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[ctchamps]

I feel like untapped freak athleticism is usually a 1st/2nd year thing that NBA scouts will take a risk on. AJax is going into his junior year and now he’s the leader on the team, so he’ll be judged and scouted accordingly. Unless he’s a high 30s - 40+% 3P shooter on higher volume, I don’t think he sniffs the first round. His selling point is 6’6 hyper athletic 3&D floor general. It ticks a lot of boxes

If he averages 10/8/8 on high efficiency, he’s got a shot to be drafted. But he’s getting older for college standards. Whether it’s fair or not, scouts will expect a more refined game as the years go on

Exactly.

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t exceed expectations. Kid is a gym rat, consummate team player who bleeds UConn. He deferred to the senior starters last season. That won’t be the situation this year.

I expect him to be the co scoring leader with Sonogo at 14 - 16 ppg.

 

[REB1094]

Exactly.

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t exceed expectations. Kid is a gym rat, consummate team player who bleeds UConn. He deferred to the senior starters last season. That won’t be the situation this year.

I expect him to be the co scoring leader with Sonogo at 14 - 16 ppg.

Re-reading my post, I don’t think 10/8/8 is realistic. 8 assists a game would have been #1 in D1 last year. Bump that down to 5-6, and then bump up scoring to 12-14. So call it like 13/8/5. That’s a hell of a year and could get him drafted.

That said, I think he’s still the floor general. Off-season shooting videos aside, I think he will be the 4th scoring option and will get most of his points in fast breaks. I don’t really see him taking guys off the dribble and looking to score

 

[ctchamps]

Re-reading my post, I don’t think 10/8/8 is realistic. 8 assists a game would have been #1 in D1 last year. Bump that down to 5-6, and then bump up scoring to 12-14. So call it like 13/8/5. That’s a hell of a year and could get him drafted.

That said, I think he’s still the floor general. Off-season shooting videos aside, I think he will be the 4th scoring option and will get most of his points in fast breaks. I don’t really see him taking guys off the dribble and looking to score

More realistic numbers.

My belief is he will get the green light to score this year. And he will shock those other than me. But it’s an unsupported opinion so I don’t need to debate it.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Re-reading my post, I don’t think 10/8/8 is realistic. 8 assists a game would have been #1 in D1 last year. Bump that down to 5-6, and then bump up scoring to 12-14. So call it like 13/8/5. That’s a hell of a year and could get him drafted.

That said, I think he’s still the floor general. Off-season shooting videos aside, I think he will be the 4th scoring option and will get most of his points in fast breaks. I don’t really see him taking guys off the dribble and looking to score

Jackson went 7/7/3 last year and is showing up in mock drafts. If he gets to 13/8/5 with an improved shot, I think he’ll be a first rounder.

Oh, and if he goes 13/8/5, then we’ll be awesome.

 

[bmayuc]

The problem with Jackson is that he's got a very weird skill set - its hard to project into an NBA Lineup with any high level of confidence. NBA likes specialists who have certain projectable parts of their game that you can plug into "known" roles.

Jackson's game exists outside of those pre-defined roles, and so his success will be highly reliant on either upskilling to conform into one of those roles - say he hits 40% of threes this year at a solid volume - OR if he produces at such a high level in multiple different areas that a team is intrigued by the idea of embracing a boom or bust strategy, lottery or in the 2nd round with a flyer on the unicorn-type player. I don't see him being taken at the end of the 1st round, where those are mostly good teams looking to find specialists to shore up specific weaknesses to compete.

To me he's either a late-lottery type for a middling team looking to roll the dice on a unique uber athlete... or a 2nd round flyer by a "good" team who can take a high upside gamble and already has their roster in a good place where Andre wouldn't be relied upon right away, but instead tucked away on the bench upskilling his game.

 

[AntG168]

The problem with Jackson is that he's got a very weird skill set - its hard to project into an NBA Lineup with any high level of confidence. NBA likes specialists who have certain projectable parts of their game that you can plug into "known" roles.

Jackson's game exists outside of those pre-defined roles, and so his success will be highly reliant on either upskilling to conform into one of those roles - say he hits 40% of threes this year at a solid volume - OR if he produces at such a high level in multiple different areas that a team is intrigued by the idea of embracing a boom or bust strategy, lottery or in the 2nd round with a flyer on the unicorn-type player. I don't see him being taken at the end of the 1st round, where those are mostly good teams looking to find specialists to shore up specific weaknesses to compete.

To me he's either a late-lottery type for a middling team looking to roll the dice on a unique uber athlete... or a 2nd round flyer by a "good" team who can take a high upside gamble and already has their roster in a good place where Andre wouldn't be relied upon right away, but instead tucked away on the bench upskilling his game.

He would increase his value greatly by showing he can play the pg position. I think Hurley is going to use him as a point forward in that starting unit. So he should be able to show off that skill set. I see a season from AJax where he isn’t our highest scorer but where he’s clearly the glue of it all(draymond type of impact). A stat line of 10/8/5 is what I would love to see out of him. 5 assist is a lot in Cbb but if he’s the primary play maker he’s capable

 

[Kenny11]

If Jackson has a great year he’s a first rounder

If he doesn’t, I think he still gets drafted

 

[Waquoit]

I'm thinking when the time comes and a "a big man in the transfer portal who has already developed a post game in college" is what this team needs to put it over the top, this staff will find a way.

 

[UofCT]

Can any of the 2023 commits play point? I assumed Castle was more combo but I could be wrong.

 

[husky429]

Can any of the 2023 commits play point? I assumed Castle was more combo but I could be wrong.

Plays PG for his HS and AAU teams almost exclusively. I wouldn't call him an old school pure PG but he can for sure lead a team IMO

 

[Sportsman5]

Can any of the 2023 commits play point? I assumed Castle was more combo but I could be wrong.

Supposedly legit point guard with great ability to pass and shoot, which is why he's one of the highest ranked recruits uconn has ever got.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I think he’s drafted if he scores over double digits. But I also don’t think that’s a given like some people. He’ll be 4th in shot attempts at best on this team, he’s gonna need to be efficient.

The toolset thing really is a better argument for underclassmen though. Jackson’s athleticism is special enough to still get him a shot in the league imo.

 

[UofCT]

I think he’s drafted if he scores over double digits. But I also don’t think that’s a given like some people. He’ll be 4th in shot attempts at best on this team, he’s gonna need to be efficient.

The toolset thing really is a better argument for underclassmen though. Jackson’s athleticism is special enough to still get him a shot in the league imo.

4th at best? Lol bro Castle is one and done. He’s going to be playing a different sport out there. Enjoy the ride

 

[bigknight3]

4th at best? Lol bro Castle is one and done. He’s going to be playing a different sport out there. Enjoy the ride

Pretty sure @Huskyforlife 's comment was about Jackson in '22 not Castle in '23...

 

[UCSouth]

Pretty sure @Huskyforlife 's comment was about Jackson in '22 not Castle in '23...

It's a lot to ask for some of these people to follow along.

 

[Ewekon]

What it looked like just 5 months ago
View attachment 79228

Ah yes. Richard Springs eternal.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Eleven new players in five months. Incredible recruiting by this staff.

With the transfer portal insanity
the turnovers are making recruiting even more important than ever.
We have 4 this year , that would have been considered insane a couple of years ago.
With this roster there will be guys unhappy with their PT and will leave
We saw it last year.
We have only 2 returning recruits from the 2021-22 class. Unfortunately that’s the state of basketball everywhere.
Then again looking for available guys in the portal is more like shopping than recruiting.The strong get stronger and a weaker team will never get better it creates a permanent class system.
If the portal was around in 1985 JC wouldn’t have taken the job and guys like Cliff and Gamble would have been gone.

 

[Huskyforlife]

4th at best? Lol bro Castle is one and done. He’s going to be playing a different sport out there. Enjoy the ride

The best part of this post, is that you’ve probably never watched Castle play a full game. But that’s besides the fact that I was talking about the upcoming season.

 

[ctchamps]

With the transfer portal insanity
the turnovers are making recruiting even more important than ever.
We have 4 this year , that would have been considered insane a couple of years ago.
With this roster there will be guys unhappy with their PT and will leave
We saw it last year.
We have only 2 returning recruits from the 2021-22 class. Unfortunately that’s the state of basketball everywhere.
Then again looking for available guys in the portal is more like shopping than recruiting.The strong get stronger and a weaker team will never get better it creates a permanent class system.
If the portal was around in 1985 JC wouldn’t have taken the job and guys like Cliff and Gamble would have been gone.

Can't say with certainty what JC would have done back then but if I had to guess it would be he would have adapted and still headed to UConn.

Things got more complex for college coaches. They were already stretched with the existing format limiting the times allowable for observation. Now they have to factor in additional data before making decisions.

Which is why I made post #10. Our current set of coaches won't be outworked. They were observing and establishing relationships with high school players at the same time they were evaluating and establishing relationships with transfers. Plus they added a new wrinkle to their recruiting process which is to search overseas for recruits. And on paper at least, they came up with a POTENTIALLY great group of players for this and next year!

The only thing they can't do is to know if all the components they are reaching for (and getting to accept) will pan out as they project. It's not like they can get these players ahead of time to play together to see if they mesh. Plus they have to project if a player will improve after they commit. These projections are as much art mixed with luck as they are science contrary to the perception of fans who get angry when players don't work out.

But give me a hard working staff with an eye for talent and the odds are better that sooner or later success will match the effort.

 

[Get a Job]

Ah yes. Richard Springs eternal.

Richard Benedith-Springs*

 

[CL82]

But give me a hard working staff

 

[JohnFSilver]

Hawkins and Sanogo but Jackson? Unless his shooting form changed over the summer (and it never does). He will leave UCONN to play G league or overseas?

Jackson’s athleticism and weird skill set being super athletic ball handler woukd crush as a second round pick and on a 2-way deal.

I think Sanogo, Hawkins and Jackson are all 2nd round pick types right now. Even as UDFA, I can see Sanogo getting a 2-way deal. That is hard to turn down.

The only one who could explode into the first would be Hawkins with his shooting and scoring. We’ll see how good he goes this years. Also, players will leave.

 

[UofCT]

The best part of this post, is that you’ve probably never watched Castle play a full game. But that’s besides the fact that I was talking about the upcoming season.

Not once, I didn’t even know his true position in a post like 5 hours before I wrote that.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I don't think comparing Jackson to Fultz or Simmons is fair. I see your point, but they were both a hell of a lot better players and two years younger when they were drafted.

Jackson will get picked up by a team in the mid or late first round. Someone is going to be willing to take the bet that with a couple years with a full time shooting coach he'll have NBA starter potential. Too athletic and skilled at 6'7 to not take that risk.

Shooting is such a premium these days, he’s going to have to be able to show he can be a catch and shoot 3-point shooter.

I like Jackson’s versatility and defensive potential. But, he is going to have to continue the shooting improvement from last season. Certainly he is going to be in the radar with the athleticism plus skill. But, shooting in the modern nba has an outsized place as a skill set.

It is all about floor spacing. You either create offense or you finish on offense.

If Jackson can’t be a creator of shots, he has to be an off ball finisher. He has athleticism to do it. But man, hard to play a non-scorer at the wing in the nba. Offense is too valuable these days.

Luckily, shooting is something that can improved rapidly early in a career.

 

[uconnfan68]

Luckily, shooting is something that can improved rapidly early in a career.

Hopefully it starts soon.