Hassan Diarra Commits to UConn

[Hungryhusky99]

and much better shooter.

it's not like diggins not playing where there was no depth behind cole. samson had sanogo and whaley and akok ahead of him.

I mean Akok was basically a non factor this year. He should have more upside than Diggins still, but until he proves it in game we don't know what we have there yet.

 

[bendm]

I’d rather have a proven wing come in than risk relying on a freshman.

we also have samson. do you realize how crowded the frontcourt is especially if AJ gets any time at the 4? if you wanted staff to bring in a proven F then you must want samson in the portal next summer

 

[SeattleHoop]

we also have samson. do you realize how crowded the frontcourt is? if you wanted staff to bring in a proven F then you must want samson in the portal next summer

Sampson Johnson is going to be much better than people on here expect. Calling it now

 

[Candyman]

we also have samson. do you realize how crowded the frontcourt is especially if AJ gets any time at the 4? if you wanted staff to bring in a proven F then you must want samson in the portal next summer

Samson is going to be alot better than most think. He has next level potential. Just needs confidence and playing time.

 

[CL82]

He's nothing like Polley. He's a guard, good ball handler, and a good defender. He's a worse version of Martin, but probably a better passer.

Disagree. For what it’s worth he’s a 37% three point shooter, compared to Tyler‘s 35%. He’s like Tyler, just a little bit better at everything.

 

[Psolo12]

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Disagree. For what it’s worth he’s a 37% three point shooter, compared to Tyler‘s 35%. He’s like Tyler, just a little bit better at everything.

Except for the fact he’s 5 inches shorter and handles the ball a lot more because he’s a guard….

 

[CL82]

Except for the fact he’s 5 inches shorter and handles the ball a lot more because he’s a guard….

True but Tyler played a lot shorter than his height, but I agree with you regarding Nahiem‘s handle. still I fully expect him to get the same kind of looks that Tyler did. Nahiem is more of a shooting guard than he is a point guard.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Games are much different than practice. Hurley was calling Samson a pterodactyl and a lottery pick after practices last year and then he never played.

Exactly. Because we had a super senior Hurley loved (a bit too much) and a Junior in Akok, and another super senior Polley who played some at the 4. Johnson is still the same guy, only more experienced. Could be the best player on the team for all we know.

 

[HuskyHawk]

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Disagree. For what it’s worth he’s a 37% three point shooter, compared to Tyler‘s 35%. He’s like Tyler, just a little bit better at everything.

I don't understand your point. The whole team can shoot now. That's the idea. Yes, he will shoot. So will Hawkins, Newton, Johnson, Karaban and even Jackson. Nobody is replacing Polley because it's a role that you don't want replaced. He never fit.

He's a much different and much better player than Polley. Polley couldn't handle like a guard, pass like a guard, attack the basket like a guard, or shoot on motion at all. He was tall, but slow as hell and so couldn't guard guys smaller than him. He was also weak and not a good jumper so couldn't guard guys his size. Note that they are about the same weight. Note that the 6'4" guy outrebounded Polley substantially. Look at Polley's assist numbers, worst on the team among guys who played 100 minutes.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Poor Hassan. His commitment thread has become more polluted than the Housatonic River in the 60s & 70s.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I don't understand your point. The whole team can shoot now. That's the idea. Yes, he will shoot. So will Hawkins, Newton, Johnson, Karaban and even Jackson. Nobody is replacing Polley because it's a role that you don't want replaced. He never fit.

He's a much different and much better player than Polley. Polley couldn't handle like a guard, pass like a guard, attack the basket like a guard, or shoot on motion at all. He was tall, but slow as hell and so couldn't guard guys smaller than him. He was also weak and not a good jumper so couldn't guard guys his size. Note that they are about the same weight. Note that the 6'4" guy outrebounded Polley substantially. Look at Polley's assist numbers, worst on the team among guys who played 100 minutes.

Their role is going to be incredibly similar. Maybe Alleyne guards smaller players better than Polley, but they both were/are 3nD wings. I don’t think Alleyne will do much more ball handling than Polley, probably a smidge more.

 

[bendm]

Their role is going to be incredibly similar. Maybe Alleyne guards smaller players better than Polley, but they both were/are 3nD wings. I don’t think Alleyne will do much more ball handling than Polley, probably a smidge more.

polley was a 3&D wing minus the D. and if by smidge you mean he can bring the ball up the court without having to hold your breath watching then big improvement.

 

[jdb50]

Not sure we need any other commits but getting Hassan really filled a need and sets up for an exciting season. Well done by the staff recruiting him. We have answers at all positions. I am looking forward to a big increase in Samsons contribution on the baseline and we have more than enough on the perimeter to give Adama room as well as use Clingan to torment the opponents. Did not realize Springs was only 20 y.o. and expect to see a lot of him as well.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Summer is fun...

We're all going to be so surprised by how good player X will be (OP has only seen him play in YouTube videos)

player Y is going to make a huge jump next year (OP doesn't know if he's currently putting up jumpers all day or crushing cheeseburgers)

Player Z is still an unknown (OP somehow discounts that the staff has watched these guys play every day for a yr+)

And so on...

 

[Huskybass]

Haha we do? ok that is good to know. DHAM was more of a PG than AJ is due to his ability to break down defenders. Right now AJ doesn't have that ability at all. There is a reason why many people are mentioning AJ as the 4 and why we have now gotten a guy who can backup TN at the point in Diarra.

When you get down to it, it's all just semantics. Andre has great vision. Having him on the floor alongside a true pg gives us two guys who can get bunches of assists. Teams with high assist totals seem to do pretty well. I like it.

 

[3rdbass]

When you get down to it, it's all just semantics. Andre has great vision. Having him on the floor alongside a true pg gives us two guys who can get bunches of assists. Teams with high assist totals seem to do pretty well. I like it.

I can agree with it. I was just pointing out he isn't a breakdown PG and his handle is still kind of high but it is nice to have another ball handler out there I agree. I hope he also gets a chance to post up as he was doing a good job with that and a little hook shot.

 

[Huskyforlife]

polley was a 3&D wing minus the D. and if by smidge you mean he can bring the ball up the court without having to hold your breath watching then big improvement.

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of role he plays. I’m banking on being mostly a floor spacer.

 

[bfs3]

No need for Castle to reclass. Next year he will come in and get very good minutes. We are totally fine with our current 5 guards.

Same. I was worried last year that we would see some freshman transfer for playing time. If we want to keep recruiting Atlanta (nearly an NBA player a year from ATL) and borderline five star players then we need to play them. Same is probably true for transfers as well. The new college ball rules unfortunately leave you wondering who might jump ship more often than developing and staying.

 

[jchusky]

Hurley coming through again. Trust the process!

yea imma trust a guy who lost to New Mexico st, no thanks. Nobody questioned if he could recruit, we questioned his x's and o's.

 

[AD DB Burner]

yea imma trust a guy who lost to New Mexico st, no thanks. Nobody questioned if he could recruit, we questioned his x's and o's.

Calipari lost to St Peter’s, would you not trust him?

 

[CL82]

Calipari lost to St Peter’s, would you not trust him?

As an X’s and O’s guy? Not really.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Calipari lost to St Peter’s, would you not trust him?

I wouldn't trust Calipari with your wallet.

 

[80shusky]

Poor Hassan. His commitment thread has become more polluted than the Housatonic River in the 60s & 70s.

But not as bad as the Naugatuck.

 

[80shusky]

Welcome aboard Hassan!

 

[BlueMAB]

Games are much different than practice. Hurley was calling Samson a pterodactyl and a lottery pick after practices last year and then he never played.

Here's what he said:

“They’re (Hawkins and Johnson) so talented and they have so many traits that project to the NBA level, athletically and from a skill standpoint. They’re going to have a chance to make a big impact. ... Both of those guys have potential to get on the lottery wall here.”

“Samson is what you would hope your stretch four man to look like,” Hurley said. "He’ll eventually be able to guard all five positions. He’s eventually going to be a competent to good 3-point shooter. The stuff he does above the rim, with his cutting and ball screen game, is elite.”

He never said they'd have a big impact last year, and be a lottery pick this year.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

Here's what he said:

“They’re (Hawkins and Johnson) so talented and they have so many traits that project to the NBA level, athletically and from a skill standpoint. They’re going to have a chance to make a big impact. ... Both of those guys have potential to get on the lottery wall here.”

“Samson is what you would hope your stretch four man to look like,” Hurley said. "He’ll eventually be able to guard all five positions. He’s eventually going to be a competent to good 3-point shooter. The stuff he does above the rim, with his cutting and ball screen game, is elite.”

He never said they'd have a big impact last year, and be a lottery pick this year.

I know what he said. How many lottery picks don't play at all their freshman year?

 

[Waquoit]

I wouldn't trust Calipari with your wallet.

He's always worn jackets with the sleeves too long, like a magician. Who knows what he's got up there.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Here's what he said:

“They’re (Hawkins and Johnson) so talented and they have so many traits that project to the NBA level, athletically and from a skill standpoint. They’re going to have a chance to make a big impact. ... Both of those guys have potential to get on the lottery wall here.”

“Samson is what you would hope your stretch four man to look like,” Hurley said. "He’ll eventually be able to guard all five positions. He’s eventually going to be a competent to good 3-point shooter. The stuff he does above the rim, with his cutting and ball screen game, is elite.”

He never said they'd have a big impact last year, and be a lottery pick this year.

Only this fanbase would have an athletic 6'10" highly rated recruit, who is already elite dunking, scoring at the rim in on cuts and blocking shots, and is above average as ball handler and shooter for his size and would mentally consign him to bench duty because he didn't play much as a freshman over a super senior and junior. People should be excited as hell for this kid to show what he can do. The guy on the team who can improve the most on what he contributed last year isn't Jackson, and it certainly isn't Sanogo. It's Samson Johnson (with Hawkins next in line because we saw him start to show it already).

 

[husky429]

Only this fanbase would have an athletic 6'10" highly rated recruit, who is already elite dunking, scoring at the rim in on cuts and blocking shots, and is above average as ball handler and shooter for his size

We actually don't have much of any evidence of this. He didn't handle the ball in HS. He wasn't a particularly excellent shotblocker in HS (I distinctly remember writing "not nearly as natural of a shotblocker as Akok" when watching his hs games). He definitely was not a great shooter, but developing. I think 30-33% is probably likely... Whaley-ish.

I would absolutely not expect plus ball handling from him at all. Maybe a little baseline drive... he had that in his bag before but it was sloppy.

I think some solid defense with occasional IQ errors, a couple attempts from 3 a game on 30-33%, and some basic backdoor cuts and lobs could be a very effective way to use him. Something like 6 points and 4 rebounds would be GREAT. I don't think you can expect much more from a kid who couldn't earn any meaningful minutes last year. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We actually don't have much of any evidence of this. He didn't handle the ball in HS. He wasn't a particularly excellent shotblocker in HS (I distinctly remember writing "not nearly as natural of a shotblocker as Akok" when watching his hs games). He definitely was not a great shooter, but developing. I think 30-33% is probably likely... Whaley-ish.

I would absolutely not expect plus ball handling from him at all. Maybe a little baseline drive... he had that in his bag before but it was sloppy.

I think some solid defense with occasional IQ errors, a couple attempts from 3 a game on 30-33%, and some basic backdoor cuts and lobs could be a very effective way to use him. Something like 6 points and 4 rebounds would be GREAT. I don't think you can expect much more from a kid who couldn't earn any meaningful minutes last year. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

He didn't get minutes because Hurley had an irrational fascination with Whaley. He should have played much, much more. I think you'll be wrong, to our mutual benefit. He's a much better shooter than Whaley. Shot better than 33% from 3 in HS. I think Akok has better timing on shot blocking, but less length. Both are more natural shot blockers than Sanogo was when he got here, so I expect some improvement. We teach it well. As for ball handling, good for a 6'10" guy is my expectation.