Don Amore: UConn no longer recruiting Devin Robinson

[Askgreek]

I agree that he probably wants to focus more of his time at the 3 and saw UCONN as a bit crowded. I assume the coaching staff didn't paint a rosy picture for him because they are upfront and honest. I am sure we are in a good position for many players in 15'. I, for one, am not at all worried by not getting Robinson. Maybe Ollie will continue to pursue Swift as a longer term project/program guy, who will hit his stride with a few years of development. Robinson is likely looking to play immediately. I am not sure that is a good fit given who we have on next years roster.

 

[gwhuskyfan]

Official from Zags:

http://zagsblog.com/recruiting/devin-robinson-cancels-uconn-visit/

 

[upstater]

Just because UCONN stops recruiting someone does not mean that the staff isn't still looking at other kids. It's possible the realized it seemed like a huge long shot to land him and decided to put their time and energy into someone else.

This is what's perplexing. They have close ties to his AAU team, they had his last visit, they are going against Indiana and Indiana has 3 or 4 players ahead of him at the 3. Long shot? This was not a long shot. It seems to be a difference of needs and fit. This was a recruitment that was coming down to the wire.

 

[Mooch82]

Just because UCONN stops recruiting someone does not mean that the staff isn't still looking at other kids. It's possible the realized it seemed like a huge long shot to land him and decided to put their time and energy into someone else.

We've been recruiting Robinson forever...stopping now is wasting all that time and effort we already put into him. Don't buy this.

To me, he'd be the perfect player to fill this class. Hamilton is a 2/3 while Robinson is a 3/4...I don't see an issue there. We also recruited Larrier to the end who overlaps with Hamilton more than Robinson would have. This baffles me. Would love to get a true explanation on this from someone in the know rather than just speculation.

 

[aceboon]

Given the info that's been put out there, I don't think they just stopped now, seems like interest has cooled for awhile.

We've been recruiting Robinson forever...stopping now is wasting all that time and effort we already put into him. Don't buy this.

To me, he'd be the perfect player to fill this class. Hamilton is a 2/3 while Robinson is a 3/4...I don't see an issue there. We also recruited Larrier to the end who overlaps with Hamilton more than Robinson would have. This baffles me. Would love to get a true explanation on this from someone in the know rather than just speculation.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

Deandre Daniels has just become our most important recruit for 2014.

 

[Hoophound]

They didn't stop recruiting DR because they are stupid, it just made sense for one reason or another.

We have Hamilton and he and Robinson play the same position. We have Purvis, Calhoun, Samuel and Sam. All are 6'3" or more. We are going to be a big team and we will have have tall, talented guys all over the court.

Right now, I am satisfied with what we have and I think KO is too. We still have the spring to fill any potential vacancies that become more evident later. We are in great shape.

 

[tcf15]

You never know who could shake loose or blow up in the spring.

 

[D$]

Well, turns out my source was correct. Maybe it was just luck...

For the record, I am disappointed and was hoping it was bad info.

This reminds me of Cleveland Melvin except that he had comitted.

 

[Hoophound]

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

Deandre Daniels has just become our most important recruit for 2014.

We will be playing a fairly large version of small ball. I expect to see a lot more versatility on the floor with a little less beef.

 

[aceboon]

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

Deandre Daniels has just become our most important recruit for 2014.

Why do you have to have someone like DeAndre at the PF spot? I like him there, but its not necessary to have someone with his skillset at PF in order to win. We won a title with KFree, an athletic big who could finish inside, get garbage baskets and hit an occasional jumper. We won another title with Josh Boone starting at PF, who had no offensive game outside of garbage baskets and putbacks around the rim. We went to a FF with Jeff, who had a nice back to the basket game and could hit a jumper out to 15 ft. We won another title with Roscoe playing the bulk of the minutes at PF, Roscoe's offensive game was severely limited, he basically floated around on the perimeter on O shooting an occasional deep jumper. None of these guys were anything alike, so I'm not sure why you think going forward for hopefully the next 20 years of KO's coaching career he's going to feature the same type of player as DeAndre at PF.

Also, once again you're making baseless assumptions on players you've never seen play, as long as the NCAA doesn't strip Facey of all of his eligibility he will have a very good career here.

 

[upstater]

We will be playing a fairly large version of small ball. I expect to see a lot more versatility on the floor with a little less beef.

This seems to be a good description. It's small ball no matter what. Maybe they figured that Robinson really wasn't going to be the interior presence that Deandre is no matter what. But in that case, this would conflict with 99's contention that UConn wanted Robinson as a 4.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

You do realize that prior to last year, Uconn always had "two lane-clogging F/C's" on the court at the same time, right?

 

[uchusky32]

From what

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

Deandre Daniels has just become our most important recruit for 2014.

From.what i read about Lubin he can hit the 17fter and in one of the articles he was knocking down 3's. If teams want to go small Ham at the 4 a more skilled DD. Obviously, thats not the first choice but Robinson wants to play the 3 and I see OC and Ham getfing most of those minutes. Purvis, Sam and TS rotating thru both gaurd positions and how can we say for sure DD and Boat are going pro.
My guess is if there are any nice players left in spring and either or both leave we will add players but coaching staff can't move without knowing this, and Robinson can't wait.

 

[upstater]

UConn is in on a lot of bigs for 2015. Some will be coming for First Night. That being said, it is always very difficult to land a top 50 center. There are only a handful of those.

Hope they can land one of Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg, Ivan Rabb, Doral Moore, Moustapha Diagnem, Jesse Govan, Chance Comanche.

 

[UConn Dan]

UConn is in on a lot of bigs for 2015. Some will be coming for First Night. That being said, it is always very difficult to land a top 50 center. There are only a handful of those.

Hope they can land one of Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg, Ivan Rabb, Doral Moore, Moustapha Diagnem, Jesse Govan, Chance Comanche.

That's the all-name squad right there.

 

[Peacefrog]

I don't like the look of our frontcourt in 2014. Barring the unforeseen, either Facey or Lubin will be starting at the 4 (with Nolan/Brimah at the 5). Neither of those guys has the skill of a Daniels, who can credibly shoot it from deep or attack off the dribble. We'll basically have two lane-clogging F/C's who make life harder on our uber-talented backcourt.

Deandre Daniels has just become our most important recruit for 2014.

Daniels is not a prototypical power forward, most don't hang out beyond the arc and maybe ideally they shouldn't. Lubin can reportedly shoot out to 17 feet, that's far enough. We will have plenty of guys who can score from outside. Since when is having two guys around the paint a situation of clogging?

 

[qdog87]

We can go crazy hypothesizing about why we moved on from Devin Robinson. Whether that was Devin's call or our coaching staff at this point it doesn't really matter. We are moving on either way.

I am happy with the class as is and I am sure the coaching staff has a better handle on our long and short term needs. I am not going to question that. Ollie will go after the players that fit the playing style (and character) for the type of team he wants to field. I am just a loyal fan, not a coach. AND I did stay at a holiday Express last night, but I won’t attempt to play the role of coach on this message board.

 

[CL82]

History isn't going to be a great recruiting guide. Ollie's quick multiple headed attack is going to take us in new directions. Who knows how it will work out but it will be fun to watch.

 

[superjohn]

We stopped recruiting Robinson because he only wanted to play the 3. I'm bummed because for the longest time I thought he was UConn bound. Hate to break it to Robinson but wherever he chooses to go he will quickly find out he doesn't have the handle to only play the 3, a lesson a lot of tall college recruits find out. I thought he would have been perfect playing Deandre's role but oh well. Players today get way too hung up on positions, back in the day there were 2 guards, 2 forwards and a center.

 

[UCONNfan1]

This is what's perplexing. They have close ties to his AAU team, they had his last visit, they are going against Indiana and Indiana has 3 or 4 players ahead of him at the 3. Long shot? This was not a long shot. It seems to be a difference of needs and fit. This was a recruitment that was coming down to the wire.

What I should have said is that maybe now the kid changed his mind and is no longer interested in UCONN and now it's looking like a long shot. I do agree it's perplexing, and fans trying to read between the lines from AAU coach comments along with horde reporters and others probably will never put together the whole story... But point well taken...

 

[BUHusky]

You do realize that prior to last year, Uconn always had "two lane-clogging F/C's" on the court at the same time, right?

+100

I'm not sure people (or maybe just Tenspro...) realize that Daniels was put at the stretch 4 last year because of absolute necessity and not because that was the look KO necessarily wanted his front-court to have going forward in his career. As Ace rightly pointed out in his last post, when UConn has been it's most successful they've had two traditional big men at the 4 and 5. This idea that the front-court is in trouble because they might not have a 3 playing out of position at the 4 is a bit absurd.

Also, people seem to forget how awful UConn was at rebounding last year. At least some of that had to do with Daniels playing the 4. I'm completely ok with a front-court going forward of Facey, Nolan, Brimah, and Lubin assuming those guys will bang and grab boards.

 

[UCONNfan1]

We've been recruiting Robinson forever...stopping now is wasting all that time and effort we already put into him. Don't buy this.

To me, he'd be the perfect player to fill this class. Hamilton is a 2/3 while Robinson is a 3/4...I don't see an issue there. We also recruited Larrier to the end who overlaps with Hamilton more than Robinson would have. This baffles me. Would love to get a true explanation on this from someone in the know rather than just speculation.

Good points! I didn't consider that in my post...

 

[I Bleed Blue]

This sucks, but at the same time I think DeAndre may stay for his senior year. Unless he goes absolutely nuts on the court this year he is going to have a hard time being a lottery pick in 2014 with the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Harrison, Marcus Smart, Mitch McGary, Joel Embiid, Gary Harris, Isaiah Austin, etc. If he stays and polishes his game for one extra year he will be making it rain as a sure-fire Top 10 pick in 2015.

 

[James]

Deandre's leaving next year and facey can hit mid range jump shots. That's his game. Lubin his backup, and two 7 footers at the 5. Not bad, especially since our strength is 1-3

 

[FriarJ]

We stopped recruiting Robinson because he only wanted to play the 3. I'm bummed because for the longest time I thought he was UConn bound. Hate to break it to Robinson but wherever he chooses to go he will quickly find out he doesn't have the handle to only play the 3, a lesson a lot of tall college recruits find out. I thought he would have been perfect playing Deandre's role but oh well. Players today get way too hung up on positions, back in the day there were 2 guards, 2 forwards and a center.

I honestly thought you guys were going to get this kid, but I do have one question after reading all the things about 3 versus 4. How the heck is a 6'8" 170lb kid a 4 on a high level college team, never mind the NBA? Unless he has no 3 skills whatsoever then I doubt he would be rated this high because a 170lb kid is going to be pushed all over the place. Your new PF can lift one of him in each arm for pete's sake.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

This sucks, but at the same time I think DeAndre may stay for his senior year. Unless he goes absolutely nuts on the court this year he is going to have a hard time being a lottery pick in 2014 with the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Harrison, Marcus Smart, Mitch McGary, Joel Embiid, Gary Harris, Isaiah Austin, etc. If he stays and polishes his game for one extra year he will be making it rain as a sure-fire Top 10 pick in 2015.

DD is a possible lottery, definite number 1 pick this year barring injury. Absolute the best prospect on the team. I love SN .but the compitition at point and 2 is brutal.
No way he comes back.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Deandre's leaving next year and facey can hit mid range jump shots. That's his game. Lubin his backup, and two 7 footers at the 5. Not bad, especially since our strength is 1-3

I don't see DeAndre leaving as a given. Although scouts have said he is the most intriguing NBA prospect we have, I don't see him being a lottery pick in 2014. If being a lottery pick is important to him, he should stay.

edit: AZ, no doubt he's a first rounder in 2014. I'm just saying, its possible he stays.

 

[SeattleHoop]

We are in play for Melvin Swift who is more of a true 4 although he is thin too. But I think maybe we go after him a little tougher since he does plan on visiting.

 

[B1GEast]

all I can say right now is in KO we trust.