - go back and look at the words here: "coaches will help him find a good fit"

When you read so often about the acrimony between transfers and their coaches (the nosepicker comes to mind on this often), I love that the caring and love our head coach and staff feels for our players does not stop the moment they decide to leave. This staff never seems to lose sight of the bigger picture, which is helping these young men grow into the best people they can be.

We really are in such good hands with this staff. I am proud to be a Husky fan again.

Good luck Alterique, whereever this transfer and life beyond next year takes you. You definitely deserve it!

 

[uchusky32]

This is a transfer we should recruit!

 

[87Xfer]

What does the Borges comment about "Akok best-case like a mid-year transfer" mean?

 

[navery12]

What does the Borges comment about "Akok best-case like a mid-year transfer" mean?

Best case is he returns by midseason. So it would be like adding a transfer midseason

 

[uchusky32]

What does the Borges comment about "Akok best-case like a mid-year transfer" mean?

He's doing well!

 

[UCTitleTown]

He'll be a veteran leader for Rick Pitino at Iona.

 

[Dooooooomed]

What does the Borges comment about "Akok best-case like a mid-year transfer" mean?

He probably won't suit up until January.

 

[awfuldan]

What does the Borges comment about "Akok best-case like a mid-year transfer" mean?

That Akok could potentially return mid-year, kind of like if we were to get a new player right in time for Big East conference play.

 

[CL82]

I wish Al the best. I hope he finds a great fit for him. I'll be rooting for him (as long as he's not playing against us.)

 

[tcf15]

It seems like the emphasis was from Zags and not Hurley on Sid. At least from that tweet

Yeah, that was all Zags:

 

[MTHusky]

Best of luck Al and hoping for you to have an injury free year going forward. You never quit on UConn this year even when coming off the bench.

 

[Huskyforlife]

He deserves success at his next stop. Best of luck to him.

 

[Austin316]

I hope he ends on somewhere that he can display his gifts. He is an amazing player that just needs an opportunity to shine. Whether that’s in the ACC as a 6th man or a potential starter for a team in the MAC, or a star on a team like Iona with Rick Patino.

I would like to see him on a team back home close to family with a decent program. Georgia Tech or UGA could use him. Maybe even a team like FGCU.

 

[uchusky32]

Yeah, that was all Zags:

Of course he didn't. Why would you go out there like that? Clicks.

 

[Son of Robert]

I hate to see him go.

AG needs to do what he feels is right and best for himself. He gave this program everything he had on and off the court. His team leadership, setting the bar high and leading by example, his communication skills and chemistry with his teammates, was a very big part of the growth and resurgence of this program since Hurley was hired as coach.

As a player Alterique Gilbert was a step off his game from the great promise he had as an 18 year old McDonald's All American. Three years of seriously debilitating shoulder injuries, surgeries, and extended recoveries, both mentally and physically, really messed with his continuing development as a player. We definitely saw flashes of how good he could be, and I stand by the belief I have that he is still learning how to play the point guard position at the college level. Playing for Hurley and staff this season especially, AG was showing improvement with his decision making, not getting so deep into the lane, not turning the ball over as much, playing more to share the ball then score, more so later in the season as he learned these lessons. His open court ballhandling and man to man defense were always strengths.

Like Hurley said "Al needs to hit the reset button". UConn doesn't need three point guards. RJ Cole, Jalen Gaffney, and AG would all play, but it's congested at this position. I think AG would continue to be an excellent player for us as a veteran 5th year guard, but it's in AG's best interests to transfer to another program, to a team that has space at the point guard position. I am quite sure that he will end up on a team able to contend for championships.

This is the best opportunity for Al. God Bless, thanks for playing for UConn.

 

[Palatine]

As I've said before, this kid is nowhere near his ceiling. Hopefully he lands somewhere that gives him complete control on the floor. He needs lots of room to grow and it's unlikely he wuld get it in Storrs.

 

[Lefty2one]

I wish him the best. He stuck around through an awful stretch of UConn basketball and got a raw deal with all of the injuries. We'll never know how good he could have been.

Curious to see where he lands.