Hamilton to declare, will not hire agent

[James]

He would be a fool for not putting his name in to get feedback, and KO would be doing him a disservice if he did not force him to.

There is no extenuating circumstances that I am aware of which would force him to chase a paycheck, so I trust whatever decision he and KO make after they get feedback will be the right one.

Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?

 

[jibsey]

If some team takes a shine to him he's gone, but does he like going to class and being a college student? He can play and make money next year without books. I feel like his best chance to improve his game is by staying but I guess we'll know by May 25th. Surprised if he goes.

 

[Jerry1714]

Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?

Yes, he should, AB, Purvis, Jalen all should throw their name in, there is no downside. UK has every player on the roster do it including walk ons.

 

[David 76]

It is his right and it is wise to check it out.

And it will be a huge mistake if he leaves. He won't be a first rounder. I believe there are ratings where he is not a second rounder.

Go, learn how you need to improve and play another year.

 

[James]

Yes, he should, AB, Purvis, Jalen all should throw their name in, there is no downside. UK has every player on the roster do it including walk ons.

I do agree with this , especially AB and Adams.

 

[blue93]

I do agree with this , especially AB and Adams.

Is there any downside to the entire team declaring? As I understand it, declaring allows you to: be granted more time with your college HC, talk with mentors about how to improve your game, get an accurate indication of how you measure up to the other talent in the pool. I seriously don't see any downsides. Worst case we lose a guy we expected to come back next year, but declaring certainly has its benefits.

 

[James]

@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

AB & Adams should theoretically throw their hat in the ring , unless they already have learned what their stock is from Ollie & his vast network of front office people...

 

[Silk31]

@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

Works by invite only...has nothing to do with agents. With the amount of guys declaring reaching new heights there is no way that the underclassmen outsiders even get a real legitimate look

UK can have their whole team declare and that's all good and grand but that really boils down to Calipari using that as a marketing/recruiting ploy.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?

Well, he shouldn't be forcing them. But he absolutely should advise them that the correct move is to declare, workout for the NBA teams, get a sense of how they can improve to raise their draft status, then come back for another year at UConn and do that. Not a single person on our roster is ready to declare for the draft and stay in.

 

[blue93]

@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

AB & Adams should theoretically throw their hat in the ring , unless they already have learned what their stock is from Ollie & his vast network of front office people...

Seems like a pretty easy way to take advantage of the system imo. Even if Ollie and co. told AB and JA that they wouldn't be drafted this year, declaring anyway with the intention of coming back would be a positive for everybody.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I know I'm not a credible source, and this isn't exactly breaking news. But someone close to Ollie told me today he's not leaving, just testing the waters. Of course when he comes back I'll take all the credit

 

[selles]

Works by invite only...has nothing to do with agents. With the amount of guys declaring reaching new heights there is no way that the underclassmen outsiders even get a real legitimate look

UK can have their whole team declare and that's all good and grand but that really boils down to Calipari using that as a marketing/recruiting ploy.

Yeah, I agree with this. I don't really buy the theory that there's no downside to throwing your name out when you're not ready. You don't want NBA teams getting hung up on problems with your game that you can correct with more experience, or worse, viewing your declaration as a joke. If you're a guy like Adams for example, there's zero question that you can improve your game and earning potential with at least another 1-2 years of college ball. I don't see any upside whatsoever to declaring under those circumstances. If you're Brimah, you're looking to come back and beast next year. You want the NBA watching THAT film, not film from a so so year where you got hurt and missed 6 weeks.

 

[UconnFanDC]

I don't see his game translating to the NBA at all until he can shoot the 3 better.

He'll do well with the right team!

 

[Waquoit]

If Daniels couldn't make it into the 1st round, why would anyone think Hamilton will? I don't think he gets picked in the 2nd round either.

 

[Rico444]

I'll just echo what everybody else is saying; there's no reason why D-Ham, Adams, Brimah, and even Purvis shouldn't test the waters. I doubt all of them get selected for the combine, but the ones that do would benefit greatly from getting in workouts with NBA coaches and getting feedback from their scouts on what to work on.

Even if none of them get invited, I'd like to see all four of them in camps this offseason. I'd like them to learn as much as possible so not only can they help us go far in the tournament, but also so they can each help mold the large freshman class we have coming in before all four potentially leave next offseason.

 

[Paesano]

Okafor comes to mind. Jeff Adrien. Shabazz. There's been a few throughout the years. But yes, the forum (all forums actually) always think the sky is the limit for their prospects. What's the fun otherwise?

Just to be sure we are on the sane page, are you saying those guys were major contributors in their first year in the program? I would say, for all his warts, Hamilton was a major contributor last year and this thread is about him and, potentially, having to replace him.

If you want to say Larrier, Jackson and some of the other incoming guys could be major contributors in their second or third year in the program then, yeah, we agree.

Larrier is a little different as he won't be a freshman. Still, he wasn't a superstar, one and done, kind of kid out of high school and his freshman year at VCU wasn't something that screams he will be a stud in his next full playing season. Maybe after a year, sure, but no reasonable person would expect great things next year from him. Of course it could happen. Anything is possible. But is it probable? No. That is all I am saying. There is a big difference between what I hope will happen and what I expect will happen. I don't think we are all that far apart here. Thanks for the rational response.

 

[SubbaBub]

No worried either way. We he was good he was good. When he wasn't we were better with him not on the floor.

 

[Paesano]

No worried either way. We he was good he was good. When he wasn't we were better with him not on the floor.

Yes, he had his bad times and bad games but I think he could have a break out year next year. We really need him back, in my opinion.

 

[auror]

Yeah, I agree with this. I don't really buy the theory that there's no downside to throwing your name out when you're not ready. You don't want NBA teams getting hung up on problems with your game that you can correct with more experience, or worse, viewing your declaration as a joke. If you're a guy like Adams for example, there's zero question that you can improve your game and earning potential with at least another 1-2 years of college ball. I don't see any upside whatsoever to declaring under those circumstances. If you're Brimah, you're looking to come back and beast next year. You want the NBA watching THAT film, not film from a so so year where you got hurt and missed 6 weeks.

NBA decision makers change their minds all the time, getting hung up on problems in your game isn't a thing unless you don't improve them during the following year. Shabazz was never on the NBA radar, until he played awesome senior year and then he was (plus Lebron helped). The point being, even if they deem you unworthy after declaring and you return to school, they can be convinced otherwise with strong play and fixing issues the following season. To put it another way, you can't test the waters yourself off the board if you're not on the board to begin with.

I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

I would assume straight with the player, but potentially with help from our coaching staff. With no contract or marketing issues at stake, I'm not sure why an agent would have to be involved.

 

[Showballot]

No, that's a very easy decision. He will be an NBA player, just not right now. Playing in college puts him on a much bigger stage than anywhere overseas.

Ok guy. Live in Storrs CT, play in the AAC, and have to take classes or live in Europe and make good $ and continue to improve. I'm not saying which is best - I'm simply saying its a tougher decision than your implying.

 

[intlzncster]

Ok guy. Live in Storrs CT, play in the AAC, and have to take classes or live in Europe and make good $ and continue to improve. I'm not saying which is best - I'm simply saying its a tougher decision than your implying.

Just as a counter point, almost every young (pre-NBA) guy who's gone overseas to play has said it is a far more difficult experience than they could imagine. Way more factors than just playing basketball--language, culture, living, dealing with adult teammates fighting for their jobs, unsympathetic franchises, lack of support, different style of play, not necessarily a ton of focused individual coaching, etc. Not easy for a young guy with no real life experience. Ultimately, it probably makes them tougher, but most of these guys had no choice. If they did, I'm certain all of them would have attended or stayed in college. That's from their mouths, not mine.

 

[Gurleyman]

If Daniels couldn't make it into the 1st round, why would anyone think Hamilton will? I don't think he gets picked in the 2nd round either.

Daniels and Hamilton have very, very little in common. Hamilton's in an entirely different stratosphere compared to Daniels as a ball-handler and passer. Hamilton could get you 20 assists in a week - that took DD an entire season.

Daniels developed into a much better spot-up three-point shooter by year three - that's the skill Hamilton really needs to add to get NBA folks interested in the GSW era of spread offenses.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Ok guy. Live in Storrs CT, play in the AAC, and have to take classes or live in Europe and make good $ and continue to improve. I'm not saying which is best - I'm simply saying its a tougher decision than your implying.

Dude, no! Unless a kid can't qualify academically, hes not going to Europe if he's a legit NBA player who's just completing his sophomore year. With a consistent shot, Hamilton is a bonafide NBA player, there's no chance he'd ever go to Europe early.

 

[nomar]

Daniels and Hamilton have very, very little in common. Hamilton's in an entirely different stratosphere compared to Daniels as a ball-handler and passer. Hamilton could get you 20 assists in a week - that took DD an entire season.

Daniels developed into a much better spot-up three-point shooter by year three - that's the skill Hamilton really needs to add to get NBA folks interested in the GSW era of spread offenses.

DD couldn't really create for himself. Every now and then he would do a baseline spin move or use a screen to blow by his guy and take it to the rack (and he did have a nice little post-up baseline move/shot), but DD still had a lot of work to do on his game when he declared. I did see some clips of him from Australia that indicated that he'd worked on his ball-handling. Too bad he hurt his foot.

If Hamilton could shoot like DD did as a junior, he'd probably be gone for good. But back-to-back 39% seasons isn't going to get anybody too interested.

 

[Jerry1714]

Daniels and Hamilton have very, very little in common. Hamilton's in an entirely different stratosphere compared to Daniels as a ball-handler and passer. Hamilton could get you 20 assists in a week - that took DD an entire season.

Daniels developed into a much better spot-up three-point shooter by year three - that's the skill Hamilton really needs to add to get NBA folks interested in the GSW era of spread offenses.

Agree completely, the two players have no business being compared.

DD was a good shooter as a junior, but was a bad bad shooter from 3 his first 2 years. No need to discuss the vast differences in the two players rebounding, ball handling and passing abilities. DD's ceiling was a 2nd rounder, he left at the perfect time, Dan Hurley ceiling is a mid first rounder.