2020 Recruiting: Cliff O update

[Hey Adrien!]

Shocking news:



In the last 24 hours, ten 247 balls just linked Cliff to Rutgers.

If Piikell can finish the deal, what a massive move for him.

The combination of Rutgers' move to the Big Ten and hiring of Steve Pikiell has transformed my perception of Rutgers from a hated rival to a loveable dump. I have to admit their team last year was a lot of fun to watch and it's easy to root for a team that works as hard as they do.

For a center prospect like Cliff, the Big Ten is the conference where you want to play. Rutgers already has a pretty good center in Myles Johnson, but he only averaged 23.6 mpg, so adding Cliff into the mix would give them a heck of a one/two punch.

 

[NJHoops]

He has a reason to stay in NJ. He took his chances with his recruitment, which turned off some schools. It didn’t turn out exactly how he wanted, but Rutgers is a good enough place for him to continue to develop his game.

 

[David 76]

I think we were out ever since we signed Sellers.

 

[ucp990411]

I think we were out ever since we signed Sellers.

Since 1988?

 

[Ts5034]

Shocking news:



In the last 24 hours, ten 247 balls just linked Cliff to Rutgers.

If Piikell can finish the deal, what a massive move for him.

The combination of Rutgers' move to the Big Ten and hiring of Steve Pikiell has transformed my perception of Rutgers from a hated rival to a loveable dump. I have to admit their team last year was a lot of fun to watch and it's easy to root for a team that works as hard as they do.

For a center prospect like Cliff, the Big Ten is the conference where you want to play. Rutgers already has a pretty good center in Myles Johnson, but he only averaged 23.6 mpg, so adding Cliff into the mix would give them a heck of a one/two punch.

This would be great obviously for Rutgers, and Steve. Ive always said in these Rutgers threads that I am happy for Steve. Outside of KO, none of our guys have had much success nationally at the D1 level. Leitao won NCAA Tournament games with Virginia and Depaul, and Hobbs went to a few NCAA Tournaments with George Washington, but none of the other guys from Calhoun’s coaching tree (outside of KO) went on to have success at a high level D1 program.

 

[UConnKev]

 

[navery12]

 

[gampelcrazies]

Yuck. I'm not saying this because he didn't go to UConn but I strongly believe this is a mistake for him.

 

[UconnU]

I think this is the beginning of a trend. With the uncertainty surrounding the virus situation kids are just opting to stay home. Should help us with Mac.

 

[superjohn]

Yuck. I'm not saying this because he didn't go to UConn but I strongly believe this is a mistake for him.

Why?

 

[gampelcrazies]

Why?

I just think he's going to get lost in the big picture in the B10. Rutgers still has a very long way to get to the top of the league.

 

[LIuconn]

Maybe, maybe not. Illinois turned it around with 1 recruiting class. In basketball anything's possible

 

[imno1]

The only player that hasn't progressed under Hurley is Carlton, who regressed. Most suspect his regression was due to weight. Hurley will work with both Carlton and Ferguson and both players will be much improved before the NBE season begins.

Carlton improved a lot year 1 under Coach Hurley. Took a step back this past season but I'm one of the few who thinks he'll be much better next year if he can get the coaching (much depends on how long social distancing goes on)

 

[UconnU]

Rutgers has a chance to be VERY good next season.

 

[B1GEast]

I think this is the beginning of a trend. With the uncertainty surrounding the virus situation kids are just opting to stay home. Should help us with Mac.

Bingo

‘Big Cliff’ Omoruyi commits to Rutgers in biggest recruiting coup in more than a decade

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell, coming off his most successful season with the Scarlet Knights, lands his biggest recruit.

www.nj.com

HOW CORONAVIRUS PLAYED AN ASSIST

Pikiell and assistant Brandin Knight worked hard to keep Omoruyi at home and they may have gotten an assist from the coronavirus pandemic.

Omoruyi, who was born in Nigeria, said the coronavirus helped him make the decision to stay close to home to Roselle Catholic, where has played for three years, as opposed to going halfway or all the way across the country.

 

[ucjoet]

Always rooted against Rutgers in every sport. But being from Bristol and a St. Paul grad, I can not root against Steve. Know him( a bit) and some of his family members. He and his family can not be nicer.
He is a class act and a Husky. Cant believe I am saying this but if we weren't getting Cliff, I am happy Steve got him.

 

[uconngb]

Other than the fact they perenially suck, and because of RutgersAl, who seems to be long gone, why would anyone here root against Rutgers?? Because they were luckier than us in conference realignment musical chairs?? They have one of our guys coaching them. And are completely irrelevant to us. It would be like caring about what happens to BC or Syracuse. Non-issues.

 

[bendm]

It would be like caring about what happens to BC or Syracuse. Non-issues.

i agree with your main point but thats b/c rutgers is nothing like BC and cuse in terms of deserving our hatred

 

[Dooooooomed]

This is bad news. If Rutgers is good again next season, the 2021 NCAA tourney will also be cancelled.

 

[methodology]

I just think he's going to get lost in the big picture in the B10. Rutgers still has a very long way to get to the top of the league.

They were a tournament team this year. They will be better next year.

 

[gampelcrazies]

They were a tournament team this year. They will be better next year.

We will see about that

 

[Chief00]

Best of luck to Cliff. Good luck at Rutgers. Chief will catch up once the non-virtual Grind starts again.

 

[superjohn]

Always rooted against Rutgers in every sport. But being from Bristol and a St. Paul grad, I can not root against Steve. Know him( a bit) and some of his family members. He and his family can not be nicer.
He is a class act and a Husky. Cant believe I am saying this but if we weren't getting Cliff, I am happy Steve got him.

Everyone likes Steve Pikiell, he's one of the good guys.

 

[CbbisGreat]

Great get for Steve Pikell .All the best to Cliff I think he will be a top player

 

[David 76]

Since 1988?

Exactly. Tough to explain out one could follow the dominoes.

 

[ruthetiger]

This is a good start for this program. I'm glad my Almer Mater hot him. He's staying home, he is realizing that it can be built with local talent.

I thought that you guys would be a threat. However, I found out in early August that it wasn't so. Cliff has been on our radar since he was a freshman, so this news isnt a shocker. He was trending Rutgers way from then on. I have long felt that of we were able to nab him this would level the playing field a but and we would be more competitive. Here's to the future and good luck the rest of the way.

 

[BGesus4]

Do we have any clarity on why we dropped out of the running for Cliff?

 

[navery12]

Do we have any clarity on why we dropped out of the running for Cliff?

Javonte Brown-Ferguson to UConn

the-boneyard.com

 

[CL82]

I don’t mind Rutgers all that much. I obviously wish Pikiell well and I wouldn’t mind games in men’s and women’s basketball and football on a semi regular basis .

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I hope Pikiell leaves for a big program and RU goes back to 40 years of trash