Jayden Ross on ESPNU right now

[auror]

Still think we need a dependable backup PG.. nothing too flashy just someone solid. Wouldn’t mind rolling into the season with what we have and letting the freshmen get their feet wet.

Castle
Andre
Ross
Karaban
DC

Transfer
Ball
Stewart
Samson
Singare

A LOT of talent and athleticism coming up next year.

We'll find a better transfer 2G starter than freshman Ross. We'll have the young talent, we'll need a veteran starter alongside Andre (if he returns like he claimed) to get the right mix of talent and experience. It would be a waste to not bring someone in (and all signs of our interest are pointing that way).

As for backup PG, Diarra will be another year older and a year in the UConn development machine.. I wouldn't want him as my starter, but he'll work as a senior backup PG and defensive specialist.

 

[Chief00]

He was not this player 8 months ago when I first watched him. Was not capable of this kind of performance. Luke had a GREAT read on him. Looks like a legit bench piece if the shooting translates.

Where did your read come from 8 months ago? I always thought Jaylon translated to UConn based on the eye test.

 

[Kenny11]

I really like this class… I think people are sleeping on Singare..hes a pure center in my mine.. and will be the perfect back up for DC..I thought Jayden Ross would be the one that needed time before he got playing time.. I don’t now..I think he will play right away now… im not sure Dan Hurley looks for players in the portal with this class he has coming in

The very very little I’ve seen from Singare is in keeping with what everyone here says: has some gifts but is raw and could take a while for him to be impactful…but I heard the staff is higher on him than his ranking and has expectations that he contributes quickly. We’ll see

 

[husky429]

Stewart is really, really good. I watched an entire game of Singare with OSL in the OTE league playoffs and there's a good amount of potential there, but he looks similar to Samson Johnson in terms of rawness - more aggressive but he'll have issues not fouling in the post and will only come in as a rim runner and lob finisher - woeful from the FT line, I think 0-5 for the game I watched . Solo Ball is a monster out there - so strong and bouncy.

Jaylin Stewart has a legitimate nasty streak to go with shot making ability at 6'6/6'7 - we all know how good Castle could be for us, but I'm most excited to see Stewart's potential as he seems very underrated.

He's going to need to adapt his game a bit against D1-size players and learn to be more effecient, but it's kind of ridiculous the scoring package both he and Castle have off the dribble.

Stewart has all of it... push crosses, euros, reverses, finishes with both hands, side steps, step backs, catch and shoot. Even posts up. Such a diverse game. He's just not as effecient as we'd like because he's doing it all. Also really long and very strong for his age.

He's going to need to cut a little baby fat, show some effort on defense, show better shot selection and check the attitude to be successful here, but that's all doable. IMO he has legit All Big East potential as a junior/senior.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

As for backup PG, Diarra will be another year older and a year in the UConn development machine.. I wouldn't want him as my starter, but he'll work as a senior backup PG and defensive specialist.

I love Diarra for his defense and maybe he makes a big leap offensively, but I don’t think Hurley and staff can count on that at this point. They need another PG that can bring some offensive and playmaking ability.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

We'll find a better transfer 2G starter than freshman Ross. We'll have the young talent, we'll need a veteran starter alongside Andre (if he returns like he claimed) to get the right mix of talent and experience. It would be a waste to not bring someone in (and all signs of our interest are pointing that way).

As for backup PG, Diarra will be another year older and a year in the UConn development machine.. I wouldn't want him as my starter, but he'll work as a senior backup PG and defensive specialist.

Idk, I really like our talent and am willing to roll with it in hopes of them figuring it out by end of season like Karaban and DC. I’m just not sure if a transfer will be as good as these guys similar to our transfers this year and our freshmen.

I’d hope Diarra has developed as a PG to be steady. He was mistake prone this year offensively and wasn’t much of a shooter. Think it’s been smart of Danny to get Joey C more minutes during this tournament.

 

[businesslawyer]

It’s a shame we haven’t been able to overcome Diarra’s lack of offense this year while backing up the point. And until I hear from someone reputable that he’s gone, I expect Alleyne to start opening day next year as the 2 alongside Castle.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Hurley’s freshmen, when they get the playing time, always seem to play really well too.

Akok
Sanogo
Gaffney
Karaban
DC

All had great years. Hurley knows talent, would just like for us to keep on trusting it and not bring in guys to play over them.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

It’s a shame we haven’t been able to overcome Diarra’s lack of offense this year while backing up the point. And until I hear from someone reputable that he’s gone, I expect Alleyne to start opening day next year as the 2 alongside Castle.

Diarra has backed up the PG spot from the defensive side but he has not been the primary backup at the point offensively (and outside of a few games has struggled with that when asked to). We’ve been very lucky with injuries to our two guys that primarily handle point duties, but ideally we would have had a better offensive backup (Joey C has been asked to pitch in there at times). Next year presumably we’ll have Jackson back and will be adding Castle, but it would be huge insurance to add another guy that can comfortably run the point and go make a play off the bounce. We’ve overcome it but I’m not sure why that means we shouldn’t try to improve that area (which has been exploited at times) going into next year.

 

[Waquoit]

"Head taps" is good, right?

 

[FLDawg16]

"Head taps" is good, right?

Yeah, universal sign these days of letting someone know they got dunked on

 

[husky429]

"Head taps" is good, right?

Head tap = dunked on

Palms to the ground (my personal favorite) = y'all too little to check me

 

[Waquoit]

Yeah, universal sign these days of letting someone know they got dunked on

So it's good, with a bit of arrogance? UConn Basketball!

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He's going to need to adapt his game a bit against D1-size players and learn to be more effecient, but it's kind of ridiculous the scoring package both he and Castle have off the dribble.

Stewart has all of it... push crosses, euros, reverses, finishes with both hands, side steps, step backs, catch and shoot. Even posts up. Such a diverse game. He's just not as effecient as we'd like because he's doing it all. Also really long and very strong for his age.

He's going to need to cut a little baby fat, show some effort on defense, show better shot selection and check the attitude to be successful here, but that's all doable. IMO he has legit All Big East potential as a junior/senior.

From when I first saw Stewart to now it seems like he has cut the baby fat a bit

 

[Ricker]

I know we have only reached out to 2G with size and shooting, but the 2G and PG aren't where I'm concerned. Zero concern in fact if either Newton or Alleyne use their 6th year. I think Castle and Ball will be huge, and with Jackson and Diarra, our need is supplemental.

Assuming Sanogo moves on, Clingan frequently gets officiated badly, and Singare will likely get the same treatment by refs, and, you always have to protect against games DNP due to injuries, so I think the team will need 15 fouls available in post play. Johnson can have the last 5 a bit out of position in the post, or, we need a 6'10 transfer player with some strength, or a power player, to make sure we continue to dominate the paint.

I really don't think we will need anybody from the portal to fill a starter's role. 10-14 days after our natty we ought to actually have a better read on roster composition and needs for next year.

 

[UCfor3]

I think if this year taught us anything is you need shooting. You can never have enough. We lacked it the previous 2 years and had it this year. We should be surrounding Clingan with another shooter (or two if there is room) so teams have to pick their poison defending us and can't collapse on him. Obviously Newton, Alleyne returning changes things and help somewhat in that area as Ricker alluded to.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I think if this year taught us anything is you need shooting. You can never have enough. We lacked it the previous 2 years and had it this year. We should be surrounding Clingan with another shooter (or two if there is room) so teams have to pick their poison defending us and can't collapse on him. Obviously Newton, Alleyne returning changes things and help somewhat in that area as Ricker alluded to.

Kind of expecting Ross/Stewart to be that.

Not Hawkins level shooting but good catch and shoot guys when open.

Castle should make less of a need for Hawkins with being a better all around scorer than Newton. Don’t need as much of a run around screens guy as much as another catch and shoot piece to go with Karaban.

Starting lineup is pretty set. Just need one guy to have a Jeremy Lamb like freshman year if it came down to it.

 

[UCfor3]

Kind of expecting Ross/Stewart to be that.

Not Hawkins level shooting but good catch and shoot guys when open.

Castle should make less of a need for Hawkins with being a better all around scorer than Newton. Don’t need as much of a run around screens guy as much as another catch and shoot piece to go with Karaban.

Starting lineup is pretty set. Just need one guy to have a Jeremy Lamb like freshman year if it came down to it.

I hear ya. My preference is to land one veteran shooter 2G in the portal and by the players that UConn has contacted, it seems the staff agrees. Call it insurance if you want because relying solely on freshman can sometimes be a mixed bag at best. I'm excited about the young guys too though. Castle is clearly ready for a huge role. We are a little spoiled by this years two freshman but Karaban had an extra half year on campus to get acclimated and practice with the team and Clingan is a 7 ft 2 giant manchild that is pretty rare. Just the year prior, Hawkins, who is awesome now, was hit or miss and he was a very highly thought of freshman. We can easily forget what an adjustment and big jump it is for some players.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I hear ya. My preference is to land one veteran shooter 2G in the portal and by the players that UConn has contacted, it seems the staff agrees. Call it insurance if you want because relying solely on freshman can sometimes be a mixed bag at best. I'm excited about the young guys too though. Castle is clearly ready for a huge role. We are a little spoiled by this years two freshman but Karaban had an extra half year on campus to get acclimated and practice with the team and Clingan is a 7 ft 2 giant manchild that is pretty rare. Just the year prior, Hawkins, who is awesome now, was hit or miss and he was a very highly thought of freshman. We can easily forget what an adjustment and big jump it is for some players.

Hawkins situation is somewhat my concern actually. He was hit or miss in my opinion because of the inconsistent time with Tyrese here in front of him. Once he got consistent minutes we see the player he is now.

Can anyone actually recall a time where things went bad relying on a freshman?

Nice avi btw who’s actually another example of an impact freshman lol

 

[UCfor3]

Hawkins situation is somewhat my concern actually. He was hit or miss in my opinion because of the inconsistent time with Tyrese here in front of him. Once he got consistent minutes we see the player he is now.

Can anyone actually recall a time where things went bad relying on a freshman?

Nice avi btw who’s actually another example of an impact freshman lol

Shad was so clutch in big games. Washington, Alabama, Duke,etc...

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Shad was so clutch in big games. Washington, Alabama, Duke,etc...

Mr. Onions!!!

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Chief00]

I love Diarra for his defense and maybe he makes a big leap offensively, but I don’t think Hurley and staff can count on that at this point. They need another PG that can bring some offensive and playmaking ability.

The other thing is a point guard needs to be a good foul shooter, since he will have the ball late in the game when you have the lead.

 

[EROCK CONN]

Absolutely 0% chance there are 100ish better high school seniors in the country. I think he’s criminally under ranked….. which is fine by me.