These comparisons are dumb with how much the game has changed. Players were far more willing to take the long term view in those days and actually prioritize development. That just doesn't happen anymore
I suppose, but does that player end up being the better backup than the talented frosh by end of year? You're talking a Millender/Malachi type, and we kind of get the feel for what that quality is. Pitino was able to grab Darling, who has surprised a bit. I can't think of too many examples of great backup PG's in the portal.
So you’ll ride or die with two ball handlers on the roster, one being an unproven freshman who isn’t even a pure PG. I don’t understand that line of reasoning.
We’ll see. Regardless of the plan, I’m sure the staff was up front with County during the recruitment. And again, bringing in another PG doesn’t mean County doesn’t play and it doesn’t mean they can’t develop him as a PG. The ‘24 team had Newton, Castle, Spencer, and Diarra all running the point at times.
It's not dumb at all.
Millender was not high end enough, and Malachi came in expected to play much better, and we had no other guard in front of him.
Boatright wasn’t necessarily setback as much as he played next to one of the best PGs in the country for the next few years.
No, it’s dumb. Take a look around college basketball and tell me how many freshmen are sticking around when they don't play their freshman year. Or look how many more are even decommitting in the spring when minutes aren't available.
Which is why you treat a freshman pg the same way you treated a freshman Reibe, or a freshman Solo, or a freshman Stewart. I can go on and on(Ajax, Clingan, bouk)The only position where Hurley doesn’t play freshman is pg. It’s either a trust thing or a talent evaluation issue. Freshman guards all over the country are playing and competent.
If we didn’t recruit Smith and made a commitment to giving those minutes to Adams he probably stays.
Because it’s the most important position?
Which makes it even more important to get your freshman reps early. Or you’ll constantly be praying for a transfer.
It's not that we can't play any freshman PG, if we had gotten an actual PG or a higher rated one I'd have no issue. I'm talking specifically about Junior County being asked to play PG when he doesn't really profile as one. That's a big risk that we've already seen the downside of in forcing a guy into being a PG without a backup plan with Mahaney
Iowa State plays two freshman guards pretty solid minutes. One was ranked in the 40s, the other was ranked 131.
But that’s part of the issue no? County was recruited as a big pg unless I’m mistaken. It’s not that Hurley hasn’t recruited pgs. He just hasn’t recruited one capable of playing any meaningful minutes. That has to change. County is as much a pg out of HS that Silas was.
I Was looking at the team box scores at wasatch and he was listed as a PG and his assists stats back it up.
His profile was billed as table setter and a plus plus defender. His scoring was his weakest attribute I thoughts
I'm referring to the NCAA bans and the injuries.
Gotta also take into account Smith came through his cousin Skyler Bell. It was a lucky connection
He was listed by UConn as a CG, not a PG, and this was one of County’s quotes at the time of his commitment. He’s not a pure PG and he’s going to get minutes as a secondary ball handler next to a PG.
Silas is a combo guard who is used on and off ball. So was Tristen. He was recruited to play that role eventually. Hes not a score first guy.
Does it have to change though? Maybe Hurley and his staff are better at identifying transfer PGs with college experience than HS players. RJ Cole, Newtown and Silas. We could just keep doing the thing we’re good at
I think you have to compare UConn to the best programs not Marquette who had to gamble their season on a frosh. Top programs can’t take gambles they have to have a sure thing and a backup plan. Let’s see:
Then stop wasting scholarships on hs pgs. Hurley hasn’t relied on transfers on purpose. He’s relied on transfers because he hasn’t recruited one worthy of manning that position.