Darius Adams Decommits from UConn

[Chuck]

We had too many freshman in this new reality. Adams didn’t look ready to play. Guys like him should go where they can play, then move up in the portal. He would’ve wasted UConn’s time this year by sitting and then transferring. Even if he becomes a great player, it probably wouldn’t have happened here in this era.

 

[JMick]

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.

Ranking doesn't really matter. If we're just going off Hurley guys, freshman year bouknight would have played a ton this year and next year and he was ranked 50-60ish

 

[IndyLives]

Major blow to our Title chances. Worse, Danny takes a hit to his brand.

 

[controlfade]

I wish him well, however, this world of having everything handed and not having to earn is ridiculous.

Thankfully , as has been said many times, this really has little effect on next seasons team.

 

[Waquoit]

A soft culture we have in today's society, luckily we dont cater to that culture here, come at me all you want for my take I won't flinch one bit.

Guys sitting at home calling others soft will always be lame.

 

[shizzle787]

He was basically an Isaiah Abraham, someone on the roster who wasn't going to play. It stinks to lose a recruit but Hurley only plays 9 so he can recruit 10 legitimate roster players and two low-level Euros on the cheap.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Guys sitting at home calling others soft will always be lame.

As a high school kid he already reached a level of excellence (McD's AA) in his preferred field than any on this board will reach in any field in their collective lifetimes.

It's amazing that they have knocked this kid as much as they have.

 

[Scoe]

Guys sitting at home calling others soft will always be lame.

That was just my instant reaction to hearing that news.

 

[RuffRuff]

Major blow to our Title chances. Worse, Danny takes a hit to his brand.

Some take. Losing Adam’s does nothing to our title chances. If anything we can get a more productive player in the portal.

This doesn’t hit Hurleys brand at all, up till the point Adams turns into a lottery pick in another program. My guess is that isn’t going to happen.

This is an instant grat gen. It’s well documented. Pope or Scheyers brands aren’t getting hit either.

 

[ucp990411]

Major blow to our Title chances. Worse, Danny takes a hit to his brand.

Funny

 

[Spaceman213J]

I'm sure Hurley & staff are disappointed, but if the kid isn't all in or is scared of the guys competing and limiting playing time, than he probably told the kid best of luck elsewhere and has already moved on

 

[Waquoit]

That was just my instant reaction to hearing that news.

Doesn't make it any less lame, imo.

 

[PAHusky]

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).

Both had a chance to step up and grab meaningful roles this year due to injury and both didn’t - Stewart had flashes and Ross not so much. One of the keys to the year last year preseason, as identified by pretty much everyone, was the sophomores needing to make a jump to make another deep run. Solo did, the others not so much. As he is once again asking them to make a jump then yes same bet. Argue semantics about what role he envisions etc but that’s the deal

 

[Huskyforlife]

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.

This is just a bunch of words to describe that he was scared of the competition. If Dan called the kid up and told him to leave, that would be different, but Borges reported we gladly would’ve had him stay. He was spooked by Demary and Smith, didn’t think he’d beat them for minutes next year, and he was right.

 

[jleves]

While I get that the boneyard has to over think and over speculate on things and add in the people who have to use words like scared or not all in, the situation here is pretty clear.

Based on a couple players coming back, a couple of recruits who committed after him and a couple of veteran studs from the portal, a top 30 recruit was unlikely to see significant minutes.

He's not scared or not all in - he's just behind a few better recruits and a few grown men that were going to eat the majority of minutes he expected when he committed.

He and the UConn staff had realistic conversations and it's best for Adams to go somewhere he can play minutes as a top 30 recruit to develop his game and it's in the best interest of UConn not to have a 5 star sitting on the bench for a year sucking up NIL $ that can be used elsewhere and then possibly leaving.

Stop calling him soft and scared or whatever. He's doing what's best for his career and the staff is fine with that.

 

[NJHusky]

I remember cobol in high school 1984 maybe. Our teacher said in our lifetime we will have a powerful computer we can hold in our hand. I should have paid attention.

Should have said on your wrist

 

[lateralous]

Seems like everyone involved avoided another Nowell/Abraham situation. Maybe the amicable parting now leaves the door open for him to return in a year or two when he’s stronger and is a bit more developed.

 

[Samoo]

Major blow to our Title chances. Worse, Danny takes a hit to his brand.

Mrs. Adams to weighs in...

 

[HooperScooper]

PT the staff was offering when recruiting him was almost certainly part of his decision and that changed.

I thought Hurley never promises playing time? Just a chance to compete for and earn it.

 

[djct1999]

I see this and immediately wonder what the hell does this staff have under its sleeve.

 

[bendm]

Some take. Losing Adam’s does nothing to our title chances. If anything we can get a more productive player in the portal.

This doesn’t hit Hurleys brand at all, up till the point Adams turns into a lottery pick in another program. My guess is that isn’t going to happen.

This is an instant grat gen. It’s well documented. Pope or Scheyers brands aren’t getting hit either.

Either he was being sarcastic or he’s a troll

 

[Husky68]

Unless you think you could be a lottery/1st round pick as a freshman (which is pretty rare air, especially for anyone under 6'5" and 200 lbs.) you are not going to start for a top 25 team. Probably that team is going to have plenty of potential 6th to 8th players so you are going to have to fight for minutes.

 

[HooperScooper]

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.

Sidary? Is that a conglomeration of his first name and last name? Lol

 

[HooperScooper]

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.

When Adams signed in November the 1 and 2 spots for 2025-2026 were expected to be Mahaney/Nowell/Ball/Ross/Mullins. Considering at the time everyone thought Mahaney and Nowell were really good, I don't see what the difference is today. I guess it took Adams 5 months to come to the conclusion that he didn't think he was good enough right away to earn playing time at the 1 and 2. Whatever. I wish him luck wherever he ends up.

 

[uconn_jack]

He would have had the most boring name on the team, so no big loss.