Jalen Gaffney Transferring

[6xChamps]

As long as we don't lose the one starter not mentioned by name in the presser yesterday, I will still feel confident going into next year

I only see 3 locked in starters for next year and Hurley mentioned them all.

"When you look at the perimeter, I'm feeling great about Andre and what Jordan can do next year with their length and skill set and athleticism," Hurley said. "You expect Andre to absolutely be a dynamic player. I expect Jordan next year to be one of the top shooters/scorers. I think both of those guys will make a huge, huge jump next year.

"And you're talking about having a center (Sanogo) who's going to be, I would imagine, (Big East) preseason player of the year and a potential All-American. So, it's supplementing those three guys with the things we need in terms of skill and shooting."

 

[Jaydumo20]

Great news for you then - he’s gone.

We’ll be fine with “insert player to be named later” starting and “insert player to be named later” as his backup.

Things are great.

I'm with you. Even if we are "fine" with hasty stop gap replacements next year, it just sucks as a fan. I like Whaley and Polley way more than shonn Miller for example, or Sterling Gibbs. They did a fine job but I barely consider them Huskies.

 

[Sonova]

Losing A10 guards and replacing them with Big East guards is just better. How is this hard to understand?

How is it hard to understand that being concerned about losing your only returning guards before you replace them is at least a reasonable take?

Or how about trusting the same talent evaluator(s) who missed on the two players (one of whom played for 2 years on your team) to - this time - identify the “right talent”?

Are you really that blindly trustworthy? Or are you just obnoxious to anyone who brings up a concern?

 

[MexicoHusky]

Congratulations NCAA on the new the transfer portal rules. Gaff and Diggins were not in the greatest situations. The old transfer rules would of likely shackled both to UCONN. I'm happy they are free to find a better opportunity right away.

The old rules were clearly in place to protect the Universities. It's nice to see some rule changes that are explicitly designed to help the athlete.

 

[SeattleHoop]

He’s still hit more than he’s missed imo. Jackson, Bouk, Sanogo, Hawkins have all been hits

Exactly. He’s had trouble recruiting PG’s out of high school for whatever reason but overall he’s hit on most positions.

Let’s see how it all pan’s out when the dust settles and I still think that although Hurley isn’t perfect, he’s the type of guy that learns from his mistakes and improves

 

[SubbaBub]

For the last time, AJ is not a PG on any team we'd be happy with. He is an odd SG/SM tweener whose current skill set is equal to a collection of savory side dishes next to an undercooked flank steak.

If he can figure out how to dribble, pass, and shoot he'll be a monster.

As for Gaff, I really thought he was on a path to becoming a good player. For some reason his development not only stopped cold, it regressed in a weird way to the extent I thought he might be playing with an injury.

 

[Poe]

Outside of Sanogo, AJ, Hawkins and the incoming freshman I’m not concerned about anyone leaving.

 

[DayDayTFS]

kill me

When and where pls

 

[Durks07]

How is it hard to understand that being concerned about losing your only returning guards before you replace them is at least a reasonable take?

Or how about trusting the same talent evaluator(s) who missed on the two players (one of whom played for 2 years on your team) to - this time - identify the “right talent”?

Are you really that blindly trustworthy? Or are you just obnoxious to anyone who brings up a concern?

Those same talent evaluators brought in James Bouknight, who was the #66 recruit in his class. He turned into a lottery pick. They also brought in Adama Sanogo, who was the number #85 recruit in his class. He may be an all-American this year. They also brought in RJ Cole from the MEAC and Tyrese Martin from the A-10, who turned out to be good Big East players who will play professional basketball somewhere.

 

[wheelerdog]

If theres any truth to that then good riddance. these guys play under microscope. Can't have thin skin. This aint Trinity College

Understood. Still, the criticism was over the top

 

[Dooooooomed]

Yes they've had the same press conference at the end of every season, as does every other school. But Fishy needs to yell at clouds and complain about something

Yup. Every year.

 

[polycom]

How is it hard to understand that being concerned about losing your only returning guards before you replace them is at least a reasonable take?

Or how about trusting the same talent evaluator(s) who missed on the two players (one of whom played for 2 years on your team) to - this time - identify the “right talent”?

Are you really that blindly trustworthy? Or are you just obnoxious to anyone who brings up a concern?

We currently pay Dan Hurley $3M to coach the team... coaching includes recruiting. Last I checked I work in sales which has nothing to do with recruiting college basketball players to UConn. So exactly what option other than blind trust do we have? If I don't trust him I would want him to be fired. There are really only two options here.

 

[CTBasketball]

We’re one injury away from having Andrew Hurley be our starting PG. Gaffney would have been a good reserve guard, but we are very thin right now at the most crucial position.

A lot of us seem hell-bent that we’re finding 2-3 fantastic players in the portal. I doubt that.

 

[87Xfer]

Best of luck to Gaffney. I think we asked him to play a role he didn't fit. Hope he finds a team where the paint is more open on offense for his drives to the rim.

But I'd consider this a "flesh wound." 99's quote will continue to haunt my dreams until we have confirmation others are returning.

??

 

[Captbluefin]

I wonder what the other player who Hurley said was at a “ crossroads “ is going to do ?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

We’re one injury away from having Andrew Hurley be our starting PG.

Good thing the season doesn’t start tomorrow.

 

[CTBasketball]

Good thing the season doesn’t start tomorrow.

Season never ends!

 

[HuskyHawk]

We’re one injury away from having Andrew Hurley be our starting PG. Gaffney would have been a good reserve guard, but we are very thin right now at the most crucial position.

A lot of us seem hell-bent that we’re finding 2-3 fantastic players in the portal. I doubt that.

Honestly, isn't he the only PG on the roster now? Unless you count Andre Jackson.

 

[CTBasketball]

Honestly, isn't he the only PG on the roster now? Unless you count Andre Jackson.

Andre Jackson will be the starting PG next year.

 

[Sonova]

Those same talent evaluators brought in James Bouknight, who was the #66 recruit in his class. He turned into a lottery pick. They also brought in Adama Sanogo, who was the number #85 recruit in his class. He may be an all-American this year. They also brought in RJ Cole from the MEAC and Tyrese Martin from the A-10, who turned out to be good Big East players who will play professional basketball somewhere.

Never said they missed on everyone. Or even most. But they haven’t exactly nailed the PG position in their last two tries, now have they? And given Hurley’s belief in Gaffney the last couple of years, why should I feel good about his next attempt where there isn’t an RJ safety net?

While the roster assembly game has fundamentally changed, I think there’s a reason we don’t see don’t many teams filling the most important position on the floor quite like this.

To paraphrase the person to whom I was responding to, how is that so hard to understand?

 

[RJScootin]

Jalen made this decision a week ago. I'm no insider but he dates the sister of a coworker of mine. She said the reason he was leaving is that RJ was coming back but obviously that's not the case.

Best of luck Jalen, not the level of talent we needed to move this team forward.

 

[Rico444]

Honestly, isn't he the only PG on the roster now? Unless you count Andre Jackson.

I know Floyd isn't a PG, but I'm sure he's more of a point than Andrew is.

 

[JMick]

I don't really get why people are freaking out about these two transfers

Do we really think we can't find two players in the portal that can match their production from last year? Because as long as we do that, it's not a net loss

Obviously we have to upgrade, but the team isn't getting any worse from these transfers.

 

[nomar]

How is it hard to understand that being concerned about losing your only returning guards before you replace them is at least a reasonable take?

Or how about trusting the same talent evaluator(s) who missed on the two players (one of whom played for 2 years on your team) to - this time - identify the “right talent”?

Are you really that blindly trustworthy? Or are you just obnoxious to anyone who brings up a concern?

I think it's reasonable to be concerned until we land some guys. Obviously the worst case scenario is losing our only 2 PGs and not replacing them with anyone.

But I think it's also reasonable to believe we will replace them with quality PGs, given who we are and what we can offer.

I also think that even if someone has doubts about Hurley's ability to spot HS talent (which I find rather silly), it's another thing altogether to think he's incapable of figuring out who played well in college this past season.

 

[alphasigko]

Not surprising, but think about the roster turnover at this point. Whaley, Polley, Cole, Martin, Gaffney, and Diggins are all gone, and that may not be the end of it. Crazy.

I think this begs the question (excluding Whaley and Polley who had to leave anyway) does the departure of Cole, Martin, Gaffney, and Diggins cast a bad impression on Hurley, that something is not "right" with the program?

 

[Kitaman]

This means rebuild 2.0. Lowering expectations next season, but it appears everyone is eligible to return the year following.

Transfers are a great option, however a new PG (especially transfers) need time to adapt to the new system, coaches, players and of course Big East basketball. Hurley will have some hard work ahead of him this off-season into next.

I honestly felt with RJ, Martin, Whaley and Polley leaving was going to hold us back next season. Now with Gaffney and to a lesser extent Diggins, this means a complete rework. Nonetheless next season will be interesting and hopefully Rebuild 2.0 will be the last and final, and then back to dominance. At least the coaching staff is intact, which is very important with losing so many players.

Its AJ's team now, lets hope his leadership skills shine.

 

[JMick]

I think this begs the question (excluding Whaley and Polley who had to leave anyway) does the departure of Cole, Martin, Gaffney, and Diggins cast a bad impression on Hurley, that something is not "right" with the program?

No. Two graduated and two didn't play.

 

[nyhuskies13]

Really hope this doesn't turn into another Hurley soundbite for the next 2yrs

If we have to hear, "to be where we are now, after losing 6 players last year and all our guards... rebuilding the roster..."

 

[Sonova]

We currently pay Dan Hurley $3M to coach the team... coaching includes recruiting. Last I checked I work in sales which has nothing to do with recruiting college basketball players to UConn. So exactly what option other than blind trust do we have? If I don't trust him I would want him to be fired. There are really only two options here.

It’s a fan message board. “Concern” and “discussion” feels like fair middle grounds here between “Fire Hurley” and “Everything is Wonderful because we pay our coach $3M”. That’s all. I 100% hope my concern is unfounded.

 

[KembaStepback]

What’s comical is these absolute whiffs by Hurley on these recruits. For all who praise his recruiting prowess….hoo boy…..the teams gettin worse.

Really? You recall this kid was recruited to play in the AAC, right? Jackson and Sanogo are Hurley recruits. They bad too? One is a 1st team all conference center and the other is the best defender in the conference. Don't like Hawkins? You are lost, sir.