Diamond Stone talks UConn & Kevin Ollie (Scout)

[Rocktheworld]

Me likey. Me likey alot.

 

[CTBasketball]

Speaking of sleeping on people...I feel like Bill Self has been winning a lot of the big battles the last few years. He sits back and then offers a starting job and unlimited playing time and recruits jump at it. We might not have those same luxuries.

He lost DeAndre Daniels!

 

[kelde1wd]

I read that Newman doesn't want to commit until spring. I know we all are hoping to have the class sealed up in the early signing period. I wonder how firm he is on that and what it will do to Stone's schedule.

 

[tcf15]

Stone has said he wants to sign during the early period.

@SteveJones_CJ: Diamond Stone already plans to make his decision on signing day in November.

@NextCats: Diamond Stone says he will make his announcement on ESPN on national signing day in November.

 

[tcf15]

This package deal probably won't happen:

“@SteveJones_CJ: Diamond Stone said there's a "50 percent chance" he and Newman will go to same school. More iffy on it that Malik was earlier.”

 

[tcf15]

“@NextCats: Stone's father says Diamond will take all five official visits before announcing his decision in November.”

 

[UConn990411]

I would be shocked...SHOCKED...if this package deal didn't happen.

(And by shocked, I mean not surprised at all.)

 

[Clockshop]

Wouldn't be surprised to see both play at home…Lebron factor.

 

[DogMania]

With so many very good recruits interested in UConn, I doubt that KO will wait very long for Stone and/or Newman. I'm on the fence to some degree with these two. Would I want this pair who's odds of jumping right to the NBA after one season, assuming the rules don't change, a better deal than say landing one of the other highly ranked guards or the quickly rising SF Jones, along with Enoch and/or 7-3 Koumadje, who's odds of sticking around a tad longer is more likely? I think I'm fine with whatever happens as long as we land 4 (I'd like 5 but that would assume someone leaves early one way or the other) from the long list of Plan A and B recruits we've been reading about the past month or so. What I don't want to see happen, is KO hold out for this pair and end up having to drop to Plan-C or D type recruits while missing out on some really good players in the mold of what we've been landing and winning multiple NCs with.

I have all the confidence in KO who I think will hold out a little while for who he wants most, but at some point, late summer or early fall, he's more than likely to tell a few recruits at a given position, whoever says yes first gets the ship! I've seen the big boys in the past, such as Zona, hold out in hopes of landing multiple elite top 10 type recruits and end up with a whole lot of nothing and have a down year or two as a result. I don't see KO doing that. He's aiming high, but doesn't seem to be the type who's going to let some teenagers dictate UConn's future. At some point soon, he's going to tell Stone and Newman, "If you really want to play together here at UConn, now is the time to make your decision. If not, as much as I would like to coach you, I'm going to take the first guard and big man who's willing to commit. We're all about UConn and I have to do what's best for our program. I'm recruiting players who are all about what's on the front of the jersey and want to be here more than anywhere else." I can see KO respectfully telling these two something like that, if in fact they are his top choices. If they aren't, then these two better make up their minds soon, because KO is going to take the best available players to fill whatever ships he has to fill.

I just have a feeling that the Squid benefits most by these two taking their time. UK seems to be a destination for those top ranked recruits who are willing wait till the spring since his program always seem to be reloading on a yearly basis. I don't think KO can take that MO and feel good that some top recruits will ultimately pull the UConn trigger late fall or in the spring. As noted above, with so many very good choices, it doesn't make sense to hold out very long for these two presumably plan-A recruits while the plan-B ones aren't all that far behind talent wise, if behind much at all.

 

[Walker11]

I agree Dog. I think Stone looks good considering his interest and his intent to sign in Nov. Plus, I'm sure 3 or TCF will soon post Stone's comments that the package is 50/50 at this time. I think Newman is realistic only if DHam or Purvis blow up. I wish we would go hard after Mitchell. Kid has always been big time but is just seemingly about to blow up.

 

[TheChamps990411]

The kid seems to have the right idea and attitude about playing here. Uconn will make you a better player of course but more importantly in the long run Uconn will make him a better person and a team first guy. Does this Stone/Newman thing remind anyone of Stackhouse/Wallace back in the 90`s?

 

[Sportsman5]

This package deal probably won't happen:

“@SteveJones_CJ: Diamond Stone said there's a "50 percent chance" he and Newman will go to same school. More iffy on it that Malik was earlier.”

translation: if newman decides to go to the same school that stone picks, than they will be a package deal. but stone is making his decision based solely on what is best for himself. Smart move on his part.

 

[3uconn]

I agree Dog. I think Stone looks good considering his interest and his intent to sign in Nov. Plus, I'm sure 3 or TCF will soon post Stone's comments that the package is 50/50 at this time. I think Newman is realistic only if DHam or Purvis blow up. I wish we would go hard after Mitchell. Kid has always been big time but is just seemingly about to blow up.

I'm not sure if I said it on the board or in a private conversation but I firmly believe Newman is much more set on the package than Stone. Every time Stone talks about it he says it's possible and it's being talked about. Newman says it will happen.

 

[Dynasty]

So Stone wants to decide in November but Newman wants to decide in spring. Stone isn't 100% on the package but Newman is. I have the feeling this package deal won't come to fruition.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I could see the whole "Lebron factor" thing coming into play with Stone playing for Wisconsin with the departure in their lineup at his position and Newman blazing his own trail at Mississippi st. After reading that Newman update I don't really know which way his recruitment is heading and you can't really know because he hasn't taken any visits (has he?). My ideal recruiting class or situation would probably go like this.

Jalen Adams, Isaiah Broscoe, Derrick Jones, Enoch, and Koumadje.

While I would love to have Newman and Stone to see how that would work, for our long term success and chemistry this recruiting class would be great. (If Purvis comes back take out Broscoe)
We would have 4 potential lottery picks and impact league players in that class that would be staying for a few years and be raw enough to sit behind veteran players. This would be great.
Samuel/Adams
Hamilton/ Briscoe/ Cassell
Jones/ Calhoun
Facey/Lubkin/ Enoch
Amida/Phil/Koumadje

Very talented team with young talented players who we would be able to slowly if need be with the veteran talent. I hope Omar turns into another Rashad Anderson like player after this off-season except he becomes a 3 and D guy. Koumadje wouldn't be needed for long stretches with our depth at bigs so he could really develop his skills and learn before he is actually ready to be big time. What a better role model than Brimah too with his length?

So I'm not worried if we miss out on Newman/Stone or even Enoch really. As long as we have Koumadje, Jones, and Adams we should have 3 future stars later down the road in this program who will have the opportunity to be mentored by guys above them and shown how to be a UConn basketball player.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Quite frankly Cheif probably predicts that the package deal, quite frankly, has a 50% chance of happening