Biggest recruiting losses

[ClifSpliffy]

vin baker. calhoun coached hs at lyme, and how he missed vinny from saybrook is beyond me.
'Entering his final season, Baker was called "America's Best-Kept Secret" by Sports Illustrated and the conference's most dominant player since Reggie Lewis by Street & Smith's College/Prep Basketball Preview.'
4 consecutive year run as an nba all-star.

 

[ucp990411]

vin baker. calhoun coached hs at lyme, and how he missed vinny from saybrook is beyond me.
'Entering his final season, Baker was called "America's Best-Kept Secret" by Sports Illustrated and the conference's most dominant player since Reggie Lewis by Street & Smith's College/Prep Basketball Preview.'
4 consecutive year run as an nba all-star.

JC coached at Lyme in 1968 - 69. Vin Baker was born in 1971. Still, I guess he should have known though.

 

[Hoophound]

Baker grew like 6 inches in the 6 months before he enrolled at UHa. JC didn’t make a mistake, Vin just became an overnight freak.

 

[superjohn]

Baker grew like 6 inches in the 6 months before he enrolled at UHa. JC didn’t make a mistake, Vin just became an overnight freak.

University of Hartford had an amazing eye for talent back then. They also got one of Tim Duncan's few college visits.

 

[Hoopcrazee]

Add John Pinone...lost out to Nova

 

[AdamaNation]

Other good “misses”:
*Lost out on Kelvin Torbert, got Gordon instead
*Lost out on Isaiah Fox, got Emeka
*Got the second best Lamb

Just a few big ones off the top of my head

All the pgs who passed to get bazz who moved up a year.
same with Kemba.

 

[Kitaman]

Nate Miles should qualify here.

 

[HooperScooper]

I've posted this here before, but I was told from a source very close to the situation that he actually told the staff on his visit that he was committing to UConn. Of course this person also said Durant told the UNC staff that he was committing to them too, and then spurned both of them when he committed to Texas. So maybe he just didn't like to say no to anyone.

I hate to resurrect a year and a half old thread but saw this tweet and wanted to post it. If anyone ever doubted my story then here you go. I never lie.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I never believed Diallo was coming here, and it was probably for the best. He would have been anointed by our fanbase and then killed for an underwhelming single season in Storrs.

Likely correct. Great athlete with underwhelming hoop skills.

 

[drayenob]

Dylan Cardwell

 

[Sole]

Larry Bird

 

[TheChamps990411]

Camby, it would've been one of the best college teams ever and UConn would've had a title or 2 before '99.

This. End of the discussion. Could you imagine what that team wouldve been in those three years with with Ray Allen? I have no doubt we win it all in 96 and had a legit shot in 94 and 95. All three of those teams wouldve been loaded and Camby was a perfect compliment to all three of those teams. Can you imagine Camby as a freshmen with Ray also a frosh paired up with Donyell?

 

[Ant3411]

Buddy Boeheim

 

[ucp990411]

I always thought this was a no-brainer, it's Billy Curley. People forget what a force he was. He made BCU good and they went to the Elite 8 beating UNC with Curley and 4 guards. Dean Smith was crying that they were too physical. He would have fit those teams that lost to FL and UCLA like a glove. Our starting lineup would have been Curley, Marshall, Marshall, Ollie and Ray Allen. Who's beating that?

Would not have got Donyell if Curly came

 

[Punkbo]

Camby, it would've been one of the best college teams ever and UConn would've had a title or 2 before '99.

I can promise you that Camby was the most entertaining one, followed by Ryan Gomes. Just like on the Boneyard, some of the most memorable moments tend to be some of the most contentious ones. They bring out the best and worst in people. It’s fun to engage when there’s some disagreement. If everyone always agreed, life would be boring. I only wish Calhoun and Calipari had followed up with a Celebrity Death Match….one can always dream.

 

[Drame]

We were definitely in the final five and some say we were in the final two.

The final 3 for Durant were us, UNC and Texas. No one thought he would pick Texas. I always assumed he got paid. He had no Texas connection at all.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

KD or Bynum.

 

[temery]

Camby, it would've been one of the best college teams ever and UConn would've had a title or 2 before '99.

'Toxic, and would have ended the program.

 

[Incursio007]

The final 3 for Durant were us, UNC and Texas. No one thought he would pick Texas. I always assumed he got paid. He had no Texas connection at all.

A near certainty that he was “incentivized.” One of those schools is not like the other with respect to basketball.

 

[kris1]

Kofi Cockburn

 

[Northbound]

We really didn’t have much of a chance. He took an unofficial here with Ty Lawson, I think, but it was going to be Texas.

Curtis Kelly was the Plan B there.

Was super stoked about Curtis and it jiust didn’t go as hoped. He was a good get at the time.