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

[Northbound]

Recruiting is a lot more nuanced than that. It's one thing to offer a kid. It's another thing to make a kid a top priority and have him on campus for an official visit (like Daniel Hamilton).

The kids that we really want, know that we really want them. Not all of those "9,000 kids" are being recruited equally as hard.

This is true. The gist of the comment was that's it's impossible to tell how UCONN will do because of the quantity of kids the staff is chasing. Once officials, in homes, etc. everyone will have a much better sense, right now it's still a volume game with no real ability to have a predictive about the class.

 

[IMind]

We haven't scored a major recruiting victory in almost 2 years (DD, Drummond, and OC all committed within 5 months of our championship in 2011), and have struck out on numerous high-level prospects.

Purvis is a good start, but it remains to be seen whether we're really back to where we should be in terms of recruiting. The next 12 months are enormous for our program. If at the same time next year we're trying to pump ourselves up over a bunch of fringe top-100 guys, we're in big trouble.

That's all true, but we've always had an odd mix of kids. Lamb wasn't a top 50 guy for example... when you go by Top 100 we're 8th overall in recruits since 1998... but if you go by top 10 we drop way down to #21. Tied with Mississippi state.. and those top 10 guys are Rudy Gay and Talik Brown.

 

[Kitaman]

We have a rookie (well 2nd year) Head Coach, brand spanking new to coaching. He can't recruit off of Calhoun's name or legacy, he must recruit on his own merit and UConn brand. Even more challenging he can't even recruit on the conference name.

Therefore a very wide net mixed with some desperation is called for. Our Coach is building his program and needs top recruits to do it. He can't build it with marginal players, and expect to remain elite. Calhoun had kids wanting to come to us, Ollie is not as fortunate right now. He also has to show/prove to recruits he can coach, and one season isn't really enough, especially for the top high school stars.

To me its a matter of us being a 'new UConn' right now and recognizing our immediate future comes with a lot of changes, setbacks and successes. He needs one or two players to open the floodgates. It ain't going to be easy, but with Ollie and his pedigree I know he can do it. It will take time however, its a brand new day in Storrs.

 

[HooperScooper]

That's all true, but we've always had an odd mix of kids. Lamb wasn't a top 50 guy for example... when you go by Top 100 we're 8th overall in recruits since 1998... but if you go by top 10 we drop way down to #21. Tied with Mississippi state.. and those top 10 guys are Rudy Gay and Talik Brown.

Villanueva also was a top 10 recruit.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...VTFE&output=html&pubredirect=true&widget=true

 

[upstater]

I expect Ollie will landed higher rated recruits than Calhoun in the future. I hope he develops these players as well as Calhoun did.

That being said, Omar Calhoun committed in the late summer before his senior year. Facey and Samuel committed in September. We have at least 3 months to go before the temperature rises on this board.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Villanueva also was a top 10 recruit.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...VTFE&output=html&pubredirect=true&widget=true

DeAndre was around 10 also (maybe he's not listed because he was a post-grad?).

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-DeAndre-Daniels-83314

Drummond, obviously. Caron was the top post grad in 2000.

 

[UC990411]

I expect Ollie will landed higher rated recruits than Calhoun in the future.

Honestly, what makes you believe this?

 

[upstater]

Honestly, what makes you believe this?

NBA player
Personable
Intense
Good rapport with players
Develops talent, knows the game

Are there other coaches with his combination of characteristics? No, don't think so.

FYI, I've been on Ollie's bandwagon for a long time now--a very long time. His performance this season did not surprise me.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

You just described Fred Hoiberg. I like Ollie, and I think he's going to be a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail, even if we stay in this moribund conference with juggernauts like the people's champ, East Carolina. I think we're going to see a couple of really high end classes in the near future. But we're awfully quick to want to describe our own guys as sui generis and i don't think it's really accurate. It's like when people say "Well, recruit X wants a family atmosphere, NBA development, and a coach that will push him - no place offers more of that than UConn."

 

[upstater]

You just described Fred Hoiberg. I like Ollie, and I think he's going to be a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail, even if we stay in this moribund conference with juggernauts like the people's champ, East Carolina. I think we're going to see a couple of really high end classes in the near future. But we're awfully quick to want to describe our own guys as sui generis and i don't think it's really accurate. It's like when people say "Well, recruit X wants a family atmosphere, NBA development, and a coach that will push him - no place offers more of that than UConn."

Ollie has more.

 

[Husky25]

NBA player
Personable
Intense
Good rapport with players
Develops talent, knows the game

Are there other coaches with his combination of characteristics? No, don't think so.

FYI, I've been on Ollie's bandwagon for a long time now--a very long time. His performance this season did not surprise me.

According to Calhoun, all that matters to a recruit is can this coach get me to the NBA. If a recruit thinks that about Coach Ollie, they will spend a couple, two-tree winters in the northeast woods of Connecticut. Done and done...

 

[CTBasketball]

We got after the big guys every year, but have been striking out as of late. Hopefully 2014 will be a game-changer. Knock on wood.

 

[Ts5034]

I have a feeling Ollie will get a lot of high recruits because most of these kids could probably relate to him. What better way to sell playing for UConn and getting your degree with a chance to play in the NBA then from somebody who did exactly that. Telling stories about playing with Lebron, Durant, and Iverson probably does not hurt either. Ollie played for a lot of teams so obviously he has many contacts in the league from GM's, coaches, and current players. If I was a top recruit, I would feel very comfortable playing for Kevin Ollie at the University of Connecticut. How could you not?

 

[Husky25]

I have a feeling Ollie will get a lot of high recruits because most of these kids could probably relate to him. What better way to sell playing for UConn and getting your degree with a chance to play in the NBA then from somebody who did exactly that. Telling stories about playing with Lebron, Durant, and Iverson probably does not hurt either. Ollie played for a lot of teams so obviously he has many contacts in the league from GM's, coaches, and current players. If I was a top recruit, I would feel very comfortable playing for Kevin Ollie at the University of Connecticut. How could you not?

No one wants an NBA career like Ollie had when they are 18...and if they do, you dont want them. Their concern is, "can this guy make me a lottery pick?"

 

[trackie]

And I would imagine Ollie leads off with "my NBA career sucked, but I'll try to make yours better"?? I'll bet you would have loved Ollies NBA career.

Kids are alot more humble than you think, Kevin Ollie will have no problem selling his NBA experience in combination with his UCONN experience.

 

[UCHuskies08]

No one wants an NBA career like Ollie had when they are 18...and if they do, you dont want them. Their concern is, "can this guy make me a lottery pick?"

Huh?? No one wants a 14 year NBA career? Are you joking? You seriously think every incoming recruit should think they're going to be a lottery pick?

You realize recruiting includes more than the top 10 recruits, right?

 

[Husky25]

And I would imagine Ollie leads off with "my NBA career sucked, but I'll try to make yours better"?? I'll bet you would have loved Ollies NBA career.

Kids are alot more humble than you think, Kevin Ollie will have no problem selling his NBA experience in combination with his UCONN experience.

Probably easier to sell a 28 year old on that story than a teenager. Every 18 year old thinks they have they handle of Bob Clousy or the the shot of James Worthy. Get me there. I'll do the rest.

 

[Husky25]

Huh?? No one wants a 14 year NBA career? Are you joking? You seriously think every incoming recruit should think they're going to be a lottery pick?

You realize recruiting includes more than the top 10 recruits, right?

Huh?? You really think that on his 2nd or 3rd or 4th 10 day contract that Kevin Ollie thought he'd spend so long in the NBA? You're kidding your self if so. Every kid being recruited by a top program thinks they are lottery talent.

 

[61cygni]

If every kid recruited by a top program thought that, they would probably think they're going in the lottery no matter where they go. Then they would pick based on the players, coaches, and campus life in general.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Probably easier to sell a 28 year old on that story than a teenager. Every 18 year old thinks they have they handle of Bob Clousy or the the shot of James Worthy. Get me there. I'll do the rest.

No 18 year old knows who bob Cousy or James worthy are.

 

[Samoo]

Much less Bob Clousy

 

[Kitaman]

Come on guys (i.e. homers) a 14 year NBA career is desirable but not the Ollie kind. He had practically no security throughout his career and was constantly traded. I would bet he brought/sold a few houses in his career. What Ollie can sell is longevity, staying power and knowing what it takes to stay relevant and make a team. He does know the NBA from the courtside, and still knows people.

But basically he is an unknown NBA commodity to many recruits. Yet he is credible in judging NBA talent and readiness.

Thank goodness for Google.

 

[Danzz]

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.

We always recruit at a high level but we seem to be in play with more highly rated recruits latter in the process. We just need to land a few.
JC and his staff landed some great players but JC's coaching style didn't appeal to everybody. Ollie has less of a tough love personality and that may appeal to more players but he is recruiting to a crap conference. We'll have to see how it all works out.

 

[Rico444]

What Ollie can sell to recruits is the fact that he maximized his NBA potential. A guy of his talent level playing twelve years in the association? Whether or not these kids think they're the next Lebron, Ollie can tell them, "I got the most out of my basketball career. Come to UConn, and I'll help you do the same."

 

[Husky25]

No 18 year old knows who bob Cousy or James worthy are.

Much less Bob Clousy

I think you missed the forrest for the trees...by a wide margin.