Hurley quote on 2020 late signing period

[intlzncster]

We need "tough" players like Fatts who make winning plays. Right now Akok is our most effective player relative to taking and making high percentage shots. He rebounds within and outside of his sphere, blocks and alters at a high rate, and plays to win with effortless natural ability.

100. We have so many nice, relaxed types it's almost comical. Even our class this year, which I love, has no junk yard dogs. Need a Ricky Moore; we lose vital who's our only one. I imagine some of it is because hurley is such an introspective nice dude, he attracts those kinds of kids.

That's what was so great about JC. He was a pitbull,and k those types gravitate to that. Dogs want to run with dogs.

All that said, I think javonte has a bit of that in him.

 

[AdamaNation]

I was looking at the recruiting rankings for the Freshmen and just signed kids. So that’d be Jackson, Brown, Akok, Bouknight, Springs and Gaffney. Add Cole to that group that DH has brought in. I am pretty pumped for what Hurley is doing with the talent overhaul. I really can’t wait until he has a roster of entirely his kids. UConn will eventually have speed, size, athleticism and hunger to win. I know it is frustrating to watch and wait but it’s happening. Nothing against the kids playing now because they are trying their best but overall the roster just needs more. Looking forward to seeing the season play out and who else signs in the spring. It’s been a rough last few years but enjoy the ride back up!

They need vital to swing at anyone NOT called alterique and start mixing it up in practice. He may be the only kid on the team who has taken a punch and swung back it seems.

 

[Bonk]

Mentioned him earlier, but Adama Sanogo would be a great reclass big if he is eligible. He'll be 18 very soon so I'm guessing it is possible. While Javonte is a quality big, I think there are questions if he will be an effective rebounder for us, especially early on. Sanogo has dominated the boards in both AAU and HS. He also profiles as a PF that can slot into the C, so wouldn't overlap with Javonte.

I think we'd only go after another big for next year if there is an early departure from one of our upper class-men bigs that could get more PT at a mid major, otherwise focus should be on shooter/scorer/ball handler

 

[cohenzone]

Khalid El-Amin is the guy most associate with bringing swagger to the program. His bravado helped vault UConn from final four wannabe to national champions.
But long before that Calhoun had to instill toughness, the refuse to take crap attitude that we didn’t have and that was allowing the BEast upper echelon to own the huskies. Lyman DePriest was a key player that brought the toughness. Lyman was not going to let anyone punk him. A physical statement needed to be made and he was the guy. I remember one play in particular where I think a Pitt player was all over DePriest near halfcourt and Lyman simply turned and delivered a sharp elbow. Foul on Lyman, but message received, UConn was NOT backing down any more. Next year’s huskies need a Lyman.

Lyman was a great defender who rarely shot. So a few years after he graduated I got to “coach” him in a charity game. He was pretty free to do what he wanted. He was basically automatic shooting corner 3s. So I asked him why he pretty much never took that shot at UConn. He said that wasn’t meant to be his role and when he’d try them in practice, the whistle would blow and some big Irishman would shout “Hey you, off the court.” One of the few times I questioned Calhoun’s judgement. Lyman was a really good guy, too.

 

[intlzncster]

Mentioned him earlier, but Adama Sanogo would be a great reclass big if he is eligible. He'll be 18 very soon so I'm guessing it is possible. While Javonte is a quality big, I think there are questions if he will be an effective rebounder for us, especially early on. Sanogo has dominated the boards in both AAU and HS. He also profiles as a PF that can slot into the C, so wouldn't overlap with Javonte.

For what it's worth, Richie Springs is supposed ly a rebounding machine,so should help in that role.

 

[DonaldDraper]

I want Cam Thomas, Big Cliff, a talented reclass, or high impact grad transfer.

Need at least 1 from that list.

He’s got more info than we do, but if we don’t have a star in Cole or JB then you have to be open for a killer at point if the right player is gettable. Given the suspension and the off year, we only have limited info for next year at the most important position in CBB.

 

[gtcam]

He needs pure shooters not just slashers and athletes
As for toughness - that comes with players inside and is way more mental than physical and brought out by mentors and coaching
Swagger - not many young kids have it with the ability to back it - much can be grown through success -something that this program needs to experience - it can be coached - JC brought out the swagger in a lot of kids who came in talented but timid - very few KEAs in the world

 

[MDHuskFan]

He's not gonna tap any URI guys. He's said as much. He's good friends with the current HC (his old Associate HC). Adams really wanted to stay with Hurley, that's why he switched.

I don’t disagree w/ this at all, but if a kid fulfilled his commitment there and wants to grad transfer out, there’s 3 guys on that roster who could def. contribute here

 

[superjohn]

I don’t disagree w/ this at all, but if a kid fulfilled his commitment there and wants to grad transfer out, there’s 3 guys on that roster who could def. contribute here

Who are you looking at?

 

[MDHuskFan]

Who are you looking at?

Fatts could play here & in a lesser more specialized role I think Dowtin & Langevine could as well. Specifically for only 1 season as a grad transfer.

 

[superjohn]

Fatts could play here & in a lesser more specialized role I think Dowtin & Langevine could as well. Specifically for only 1 season as a grad transfer.

They're certainly good enough but aren't Dowtin and Langevine seniors who will have used up all their eligibility?

 

[MDHuskFan]

They're certainly good enough but aren't Dowtin and Langevine seniors who will have used up all their eligibility?

You right. My fault

edit:
There is 1 player who could play here lol

 

[HuskyHawk]

We'll be 2 deep at every position with guys who have at least 2 years remaining except at center (this is assuming Gilbert leaves).

20-21 Depth Chart
Cole - Gaffney
Bouknight - Adams
Polley (Sr) - Wilson - Jackson
Akok - Springs
Carlton (Sr) - Whaley (Sr) - Javonte Brown Ferguson

I don't know that we'd be able to land another center unless they're a major project with Javonte Brown Ferguson coming in this class, though. I think having Adams in the program is going to be a positive, but we'll likely need to recruit over him, but that may not be possible this late in the cycle, and a grad transfer won't want to back up Bouknight. I think a beefy rebounding 4/5 grad transfer makes the most sense since Springs and Javonte Brown Ferguson will still be freshman and Akok doesn't have any beef. That or a shooting 2/3 grad transfer specialist.

I think Springs will be able to play the 5. I do think a big capable of playing the 5 is on the list for 21-22.

Still think Seth Towns would be ideal. Plus I like the idea of bringing in a leader from a winning program.

 

[Calhoun's Court]

Of the tough players we have had Lyman and Jake are the toughest. They would be co captains of the tough team. Toughest players that played for the toughest coach. You youngsters should go on UConngames.com and check out those days.

Many don't remember but Timmy Coles was as tough as anyone that put on a Uconn uniform.

 

[ucp990411]

Many don't remember but Timmy Coles was as tough as anyone that put on a Uconn uniform.

Yes he was

 

[AllAbout5]

Don’t we have all scholarships full for next season?

 

[Road2Six]

Don’t we have all scholarships full for next season?

Right now yes. Expect at least one opening up.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

100. We have so many nice, relaxed types it's almost comical. Even our class this year, which I love, has no junk yard dogs. Need a Ricky Moore; we lose vital who's our only one. I imagine some of it is because hurley is such an introspective nice dude, he attracts those kinds of kids.

That's what was so great about JC. He was a pitbull,and k those types gravitate to that. Dogs want to run with dogs.

All that said, I think javonte has a bit of that in him

To borrow from another thread, I wish they'd have gotten JC to underwrite a run of white t-shirts for the Florida game that say, "Hit him, you m*therf***er."

 

[dennismenace]

Khalid brought looseness to the team. He had a moxie personality plus the leadership goods that JC accepted with the result being the team reflected him. I remember this forum being divided with the players (usually Rip and KFree) bowing to each other after a dunk. That bowing and swagger did not happen the prior year.

Contrast that to Okafer who was quietly stoic. The players on his team respected him and without the coaches pushing them followed his incredible routine of discipline (eating, studying, body conditioning and practice).

There was Caron who also was the most respected player on his team. He helped by supporting his players with consolation and encouragement that negated some of the pressure of an over demanding coach.

You had Kemba whose charisma and positive personality inspired the puppies to believe in themselves and want to go through walls for him. He led by example and elevated them with his smile.

And then you had Bazz who knew he didn't have Kemba's personality but understood the importance UConn men's bb was to the university and fans. He learned from Kemba the value of team play and the importance of other players in getting wins.

Great points. Toughness or leadership by example comes in different personalities and characters and this program has had many of them.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I was looking at the recruiting rankings for the Freshmen and just signed kids. So that’d be Jackson, Brown, Akok, Bouknight, Springs and Gaffney. Add Cole to that group that DH has brought in. I am pretty pumped for what Hurley is doing with the talent overhaul. I really can’t wait until he has a roster of entirely his kids. UConn will eventually have speed, size, athleticism and hunger to win. I know it is frustrating to watch and wait but it’s happening. Nothing against the kids playing now because they are trying their best but overall the roster just needs more. Looking forward to seeing the season play out and who else signs in the spring. It’s been a rough last few years but enjoy the ride back up!

I might get criticized for this but eh! You cant build a winner with losers. Some of these kids have played through 3 straight losing seasons and have no idea what winning at Uconn is or what its means. Sure they want to win but they dont have what its takes to win and that's pretty much what DH is saying in the nicest way possible. You must rid yourself of everyone connected to the losing culture here and get some new blood that isn't connected to that. If even one guy has accepted that losing mentality its poisons the rest of the team.

Let me give you an opposite example of what I mean. Taliek Brown got a lot of crap when he was here but he pushed through and had a great career that he capped with a national title. The dude was hard work and all heart. He learned how to lead the hard way and he passed that on to Marcus Williams who then passed the reigns to AJ who then passed it on to Kemba who took it to another level who then passed it down to Bazz who then passed it on to Boat and thats where the winning lineage ended unfortunately. It ended with Jalen who never learned to be a leader and 4 years later here we are.
Edit: Totally forgot Caron in the leader lineage.

 

[BuckleyNerd]

I think it's important that we don't reduce "toughness" to this kind of hyper-masculine, super serious type of description. The kind of toughness that we are lacking is the kind where a player is able to transcend the stress of the environment, and is still able to play the game with an unbridled enthusiasm and "exuberance" that Hurley so eloquently described in his press comments. For instance, I think Christian is a very effortful player, but he isn't actually mentally tough. What did he do when he Daly kept nailing threes? He immediately went into "anything you can do, I can do better" mode, and basically tried to get in a shooting #$%^-measuring contest with the kid (and failed horribly). He strayed from the gameplan, which was to exploit our huge size advantage inside by getting into the lane and breaking their defense down. That's not toughness, that's weakness.

 

[UconnU]

Every year there are a number of under the radar late bloomers who greatly improve their stock senior year and sign high major late. I think that’s the route we go here. I think we’re probably looking for a guard but will take best available. Sounds like Hurley specifically wants a kid who’s tough, gritty, competitive. Something this team lacks.

 

[Greathusky]

I want someone who has the face of Ricky Moore after he forced a travel on Trajan.

 

[navery12]

I'd love to have him but I still don't see Cliff coming here. Even after Jackson to UK

 

[Dogdeacon]

I think it's important that we don't reduce "toughness" to this kind of hyper-masculine, super serious type of description. The kind of toughness that we are lacking is the kind where a player is able to transcend the stress of the environment, and is still able to play the game with an unbridled enthusiasm and "exuberance" that Hurley so eloquently described in his press comments. For instance, I think Christian is a very effortful player, but he isn't actually mentally tough. What did he do when he Daly kept nailing threes? He immediately went into "anything you can do, I can do better" mode, and basically tried to get in a shooting #$%^-measuring contest with the kid (and failed horribly). He strayed from the gameplan, which was to exploit our huge size advantage inside by getting into the lane and breaking their defense down. That's not toughness, that's weakness.

Very true, most of Lyman's toughness and guys like Ricky Moore that have also been mentioned in this thread are best illustrated by their defensive tenacity and willingness to selflessly perform a variety of non-starring roles on & off the basketball court. Rashamel Jones BECAME a tough player while at UConn. Edmund Saunders might be an example the other way of an overly physical sometimes fake tough guy that could have been a lot more effective if he had cut down on the physical and the intimidation; he could be too close to the bully type. Another example of this type of toughness without having to show off hyper masculinity was Caron, everyone knew he had the tough juice.