2023 Recruiting: Cam Spencer

[Horatio]

Did someone make sure he had our world famous Jalapeño Mac n cheese???

 

[yungdowork]

What were these alleged off-court concerns?

For Chris Johnson? I don't think it was anything major. I saw a few Jayhawk fans saying the relationship was getting colder because of concerns about his grades predominantly. And then he wanted a release once they recruited over him in the portal.

 

[NJHoops]

Guy is making a business decision at this point in his career, gotta go home and crunch the numbers.

Pretty much this. Recruiting transfers, and especially grad transfers, is a completely different game. With the high school guys they bring in, the relationships have been built over months, sometimes years. The kids have heard almost everything they’re going to hear. A lot of times the visits are confirming what everyone knows, sometimes they function to change a kid’s (and his family’s) mind.

There are so many recruiting comments, from fans of all teams, like don‘t let the guy get off campus without a verbal, have to lock this up by the end of the visit, which… sure, that would be great. But, there are actual people involved who have all sorts of annoying things like free will and leverage and priorities that you might wish were different.

 

[runner11]

Didn't know his brother was Pat Spencer, he was very entertaining for the Warriors in the preseason

Super cool, I had no idea either. I am suuuuper ignorant about lacrosse but his story was incredible.

Warriors hopeful Pat Spencer eyes leap from lacrosse to the NBA

Golden State Warriors training camp invitee Pat Spencer never gave up basketball even as he became one of the best players in college lacrosse history.

www.sfchronicle.com

 

[runner11]

Hearing uconn made a big impression and visit went well. Feeling i get (and yes feeling can be wrong) is that we have a real shot. Sadly $ is a factor also.... obviously time will tell and please slam me if you wish. I do get the idea money is not as big of a factor as Timberlake was.

The sell has to be that he will get better ROI long term and that may actually check out. He seems to be more of a pro prospect than Timberlake and I genuinely think we are a perfect fit for him stylistically. They didn’t overlap but the current (I think?) HS coach there is a semi well known media guy and he has talked about how perfect the fit is, fwiw.

 

[NJHoops]

The rumor on the Kansas board is that this was a mutual decision. He moved to Monteverde this past season and had a really rough season. Didn't develop at all like they hoped and was not gonna see the court for Kansas

Sure, maybe, but “mutual decisions” in June for a ‘23 kid seems suspect. Fans, collectively, are the worst sources of info, even if they’re claiming to be impartial and factual. Guy de-commits? It‘s what the coaches actually wanted and also his grades were bad and also I heard he kicks puppies. Coaches absolutely do this, too, only it‘s usually a step or so removed.

Only people who have true, unfiltered access to the people themselves have the closest version of the truth… and that’s almost never making It to a message board.

 

[jibsey]

That may be true but personally I’d rather not have to rely on two freshmen

OK but didn’t we rely on Karaban and Clingan to get us to 5?

 

[navery12]

OK but didn’t we rely on Karaban and Clingan to get us to 5?

As our 5th and 6th options. Which is right where the freshman would slot in with one more transfer in on the wing. And then you let Castle and others play their way into more minutes and a bigger role as the season goes on

 

[RipCity]

OK but didn’t we rely on Karaban and Clingan to get us to 5?

Ross and Stewart aren’t going to fill the shooting departure of Calcaterra let alone Hawkins. If Karaban, Newton, Ross, and Stewart are our only source of shooting, this team is going to be bad at shooting.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Ross and Stewart aren’t going to fill the shooting departure of Calcaterra let alone Hawkins. If Karaban, Newton, Ross, and Stewart are our only source of shooting, this team is going to be bad at shooting.

I don’t think anyone is. It’s very high expectations to replace one of the best shooters in college basketball and a guy who was shooting 50% from three during OOC for anyone.

I’m just not sure why we would be so certain that the freshman aren’t going to be ready to step up and be serviceable.

 

[RipCity]

I don’t think anyone is. It’s very high expectations to replace one of the best shooters in college basketball and a guy who was shooting 50% from three during OOC for anyone.

I’m just not sure why we would be so certain that the freshman aren’t going to be ready to step up and be serviceable.

Serviceable isn’t going to be good enough. That’s my point. Idk how anyone can look at the current roster and think they won’t have an issue shooting.

 

[UCfor3]

Pretty much this. Recruiting transfers, and especially grad transfers, is a completely different game. With the high school guys they bring in, the relationships have been built over months, sometimes years. The kids have heard almost everything they’re going to hear. A lot of times the visits are confirming what everyone knows, sometimes they function to change a kid’s (and his family’s) mind.

There are so many recruiting comments, from fans of all teams, like don‘t let the guy get off campus without a verbal, have to lock this up by the end of the visit, which… sure, that would be great. But, there are actual people involved who have all sorts of annoying things like free will and leverage and priorities that you might wish were different.

Yep. Had a post like this after Timberlake. Transfers are like "speed dating" compared to recruiting high school players where you more slowly build a relationship foundation. Throw in NIL to the transfer market and it just becomes so unpredictable. I still get my hopes up for high school guys. I just sit back and wait for the end result with transfers.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Serviceable isn’t going to be good enough. That’s my point. Idk how anyone can look at the current roster and think they won’t have an issue shooting.

I mean we’re going from

Newton, Hawkins, Andre, Karaban, and Sanogo

To

Castle, Newton, Ross/Stewart, Karaban, and Clingan if no transfer.

Yeah, there’s a drop off from Hawkins to whoever replaces him (which would be the case for ANYBODY), but there’s also going to be a significant upgrade from Andre’s shooting that I don’t think is being talked about right now. If Clingan has a good summer we could legitimately have 5 knockdown shooters as is.

 

[navery12]

I mean we’re going from

Newton, Hawkins, Andre, Karaban, and Sanogo

To

Castle, Newton, Ross/Stewart, Karaban, and Clingan if no transfer.

Yeah, there’s a drop off from Hawkins to whoever replaces him (which would be the case for ANYBODY), but there’s also going to be a significant upgrade from Andre’s shooting that I don’t think is being talked about right now. If Clingan has a good summer we could legitimately have 5 knockdown shooters as is.

Now do the bench, that's where the huge dropoff is in your scenario. You cherry picked the best shooters as your starting lineup

 

[TheHorde]

Now do the bench, that's where the huge dropoff is in your scenario. You cherry picked the best shooters as your starting lineup

Joey and Alleyne were HUGE parts of the championship run, as well as the season as a whole. Plus we had the luxury of the Sanogo/Clingan combo. If Clingan has games where he gets in foul trouble, that luxury is no longer there.

 

[Rico444]

I mean we’re going from

Newton, Hawkins, Andre, Karaban, and Sanogo

To

Castle, Newton, Ross/Stewart, Karaban, and Clingan if no transfer.

Yeah, there’s a drop off from Hawkins to whoever replaces him (which would be the case for ANYBODY), but there’s also going to be a significant upgrade from Andre’s shooting that I don’t think is being talked about right now. If Clingan has a good summer we could legitimately have 5 knockdown shooters as is.

Even if we get Spencer, we're not going to have 5 knockdown shooters in the lineup. Castle is a decent shooter coming in and will be a freshman, and Clingan attempted one 3-pointer last year and he missed it. Maybe both show an improvement, but knockdown doesn't seem likely for either.

 

[imno1]

I must have a different definition of “knockdown shooter”

 

[Deleted at users request]

Even if we get Spencer, we're not going to have 5 knockdown shooters in the lineup. Castle is a decent shooter coming in and will be a freshman, and Clingan attempted one 3-pointer last year and he missed it. Maybe both show an improvement, but knockdown doesn't seem likely for either.

Knockdown may have been hyperbole. Think capable may be a better word to use there. Teams aren’t going to be able to sag off anyone.

 

[Scoe]

Yeah we won’t be as good as our 2023 team, but will anyone else be 2023 UConn probably not.

 

[TheHorde]

With the way DC rebounds, my preference would be for him to be in or near the paint. If he’s playing out by the three point line then I can’t imagine we will get a ton of offensive rebounds.

 

[uconngb]

OK but didn’t we rely on Karaban and Clingan to get us to 5?

Not to be our main shooter

 

[Umami Zen]

IIRC.. Spencer still has one more visit to make.. So a commitment this weekend probably not in the cards even with the great report from @husky99

 

[Horatio]

Now do the bench, that's where the huge dropoff is in your scenario. You cherry picked the best shooters as your starting lineup

This is why it would be nice if we had some footage of the Greek kid. But also the reason why I wouldn’t be surprised if two grade transfers came in

 

[TheHorde]

This is why it would be nice if we had some footage of the Greek kid. But also the reason why I wouldn’t be surprised if two grade transfers came in

There’s been talking that Hurley only wants to add one more player through the portal, presumably a shooter. I honestly think we could use another 4/5 rebounding/defending type through the portal to fill the last scholarship opening. I’m not sure we have enough depth beyond Clingan, Singare, and Samson Johnson. And Singare and Samson don’t have a ton of experience between them.

 

[7774]

I must have a different definition of “knockdown shooter”

Yes, you appear to be using the actual definition, instead of the idiot homer definition.

 

[Deleted at users request]

There’s been talking that Hurley only wants to add one more player through the portal, presumably a shooter. I honestly think we could use another 4/5 rebounding/defending type through the portal to fill the last scholarship opening. I’m not sure we have enough depth beyond Clingan, Singare, and Samson Johnson. And Singare and Samson don’t have a ton of experience between them.

If either big could be like Amida Brimah we’ll be fine.

National championship is hard to do, but as is this is a sweet 16 roster.

It’s built more like 2020 than 2023 currently. But more talented than 2020.

 

[TheHorde]

If either big could be like Amida Brimah we’ll be fine.

National championship is hard to do, but as is this is a sweet 16 roster.

It’s built more like 2020 than 2023 currently. But more talented than 2020.

A shooter like Spencer would get us close. I feel like another big would get us even closer. I can’t think of a great reason why we’d keep an open scholarship for a year when the roster is so close to contending. We are UConn and fresh off a title. The goal each year should be a championship not a sweet 16. I don’t know if a great fit even exists in the portal for that role at this juncture. But why not explore it?

 

[navery12]

A shooter like Spencer would get us close. I feel like another big would get us even closer. I can’t think of a great reason why we’d keep an open scholarship for a year when the roster is so close to contending. We are UConn and fresh off a title. The goal each year should be a championship not a sweet 16. I don’t know if a great fit even exists in the portal for that role at this juncture. But why not explore it?

Hurley said managing 13 guys expecting to get minutes (or at least on scholarship like Hasson and Roumoglou) was tough this year. And as much as I'm a proponent of using all 13 scholarships, another guy looking for minutes doesn't really make sense.

Anywhere you add a guy from the transfer portal is going to alienate one of the current 11 guys on the roster. Add another big and you're going to make Samson Johnson and Youssouf Singare unhappy and looking to move on all year

 

[TheHorde]

Hurley said managing 13 guys expecting to get minutes (or at least on scholarship like Hasson and Roumoglou) was tough this year. And as much as I'm a proponent of using all 13 scholarships, another guy looking for minutes doesn't really make sense.

Anywhere you add a guy from the transfer portal is going to alienate one of the current 11 guys on the roster. Add another big and you're going to make Samson Johnson and Youssouf Singare unhappy and looking to move on all year

That is a good point. And Dan Hurley did a masterful job juggling minutes last year. I’m hopeful that Samson can take a step forward and that Singare can be an effective rebounder and rim protector even playing 8-10 minutes a game. I don’t think we need a ton of scoring from those guys. Clingan probably will be playing 27-30 minutes a game on average Id imagine if all goes well.

 

[KingAG]

Last year we had a GREAT shooting team. We aren’t trying to replicate that. The question is with Spencer will we be a good enough shooting team. And I think the answer to that is yes