Darius Adams Decommits from UConn

[Deleted at users request]

Which means he didn't want to compete for his minutes, right?

Do people really think he would've been able to take minutes away from Smith and Silas?

We just saw a situation where Nowell couldn't get too many minutes with a struggling Mahaney.

People can say Nowell didn't show much when he played, but part of putting yourself in a good situation is to have the room to grow and not need to be perfect to be able to play.

I 100% expect Adams to need to be able to play through mistakes he’ll make his first year to develop and get better. That would not have been here.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Like most fans there's that initial shock when you hear the news, but we really shouldn't be suprised at all. It all makes sense when you give it a minute or 2. Hearing both sides had a mutual decision, best of luck to Adams and we'll move on.

I think if we got Meleek Thomas or Acaden, we may not have went out to get Smith. Maybe.

 

[Huskyforlife]

If a kid leaves because of competition for minutes, that means he was scared of competition. Nobody ever said he shouldn't be, or that it's a character flaw.

 

[Dibbie]

If you’re not the elite of the elite, you need to be willing to wait for your time or go the mid major route. My assumption is he’ll end up at a lower tier program who will give him PT. Best of luck

 

[Kitaman]

I am ok with his withdrawal at the season end, well before Summer. Any incoming freshman should be intimidated by experienced D1 transfers coming in as well as existing players, especially if they are looking for major minutes immediately.

He's ready to start for some D1 team but just not UConn. His future is his main concern and apparently its not with UConn.

He made the right decision for him with all things considered. He'll be happy elsewhere, and that's okay.

 

[PAHusky]

Hurley made this same bet last year and it didn’t work out. Doubling down again this year at the potential cost of a very high level recruit is definitely a ballsy move - hope it pays off better this season. Think Stewart improves but really don’t see Ross at all and not sure how much these two staying even would have impacted Adams and his playing time

 

[Deleted at users request]

Hurley made this same bet last year and it didn’t work out. Doubling down again this year at the potential cost of a very high level recruit is definitely a ballsy move - hope it pays off better this season. Think Stewart improves but really don’t see Ross at all and not sure how much these two staying even would have impacted Adams and his playing time

Hurley did not make this bet last year.

He's actually making the bet for the first time this year because they'll actually be in star/starting roles. Not role players off the bench (if that is the staff expectation for Ross).

 

[Griffman]

I’ve forgotten him already.

 

[Marat]

I’ve forgotten him already.

Who ?

 

[Kenny11]

Seems like someone that needs to develop by having the ball in his hands, being able to play free, make mistakes etc. uconn is trying to have a championship level team every year now. Let’s see where he ends up but I don’t think it’s a bad plan at all for some of these kids to go to mid major schools for a year or two, develop, put up stats and then go to a contender when they have a bigger NIL value and a resume of production.

 

[NIT88]

I know that players should have the same flexibility to switch schools as coaches, but I don’t recall too many coaches accepting a new job, and switching schools before coaching a game at the new school. What’s next, players transferring after halftime because of low minutes in the first half?

 

[Hurleyman216]

The reality is unless you’re a top 10-15 recruit you won’t get playing time at UConn as a freshman. Even then, it’s not a given. Most top 100 kids with 3 years of experience are going to outplay the 25th best freshman coming in. I feel bad for some of these freshman because most of them pick a team before the portal madness and what they sign up for often changes significantly.

 

[caw]

Hurley made this same bet last year and it didn’t work out. Doubling down again this year at the potential cost of a very high level recruit is definitely a ballsy move - hope it pays off better this season. Think Stewart improves but really don’t see Ross at all and not sure how much these two staying even would have impacted Adams and his playing

I’m going to pass on arguing the Stewart/Ross take but…

The recruitment of Mullins is probably more impactful on Adams playing time than anyone else.

Adams views himself as a 1/2. Those spots are pretty full with Sidary/Smith/Ball/Mullins/Ross. when Adams signed it was Mahaney/Nowell/Ball/Ross.

Seems more of an Abraham vs McNeeley situation than anything.

 

[TheHorde]

The reality is unless you’re a top 10-15 recruit you won’t get playing time at UConn as a freshman. Even then, it’s not a given. Most top 100 kids with 3 years of experience are going to outplay the 25th best freshman coming in. I feel bad for some of these freshman because most of them pick a team before the portal madness and what they sign up for often changes significantly.

I think we might start to see more top 100 kids begin to wait to commit later, like the spring of their senior year of high school to let the dust settle on transfers. We might see leagues below the caliber of the Big East, ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 begin to recruit some top 100 kids because of the greater chance for minutes right away.

 

[Scoe]

I know that players should have the same flexibility to switch schools as coaches, but I don’t recall too many coaches accepting a new job, and switching schools before coaching a game at the new school. What’s next, players transferring after halftime because of low minutes in the first half?

I get your point but this is nothing like the Nico situation at Tennessee. Hurley doesn't recruit kids and parents whose main focus is bag chasing. Sounds like a mutual decision, that was already agreed upon and not a suprise.

Calhoun actually moved on from some freshman who ended up transferring elsewhere. It happens at every school even pre portal/NIL era.

 

[ctchamps]

If a kid leaves because of competition for minutes, that means he was scared of competition. Nobody ever said he shouldn't be, or that it's a character flaw.

Or after seeing the players entering the program from the transfer portal he assessed the situation that his minutes would be limited, asked the coaches if that assessment was accurate, and received confirmation that his assessment was the likeliest probability.

Being frightened in this situation would be a character flaw. We have confirmation from a trusted source this was a rational process whereby all parties had candid conversations and came to a logical agreement that given Adam’s preferences he should decommit.

I respect his choice and this process. Good luck young man.

 

[EBonz30]

Typical boneyard to bash a kid when all reports coming out are that it was a mutual decision. It was not a money situation, it was not that he didn't want to compete, it was not that he did not "fit" the culture. The playing time just wasn't there.

We clown on Duke and Kentucky for recruiting multiple 5 stars at the same position when the playing time is not available and then blame the player when we do the same.

I won’t do it, but the idea to talk negatively about a player when it comes to recruiting, transfers, overall performance, etc. & to call them “kid” I just don’t think it’s an accurate take at this point. I think with the current state of the sport- it is totally fair to criticize these “kids” because they have become professionals. With that said, I wish Adams the best of luck.

 

[CL82]

This break-up is like the Kathleen and Frank one from You’ve Got Mail and no, I don’t care if I am the only one who gets this reference.

So you're saying it's ironic?

 

[CL82]

Very interesting. The tone in this thread is “meh. Good riddance. We won’t miss him. Oh well” but if he came here, sat the bench and then left it becomes “He’s a great kid! Rooting for his success. Best of luck!”

Yes.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Just like Duke dropped, there goes our #2 recruiting class.

 

[RuffRuff]

I won’t do it, but the idea to talk negatively about a player when it comes to recruiting, transfers, overall performance, etc. & to call them “kid” I just don’t think it’s an accurate take at this point. I think with the current state of the sport- it is totally fair to criticize these “kids” because they have become professionals. With that said, I wish Adams the best of luck.

If you’re a top 10 program there is zero point in bringing many 15-20+ HS kids, unless you think there is amazing upside with a year plus of development and the kid is willing to be patient. If they can’t get 15+ minutes as a frosh, pass.

Even a kid like Furphy could likely land more guaranteed PT elsewhere.

The way the economics are currently set with zero guardrails, what is to stop us using Quinnipiac as a minor league program, giving them NIL to help season a kid for a year?

 

[RuffRuff]

Just like Duke dropped, there goes our #2 recruiting class.

Don’t fret my pet, you’ll see top HS recruiting classes don’t really lead to winning.

https://247sports.com/season/2024-basketball/compositeteamrankings/

 

[Dove]

He won't be missed. Ten toes out.

I'm sure Stewie and Ball staying were blows to his expectations.

 

[Scottobot]

Any info or speculation on why? Why would the Malachi Smith (backup PG) signing affect Adams, a shooting guard?

It might have been Solo Balls decision to return that started the process for him. Better for him to go and be happy, then to stay and be unhappy with lack of PT. As a McDonalds all American he probably wants to play 25+ mins a game as a freshman.

Hopefully this will clear Mullins mind of any similar thoughts. This should open the door for lots of PT for Mullins.

The days of loading your bench with young prospects for future years are over in college basketball

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Do people really think he would've been able to take minutes away from Smith and Silas?

Other than some stray highlights of each (and some very limited action in the McD's AA game for Adams) I can candidly state that nothing in terms of who could earn what playing time would be surprising.

I do know that needing to learn how to be a lead guard would put Adams at a disadvantage and being a couple years behind in both physical maturity and game experience cannot be understated (although many alleged experts still miss this point).

I do know however that it was startling how quickly many on the board became convinced that he would never see the court here based on a few minutes in a barely regulated all star competition.