Is it just me or is UConn recruiting at a higher level right now?

[Kitaman]

A guy that started from nowhere and figured out what it took to stay in the league and earn millions is worth his weight in gold.

Good point. Ollie is a walking book, ready to unload knowledge to all that sit under him. The key is that Ollie knows hard work very well, its those pampered high school stars that really could use his teachings. Ollie has no fear and is not intimidated by other coaches.Ollie is about 3-4 years away from being one of the top 10 coaches in the country. We've got a great one, getting better and better with experience. Remember too that a HOF coach is' actively' in the background and availible at any time for consultation. How can he fail?

 

[Dove]

I'm not really following recruiting on a daily basis, just glancing at topics and names, but it feels like we're in play at a higher level than in recent history.

Ollie's first home visit as an interim was with the #1 kid in the country. Kind of tough to elevate to a higher lever when UConn is already elite.

 

[CAHUSKY]

You just described Fred Hoiberg. "

Just a guess, but Im pretty sure KO has a little more street cred recruiting inner city kids than they Mayor.

 

[Husky25]

A guy that started from nowhere and figured out what it took to stay in the league and earn millions is worth his weight in gold.

Absolutely no doubt about that. Now it is on Ollie to convince recruits that this acquired knowledge will translate into said recruit's passage into the Association.

These are Calhoun's words. IIRC, the question from Michael Kay was how do you convince a kid to spend the prime of his youth in the woods of Northeast Connecticut? Calhoun answered that at the beginning of his UConn career, the reason was the League and the associated competition. Later he said if [Kay] would ask a kid why they go to a certain school, their answer is they believe the coach will get them to the NBA.

There is really no debate, I've seen the interview twice.

 

[tcf15]

Just want to point something out from a Scout article on Daniel Hamilton's commitment:

"Daniel was comfortable with Los Angeles native Kevin Ollie and the freedom he gives his perimeter players," Trigonis told Scout.com. "Ollie's NBA experience and connections were a plus too."​

His 14 years in the NBA is no joke. That will definitely help with the recruits.

 

[aceboon]

Just want to point something out from a Scout article on Daniel Hamilton's commitment:

His 14 years in the NBA is no joke. That will definitely help with the recruits.

Yep, and Purvis pretty much said the same things, NBA experience + freedom, as his reasons for coming here as well.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Its just you.... DHams a Husky!

 

[Tenspro2002]

OK, OP, now it's no longer just you.

 

[willie99]

Id rather chase 9,000 kids and miss on 8,996, than chase 5 and strike out on all of them!

like we did in 2010? when everyone here hated our freshman class because we missed out on all the big names?

 

[Brochacho]

In regards to Ollie's NBA experience, there are what, 345 D-1 basketball teams? At 13 kids per squad you get 4,485 student athletes. Those 14 lottery kids per year represent the top 0.003% of the talent any given season. They may be thinking lottery when they come here, and they should be. UConn has been very successful lottery-wise in its history. However not every Husky ends up in the lottery. Ollie's experience is not what they want, but what they need.