Lukas Kisunas Commits to UConn | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Lukas Kisunas Commits to UConn

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OMG man. This fn awesome! Outstanding effort by coaching staff to build Uconn program momentum, identify and land the players we want. Congratulations to Lukas Kisunas and Uconn Nation. I am psyched at all things that are happening. All these good players, coaching staff hirings, and cap it all off with A Lithuanian center that has low post shills and is a team oriented player. BLEED BLUE!!!
 
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Seriously, you people who come when we get a commit and just shout "really, we're getting excited for a #X ranked player??"

Do you watch basketball or do you play a fantasy college basketball recruiting game with your friends? Like, watch the tape, see what the guy can do rather than reading his ranking and reacting...

This guy brings something I feel like we've almost never had. Ed Nelson was supposed to bring it, but he was too small, and liked to up fake too much. I would bet good money this kid is drafted into the NBA, he might be pick #50 but drafted is drafted
 
2018 is looking like such a solid class.

Peach Jam MVP at point guard in James Akinjo
Effective, long, and potentially under-rated wing in Emmitt Matthews Jr.
Tough, disciplined, and intelligent big man in Lukas Kisunas
+ Sidney Wilson coming off a year of going against Terry Larrier every day in practice

All of them clearly want to be here too.

This sets us up to start shooting for the stars in 2019.
 
Kembacity said:
Seriously, you people who come when we get a commit and just shout "really, we're getting excited for a #X ranked player??"

Do you watch basketball or do you play a fantasy college basketball recruiting game with your friends? Like, watch the tape, see what the guy can do rather than reading his ranking and reacting...

This guy brings something I feel like we've almost never had. Ed Nelson was supposed to bring it, but he was too small, and liked to up fake too much. I would bet good money this kid is drafted into the NBA, he might be pick #50 but drafted is drafted
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Of course I watch basketball. I have watched UCONN bball since the late 70's. He would fit in great with those teams. LOL! Seriously it is good pickup as it fit our needs but I make a valid statement to bring up is that his ranking is really low and this isn't the type of recruit we normally shoot for at UCONN. I understand due to current situation this is a great get but it still stings that we can't even scratch the surface of top 50 ranked players like Ignas Brazdeikis who we were interested in.


NBA drafted? Wow that is being positive. I haven't seen him play but from the videos I can can see his upside being a solid college basketball player. He doesn't have offensive talent(outside shot or athletic ability) to make any NBA draft board presently.
 
McDermott was trying hard to get Lukas to Creighton. Always enjoyable to see another NBE school rejected.
 
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Watching the video I was expecting to witness an almost unheard of no dunk mix tape but he got one very late. Even when he's uncontested under the rim he lays it in. Guys are gonna send that back in his face if he doesn't go hard. I expect he'll make that adjustment once he starts practicing at UCONN.
 
Matrim55 said:
I'm very happy with our 2018 class - 4 really solid-looking gets to give us a nice foundation. That should allow us to swing for the fences in 2019.

Also, who was the last great screener we had?
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Nolan.
 
kansashusky said:
Anyone know how his production was for the Playaz?

Did he play with Jalen Carey?
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Carey played for New Jersey Playaz whereas Kisunas played for New England Playaz. New Jersey Playaz are an elite Nike EYBL program whereas New England Playaz are part of the Adidas circuit and have less pedigree but put up a nice showing this past summer.
 
Matrim55 said:
I know we need to get the official mausurements from @mauconnfan, but just FYI this kid seems to be bigger than what he's generally listed as at the recruiting sites:



Of course, Brewster might be lying (I certainly would if I was in their shoes). But he's definitely not undersized for a college center.
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That coach certainly likes him a lot.:cool:
 
WingU-Conn said:
Does it matter where Jackson, Enoch, Durham, and MAL were ranked as recruits?

We need guys that want to be here, want to work hard and get better.

If that's not enough, consider some of the other offers our recent recruits have had.
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well said
 
UCweCONN said:
Watching the video I was expecting to witness an almost unheard of no dunk mix tape but he got one very late. Even when he's uncontested under the rim he lays it in. Guys are gonna send that back in his face if he doesn't go hard. I expect he'll make that adjustment once he starts practicing at UCONN.
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I thought the same thing. Watch the second video. He dunks WAY more.
 
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I don't know how anyone that has watched UConn basketball over the past few years could have anything negative to say about this commitment.

For years we have been b*tching about needing toughness down low, and that is exactly what he brings.

As for rankings (which don't mean a ton), yes he is in the 200-300 range, but he is the 25th ranked center according to 247. Centers are hard to come by these days. Additionally, how many of those other 24 centers want to be finesse back to the basket scorers and are probably string beans? I'd guess a decent amount of them. And this is the opposite of what we need. Our scoring will continue to be led by our guards and wings. We need guys down low that can pick and roll and throw the body around.

PS - he just looks like the type of guy that typically goes to some smaller school like Bucknell or something and averages a double double. Then when he makes it to the tourney and plays out of his mind all of the high majors ask themselves "how did everyone miss on this guy?"
 
Lukas is really light on his feet and moves very athletically with a natural looseness. Big, physical, skilled in so many ways. European fundamentals that impact how a team plays. This recruit, Lukas, is going to have a major impact on our basketball team. I am thrilled about having Lukas play here. What an excellent commitment this is!!
 
3rdbass said:
Of course I watch basketball. I have watched UCONN bball since the late 70's. He would fit in great with those teams. LOL! Seriously it is good pickup as it fit our needs but I make a valid statement to bring up is that his ranking is really low and this isn't the type of recruit we normally shoot for at UCONN. I understand due to current situation this is a great get but it still stings that we can't even scratch the surface of top 50 ranked players like Ignas Brazdeikis who we were interested in.


NBA drafted? Wow that is being positive. I haven't seen him play but from the videos I can can see his upside being a solid college basketball player. He doesn't have offensive talent(outside shot or athletic ability) to make any NBA draft board presently.
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Ater Majok was drafted... Honestly, in his videos he already looks like someone who we'd love in a UConn jersey. I'm projecting out 4 years of studying the game hard and learning. My whole point is just, why would you focus mainly on the ranking to react to the guy? Trust our coaches, trust that they see a ton of guys play basketball and sometimes you just see something in a kid who is very low ranked. I'm over the moon about this recruit simply because, as many others have already stated, he is the type of kid we see on a team we expect to dominate and then lose to or come close. He just has a feel for the game as a big man down low, whereas usually we bring in rail thin athletes and try to teach them basketball. We don't need to teach him how to catch the ball, and to then go immediately up with it. He likes playing back to the basket, faking, absorbing contact. This is a lunchpail guy, and I hope that Mamadou is similar, but he's smaller
 
I like that his instinct is to reverse pivot and get to the rim when he screens. That's something we've been missing for years. Obviously has been coached well. Seems to have a decent left and right hand. If he can learn to outlet pass, or kick it out to our hyper-talented wings and guards... We may just be a final four team in a couplefew years.
 
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Matrim55 said:
I know we need to get the official mausurements from @mauconnfan, but just FYI this kid seems to be bigger than what he's generally listed as at the recruiting sites:



Of course, Brewster might be lying (I certainly would if I was in their shoes). But he's definitely not undersized for a college center.
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Have seen him listed at 6'8", 6'9" and 6'10". He'll be 7' by the time we add a Hilton unit or 2. Excellent pick up.
 
Kembacity said:
Ater Majok was drafted... Honestly, in his videos he already looks like someone who we'd love in a UConn jersey. I'm projecting out 4 years of studying the game hard and learning. My whole point is just, why would you focus mainly on the ranking to react to the guy? Trust our coaches, trust that they see a ton of guys play basketball and sometimes you just see something in a kid who is very low ranked. I'm over the moon about this recruit simply because, as many others have already stated, he is the type of kid we see on a team we expect to dominate and then lose to or come close. He just has a feel for the game as a big man down low, whereas usually we bring in rail thin athletes and try to teach them basketball. We don't need to teach him how to catch the ball, and to then go immediately up with it. He likes playing back to the basket, faking, absorbing contact. This is a lunchpail guy, and I hope that Mamadou is similar, but he's smaller
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I mean I'm happy we got a guy that was on our radar of course. He seems to have some good skills(setting screens, positional defense) but noticed that the rankings in general for UCONN recruits are trending downwards. Not saying these guys can't be good but I prefer to have a couple top 50 or top 75 guys on the team too. I mean we have always done this on the football side and you can see where that is really can be hit or miss for the most part. I mean recruiting isn't an exact science but normally guys that are ranked in the top 50 tend to have a better chance of making an impact on the college game.

I guess this UCONN's new reality.
 
3rdbass said:
I mean I'm happy we got a guy that was on our radar of course. He seems to have some good skills(setting screens, positional defense) but noticed that the rankings in general for UCONN recruits are trending downwards. Not saying these guys can't be good but I prefer to have a couple top 50 or top 75 guys on the team too. I mean we have always done this on the football side and you can see where that is really can be hit or miss for the most part. I mean recruiting isn't an exact science but normally guys that are ranked in the top 50 tend to have a better chance of making an impact on the college game.

I guess this UCONN's new reality.
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You're not wrong. Higher ranked recruits are more likely to be successful-that's just a fact.

But we also have two assistants (killings and chill) who are known for finding undrerranked players.

And what is complaining about recruit rankings going to do anyways? Who cares. Just have fun with it is what I tell myself every day, before I yell at a stranger on the internet over something trivial =P
 
3rdbass said:
I mean I'm happy we got a guy that was on our radar of course. He seems to have some good skills(setting screens, positional defense) but noticed that the rankings in general for UCONN recruits are trending downwards. Not saying these guys can't be good but I prefer to have a couple top 50 or top 75 guys on the team too. I mean we have always done this on the football side and you can see where that is really can be hit or miss for the most part. I mean recruiting isn't an exact science but normally guys that are ranked in the top 50 tend to have a better chance of making an impact on the college game.

I guess this UCONN's new reality.
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We currently have the #1 AAC and #26 overall recruiting class for '18. If you hypothetically add in a player ranked similar to Sid Wilson (#88 in the class and .9525 247 composite score) our '18 class jumps up to #10 overall. We are doing more than fine.
 
3rdbass said:
I mean I'm happy we got a guy that was on our radar of course. He seems to have some good skills(setting screens, positional defense) but noticed that the rankings in general for UCONN recruits are trending downwards. Not saying these guys can't be good but I prefer to have a couple top 50 or top 75 guys on the team too. I mean we have always done this on the football side and you can see where that is really can be hit or miss for the most part. I mean recruiting isn't an exact science but normally guys that are ranked in the top 50 tend to have a better chance of making an impact on the college game.

I guess this UCONN's new reality.
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Akinjo outplayed those top 75-50 recruits at peach jam and won MVP. Sid Wilson was in the top 75 but he reclassed. But now since he won't play until next year anyway he's essentially a top 75 recruit. EMJ is rising and you can expect Kisunas to as well
 
3rdbass said:
Well at least KO understands most of the big names aren't going to come here at the present condition we are in (record, conference and uncertainty of the coach). KO is spreading a wider net to get the guys he can and who want to play at UCONN. I do agree this is a lot better than missing on all our targets since we were concentrating on the top 100 guys and then having to scramble to put together a roster like this past off season.
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What an As# ...
 
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The theme of our 2018 class so far is SKILL and TOUGHNESS. I Love It!!
 
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Niceee, good pickup by the staff

Who's down for Boneyard road trips to Brewster to watch this beast??
 
Matt1010 said:
We currently have the #1 AAC and #26 overall recruiting class for '18. If you hypothetically add in a player ranked similar to Sid Wilson (#88 in the class and .9525 247 composite score) our '18 class jumps up to #10 overall. We are doing more than fine.
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^^ THIS
 
Good size, decent footwork and motor. Quick (decisive) to the basket. Looks for the outlet pass off of defensive rebound. What's not to like?
 
3rdbass said:
I mean I'm happy we got a guy that was on our radar of course. He seems to have some good skills(setting screens, positional defense) but noticed that the rankings in general for UCONN recruits are trending downwards. Not saying these guys can't be good but I prefer to have a couple top 50 or top 75 guys on the team too. I mean we have always done this on the football side and you can see where that is really can be hit or miss for the most part. I mean recruiting isn't an exact science but normally guys that are ranked in the top 50 tend to have a better chance of making an impact on the college game.

I guess this UCONN's new reality.
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I wouldn't worry about it much. Akinjo was MVP of the peach jam and is definitely on the come up, I'm really high on Matthews future and Kisunas looks like a contributor right away. With how things were going we are in a pretty good place right now and it affords the staff the opportunity to hone in on some top 2019 kids and swing for the fences.
 
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