Kelly Oubre Update

[7774]

We really quieted down on Abu in the spring after he visited w/ Terrell. You can't blame recruiting violations as to why in my opinion, because during that same time we were actively Purvis/Hamilton and got them to commit. Abu fell to the back burner for a couple months, and he knew it. So it hurts our chances with him a tad.

It's cool how you make things up and pretend like they are facts. I guess.

 

[CTBasketball]

It's cool how you make things up and pretend like they are facts. I guess.

I said "in my opinion." Not facts.

 

[7774]

I said "in my opinion." Not facts.

Yes you did mention it was your opinion that we can't blame recruiting violations.

 

[Chief00]

Not trying to be fatalistic here but we have very little chance of getting Oubre.

My personal opinion is that we have spent a huge amount of time on and swung for the fences on some really big time players and players who have blown up this summer and we will most likely not get them (DHAM being an obvious exception but we got him really early) and we could have quite some time ago spent more time focusing on the NE guys who are really really good, like PC has done.
The NE guys Okonoboh, Chuckwu, Terrell, Abu, Joseph etc would be more realistic for us. The way things are looking , I personally dont think that we will get ANY of these guys. PC looks likely for several of them and perhaps Indiana or Florida for 1 or 2 of them.

I am happy with DHAM and Purvis and think we will likely get Robinson if we get him on campus soon and will get a PG (likely NOT one of our 2 main targets), but size is lacking. We will probably get some much lower rated project at the 4 or 5 (like we have done recently) and hope they pan out. We really missed the boat on Chukwu especially but also on Abu and Okonoboh.

By the way, this is me forecasting what I think will happen over the next 5-6 weeks.

Not trying to be fatalistic here but we have very little chance of getting Oubre.

My personal opinion is that we have spent a huge amount of time on and swung for the fences on some really big time players and players who have blown up this summer and we will most likely not get them (DHAM being an obvious exception but we got him really early) and we could have quite some time ago spent more time focusing on the NE guys who are really really good, like PC has done.
The NE guys Okonoboh, Chuckwu, Terrell, Abu, Joseph etc would be more realistic for us. The way things are looking , I personally dont think that we will get ANY of these guys. PC looks likely for several of them and perhaps Indiana or Florida for 1 or 2 of them.

I am happy with DHAM and Purvis and think we will likely get Robinson if we get him on campus soon and will get a PG (likely NOT one of our 2 main targets), but size is lacking. We will probably get some much lower rated project at the 4 or 5 (like we have done recently) and hope they pan out. We really missed the boat on Chukwu especially but also on Abu and Okonoboh.

By the way, this is me forecasting what I think will happen over the next 5-6 weeks.

Be realistic, that's not how JC won 3 NC's. Swing for the fences but also have plan B and Plan C.

 

[Gurleyman]

Other than Freeman (who played HS ball in Jersey...with Tim Thomas, if you hadn't heard), I don't think we had a single Massachusetts kid in JC's tenure until we signed Adrien. Then we got AO, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Bazz in succession. We had been shut out of Boston, where JC is from, supposedly due in part to clashes with the BABC AAU program. Wayne Turner (Kentucky) and Randell Jackson (Florida State) were the most famous misses. Travis Best was from Springfield and was another famous miss, which brought us Ollie.

While I think it's important to keep an eye in your back yard, I really don't think it matters where your recruits eventually come from - if the players you want are from 2000-3000 miles away, sell them on getting away and becoming your own man, if they are from 30 miles away, sell them on being close to home. JC was a New Englander through and through and recruited nationally, perhaps doing a so-so job of back yard recruiting in the process. But we won three titles because we found players from everywhere, often coming in very late to get players we weren't expected to get (Donyell, Khalid, CV, etc.). Now we have a coach who came from LA to have a successful career at UConn and beyond. Maybe he can sell kids from far away on his own story about getting away and becoming his own man.

Recruiting isn't a zero-sum game, but if you want to say that we lost Abu by going all in for Hamilton in the spring, so be it. I'm not going to regret that for an instant. If we did it the other way around, maybe Abu ends up still wanting to play with Terrell, and we lose Hamilton. If Abu goes elsewhere, it won't be because he didn't pay him enough attention.

 

[Dove]

Love my clothing.........company NIKE golf shirts mostly with casual slacks, Ecco shoes every day or Tommy Bahama camp shirts for the weekend!! LOL........ I hear ya by the way just trying to have fun.

It just seemed like everything you said was spot on until you said I occasionally take things personally......huh? Me? .....lol

You dress like Jake from State Farm.

 

[BearJWS]

Other than Freeman (who played HS ball in Jersey...with Tim Thomas, if you hadn't heard), I don't think we had a single Massachusetts kid in JC's tenure until we signed Adrien. Then we got AO, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Bazz in succession. We had been shut out of Boston, where JC is from, supposedly due in part to clashes with the BABC AAU program. Wayne Turner (Kentucky) and Randell Jackson (Florida State) were the most famous misses. Travis Best was from Springfield and was another famous miss, which brought us Ollie.

Scott Hazelton too. We missed out on Noel too.

 

[mauconnfan]

Other than Freeman (who played HS ball in Jersey...with Tim Thomas, if you hadn't heard), I don't think we had a single Massachusetts kid in JC's tenure until we signed Adrien. Then we got AO, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Bazz in succession. We had been shut out of Boston, where JC is from, supposedly due in part to clashes with the BABC AAU program. Wayne Turner (Kentucky) and Randell Jackson (Florida State) were the most famous misses. Travis Best was from Springfield and was another famous miss, which brought us Ollie.

While I think it's important to keep an eye in your back yard, I really don't think it matters where your recruits eventually come from - if the players you want are from 2000-3000 miles away, sell them on getting away and becoming your own man, if they are from 30 miles away, sell them on being close to home. JC was a New Englander through and through and recruited nationally, perhaps doing a so-so job of back yard recruiting in the process. But we won three titles because we found players from everywhere, often coming in very late to get players we weren't expected to get (Donyell, Khalid, CV, etc.). Now we have a coach who came from LA to have a successful career at UConn and beyond. Maybe he can sell kids from far away on his own story about getting away and becoming his own man.

Recruiting isn't a zero-sum game, but if you want to say that we lost Abu by going all in for Hamilton in the spring, so be it. I'm not going to regret that for an instant. If we did it the other way around, maybe Abu ends up still wanting to play with Terrell, and we lose Hamilton. If Abu goes elsewhere, it won't be because he didn't pay him enough attention.

We also missed out on a kid from Charlestown a few years back who went to Florida, shooter (Robinson?) and later transferred. Travis Best was not a "miss" by the way. Actually he had not decided and some say he was going to choose UConn if JC had waited but KO jumped in and took the scholly that left Best out.......not sure on that but that's what I have heard!

 

[Gurleyman]

We also missed out on a kid from Charlestown a few years back who went to Florida, shooter (Robinson?) and later transferred. Travis Best was not a "miss" by the way. Actually he had not decided and some say he was going to choose UConn if JC had waited but KO jumped in and took the scholly that left Best out.......not sure on that but that's what I have heard!

Could be wrong on Best - thought he went to GT and we took Ollie instead, but that was pre-internet so I followed recruiting more loosely. I just remember a temporary "one that got away" angst with Best that cured itself as our team succeeded.

I admit I forgot about Hazelton. He didn't pan out in college, but he was a good get at the time.

 

[Yonick]

We also missed out on a kid from Charlestown a few years back who went to Florida, shooter (Robinson?) and later transferred. Travis Best was not a "miss" by the way. Actually he had not decided and some say he was going to choose UConn if JC had waited but KO jumped in and took the scholly that left Best out.......not sure on that but that's what I have heard!

You are spot on regarding Ollie before Best. Ollie even referred to that during his speech accepting the coaching job. Also, that year JC took Brian Fair ahead of Rick Brunson who was from Salem MA. Brunson went to Temple.

 

[Dove]

You are spot on regarding Ollie before Best. Ollie even referred to that during his speech accepting the coaching job. Also, that year JC took Brian Fair ahead of Rick Brunson who was from Salem MA. Brunson went to Temple.

I remember Arnold Dean had Best and Brunson on at the same time to talk about their situation and at the time were being held off while JC waited for higher priorities.

 

[ZenConn]

We also missed out on a kid from Charlestown a few years back who went to Florida, shooter (Robinson?) and later transferred. Travis Best was not a "miss" by the way. Actually he had not decided and some say he was going to choose UConn if JC had waited but KO jumped in and took the scholly that left Best out.......not sure on that but that's what I have heard!

Also thought we were recruiting Alex Murphy who is now at Florida. Could be Donovan's ties to New England as a player when he was at *ahem* P *cough* C.

 

[Yonick]

I remember Arnold Dean had Best and Brunson on at the same time to talk about their situation and at the time were being held off while JC waited for higher priorities.

As I recall, Best concluded his Ga. Tech career by losing to Siena in the 1st round of the NIT. That same year Ollie concluded his UConn
career losing to eventual champ, UCLA, in the elite-8 in Oakland.

 

[BearJWS]

Also thought we were recruiting Alex Murphy who is now at Florida. Could be Donovan's ties to New England as a player when he was at *ahem* P *cough* C.

Close, probably mean Erik Murphy was just completed his Senior year at Florida & was drafted by the Bulls (2nd Rd). Doubt he makes the Bulls. Alex Murphy is at Duke, he's barely sniffed the court in his 2 years there. There's supposedly another younger brother, named Tomas (I believe), who's supposedly decent too, though not an elite prospect.

 

[alexd]

A lot of Uconn fans were dreaming of a Best/Brunson local connection. But it was really a situation of whomever committed first between them and Ollie & Fair. I still have some old copies of "Big East Briefs" with mention of this.

I still remember where I was in my car when I heard the 6 PM sports news on WTIC announce tyhat Ollie had verballed to JC. "Oh what a little thing like an Elite 8 will do for you?" was the lead comment...

on a side note...Brian Fair once sold me a pair of tennis sneakers when he worked at Mickey Finn's in Berlin.

 

[Dove]

A lot of Uconn fans were dreaming of a Best/Brunson local connection. But it was really a situation of whomever committed first between them and Ollie & Fair. I still have some old copies of "Big East Briefs" with mention of this.

I still remember where I was in my car when I heard the 6 PM sports news on WTIC announce tyhat Ollie had verballed to JC. "Oh what a little thing like an Elite 8 will do for you?" was the lead comment...

on a side note...Brian Fair once sold me a pair of tennis sneakers when he worked at Mickey Finn's in Berlin.

Hopefully not after he graduated.

 

[mauconnfan]

Close, probably mean Erik Murphy was just completed his Senior year at Florida & was drafted by the Bulls (2nd Rd). Doubt he makes the Bulls. Alex Murphy is at Duke, he's barely sniffed the court in his 2 years there. There's supposedly another younger brother, named Tomas (I believe), who's supposedly decent too, though not an elite prospect.

From a close family source Tomas may be the best.......at 6'8 as a 14 yr old he can shoot it like his dad and brother.......we'll see. They had Erik on campus with his family back in the day and his mom is on love with Coach K and really dislikes JC for whatever reason.......then again how's she liking Coach K now that her son hasn't sniffed anything but pine for 2 years and they keep recruiting over him?? She played for the Belgian national team years back, nice enough lady for sure but thinks she knows everything.....NOT

 

[BearJWS]

From a close family source Tomas may be the best.......at 6'8 as a 14 yr old he can shoot it like his dad and brother.......we'll see. They had Erik on campus with his family back in the day and his mom is on love with Coach K and really dislikes JC for whatever reason.......then again how's she liking Coach K now that her son hasn't sniffed anything but pine for 2 years and they keep recruiting over him?? She played for the Belgian national team years back, nice enough lady for sure but thinks she knows everything.....NOT

Very interesting! Hindsight is 20/20....

 

[Calhoun's Court]

As I recall, Best concluded his Ga. Tech career by losing to Siena in the 1st round of the NIT. That same year Ollie concluded his UConn
career losing to eventual champ, UCLA, in the elite-8 in Oakland.

If Tyus Edney doesn't throw in his buzzer beater I always felt we would have beat Mizzou(or whoever) and won our first championship.

Always nice to have to play UCLA in California

 

[UCweCONN]

A lot of Uconn fans were dreaming of a Best/Brunson local connection. But it was really a situation of whomever committed first between them and Ollie & Fair. I still have some old copies of "Big East Briefs" with mention of this.

I still remember where I was in my car when I heard the 6 PM sports news on WTIC announce tyhat Ollie had verballed to JC. "Oh what a little thing like an Elite 8 will do for you?" was the lead comment...

on a side note...Brian Fair once sold me a pair of tennis sneakers when he worked at Mickey Finn's in Berlin.

Don't forget Anthony Harris from Danbury who was in the same class as Best and ended up signing with 'Cuse. I was at a game where Pitino was there trying to lure him to Kentucky.

 

[Huskyforlife]

247 has oubre up to 4. i don't know if he's that good but maybe he is. ok4 is now out of the top 5 too.

 

[Danzz]

Not trying to be fatalistic here but we have very little chance of getting Oubre.

My personal opinion is that we have spent a huge amount of time on and swung for the fences on some really big time players and players who have blown up this summer and we will most likely not get them (DHAM being an obvious exception but we got him really early) and we could have quite some time ago spent more time focusing on the NE guys who are really really good, like PC has done.
The NE guys Okonoboh, Chuckwu, Terrell, Abu, Joseph etc would be more realistic for us. The way things are looking , I personally dont think that we will get ANY of these guys. PC looks likely for several of them and perhaps Indiana or Florida for 1 or 2 of them.

I am happy with DHAM and Purvis and think we will likely get Robinson if we get him on campus soon and will get a PG (likely NOT one of our 2 main targets), but size is lacking. We will probably get some much lower rated project at the 4 or 5 (like we have done recently) and hope they pan out. We really missed the boat on Chukwu especially but also on Abu and Okonoboh.

By the way, this is me forecasting what I think will happen over the next 5-6 weeks.

You will never get a top player if you don't recruit them and we may still get Abu or/and even Chuckwu. Recruiting is a fluid process and the coaching staff has to adjust during the recruiting period as players get signed. The fact that we are involved with so many top HS players tells me that Ollie and staff are doing things right.