Lukas Kisunas Commits to UConn

[superjohn]

You know, I've read a few personal attacks on champs lately and I don't much care for it.

Champs deserves a lot more respect around here than this. I don't always agree with him, and I don't agree with that post, but he always makes an effort to be rational and articulate and he always focuses on basketball instead of trying for gratuitous cheap shots. I appreciate that and enjoy reading his thoughts, even when I disagree.

I also think it's more than a little silly that you're going after him when his post is simply a logical continuation of the chicken with its head cut off posts you, UCDaveD and others were making non-stop this past spring and summer.

Monica, thanks for the lecture. Now go back to the women's board.

 

[auror]

Thank you very much for posting this.

My take:
Loved his passing. I don't watch a ton of HS basketball, but he really moved the ball and they seemed to run their offense through him at times. Very unselfish. He found the open man on the weak side perimeter consistently. His footwork was pretty good as well.

He's going to struggle on offense and defense against length. He played very sound defense with his hands up and not fouling, but guys that can elevate and finish will do so over him. His compete level was good on rebounds, but definitely needs to work on consistently boxing out (but I get the feeling that's every HS player). You worry that he's so unselfish because he knows he's not that capable a finisher.

 

[HuskyHawk]

LOL! I'm just the opposite and love from what I have seen from Matthew on video with his length and shooting. He is also at 173 and not in the 300's. I just feel this pick was a reach but maybe we just can't recruit any real big men to come to UCONN presently. It would be nice to have a true big man's coach on the staff.

Matthews is at 173 at a position where we have 3 or 4 other players, not counting Larrier or Vital. I came around a bit, because I think we will try to make him a long shooting guard, but wing was not a position of great need in this class. I think he's a hedge on Carey.

Kisunas isn't a reach, he's just not the kind of guy that the morons who give ratings like. He doesn't jump out of the gym, but he knows how to play. Every year we watch an Ivy team made up of guys almost entirely like this give some #1 or #2 seed absolute fits. Surround those kids with better athletes, like we have, and their basketball skill set and knack for doing the little things is magnified.

My main complaint with how Ollie was recruiting previously is that he seemed to focus on guys with a very high ceiling in terms of athletic potential, and a very marginal basketball skill-set. I think Williams still is one of those guys. I don't mind taking a gamble on a few, but you also need guys who just know how to play and are fundamentally sound.

 

[3rdbass]

Matthews is at 173 at a position where we have 3 or 4 other players, not counting Larrier or Vital. I came around a bit, because I think we will try to make him a long shooting guard, but wing was not a position of great need in this class. I think he's a hedge on Carey.

Kisunas isn't a reach, he's just not the kind of guy that the morons who give ratings like. He doesn't jump out of the gym, but he knows how to play. Every year we watch an Ivy team made up of guys almost entirely like this give some #1 or #2 seed absolute fits. Surround those kids with better athletes, like we have, and their basketball skill set and knack for doing the little things is magnified.

My main complaint with how Ollie was recruiting previously is that he seemed to focus on guys with a very high ceiling in terms of athletic potential, and a very marginal basketball skill-set. I think Williams still is one of those guys. I don't mind taking a gamble on a few, but you also need guys who just know how to play and are fundamentally sound.

I actually disagree on Matthews being used mostly as a SG. I think we will put him at SF with Wilson or Williams at PF. I still think going with that lineup in college is normal in the changing landscape of basketball. I think this guy can slide into a backup center for Carlton who I'm higher on based on what I have seen skill wise. Yes all teams need these type of players to do the dirty work but nothing in his game jumps out at you to make you think this isn't a little bit of a reach. Like I said earlier that this might be were we are in recruiting big man at this stage. Looks like a solid college player who can play some tough minutes off the bench when we need a bruiser inside.

 

[boog204]

Kisunas isn't a reach, he's just not the kind of guy that the morons who give ratings like. He doesn't jump out of the gym, but he knows how to play. Every year we watch an Ivy team made up of guys almost entirely like this give some #1 or #2 seed absolute fits. Surround those kids with better athletes, like we have, and their basketball skill set and knack for doing the little things is magnified.

My main complaint with how Ollie was recruiting previously is that he seemed to focus on guys with a very high ceiling in terms of athletic potential, and a very marginal basketball skill-set. I think Williams still is one of those guys. I don't mind taking a gamble on a few, but you also need guys who just know how to play and are fundamentally sound.

I agree with everything here. Kisunas is someone who actually seems fundamentally sound. The footwork, reading a screen/roll scenario and slipping, etc are "skills" that we haven't had in a big man in a long, long time; probably Charlie V (not comparing, obviously). The concern is that that same lack of athleticism that would keep a guy like this from being top 75 can also mitigate those fundamental skills. It's very difficult to read it in highlight films against high schoolers. But can he carve enough space inside against more athletic bigs? Will his "reading" of the defense be irrelevant because of a lack of foot speed, etc.

I see Ed Nelson-ish. And that's not a bad thing in any way. This is a guy who will be here for four years and should be able to contribute as a solid backup if not something better. You need guys like this. That being said, I would prefer someone with a bit more length/athleticism.

On your second point, we have adjusted our recruiting immensely. I LOVE that we are battling against teams like Virginia, West Virginia, Iowa St, Creighton, Wich St for players. Those are teams who typically find under the radar guys who can play, are tough as hell, and while not being necessarily 1st round prospects, are damn good college players. We've stopped chasing the top 20 guys who are just looking for that Duke or Kentucky offer and are going after the guys that want to be here and might be lacking in athleticism or some other "potential" making tool, but instead possess legit skills. I certainly understand the importance of having NBA guys to keep our brand, but I'd much rather have 3-4 years of Matthews then 1 year of a top 20 wing.

 

[Storrsbred]

What doesn’t everyone get? Kisunas didn’t play AAU. Rankings are based, for the most part, on AAU play at camps. Rankings don’t mean much anyway, except for the gifted few.

This kid is going to be perfect in a couple of seasons.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I actually disagree on Matthews being used mostly as a SG. I think we will put him at SF with Wilson or Williams at PF. I still think going with that lineup in college is normal in the changing landscape of basketball. I think this guy can slide into a backup center for Carlton who I'm higher on based on what I have seen skill wise. Yes all teams need these type of players to do the dirty work but nothing in his game jumps out at you to make you think this isn't a little bit of a reach. Like I said earlier that this might be were we are in recruiting big man at this stage. Looks like a solid college player who can play some tough minutes off the bench when we need a bruiser inside.

Make no mistake, the people who are seeing some second coming of Kevin Love are way off. I don't think he'll be as nearly good as Jake was (I think people forget how good he was). That said, I think he'll be better than Brimah or Facey at filling the role we actually need filled. A 6'8" guy from Northeastern got 15 boards against us last year. That can't happen. We haven't had a guy who even knew how to block out in several years. Nor a center who could catch a pass and make a layup.

I'm with you that Carlton is the better prospect. But I am convinced that Kisunas is the kind of guy who will be hard to keep off the floor by the time he's a junior or senior.

 

[Doheny]

What doesn’t everyone get? Kisunas didn’t play AAU. Rankings are based, for the most part, on AAU play at camps. Rankings don’t mean much anyway, except for the gifted few.

But those gifted few at the top of the ratings are the best that money can buy. Why aren't we landing them?

 

[Sky ball]

But those gifted few at the top of the ratings are the best that money can buy. Why aren't we landing them?

Ugly Hookers

 

[3rdbass]

Make no mistake, the people who are seeing some second coming of Kevin Love are way off. I don't think he'll be as nearly good as Jake was (I think people forget how good he was). That said, I think he'll be better than Brimah or Facey at filling the role we actually need filled. A 6'8" guy from Northeastern got 15 boards against us last year. That can't happen. We haven't had a guy who even knew how to block out in several years. Nor a center who could catch a pass and make a layup.

I'm with you that Carlton is the better prospect. But I am convinced that Kisunas is the kind of guy who will be hard to keep off the floor by the time he's a junior or senior.

I can definitely see that by his Junior or Senior year. I still think KO will go with the 2 SF look alot since that is were we seem to recruit the best and will create matchup issues for some teams though most of college basketball is either going with a smaller lineup, 3 guards, or 2 SF look at both forward positions.

I like that he is tough and has good skill around the basket but just a little concerned we couldn't get on any other big men in the early recruiting season. if we picked him up in the spring recruiting I probably would of understood even though still question the need with guys like Cobb and Carlton already on board.

 

[Coach J]

I've seen that vid. Compared to LK's, Carlton is facing the basket much more. In LK's video he posts up into a dream shake or drop step in a significant part of the vid.

He has a serious basketball IQ too, spin moves to both sides of the hoop, baby hook shot proficient, knows how to hold a post-up, definitely a DeMatha schooled player - I'd say he has a huge upside. Would like to see him try to use his left hand more when blocking shots, as most shooters are righty it's easier and will translate into more blocks and make him less likely to get into foul trouble.

 

[intlzncster]

I would have banked this scholarship. This kid sounds like a fine prospect, but the word that comes to mind for me in reading most of these responses is delusional. Let me elaborate:

- He is committed to play basketball here now, so there is no sense in bemoaning his presence as if this were in some way his fault. He is just a kid realizing his dreams, and even if he never contributes anything of tangible value to the program, I support his right to be the coolest person on campus because he's a basketball player and in signing the dotted line alone will have achieved far more than most of us. However, the holier than thou act from certain posters strikes me as slightly disingenuous given the fact that it is cloaked in anti Facey and Brimah sentiment. Those guys put in four years of service here, won a national championship, and will likely be remembered as better players than this kid will ever be.

- There is no bigger dork than me when it comes to things like screening, hedging, and feel for the game. But do you know who notices things like this? People who didn't sign Alex Oriakhi or Roscoe Smith or some other player who would win a national championship. And do you know who talks themselves into the allure of the "four year guy" and "role player" and "guy that you need?" The people who can't recruit the caliber of talent necessary to compete for championships. If I have to hear one more word about how Emeka Okafor was the 96th ranked player in the country or you don't need to recruit marquee talent to compete, my head is going to explode. The idea of a player outperforming his ranking is perfectly legitimate. The idea of six players outperforming their ranking is the sort of preciousness that makes Vegas rich. I very much value the intelligence of the people on this board, so I am going to assume that I am not in on the new act and that you all simply pretend not to know how statistics work. Along those lines...

- The overall caliber of recruit that this program has landed has dipped drastically over the last two classes. The idea that UConn under Calhoun settled for scraps is purely fiction. Option B used to mean top 50 players and option C used to mean top 100 guys. Now, we scrap together our resources for top 50 players (and in fairness, a few of them have been top 10 guys that went elsewhere for one reason or another) like Carey and end up settling for a lesser talent. Back in the day, a local, top 150 kid like Carrigan would have been the backup option and we would have been pleasantly surprised to learn he can play. Now that the kid is off our radar completely, we're forced to stoop a tier further. Then we finally offer him after losing out on several other options and we celebrate. OK. If that's going to be your outlook, fine. Let's just make sure it carries over to on court play.

- This is fine in a vacuum. We do not live in a vacuum, though, and this roster is not primed with the sort of talent that can withstand another flier - Cobb, Carlton, and whoever else you want to throw into that mix already have that covered. I understand that coaches over-recruit all the time, but there are healthy logjams and then there are logjams that consist of a bunch of redundant players, none of which can separate themselves from the pack. Between de-commitments, transfers, and graduations, there are a lot of options that remain worth monitoring...unless the staff has already kicked the tires on those and received negative feedback...which again brings us back to the problem.

- Look, I love college basketball. I'll watch New Hampshire vs. Stony Brook any day and marvel at the players that, for 40 minutes in March, can rise to the level of their more highly regarded contemporaries and cement a place in college basketball lore. This kid is a lot better than the type of player that normally winds up there. This is the type of player that winds up at Butler or Creighton or Purdue, damn solid programs that are well-coached and talented enough to make a run when the stars align. We're not that program. If we are, fine. I'll continue to invest in the program. But for now we're still UConn and it starts with the recruits, who, because of our recent struggles, might not be fully appreciated as individual talents. Jalen Adams is rare. Alterique Gilbert is rare. Terry Larrier is rare. Vital is a damn solid player and I imagine Diarra and a couple of the others will hold up just fine themselves. The recruits we have hauled in recently are slightly less than that. They are damn talented, mind you, but they represent a very perceptible drop in our status as a college basketball program. I knew that was coming on the court because you don't simply replace an all-time great and roll on conducting business as usual. I didn't know that recruiting would dip. Pair the two together and the optics are somewhat foreboding, however, I do think short-term the picture could be better than most expect, which has a way of fixing things in the end. As somebody else said, 2019 will be telling.

You're not wrong with some of this, but I'd say that I think rankings can be tougher to gauge for big guys. I mean, for guys at the very top...no problem. But bigs take longer to develop, both from a coaching and coordination standpoint. Lot of these guys are still coming into their bodies. I feel like it's tougher to predict their ceilings. And because they are slower to develop, their rankings probably suffer compared to a 6ft guard who's been at fighting weight for 4 years or so. From what I've read/watched, this guy's far from a project.

 

[3rdbass]

He has a serious basketball IQ too, spin moves to both sides of the hoop, baby hook shot proficient, knows how to hold a post-up, definitely a DeMatha schooled player - I'd say he has a huge upside. Would like to see him try to use his left hand more when blocking shots, as most shooters are righty it's easier and will translate into more blocks and make him less likely to get into foul trouble.

The problem with his moves is that it seems to take forever and he is going in slow motion. I wonder if he will just get his shot rejected a lot or lose the ball from small guards reaching in. I did see this a few times in the raw video that was posted.

 

[Huskybass]

Anyone who isn't thrilled with getting Kisunas is crazy. The kid is a player for sure. Recruiting has been very good recently.

 

[intlzncster]

This kid just won the recruiting lottery. Does anyone know what the lowest ranked recruit we've brought in in the past 10 years?

Not for nothing, but did this kid even play much if any AAU last year? I didn't see anything, but I didn't read the whole thread here. If he hasn't played AAU, the ranking probably isn't a great indication of the player.

 

[UConnRock]

Video is from his jr year at Brewster. He looked a little too deliberate near the basket. Need to be strong and decisive with interior moves. All reports Are that he added height and weight this year. He also has another year of development before putting on a UConn uniform.

 

[pj]

I don't think he'll be as nearly good as Jake was (I think people forget how good he was). ...

I'm with you that Carlton is the better prospect. But I am convinced that Kisunas is the kind of guy who will be hard to keep off the floor by the time he's a junior or senior.

Jake became very good. But people forget how far he had to go when he was in high school. Mike Leblanc was the higher rated player on his high school team (Voskuhl's Already A Contributor). Kisunas is not obviously worse than Jake as a high school player.

Who's better, Carlton or Kisunas, time will tell. But both can be major contributors. Kisunas is going to play from day one, he provides a look at center that no one else can provide.

 

[QDOG5]

Based on the hit/miss ratio of foreign born kids who played bball for UConn I'm going to say he will have a productive career with the Huskies. Any one want to compile a list?

 

[UConnRock]

One of the best aspects of the new crop of bigs for UConn is that there will be ample size and muscle for them to work against each other in practice. Cobb, Kisunas, Carlton, and Diarra will become accustomed to the pounding that the interior players face everyday in practice and not just in game situations. One of the major issues with the Brimah, Facey, Enoch, Durham group was that they did not have the power and weight needed push each other around in practice.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Kisunas isn't a reach, he's just not the kind of guy that the morons who give ratings like. He doesn't jump out of the gym, but he knows how to play. Every year we watch an Ivy team made up of guys almost entirely like this give some #1 or #2 seed absolute fits. Surround those kids with better athletes, like we have, and their basketball skill set and knack for doing the little things is magnified.

That said, I think he'll be better than Brimah or Facey at filling the role we actually need filled. A 6'8" guy from Northeastern got 15 boards against us last year. That can't happen. We haven't had a guy who even knew how to block out in several years. Nor a center who could catch a pass and make a layup.

Agree on both of these, although Shonn Miller was perhaps the exception on blocking out. It's been very disappointing the last couple of years watching the team give up offensive rebounds because nobody can stick their butt on someone's hip before going after the board. If you give me a choice between outlandish athletic ability with sketchy basketball IQ, and solid athleticism with even better basketball IQ I'll take the latter. That's what we have here. Good hands, smart with the ball and off it, and although not quick he runs like a player. And the point about not playing AAU is right on. At the end of this year I'll wager his ranking will be between 80 and 120. You can't teach 6'10" & 250, and there aren't a ton of those out there.

 

[JMick]

Agree on both of these, although Shonn Miller was perhaps the exception on blocking out. It's been very disappointing the last couple of years watching the team give up offensive rebounds because nobody can stick their butt on someone's hip before going after the board. If you give me a choice between outlandish athletic ability with sketchy basketball IQ, and solid athleticism with even better basketball IQ I'll take the latter. That's what we have here. Good hands, smart with the ball and off it, and although not quick he runs like a player. And the point about not playing AAU is right on. At the end of this year I'll wager his ranking will be between 80 and 120. You can't teach 6'10" & 250, and there aren't a ton of those out there.

Who knows if he will crack the top 100 but I agree, I think all of our 2018 commits will end up ranked higher than they are currently. Akinjo should be top 100 and I bet Kisunas and Matthews end up top 150 guys if not close

 

[Chief00]

After the WSJ article about Blazer involvement in the FBI sting operation let's put Blaze talk to bed

The Blaze principles are alive and thriving!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The Blaze principles are alive and thriving!

We should make a blaze jar for you. Every time you say the word blaze, you have to put in a dollar and when you're on to your next idiosyncratic talking point, we can give it all to a charity of your choice. We could do some real good here.

 

[Kenny11]

The problem with his moves is that it seems to take forever and he is going in slow motion. I wonder if he will just get his shot rejected a lot or lose the ball from small guards reaching in. I did see this a few times in the raw video that was posted.

There is no way he will get stripped more than our recent bigs. He at least has strength and good hands and can pass out of the post (Carlton can do this also). This is the type of big we need. For several years we have had guys like brimah who if the ball gets passed to him in the post will immediately panic and throw up a shot if he doesn’t turn the ball over first. Now we are going to have guys like Carlton and Lukas who can actually think and make a good decision if they catch the ball down low. For the type of basketball uconn is trying to play, this is an upgrade.

 

[boog204]

Based on the hit/miss ratio of foreign born kids who played bball for UConn I'm going to say he will have a productive career with the Huskies. Any one want to compile a list?

I'll play! I threw some guys in who did play a year or so in the US prior to enrollment. I go back to the Earl Kelley days.

Israel

Nadav, Doron, Gilad Katz, Uri-Cohen Mintz --> Two huge hits, two misses

Germany

Niels, Enosch Wolf(e), Leon T, Marc Suhr --> One hit, three misses

Africa

Ajou, Ater Majok, Okwandu, Hasheem, Amida, Souleymane --> I'd say one big hit, two hits, one OK, and two big misses

Australia

Ryan Thompson, Justin Brown, Ater Majok --> Still have hopes JB can claim the starting center spot this year

Canada

Denham Brown, Gerry Besselink --> Two hits

Jamaica

Kenton --> All in all a hit

Ukraine

Ruslan Inyatkin --> 4-year backup, hit?

France/Bosnia

Predrag Materic --> Never played a minute for us, but had a long career in Europe and is an agent for a couple foreign NBA guys.