Juwan Durham article from Amore

[tcf15]

Great article. He'll be at the game this Thursday, too.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...insider-juwan-durham-0224-20160223-story.html

Click here in case you need to get around the paywall or whatever it is

 

[Kembacity]

Thanks for that, good read, and Juwan really sounds like a "UConn guy" like we like, sounds like he might be our next Purvis, the ambassador and greeter of the team

 

[krinklecut]

Seems like a really good kid. Excited for his future.

 

[Yankees32123]

It's a shame he's had so many setbacks. He can still be great, just has to work that much harder. The kid has a bright future. What are the odds of him redshirting?

 

[UChusky916]

You know this kid is a husky. Why? He already has that chip on his shoulder. He will have that WARRIOR mindset that all special players have. I have no doubt that he will come back stronger than before with his attitude.

Love hearing this kind of stuff about the staff from recruits:

Durham's mother, Charisse Hargrett, was in the gym. She had an intuition about the UConn coaches before even meeting them, and what transpired after his second major knee injury confirmed it.

"When he found out he tore his other knee, he immediately called [UConn]," she said. "And he asked them, 'do I still have a chance?' And they were like, 'yeah, we're not going to take away the offer because of that.' I told him, 'You see what I'm talking about? These are the kind of people you want to surround yourself with.'"​

 

[Stainmaster]

"When he found out he tore his other knee, he immediately called [UConn]," she said. "And he asked them, 'do I still have a chance?' And they were like, 'yeah, we're not going to take away the offer because of that.' I told him, 'You see what I'm talking about? These are the kind of people you want to surround yourself with.'"​

I really hope nobody takes the opportunity to spin this against the staff.

 

[BUHusky]

Good read, thanks for sharing.

Juwan seems like a great kid by all accounts. Can't wait to root for him in Husky blue.

 

[mauconnfan]

This kid needs to succeed, deserves to succeed. I love this kid, one of my favorites ever and he hasn't even put the uni on. I hope and pray he has a successful rehab and becomes a player, no matter how good, for UConn. I really hope he becomes the player he wants to be, the player we think he can be with his tools but this is mostly for him. I'd be crazy to say I could care less about being a UConn fan as to how good he becomes because sure I want him to be that guy. But I will never ever root harder for someone to reach his goals, this is really a special kid.

Good luck Juwan, stay positive and stay healthy. Kick ***!!!

 

[chevtheman]

Once he gets them college workouts and meal plans he's gonna improve .. Hope he can stay healthy!!

 

[GemParty]

Heart will be in my stomach every time he takes a fall. Rooting for his comeback!

 

[Kitaman]

Does he redshirt? I'm thinking he lost a year of competition and his senior year at that.

Anyone know?

 

[mauconnfan]

Does he redshirt? I'm thinking he lost a year of competition and his senior year at that.

Anyone know?

Think he will but we will see.

 

[FASTEDDY]

I agree that he will likely redshirt. Probably the right move as he needs to get stronger, further rehab the knee and get back into basketball shape.

with a redshirt year, he should come in as a freshman (Year 1 of eligibility) really strong and ready to be a major contributor as Brimah will be gone and we will need frontcourt help.

 

[Shabazzkets]

I like the kid's commitment and attitude and I like that Ollie stood by him. But with his medical history, I'll be shocked if he's ever a high level contributor to this team. I'm pessimistic by nature, but the odds are stacked against him by any objective measure.

 

[CAHUSKY]

I like the kid's commitment and attitude and I like that Ollie stood by him. But with his medical history, I'll be shocked if he's ever a high level contributor to this team. I'm pessimistic by nature, but the odds are stacked against him by any objective measure.

Can you provide an historical example where that is true? Most importantly in the last 10 years when knee surgeries have improved dramatically.

 

[Stainmaster]

Let's let him get to campus before we write off his chance of ever playing meaningful minutes.

 

[UconnFanNVa]

Wish him the best! Seems like a good kid. Lets see how things progress for him.

 

[7774]

I like the kid's commitment and attitude and I like that Ollie stood by him. But with his medical history, I'll be shocked if he's ever a high level contributor to this team. I'm pessimistic by nature, but the odds are stacked against him by any objective measure.

You don't say...

 

[Fishy]

I really hope nobody takes the opportunity to spin this against the staff.

Please stop.

 

[Fishy]

I like the kid's commitment and attitude and I like that Ollie stood by him. But with his medical history, I'll be shocked if he's ever a high level contributor to this team. I'm pessimistic by nature, but the odds are stacked against him by any objective measure.

ACL tears are not a doom and gloom scenario. It'll be fine - maybe not next year, but eventually, fine.

These days, there is a 98% success rate in returning an athlete to their sport - and that factors in all kinds of athletes. For an elite athlete like JD, it's 100%.

Remember DeJuan Blair? He tore both ACLs in high school and they were not repaired correctly. He was the Big East player of the year and he didn't have an ACL in either knee.

 

[imno1]

I like the kid's commitment and attitude and I like that Ollie stood by him. But with his medical history, I'll be shocked if he's ever a high level contributor to this team. I'm pessimistic by nature, but the odds are stacked against him by any objective measure.

Thanks for the consult Dr Shabazzkets.

 

[tcf15]