Darius Adams Decommits from UConn

[REB1094]

I'm confused by this post. Next college basketball season is 25-26. I expect both our portal guards Demary and Smith to be a lot better than Adams next season. Smith doesn't have eligibility beyond 25-26 so yes Adams will be a better college player than him in 26-27 by virtue of Smith not playing. There's zero chance IMO Adams is a lottery pick after his sophomore season and if he was UConn's best player as a sophomore UConn basketball would be in a world of hurt.

Maybe I’m being optimistic, but I expect Malachi Smith to contend for BE 6MOY in 25-26 and Silas Demary to contend for 1st Team All American in 26-27

I’d have expected Darius Adams to be a solid bench piece in 26-27 and a key starter in 27-28. Maybe an NBA prospect after year 3 if he filled out his frame as a 6’5 sharpshooting PG

 

[Gurleyman]

Combination of the paradigm shift and that we've never been at this recruiting level before.

Have we ever had one? Prince Ali was the best one I can remember and he was a 4 star. Bynum went to the draft.

I didn’t want to go into next year with Demary backed up by non point guards. Demary is already kind of combo-ish, so another option like Smith is needed. He can change our look. Nobody had Adams as a PG on the recruiting sites.

As it turns out, Adams and Furphy might have been a bit redundant If neither was considered a point guard for the long term. in the old days, they could have been long term options for the 2 and 3.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm confused by this post. Next college basketball season is 25-26. I expect both our portal guards Demary and Smith to be a lot better than Adams next season. Smith doesn't have eligibility beyond 25-26 so yes Adams will be a better college player than him in 26-27 by virtue of Smith not playing. There's zero chance IMO Adams is a lottery pick after his sophomore season and if he was UConn's best player as a sophomore UConn basketball would be in a world of hurt.

Seriously? I think Adams is very talented, better than Bouknight, not far off from Mullins. I don't think Smith is going to be anything more than a very capable backup PG. Had Adams stayed, I'd expect him to be better by January. I agree there's no need for a freak out, but I think too many fans are underselling how good he is to compensate.

 

[DW1361]

Leadership and continuity are valuable, no doubt. But "a guy like Donnell Beverly is who will get me excited" is so odd. You'd be excited about a guy who hardly plays for four years?

Yes I would be excited, because we need a third point guard and a role player on the bench had value. UConn is not getting another high priced guard and none needed. Put the bucks towards Karaban and another big. Does anyone remember Beverly? He was a team player. The minute guys on here will tell you we don’t have many minutes for another pg, but be damned if we go in only two deep there. Others can fill in, but a guy as good as Beverly coming off the bench knowing how to lead is pretty valuable.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Maybe I’m being optimistic, but I expect Malachi Smith to contend for BE 6MOY in 25-26 and Silas Demary to contend for 1st Team All American in 26-27

I’d have expected Darius Adams to be a solid bench piece in 26-27 and a key starter in 27-28. Maybe an NBA prospect after year 3 if he filled out his frame as a 6’5 sharpshooting PG

I was thrilled we got Demary. I'd be very pleasantly surprised if he's first team all Big East. I'm hoping for Big East 2nd team.

 

[Slim Marlo]

Both 5 star recruits.....

Not sure you’re looking at the correct ranking. Griffths was ranked 44

 

[david]

Seriously? I think Adams is very talented, better than Bouknight, not far off from Mullins. I don't think Smith is going to be anything more than a very capable backup PG. Had Adams stayed, I'd expect him to be better by January. I agree there's no need for a freak out, but I think too many fans are underselling how good he is to compensate.

In your past few posts you've said you think Adams is better than Bouknight and that in 26-27 would be better than Demary. As far as I know I have watched every single available second of Darius Adams footage that is online and I struggle to see how you came to these conclusion. Have you seen him in person or something? I was genuinely not bothered about losing his commitment based on everything I've seen of him but maybe there's something I'm missing.

 

[huskyfan224]

Of the guards that were recruited, he was the one I wanted least but happy he chose UConn at the time and was on board with him. I would’ve rather had Lewis, Meleek, or Acuff..not really sure we were on Acuff a ton, but I remember there were some rumblings recruiting him.

Wish him well and happy it’s now rather than later. Who knows how good he will be, he’s got talent but is quite frail.

Onto the next

 

[Deepster]

This whole thread is filled with a bunch of handwringing ninnies.

The best coaching staff in the country got even better. We didn’t lose Kimani or Luke. If Karaban stays we’d be looking at a lineup with plenty of juniors and seniors and a couple blue chippers coming in. What’s the worry?

 

[Fan1978]

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.

Maybe he can apprentice at Rutgers for a few years until he is ready for uconn

 

[Fan1978]

In my case, I expect Mullins is a one and done. Maybe. I think Reibe is a project. Had Adams stayed I would expect him to be our best player in 26-27 and possibly a lottery pick.

I think there is a near 0% chance that our two portal guards are better than Adams next season (26-27). So it's a short term move and yes, Hurley can bring in a new freshman for next year so maybe it doesn't matter. But Adams was a very good fit for our system. In part, as an occasional Kansas fan, I watched them lose guys like Zuby chasing more experienced players. It didn't work out. Cost them Bidunga now too.

I believe budunga decided to return to kansas?

 

[bendm]

Most of the posters in this thread are of the (correct) opinion that (1) They get why he made the decision (2) it looks like it was well thought out and mutual with the coaching staff, so (3) it sucks, but no hard feelings . . .

Then why is it going on for 16 pages? I also agree with 1-3 so why are you trying to correct me?

 

[bendm]

This is easily the most non-freak out response to a 5-star decommit in the history of our program.

I wasn’t aware there was a prior 5-star decommit. Who was it?

 

[Mr. French]

Then why is it going on for 16 pages?

Because it's the biggest news of the last week...

This isn't that complex, honestly. Most people are being rational. I'm not happy we're losing a 5* but I guess I am on the same page as Adams and the staff in that it's probably best for every party right now, given the state of the sport.

But there's still discussion, basketball and roster building amongst other areas, to be had.

 

[Mr. French]

I wasn’t aware there was a prior 5-star decommit

Whether there were or not, that's the point. It's fairly mild here. No one's freaking out - that was your initial point of view (angsty, to be precise).

 

[HooperScooper]

I wasn’t aware there was a prior 5-star decommit. Who was it?

Only other one I can remember was Andrew Bynum.

 

[bendm]

Whether there were or not, that's the point. It's fairly mild here. No one's freaking out - that was your initial point of view (angsty, to be precise).

Glad you got that off your chest? I’ll just see myself out of this thread now, thanks for the feedback.

 

[Mr. French]

Glad you got that off your chest? I’ll just see myself out of this thread now, thanks for the feedback.

Nah man, stay! Just responding to your post, and then having a discussion about it - precisely the reason this site was created.

 

[LStudfellow]

Seriously? I think Adams is very talented, better than Bouknight, not far off from Mullins. I don't think Smith is going to be anything more than a very capable backup PG. Had Adams stayed, I'd expect him to be better by January. I agree there's no need for a freak out, but I think too many fans are underselling how good he is to compensate.

In your past few posts you've said you think Adams is better than Bouknight and that in 26-27 would be better than Demary. As far as I know I have watched every single available second of Darius Adams footage that is online and I struggle to see how you came to these conclusion. Have you seen him in person or something? I was genuinely not bothered about losing his commitment based on everything I've seen of him but maybe there's something I'm missing.

@HuskyHawk, I second @david's question.

Have you seen Darius in person, on multiple occasions, where he actually performed light years better than what has been shown on tape, and in the McDonald's AA game? Yeah, it's a glorified scrimmage... but in all my years of watching that game, I have never seen a guy look so overmatched. I mean, he fell down. Twice. While barely getting touched. And threw up 3 ugly looking shots. That was it.

Sorry, but there is no way you could have seen anything that would suggest he could have come in here and better than Bouknight on Day 1. No way. And I am the first one to point out how many times Bouknight used to fall down after barely getting touched.

And if you can, please produce the tapes. Because I'll bet you and anyone else on here that Malachi Smith significantly outperforms Darius Adams next year, no matter where Adams lands. That's a slam dunk, in my opinion. I could care less that they guy was given a 5* ranking. The rankings have proven to be wrong many times... and I think they totally missed the boat on this guy. He looks way more Gavin Griffiths than James Bouknight to me.... someone else who many on this board lamented losing to Rutgers a couple of years ago.

How did that turn out??? GG never would have made it here, either....

 

[Deleted at users request]

@HuskyHawk, I second @david's question.

Have you seen Darius in person, on multiple occasions, where he actually performed light years better than what has been shown on tape, and in the McDonald's AA game? Yeah, it's a glorified scrimmage... but in all my years of watching that game, I have never seen a guy look so overmatched. I mean, he fell down. Twice. While barely getting touched. And threw up 3 ugly looking shots. That was it.

Sorry, but there is no way you could have seen anything that would suggest he could have come in here and better than Bouknight on Day 1. No way. And I am the first one to point out how many times Bouknight used to fall down after barely getting touched.

And if you can, please produce the tapes. Because I'll bet you and anyone else on here that Malachi Smith significantly outperforms Darius Adams next year, no matter where Adams lands. That's a slam dunk, in my opinion. I could care less that they guy was given a 5* ranking. The rankings have proven to be wrong many times... and I think they totally missed the boat on this guy. He looks way more Gavin Griffiths than James Bouknight to me.... someone else who many on this board lamented losing to Rutgers a couple of years ago.

How did that turn out??? GG never would have made it here, either....

I agree with Hawk that Adams can eventually be very good at the right position. But yeah comparing him to freshman year Bouknight is pretty wild.

Bouknight was a walking efficient bucket from day 1.

 

[navery12]

In my case, I expect Mullins is a one and done. Maybe. I think Reibe is a project. Had Adams stayed I would expect him to be our best player in 26-27 and possibly a lottery pick.

I think there is a near 0% chance that our two portal guards are better than Adams next season (26-27). So it's a short term move and yes, Hurley can bring in a new freshman for next year so maybe it doesn't matter. But Adams was a very good fit for our system. In part, as an occasional Kansas fan, I watched them lose guys like Zuby chasing more experienced players. It didn't work out. Cost them Bidunga now too.

The Adams stuff is confusing enough, but I'm even more confused by the Flory Bidunga claim. He's at Kansas next year

 

[bendm]

think there is a near 0% chance that our two portal guards are better than Adams next season (26-27)

You think there’s greater than 99% chance that sophomore Adams will be better than Senior Demary? That’s the hottest take yet I’m keeping receipts. Smith will be gone next year he’s a senior

 

[caw]

d

The Adams stuff is confusing enough, but I'm even more confused by the Flory Bidunga claim. He's at Kansas next year

He did enter the portal for about a week I think, more of a money play than anything it seems.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Adams stuff is confusing enough, but I'm even more confused by the Flory Bidunga claim. He's at Kansas next year

He changed his mind? Very glad to hear that. He did enter the portal.

On everything else, if I'm wrong, that will be good news. So it's not worth worrying about at this point.

 

[uconnfan68]

This isn't meant as a diss because he's a really good kid, he chose us, and I think he can eventually turn into a very good player but I saw a workout video of Adams where he said he feels he's underrated. I think he's in for a bit of an adjustment/wake up call and I think the McDonald's event and the staff being really honest with him was probably a bit of an eye opener for him.

This feels like a win-win for him and for UConn.

Have to say, didn’t watch the whole McD game, but he was way over his head in that game from what I saw. Just physically not ready.