2026 Recruiting: Colben Landrew Official Visit (10/3)

[aburks41]

Need that first crystal ball

 

[husky429]

The back end is equally frustrating. Hawkins left a very unfinished product and has struggled mightily. I suspect his nba career would have been more successful with an additional year of seasoning. Unfortunately, you have to take life changing money if handled correctly. Clearly, castle was ready but hawikns, andre and even donovan would have benefited from staying another year.

Andre was done developing. He is the player he is, basically. He just isn't wired to score.

Donovan is killing it in the league.

Hawkins not being able to shoot in the league was a surprise to most folks. He's just not big enough for the league. A year at UConn wouldn't have changed that.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[HW611]

The back end is equally frustrating. Hawkins left a very unfinished product and has struggled mightily. I suspect his nba career would have been more successful with an additional year of seasoning. Unfortunately, you have to take life changing money if handled correctly. Clearly, castle was ready but hawikns, andre and even donovan would have benefited from staying another year.

I mostly agree. I wish Hurley would focus more on making guys complete offensive players here and not just teaching them to shoot. That’s the main pattern with our perimeter guys.

 

[pj]

We're first!

(I thought it might be alphabetical but Ole Miss is to the right of Purdue. So maybe order is meaningful.)

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I mostly agree. I wish Hurley would focus more on making guys complete offensive players here and not just teaching them to shoot. That’s the main pattern with our perimeter guys.

Wow. It almost sounds like you'd be willing to propose something crazy, like trying to turn Ball into a point guard.

 

[HW611]

Wow. It almost sounds like you'd be willing to propose something crazy, like trying to turn Ball into a point guard.

I’ve seen crazier. Like trying to make Mahaney one and thinking he’d be an All-American doing it

 

[HooperScooper]

The 6-foot-6 wing will announce on Oct. 15 on the CBS Sports College Basketball Channel.

He is down to Louisville, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Texas A&M and UConn, with the Huskies as the favorite.

Four-star wing Colben Landrew sets announcement date | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA Colben Landrew, the four-star […]

www.zagsblog.com

 

[Nameless]

Andre was done developing. He is the player he is, basically. He just isn't wired to score.

Donovan is killing it in the league.

Hawkins not being able to shoot in the league was a surprise to most folks. He's just not big enough for the league. A year at UConn wouldn't have changed that.

I'll be the first to acknowledge I haven't watched the NBA much for the past 5-6 years. So perhaps I'm missing something. But I don't understand why some people speak of Hawkins as if he's a bust already (not saying that's what you're doing, just talking about the general sentiment.) He's shown flashes of being a really productive scorer, but he's streaky. That's exactly who he was at UConn his sophomore year. It's crazy to look back at his stats and see he shot a tick under 41% overall that season, because he is such a sniper when he's on. But there were some games he was just off, as well as some games where he was off most of the game but was able to shoot himself out of it towards the end. The numbers reflect that. I get that his shooting splits are even lower in the NBA, but he is still just under 35% from deep through 2 seasons and was over 36% his first season. The potential as a shooter is still there, as he's only 23.

Again, I haven't watched the Pelicans or the NBA much for awhile. I'm unsure of the exact role he plays for the team. But I think he could maybe benefit from going to a team that has no playoff hopes for a season and being one of the core players. Not necessarily a star, but a guy playing 30min/night on a team that is just looking to develop young guys and get a good draft slot as they reset/rebuild.

 

[HooperScooper]

I think we batted 100% with announcements on 247Sports (now owned by CBS) last year. Hope that continues. If Finkelstein is doing the show then we're good.

In an interview with 247Sports, Landrew broke down each of his final schools before he makes his decision.

UConn: "I like UConn. Coach [Dan] Hurley runs a good team, he's a great coach, he coaches his kids hard. I like that."

No. 21-ranked Colben Landrew sets to announce college decision on CBS Sports College Basketball Channel

One of the biggest stock-risers this spring and summer, Landrew is one of the most versatile players in the country.

247sports.com

 

[HooperScooper]

Need that first crystal ball

@RuffRuff, we need a Ruffball here. 😂

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I mostly agree. I wish Hurley would focus more on making guys complete offensive players here and not just teaching them to shoot. That’s the main pattern with our perimeter guys.

I know you're working off your schtick here to a large degree, but anyone who claims to scrutinize game tape, practice tape posts on social media, and your exclusive fly-on-the-wall hidden camera video of practices as much as you do knows darn well that sophomore Hawkins did more than shoot 3's off screens. He was starting to develop a drive/mid/dribble penetration game.

As just one of many examples (I'm not going to make a mixtape for you), he almost had one of the all-time highlight dunks in the history of National Championship games off a dribble-drive but overcooked his finish.

 

[CL82]

The back end is equally frustrating.

 

[HW611]

I know you're working off your schtick here to a large degree, but anyone who claims to scrutinize game tape, practice tape posts on social media, and your exclusive fly-on-the-wall hidden camera video of practices as much as you do knows darn well that sophomore Hawkins did more than shoot 3's off screens. He was starting to develop a drive/mid/dribble penetration game.

As just one of many examples (I'm not going to make a mixtape for you), he almost had one of the all-time highlight dunks in the history of National Championship games off a dribble-drive but overcooked his finish.

Jordan Hawkins total FGA% that year.

50.7% from the above the break 3.
- 22% higher than the average D1 player

11% from midrange 2s
- 2% lower than the average D1 player

10% from in the paint
- 9% lower than the average D1 player

15.5% at the the rim
- 14.6% lower than the average D1 player

Let’s look at Solo for fun.

53.6% from above the break 3.
- 24% higher than the average D1 player

5% from midrange 2s
- 6% lower than the average D1 player

12% from in the paint
- 7% lower than the average D1 player

20% at the rim
- 11% lower than the average D1 player

Almost like these things are a trend or something

Here’s some pretty visual charts to go with it.

 

[DD311]

I think we batted 100% with announcements on 247Sports (now owned by CBS) last year. Hope that continues. If Finkelstein is doing the show then we're good.

In an interview with 247Sports, Landrew broke down each of his final schools before he makes his decision.

UConn: "I like UConn. Coach [Dan] Hurley runs a good team, he's a great coach, he coaches his kids hard. I like that."

No. 21-ranked Colben Landrew sets to announce college decision on CBS Sports College Basketball Channel

One of the biggest stock-risers this spring and summer, Landrew is one of the most versatile players in the country.

247sports.com

👀 Louisville: "I love Louisville. Louisville has a great program, and they have just been recruiting me hard. Ever since they saw me for the first time, they have been on me nonstop."

 

[RuffRuff]

@RuffRuff, we need a Ruffball here. 😂

Any Ruffball here would be only teal leaves and logic only. I have no sources in Georgia!

Based on timing, fit, roster, how light the Uconn list is and the fact that we've recently lost on a couple of guys, this guy is a Husky.

Kid is multi-year and playing at a position that we've sent a number of kids to the league in the last few years. Why would you go get developed by an unproven Pat Kelsey over Hurley? I think Hurley opens up the bag a bit to get him. Samuels, a volume shooter, doesn't feel like a great fit. Mingo feels like he's dying on the vine, and my guess he goes somewhere to be featured. This is a priority get for Dan Hurley and Dan Hurley usually gets his priorities.

 

[RuffRuff]

I know you're working off your schtick here to a large degree, but anyone who claims to scrutinize game tape, practice tape posts on social media, and your exclusive fly-on-the-wall hidden camera video of practices as much as you do knows darn well that sophomore Hawkins did more than shoot 3's off screens. He was starting to develop a drive/mid/dribble penetration game.

As just one of many examples (I'm not going to make a mixtape for you), he almost had one of the all-time highlight dunks in the history of National Championship games off a dribble-drive but overcooked his finish.

Is it Dan Hurley's responsibility to ensure your continued development once in the league or is his responsibility to get you drafted as high as possible? I'd opt for the latter. Dan Hurley is not the G League. His priority is to build winning rosters, to the program, the fans and the university.

He gives kids the stage, puts them in a position to win. He is not a magician or an alchemist. He got Jordan Hawkins & Andre Jackson drafted lottery & early second because they were part of a winner.

I'd argue that outside of McNeeley, he's gotten every kid the last few years drafted higher than they could have dreamed. Even Castle - who was the 10th ranked HS recruit yet second of that class to go in that draft (after Shephard).

Once you're in the league, with their resources & $$, it's on the kid to develop in areas they need to, not friggin Hurley's.

Ludicrous.

 

[HW611]

Is it Dan Hurley's responsibility to ensure your continued development once in the league or is his responsibility to get you drafted as high as possible? I'd opt for the latter. Dan Hurley is not the G League. His priority is to build winning rosters, to the program, the fans and the university.

He gives kids the stage, puts them in a position to win. He is not a magician or an alchemist. He got Jordan Hawkins & Andre Jackson drafted lottery & early second because they were part of a winner.

I'd argue that outside of McNeeley, he's gotten every kid the last few years drafted higher than they could have dreamed. Even Castle - who was the 10th ranked HS recruit yet second of that class to go in that draft (after Shephard).

Once you're in the league, with their resources & $$, it's on the kid to develop in areas they need to, not friggin Hurley's.

Ludicrous.

Coaches have no responsibility to prepare the players properly for the NBA. Got it.

 

[Gurleyman]

Jordan Hawkins total FGA% that year.

50.7% from the above the break 3.
- 22% higher than the average D1 player

11% from midrange 2s
- 2% lower than the average D1 player

10% from in the paint
- 9% lower than the average D1 player

15.5% at the the rim
- 14.6% lower than the average D1 player

Let’s look at Solo for fun.

53.6% from above the break 3.
- 24% higher than the average D1 player

5% from midrange 2s
- 6% lower than the average D1 player

12% from in the paint
- 7% lower than the average D1 player

20% at the rim
- 11% lower than the average D1 player

Almost like these things are a trend or something

Here’s some pretty visual charts to go with it.

Wow. We have kids play to their strengths more than their weaknesses. Shocking. It’s like we’re trying to selfishly win games for our own benefit or something.

 

[RuffRuff]

Coaches have no responsibility to prepare the players properly for the NBA. Got it.

It's a coaches priority to create the best roster to win year over year, by getting the right players and developing those players for the system. Along the way, players should be developing their strengths. The cream should rise naturally. Hurley shouldn't be deliberately running a system of iso ball to tailor to NBA translation, or working with players one on one with a focus on their NBA game, while in college - give.me.a.break.

Cal runs a system that translates to the NBA - by rolling it out there and telling 18 year olds to "go". Does that win? Is he doing a better job at the college level than Hurley? He does pump out a ton of NBA players (mainly because he's hoarded top 10 freshmen). Last I looked, UK ran him out of town and made Hurley an offer because they were sick of Cal's system because they want to win, not just be an NBA minor league system.

You are just following the wrong program dude. There are a few out there that are more of your design (Duke, Ark, Marquette).

 

[HW611]

Wow. We have kids play to their strengths more than their weaknesses. Shocking. It’s like we’re trying to selfishly win games for our own benefit or something.

The statement was that he did more than shoot 3s. I show stats and facts to show not really.

Boneyard comes moving the goal post.

 

[Inyatkin]

Coaches have no responsibility to prepare the players properly for the NBA. Got it.

Congratulations on fully morphing into this forum's most insufferable poster

 

[RuffRuff]

I'll be the first to acknowledge I haven't watched the NBA much for the past 5-6 years. So perhaps I'm missing something. But I don't understand why some people speak of Hawkins as if he's a bust already (not saying that's what you're doing, just talking about the general sentiment.) He's shown flashes of being a really productive scorer, but he's streaky. That's exactly who he was at UConn his sophomore year. It's crazy to look back at his stats and see he shot a tick under 41% overall that season, because he is such a sniper when he's on. But there were some games he was just off, as well as some games where he was off most of the game but was able to shoot himself out of it towards the end. The numbers reflect that. I get that his shooting splits are even lower in the NBA, but he is still just under 35% from deep through 2 seasons and was over 36% his first season. The potential as a shooter is still there, as he's only 23.

Again, I haven't watched the Pelicans or the NBA much for awhile. I'm unsure of the exact role he plays for the team. But I think he could maybe benefit from going to a team that has no playoff hopes for a season and being one of the core players. Not necessarily a star, but a guy playing 30min/night on a team that is just looking to develop young guys and get a good draft slot as they reset/rebuild.

Jordan Hawkins is a specialist, 3 pt shooting. He's shown little else in his game. Jordan Hawkins shot 33% from 3 last year. Al Horford shot better than that from 3 the last 10 years, over 40% in a couple years. When you're a specialist at something, you have to be really good at it.

And it's Hurley's fault Hawkins is one dimesional two years out. We really got to get Hurley out of here. The guy is all about winning at the college level, leaving lasting memories for Uconn fans, and not nearly enough about the journey of making our guys great NBA players. Guy needs to go ASAP. I Jeff Calhoun coaching these days, available?

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Jordan Hawkins total FGA% that year.

50.7% from the above the break 3.
- 22% higher than the average D1 player

11% from midrange 2s
- 2% lower than the average D1 player

10% from in the paint
- 9% lower than the average D1 player

15.5% at the the rim
- 14.6% lower than the average D1 player

Let’s look at Solo for fun.

53.6% from above the break 3.
- 24% higher than the average D1 player

5% from midrange 2s
- 6% lower than the average D1 player

12% from in the paint
- 7% lower than the average D1 player

20% at the rim
- 11% lower than the average D1 player

Almost like these things are a trend or something

Here’s some pretty visual charts to go with it.

LOL isn't that kinda what you'd want to see from your 3pt shooting snipers? Those numbers don't really prove your point as much as you think they do. ~40% of their shots weren't from 3!!!

Love those graphics though!

Anyways, maybe we should take this nonsense to a different thread and not crap up the Landrew thread.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Wow. We have kids play to their strengths more than their weaknesses. Shocking. It’s like we’re trying to selfishly win games for our own benefit or something.

If HW611 was our coach, he'd be playing all our freshman development players big minutes during crucial BE games, deliberately losing them so we can "better develop NBA players". And having all the players do tennis ball dribbling drills while seated on the bench.

The only think HW611 and I have in common is our bromance with Ross. ;-)