- Joined
- Aug 5, 2013
- Messages
- 342
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- 806
I am newly enrolled and have enjoyed the discussion, but I have a few concerns and questions.
I have a concern or two about our recruiting discussions. Obviously, the fun is in comparing who could come and play at UConn. We each have a list of who we would like and probably an order of preference. We ought to be able to discuss our preferences with remarks like, player x has a better handle that y. Like physicians, we should pledge to do no harm. This forum is probably being read by prospective student athletes, their friends and families. I would want them to know that UConn has a huge, rabid and supportive fan base and not see themselves subject of devastating criticism.
I am uncomfortable with people who feel it necessary to put down a high school athlete. It is hard to gauge upside and that is KO’s job. I also think he is looking for character, intelligence and work ethic. I expect to see the players from 2012-13 come to play this year with improved skills. KO was a 4 year started because of work ethic. Kemba discovered the fruit of hard work and he is still at it. We would do well to be the school where kids come and overachieve. For the future, I think if Terrence Samuel, or a player like that, makes the NBA from UConn, KO’s and UConn’s allure increases.
A team of all-stars is not going to always win out. The beauty of basketball is that it is a team sport and chemistry is huge. Getting a one and done player to the league is not so big a deal. They just want to showcase (themselves) and the team may or may not be carried along by their skill.
People who list dream teams with 2 or more top players at each position are missing that too much depth for 200 minutes is also potentially a problem. Would coming to UConn really be attractive if you had to worry about having to transfer in 2 years with little playing time on your resume?
For example, guard prospects have to decide if Boatright and Calhoun are coming back. If they think so, why come to Storrs with the expectation that they will sit 3/4 of Calhoun, Purvis, Hamilton and Boatright? Samuels was uncommon because he values the jersey, but most PGs had to be wondering if Boat and Bazz would be back? Knowing the competition would be Bazz, Boat, Calhoun and Kromah would have chilled interest in most PG prospects.
That said, the first question I'd ask KO if I could is why true 4s and 5s are not signing up to play next year? Is it Nolan, Brimah and Facey? Who wouldn’t want a UConn uniform and their back to the basket with the cast already committed?
I have a concern or two about our recruiting discussions. Obviously, the fun is in comparing who could come and play at UConn. We each have a list of who we would like and probably an order of preference. We ought to be able to discuss our preferences with remarks like, player x has a better handle that y. Like physicians, we should pledge to do no harm. This forum is probably being read by prospective student athletes, their friends and families. I would want them to know that UConn has a huge, rabid and supportive fan base and not see themselves subject of devastating criticism.
I am uncomfortable with people who feel it necessary to put down a high school athlete. It is hard to gauge upside and that is KO’s job. I also think he is looking for character, intelligence and work ethic. I expect to see the players from 2012-13 come to play this year with improved skills. KO was a 4 year started because of work ethic. Kemba discovered the fruit of hard work and he is still at it. We would do well to be the school where kids come and overachieve. For the future, I think if Terrence Samuel, or a player like that, makes the NBA from UConn, KO’s and UConn’s allure increases.
A team of all-stars is not going to always win out. The beauty of basketball is that it is a team sport and chemistry is huge. Getting a one and done player to the league is not so big a deal. They just want to showcase (themselves) and the team may or may not be carried along by their skill.
People who list dream teams with 2 or more top players at each position are missing that too much depth for 200 minutes is also potentially a problem. Would coming to UConn really be attractive if you had to worry about having to transfer in 2 years with little playing time on your resume?
For example, guard prospects have to decide if Boatright and Calhoun are coming back. If they think so, why come to Storrs with the expectation that they will sit 3/4 of Calhoun, Purvis, Hamilton and Boatright? Samuels was uncommon because he values the jersey, but most PGs had to be wondering if Boat and Bazz would be back? Knowing the competition would be Bazz, Boat, Calhoun and Kromah would have chilled interest in most PG prospects.
That said, the first question I'd ask KO if I could is why true 4s and 5s are not signing up to play next year? Is it Nolan, Brimah and Facey? Who wouldn’t want a UConn uniform and their back to the basket with the cast already committed?
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