Kisunas released from LOI

[DonaldDraper]

It's amazing, the revisionist history never fails. Where were people saying this about Kisunas when he was committed to UConn?

As a policy, I don't sh.. talk newly committed recruits to the program. Not good for Mojo or the kid who potentially reads threads about himself. They should be welcomed when they make a commitment. Being released from his LOI opens up that conversation for me.

 

[Danzz]

Ollie man, wow. You know you have no clue what you are doing when a guy from from the A10 takes over at a blue blood and has no interest in retaining 66% of the recruiting class. That is wild.

We don't know that Dan Hurley had no interest in retaining 66% of the recruiting class. We do know that he wasn't able or willing to do it.

 

[huskyinfl]

Ollie probably promised the world trying to save his tail.

 

[Ewekon]

Very much could've been a "we'd love to have you if you're willing to accept a smaller role" kind of thing. If he's decommitting and getting offers from Ivy League schools that tells you all you need to know. His offer list during his recruitment wasn't exactly a barnburner either. Purdue, Illinois, and MD were the only two P5 programs worth a lick to recruit him.

Purdue, IL and Maryland are generally our public university academic peers sans AAU. Northwestern is a great B1G academic school ...the best imho...
In a great city. (Close enough). It gets cold in Lithuania too. I think Northwestern has a bball upside and B1G status. I really do think it was mutual.

 

[uconnphil2016]

The good news is that I'd bet there's a good chance we land Jermaine Harris. Maybe he stays at URI, but if he doesn't, Xavier (his 2nd choice) also had a coaching change. That would definitely give us room to move in.

 

[UConnSwag11]

It was mutual. Seems like Hurley has a plan. (Hopefully)

 

[Tex-Lager93]

Trust the process.

When we sign Simmons and Embid, I'll trust it more. All kidding aside, this is pretty much what you would expect with a coaching change. Had we kept Ollie, we would have lost three or more of the current roster (see Durham, Jackson, Enoch) and had three decent recruits followed by a 10 win season. And, who knows, we still might lose some of the current roster. Regardless, we are heading down the right path, finally.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was excited for this guy. Partly I was excited because, in Ollie's plodding, wind the clock down half court offense, guys like this can be invaluable.

So I'm going to take this as a positive. The main reason I think we'd want to move away from bringing him to UConn is that we want an entire roster that can press and run. He certainly isn't a fit. I have no inside info, just a hunch that Hurley wants mobile, athletic bigs who can run the floor. Akok certainly fits that bill.

 

[HuskyHawk]

How many top knotch guys are left in 18? Why waste one on a guy not worth having for four years. Also I think Dan Hurley is a better coach than KO. And it'd work out better under this staff.play our guys and use transfers as depth.

Lots of very good players left, but none that are linked with UConn. We've offered some, but there's no indication of interest from what I see. There are guys better than any of the guys we've released from NLIs.

 

[Kembacity]

We need guards. We have a lot of project big men already. Hopefully none of them are planning on leaving.

I'm sure Hurley has guys he is looking at for next year. Now he has an opportunity to get them.

But still none were as tall as Kisunas. I'd much rather our team take him on, be disappointed in him, and nudge him out a year from now even if it means we're kind of dicks. We have nobody taller than 6'9", and only Cobb with any weight to throw around. Even if he's a stiff, I wanted Kisunas down low next year

 

[Jaybo]

The good news is that I'd bet there's a good chance we land Jermaine Harris. Maybe he stays at URI, but if he doesn't, Xavier (his 2nd choice) also had a coaching change. That would definitely give us room to move in.

Think he's staying at RI unless cox is out.

 

[Fishy]

I expected this one.

He’s just not a great fit for the way Hurley plays.

He’s a great fit for someone, though...and plus, he’d probably be able to go to Harvard or Yale if he wants.

 

[UCDaveD]

Who's that big galoot that plays center for Loyola-Chicago? Krutwig? Was hoping Kisunas would be like that.

 

[superjohn]

Lots of very good players left, but none that are linked with UConn. We've offered some, but there's no indication of interest from what I see. There are guys better than any of the guys we've released from NLIs.

None of the linked players are going to be the same now that we've gotten rid of Ollie.

 

[uconnphil2016]

So what's everyone thinking...how do we fill these three scholarships? Is it reasonable to think we can land three freshman who are also skilled? Or should we try to land one freshman and two grad transfers to plug the hole for now?

 

[len0322]

I had a good feeling about him but we’ll be okay. Need 1 more guard and we’ll be a potential top 25 team. Right now we have:
PG: Adams, Gilbert
SG: Vital
SF: Wilson, Polley
PF: Williams, Whaley, Diarra
C: Carlton, Cobb

Throw a decent combo guard into that roster and there’s a lot to like.

Hoping we get a true picture of who is staying and who is leaving soon.

 

[djct1999]

Sounds a bit more like "you're not good enough"

Key words in initial tweet 'mutual decision'.

 

[Palatine]

Very much could've been a "we'd love to have you if you're willing to accept a smaller role" kind of thing. If he's decommitting and getting offers from Ivy League schools that tells you all you need to know. His offer list during his recruitment wasn't exactly a barnburner either. Purdue, Illinois, and MD were the only two P5 programs worth a lick to recruit him.

I'm sure that was what was said. Not.

 

[UCDaveD]

Could we be clearing a few schollies for an impending reduction?

 

[djct1999]

It may all work out, but in no way is losing an entire recruiting at this point a good thing.

It's better than signing guys you didn't recruit and don't fit into your system. You really shouldn't be surprised by this. If anything, it is a more a statement on how far back UConn fell in recruiting under Ollie. The blaze strategy = a quick way to have your program go up in flames.

 

[Coach J]

Yikes. I wonder where our recruiting class is ranked now.

What class, there are none left.

 

[len0322]

What class, there are none left.

Does Sid Wilson get moved to this class?

 

[HuskyHawk]

None of the linked players are going to be the same now that we've gotten rid of Ollie.

Perhaps. But bringing a Brandon Williams here at this stage would be an astonish feat for Hurley. Or Romeo Langford, or anybody else like that. There are an absolute ton of guys who only have verbals out right now though and no NKI. He could be trying to flip those guys.

Somebody like Luther Mohammed, out of NJ. UConn offered but Ohio State has his verbal.
https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2018/luther-muhammad-2699

The next few weeks before NLIs are due could be interesting. I'm about to meet up with a coach of a prep school basketball team. I'll see if he is hearing anything.

 

[reddevilhusky]

Isn't there a dead period coming up in April? Hope the board doesn't get to antsy waiting for news during that time as we probably won't hear much.

 

[lange10]

I had a good feeling about him but we’ll be okay. Need 1 more guard and we’ll be a potential top 25 team. Right now we have:
PG: Adams, Gilbert
SG: Vital
SF: Wilson, Polley
PF: Williams, Whaley, Diarra
C: Carlton, Cobb

Throw a decent combo guard into that roster and there’s a lot to like.

We need a guard who can stroke it and handle PG duties, a wing who can stretch the floor and another serviceable big. Then, maybe, we're a top 40 team. Lots of pieces to the puzzle to be fit in as of now. Our core of Adams, CV, Gilbert, Wilson, Diarra, Carlton must be kept in tact.

 

[KingAG]

Thought he’d stay when I thought Dan Hurley wanted him. If Dan Hurley doesn’t think he’s a UConn caliber player I’ll trust him. Until he gives me reason not to. You can always find a Kisunas

 

[len0322]

Isn't there a dead period coming up in April? Hope the board doesn't get to antsy waiting for news during that time as we probably won't hear much.

don't you worry....20 minutes until the next Akinjo staying thread gets posted

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Once he graduates from Cornell we can just sign him up as a Grad transfer.

 

[tcf15]

Isn't there a dead period coming up in April? Hope the board doesn't get to antsy waiting for news during that time as we probably won't hear much.

The dead period ends at noon on April 5. Then there's a recruiting period from noon on April 5 through April 18 (with another dead period thrown in there from April 9th to the 12th). Then there are two live periods from 4/20 - 4/22 and 4/27 - 4/29. Should be a busy April for Hurley, Moore and the rest of the staff.

 

[reddevilhusky]

The dead period ends at noon on April 5. Then there's a recruiting period from noon on April 5 through April 18 (with another dead period thrown in there from April 9th to the 12th). Then there are two live periods from 4/20 - 4/22 and 4/27 - 4/29. Should be a busy April for Hurley, Moore and the rest of the staff.

Always on top of things thanks TCF!