How do you feel about UConn's recruiting?

[David 76]

Agree with Matt, Plus 2016 will be a huge year for us. We will be much more able to tell by next year.

 

[Inyatkin]

Actually, wasn't most of this board questioning our coaching staff's recruiting chops after we failed to gain significant recruiting momentum off of the championship? I don't think my opinions are outside the mainstream, maybe I just express them more consistently or forcefully than others.

But sure, you're right to characterize my fanhood outlook as one of vigilance rather than cheerleading.

Vigilance, not cheerleading. I'm not sure I've ever heard a more joyless characterization of the fan experience. Why the hell do you watch sports? To be vigilant? Have fun with that.

 

[CTBasketball]

Optimistic. JC's last class with Facey and Samuel was not a good one. At least not yet. Ollie has done fine.

That was Ollie's first class. JC's last class was Omar Calhoun, Phil Nolan, and Leon Tolksdorf. The last 6 players recruited by Calhoun were the 3 aforementioned, plus Andre Drummond, Ryan Boatright, and DeAndre Daniels. 5/6 of those guys have rings.

 

[Stainmaster]

That was Ollie's first class. JC's last class was Omar Calhoun, Phil Nolan, and Leon Tolksdorf. The last 6 players recruited by Calhoun were the 3 aforementioned, plus Andre Drummond, Ryan Boatright, and DeAndre Daniels. 5/6 of those guys have rings.

According to rivals, Facey committed on 8/8/12 and Samuel on 9/2/12. Both of those occurred when Calhoun was still at the helm.

 

[Walker11]

Vigilance, not cheerleading. I'm not sure I've ever heard a more joyless characterization of the fan experience. Why the hell do you watch sports? To be vigilant? Have fun with that.

At some point, we need to learn to pity these folks instead of being annoyed by them. Imagine how it must affect these dudes when someone bad actually happens.

As UCONN fans, we have had one of the best, and perhaps most lucky fan experiences of any team in any sport from the past 20 some odd years, yet so many are still often miserable.

 

[Jluc]

According to rivals, Facey committed on 8/8/12 and Samuel on 9/2/12. Both of those occurred when Calhoun was still at the helm.

This is correct. Samuel and Facey both committed while Calhoun was the coach but stayed on board when Ollie was hired. Brimah was really the first recruit for Ollie.

 

[BUConn10]

This is a major transitional period for UConn and KO right now. KO has won at the highest level in only 3 years at the helm, yet he hasnt had a roster that is fully "his" yet. I think its still way too soon to properly assess KO and the state of the program, but I think as long as Ollie is our coach, we will always be in the hunt.

 

[CTBasketball]

According to rivals, Facey committed on 8/8/12 and Samuel on 9/2/12. Both of those occurred when Calhoun was still at the helm.

Technically, but Calhoun did virtually nothing in their recruitments. Ollie was the lead recruiter and first line of contact.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I'm optimistic!!

what recruiting?
we sure seem to miss a lot on the talented kids we want and need.
hopefully 2016 is great class.
hopefully we land gibbs, this year.

 

[Matrim55]

Optimistic. JC's last class with Facey and Samuel was not a good one.

That class was Facey, Kromah, Samuel & Brimah. Three of the four were contributors to a title, so I'd say it was one of our best classes ever.

 

[caw]

That class was Facey, Kromah, Samuel & Brimah. Three of the four were contributors to a title, so I'd say it was one of our best classes ever.

I think the argument is that Brimah and Kromah committed after Ollie was named head coach. Samuel and Facey while JC was still head coach.

 

[Danzz]

Ya circumstances surrounding the program had "nothing" to do with that

Not blaming anyone just stating a fact. You can place blame anywhere you like.

 

[The Funster]

typically I'm an unbridled optimist. However I voted pessimistic. I only had two choices and I do have a concern. UConn would usually get a top tier guy but the strength has always been to take the 2nd and 3rd tier guys and develop them into better players. I have yet to see that from this coaching staff.

 

[Chief00]

Ok time to quite frankly set some recruiting analysis ground rules:
- it's not how you "feel about recruiting" it's who you get
- it's not about how many you miss on - it's who you get
- depth is nice but in basketball most important is getting a couple of stars each year - Emeka and Ben come to mind.
- let's not confuse 1 year graduate transfers as a way to stack a team - believe me these guys are going to grad school because they are not consensus first round picks - however they are great for filling a hole without scarying future recruits away - they are complements.
- that's enough for now

 

[Leebo]

Technically, but Calhoun did virtually nothing in their recruitments. Ollie was the lead recruiter and first line of contact.

Yeah, but that was Ollie's role as an assistant coach, too, so they weren't expecting him to be the head coach were they?

 

[8893]

what recruiting?
we sure seem to miss a lot on the talented kids we want and need.
hopefully 2016 is great class.
hopefully we land gibbs, this year.

Ok time to quite frankly set some recruiting analysis ground rules:
- it's not how you "feel about recruiting" it's who you get
- it's not about how many you miss on - it's who you get
- depth is nice but in basketball most important is getting a couple of stars each year - Emeka and Ben come to mind.
- let's not confuse 1 year graduate transfers as a way to stack a team - believe me these guys are going to grad school because they are not consensus first round picks - however they are great for filling a hole without scarying future recruits away - they are complements.
- that's enough for now

No problem. How about putting your fanship where your mouths are then?

We know it's a given that you guys are going to bitch at every turn because, of course, you know more than anyone else (well, except for the vast majority of the time that you are dead wrong, but I digress...).

I'll take the guys we've got and root like hell for them. You guys can continue to bitch all you want at every little hiccup (and Chief, you can remind us how you predicted it all).

Just please--please--promise us that you will take no pride or ownership in this team, which by your express statements lacks talent and stars, if and when it succeeds.

You can't have it both ways. I'll take my chances. Will you take yours?

 

[djct1999]

tbd.

 

[caw]

Ok time to quite frankly set some recruiting analysis ground rules:
- it's not how you "feel about recruiting" it's who you get
- it's not about how many you miss on - it's who you get
- depth is nice but in basketball most important is getting a couple of stars each year - Emeka and Ben come to mind.
- let's not confuse 1 year graduate transfers as a way to stack a team - believe me these guys are going to grad school because they are not consensus first round picks - however they are great for filling a hole without scarying future recruits away - they are complements.
- that's enough for now

I think this actually makes a ton of sense and hits a lot of points people miss on. I do somewhat disagree with the grad transfer point though, there are some kids who are very good college players and will never be first round picks but contribute greatly to winning teams at a high level.

I'm optimistic with Ollie here.

His main problem seems to be getting depth from the high school ranks. Quality is there, I mean purely his recruits from high school are Brimah, Lubin, Hamilton, Adams and Purvis. That's two top 25 kids, another top 50, a kid ranked 250+ who has panned out (into defensive POY in conference as a So.) and a project who transferred. That appears to be batting .800 if Adams and Enoch live up to their rankings.

Now the question is it better to fill holes with grad transfers, or kids ranked outside the top 100?

Of course he still has 3 of Calhouns recruits in Nolan, Calhoun and Facey, so it's a bit hard to judge Ollie on 5 freshmen, 3 grad transfers, 1 JuCo and 1 transfer. 2016 is a big year because of the number of spots potentially available. I do think Ollie will sign a solid class but 2016-2017 could be a bit of a down year due to the youth on the team (unless something Big happens).

 

[UConnSwag11]

Assuming we get Gibbs we easily have a top 10 recruiting class including grad transfers. How anyone can be pessimistic about that absolutely blows my mind considering our conference issues.

EDIT: If we don't get Gibbs it's a different story. He is make or break for next season.

he's not make or break for next season... we still have a top 25 class coming in and on paper a top 25 team... we wont be a top 25 team preseason if we dont get him because of how we performed last season and we lost boat... recruiting for 2016 will be interesting

 

[Tampahusky]

Adams has the potential to be the best pg in country and Enoch looks like a future NBA player. If u anyone thinks recruiting is down they are crazy. You win and lose some recruiting battles.

 

[Brochacho]

I think one thing that people don't fully appreciate is that while Gibbs and Miller are not lottery locks, they are certainly solid NBA prospects. Miller especially, if his 3 point shooting improves he may very well end up as a second round steal. At the college level he is an elite defender and rebounder, will be interesting to see how much more NBA attention he gets now that he is at UConn as opposed to Cornell.

 

[Matt1010]

he's not make or break for next season... we still have a top 25 class coming in and on paper a top 25 team... we wont be a top 25 team preseason if we dont get him because of how we performed last season and we lost boat... recruiting for 2016 will be interesting

We do not have a top 25 team on paper. Adams SHOULD be very good, but he is still a freshman and we have absolutely nobody to back him up at PG with TS leaving. We also have no proven 3 point shooters to stretch the floor outside of Purvis who can be streaky. Boats ability to do that was a huge part of our limited success last year. Without Gibbs we are a decent team and may be able to squeak into the tournament but certainly wouldn't be a threat to go on any type of a run.

 

[Matt1010]

Adams has the potential to be the best pg in country and Enoch looks like a future NBA player. If u anyone thinks recruiting is down they are crazy. You win and lose some recruiting battles.

Did Marcus Paige leave for the NBA when I wasn't looking?

 

[David 76]

typically I'm an unbridled optimist. However I voted pessimistic. I only had two choices and I do have a concern. UConn would usually get a top tier guy but the strength has always been to take the 2nd and 3rd tier guys and develop them into better players. I have yet to see that from this coaching staff.

Brimah

 

[FartMan69]

I think this actually makes a ton of sense and hits a lot of points people miss on. I do somewhat disagree with the grad transfer point though, there are some kids who are very good college players and will never be first round picks but contribute greatly to winning teams at a high level.

I'm optimistic with Ollie here.

His main problem seems to be getting depth from the high school ranks. Quality is there, I mean purely his recruits from high school are Brimah, Lubin, Hamilton, Adams and Purvis. That's two top 25 kids, another top 50, a kid ranked 250+ who has panned out (into defensive POY in conference as a So.) and a project who transferred. That appears to be batting .800 if Adams and Enoch live up to their rankings.

Now the question is it better to fill holes with grad transfers, or kids ranked outside the top 100?

Of course he still has 3 of Calhouns recruits in Nolan, Calhoun and Facey, so it's a bit hard to judge Ollie on 5 freshmen, 3 grad transfers, 1 JuCo and 1 transfer. 2016 is a big year because of the number of spots potentially available. I do think Ollie will sign a solid class but 2016-2017 could be a bit of a down year due to the youth on the team (unless something Big happens).

We missed on Purvis out of High School

 

[Waquoit]

I'm optimistic because I have to be. But Ollie's recruiting to date has been mostly gimmicks and asterisks. As far as straight-up recruiting of top kids out of high school, he hasn't hit his stride yet. We lose players to teams that wouldn't have been a thought a few years ago. We have more Top 100 decommits than commits, I believe. The haul has been pretty meager compared to the press clippings.

 

[Stainmaster]

We have more Top 100 decommits than commits, I believe.

Prince Ali and...? Will Jackson isn't Top 100 anymore.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

I like the way Ollie recruits. Goes after local kids (as he should), but he also targets kids who aren't quite at that elite level yet, so he knows they would stay for atleast 2-3 years. I'd be fine getting 2-3 4 star recruits each year that have a high ceiling and would stay more than one year. Then sprinkle that in with the occasional 5 star recruit (if an Andre Drummond ever comes about again, I can't complain) and grad transfer or 2, then we are set up for sustained success.

 

[Tampahusky]

Did Marcus Paige leave for the NBA when I wasn't looking?

I never said next year but in due time. Same thing goes for Enoch and NBA if your trying to pick apart my comment.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

No problem. How about putting your fanship where your mouths are then?

We know it's a given that you guys are going to bitch at every turn because, of course, you know more than anyone else (well, except for the vast majority of the time that you are dead wrong, but I digress...).

I'll take the guys we've got and root like hell for them. You guys can continue to bitch all you want at every little hiccup (and Chief, you can remind us how you predicted it all).

Just please--please--promise us that you will take no pride or ownership in this team, which by your express statements lacks talent and stars, if and when it succeeds.

You can't have it both ways. I'll take my chances. Will you take yours?

I'm happy with adams,

I just enjoy b*tching about .
I'm excited about this coming years team.
should be fun to watch and root for.