Alex Karaban Recruitment

[SouthBayHusky]

Go to the Ivy leagues when you have no legit NBA prospects. Alex made the correct choice. 1 Natty in hand (possibly more), scads of NIL and then professional NBA career

 

[upstater]

It's unfortunate that the Gameday announcer made a point about the quality of education at UConn when the real story is that the mother was unsatisfied because there was no emphasis on it. Two totally different things. She merely wanted them to talk about education at all.

As someone going on these college tours right now, it's very difficult getting info from the colleges themselves.

 

[CL82]

I was intrigued by the comment on College Gameday that Alex Karaban’s mom didn’t want him to come to UConn at first because of the education. I looked back at AK’s recruitment and noticed that he received offers from some very good educational institutions.

Harvard, Penn and Stanford were the most noteworthy with Northwestern and Notre Dame at the next level. Ivy League basketball is good, but nowhere near UConn-level. Nobody would have seen his games if he went to the West Coast to play at Stanford. The basketball programs at Northwestern and Notre Dame aren’t even close to the standard set at UConn.

He’s currently getting a great education, competing for National Championships and being showcased as a potential NBA player. I think it’s safe to say he made the right decision.

That reporter misunderstood a story that Alex has told many times. When he first visited the campus, his mom didn't feel like there was enough emphasis on how his academics would be handled. He let Hurley know that and on the second visit they went over it in detail. It never was a slight against the academics of the university, instead it was our staff missing the Mom's need to understand the academic part of a student athletes experience on the first visit.

 

[OceanDoggie]

You can get a great education anywhere.

Absolutely this is true at most institutions. However, going to Stamford, Harvard, Yale and Princeton, He would rub shoulders with future Presidents, Senators and IPO Billionaires who would all remember Him as the star basketball player during their college days. Because Alex turned himself into an elite division 1 player, Uconn was the best destination for him.

 

[CTBasketball]

It's unfortunate that the Gameday announcer made a point about the quality of education at UConn when the real story is that the mother was unsatisfied because there was no emphasis on it. Two totally different things. She merely wanted them to talk about education at all.

As someone going on these college tours right now, it's very difficult getting info from the colleges themselves.

I feel like UConn will always take out of staters.

 

[superjohn]

If Alex stays another year, it ain't to finish a college degree.

He's not ready, he'll be back.

 

[ucp990411]

Absolutely this is true at most institutions. However, going to Stamford, Harvard, Yale and Princeton, He would rub shoulders with future Presidents, Senators and IPO Billionaires who would all remember Him as the star basketball player during their college days. Because Alex turned himself into an elite division 1 player, Uconn was the best destination for him.

But at UConn he gets to rub shoulders with us as well as National Championship trophies

 

[upstater]

Absolutely this is true at most institutions. However, going to Stamford, Harvard, Yale and Princeton, He would rub shoulders with future Presidents, Senators and IPO Billionaires who would all remember Him as the star basketball player during their college days. Because Alex turned himself into an elite division 1 player, Uconn was the best destination for him.

It depends on the level of education that you want. People who want the highest levels can't go just anywhere. I looked into Clark recently for a friend whose kid was considering it and many of the departments had few full-timers. Seemed it was a school existing on vapor. If your kid wants a top quality education, I'd recommend many state schools over it.

 

[rman726]

After reading this, I have a question. If Alex’s mother puts getting an education as a top priority, would she wish her son leave school without his degree?

The article has a quote from Alex about that.

“If I do decide to leave early, I've made the promise to my mom that I will come back and finish my degree at some point,” Karaban said. “In the meantime, as a family we understand that basketball has its limited years, so I’m trying to make the most of that right now and trying to make as much money from basketball as possible.”

 

[Jaydumo20]

Here's the story about it. I ran into someone in town yesterday whose son is good friends with Karaban. He said Alex told him that ultimately he picked UConn because he loved Hurley. Said he is, "Nuts, but in a good way." Lol

But the AK that would eventually help UConn to a national championship needed an OK from OK — his mother, Olga Karaban — before making a commitment to coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies in the summer of 2021. Alex loved his visit to the Storrs campus and was sold, almost immediately. Olga Karaban was skeptical, though, having learned all about basketball from the Huskies’ staff but next to nothing about the education her son might receive.

“We saw all the facilities, talked to coaches, went to eat, came home,” Olga said in August, sitting on a couch in the family’s living room next to Alexei. “Alex was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I feel like this is what I want. It felt right when I stepped on the court.’ I'm sitting there, just quiet. He was like, ‘This is great!’ And I'm not saying anything. He said, ‘What do you think?' I said, ‘Everything is great but I'm not impressed with academics because I didn't hear anything about it.’”

Karaban called Hurley and said, “My mom’s not happy.”

What followed was a furious final recruiting phase for which Hurley brought an entire team together. It wasn’t a basketball team. Hurley asked athletic director David Benedict for help coordinating, and UConn sent a car service back to Northborough to pick up the Karabans for a return visit a week later.

Radenka Maric — today UConn president and then the university’s vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship — was among the lead presenters. Engineering professors were gathered. Curriculums and potential career paths were discussed. UConn flexed every fiber of every academic muscle that the university’s rising national reputation is built on.

“It was the worst for Alex because we had to go through all the academic buildings,” Olga said. “We went to the engineering center, and they were showing crazy stuff. It was actually interesting, at least for me. For you, too, right?”

How UConn became home for men's basketball's budding star Alex Karaban: 'He's very happy'

Alex Karaban, a computer science major, led UConn in playing time as a freshman as the Huskies won a national championship.

www.nhregister.com

Alternate access:

How UConn became home for men's basketball's budding star Alex Karaban: 'He's very happy'​

This is one of the best insights into the crazy world of recruiting that I've seen in a long time. I love it

 

[OceanDoggie]

It depends on the level of education that you want. People who want the highest levels can't go just anywhere. I looked into Clark recently for a friend whose kid was considering it and many of the departments had few full-timers. Seemed it was a school existing on vapor. If your kid wants a top quality education, I'd recommend many state schools over it.

I had a post about this in the Higher Education ranking thread some months ago. The highest caliber state schools lead the nation and the world in research and government as well as private grant funding. They are well oiled machines. My point about the elite schools is that Karaban could make connections that he otherwise could not at your average state school. Think Bill Bradley. I know Karaban has a little too much Mr. Bean in him to want to go into politics, but my point is about the allotment of opportunities.

 

[ctchamps]

From CT Insider:

Alex Karaban committed to UConn men's basketball after 'the worst visit I ever had in my life'

“I first took an unofficial visit and it was all basketball talk,” Karaban said. “Coach Hurley calls me after my visit and goes, ‘Any questions you have?’ I was like, ‘My mom needs to know about the academics.’”

“They sent me a van that next week and I spent the entire day in every academic building,” Karaban said. “They sent a car to pick me up for an official visit. It was called the Mrs. Karaban visit.”

“We went to the engineering building, the business school,” Karaban said. “I met with [Maric], met with donors, met with everyone. That was the worst visit I ever had in my life, but the most important, by far. I loved UConn, especially being local. Once they proved that, academically, it was good enough for my mom, I called Coach Hurley in the next couple of days and said, 'I'm coming to UConn.'”

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Here's the story about it. I ran into someone in town yesterday whose son is good friends with Karaban. He said Alex told him that ultimately he picked UConn because he loved Hurley. Said he is, "Nuts, but in a good way." Lol

But the AK that would eventually help UConn to a national championship needed an OK from OK — his mother, Olga Karaban — before making a commitment to coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies in the summer of 2021. Alex loved his visit to the Storrs campus and was sold, almost immediately. Olga Karaban was skeptical, though, having learned all about basketball from the Huskies’ staff but next to nothing about the education her son might receive.

“We saw all the facilities, talked to coaches, went to eat, came home,” Olga said in August, sitting on a couch in the family’s living room next to Alexei. “Alex was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I feel like this is what I want. It felt right when I stepped on the court.’ I'm sitting there, just quiet. He was like, ‘This is great!’ And I'm not saying anything. He said, ‘What do you think?' I said, ‘Everything is great but I'm not impressed with academics because I didn't hear anything about it.’”

Karaban called Hurley and said, “My mom’s not happy.”

What followed was a furious final recruiting phase for which Hurley brought an entire team together. It wasn’t a basketball team. Hurley asked athletic director David Benedict for help coordinating, and UConn sent a car service back to Northborough to pick up the Karabans for a return visit a week later.

Radenka Maric — today UConn president and then the university’s vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship — was among the lead presenters. Engineering professors were gathered. Curriculums and potential career paths were discussed. UConn flexed every fiber of every academic muscle that the university’s rising national reputation is built on.

“It was the worst for Alex because we had to go through all the academic buildings,” Olga said. “We went to the engineering center, and they were showing crazy stuff. It was actually interesting, at least for me. For you, too, right?”

How UConn became home for men's basketball's budding star Alex Karaban: 'He's very happy'

Alex Karaban, a computer science major, led UConn in playing time as a freshman as the Huskies won a national championship.

www.nhregister.com

Alternate access:

How UConn became home for men's basketball's budding star Alex Karaban: 'He's very happy'​

We all know that Glenn Miller would never have allowed the university to be put in that situation, but with the coaching staff developing the rapport that resulted in Alex clarifying an unmet need, it opened the possibility for a great recovery...kind of like grabbing an offensive rebound on a missed shot and scoring points on the follow-up shot.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Dear Mrs. Karaban,
You made the right choice. I will hold up my UConn education against any schools in the country.
Ed

 

[husky429]

Basketball success > Ivy league (or other highly competitive) degree. Basketball will open far more connection post-playing career than an ivy league degree could. It's a fraternity.

My athletic career stays well off my resume. No one needs to know their assistant principal used to fight people for money and free drinks at the casino after the post-fight puke.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Basketball success > Ivy league (or other highly competitive) degree. Basketball will open far more connection post-playing career than an ivy league degree could. It's a fraternity.

My athletic career stays well off my resume. No one needs to know their assistant principal used to fight people for money and free drinks at the casino after the post-fight puke.

I’ve brought in several interns that played D1 sports (Harvard football, NC state golf and Georgia swimming). None of them went pro but all were highly successful.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I was going to add that if you see a 20 year old that can maintain a decent GPA while playing a D 1 sport you probably should hire them. They are able to manage their time, multitask, have leadership qualities and intelligence to succeed

 

[Hunt for 7]

AK isn't ready to leave yet as a basketball player.

I agree with that evaluation. He still needs to get stronger without slowing down. But he is improving in all those areas as he clearly understands and is getting the best advice. He has seemed to improve his vertical jump as he is getting a few more blocks. He kind of reminds me of a bit bigger version than Dan Marjele. He is kind of a tweener on how he projects at the next level. He has had a few shootings slumps this year and that really can’t happen when he gets run in the summer league when he decides to leave. I do think he would go in the second round if he declared. His age since he is really a junior is going to be a factor.

 

[husky429]

I was going to add that if you see a 20 year old that can maintain a decent GPA while playing a D 1 sport you probably should hire them. They are able to manage their time, multitask, have leadership qualities and intelligence to succeed

On the other hand, plenty of D1 athletes are dumb as a box of rocks and rely on the tutors to do everything for them. I'm guessing those types aren't going into the majors you're hiring from though.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

That New England private school bias runs deep.

A fifth-grader, who is one of my favorite students, told me on Thursday "if I don't go to Harvard, my parents will see it as a failure."

Hearing this, my response to the class was "no offense to your parents, but they are completely wrong, and you can tell them I said that."

 

[HooperScooper]

A fifth-grader, who is one of my favorite students, told me on Thursday "if I don't go to Harvard, my parents will see it as a failure."

Hearing this, my response to the class was "no offense to your parents, but they are completely wrong, and you can tell them I said that."

I guess the smart kid has really dumb parents. Someone needs to take them aside and slap them upside the head.

 

[dennismenace]

After reading this, I have a question. If Alex’s mother puts getting an education as a top priority, would she wish her son leave school without his degree?

If he gets his degree next year she'd probably want him to stay and get a Masters.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Dear Mrs. Karaban,
You made the right choice. I will hold up my UConn education against any schools in the country.
Ed

Agree. I was an English major and my professors were Samuel Pickering, Wally Lamb, Ann Charters, Gina Barreca... the list goes on. I put that up against any top school.

 

[my2cents]

I heard it was the Ice cream bar that did the trick.

 

[aburks41]

Ivy league education (networking) matters much more for regular students than a major D1 basketball player. UConn has business leaders all over the place. If Karaban - or any of our players - decided that they wanted a job on Wall Street or wherever all the Ivy League kids end up, they would get one. Our alumni and mega donors would make sure of that.