Hyperbole aside, if Ross can’t get a sniff of the floor in his first two years, with guys in front of him and high recruits coming in, how in the world will he have a major role? One of the more surprising and incredible things to me, is how this staff convinced everyone to come back without losing anyone in the portal. With this current momentum and the talent that wants to play at UConn, I think that trend will be hardest to maintain. I am not suggesting it’s Ross(I agree he has upside) but there are kids on this roster who will most likely at some point get recruited over. Why? Because Hurley and this staff are in a sweet spot where they can get almost anyone they want.
Based on how early Ross got PT in the exhibition game and what he did on the floor, I'd be shocked if he didn't get some spot solid minutes throughout stretches of the season and be a solid rotation player next season.
Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but he'll be here for the duration of his college career before he gets drafted at some point.
He's long, quick, solid handle, not afraid to attack the paint and can knock down 3s. All he needs is to get stronger, fill out some, PT, consistency where he continues to make plays while cutting down the TOs. I think he's got some BBIQ, but time will tell.
As recruits come in, he'll have enough experience to carve out PT, even if more heralded recruits and/or transfers enter the program. He'll stave them off enough.
If Hurley continues with the current process where he brings in a couple of productive and experienced transfers that fill needs if needed, a new group of talented recruits that fit the system and continue to retain the non-1-and-doners, those who work hard and gradually earn minutes will eventually get solid PT and a significant enough of a role to maximize their talent and capabilities that put them in solid NBA draft position.
I don't think there have been many rosters where almost all of them could end up drafted. Of the current roster, Singare and Diarra are two that I'm not so sure about. Diarra is probably just too small for the modern NBA. Singare might have come in too raw and inexperienced to develop enough, though if he's here all 4 years, who knows. Maybe he'll devep into a better player than most expect.
I'm not sure about Johnson. He's an exceptional run and jump athlete, that could play himself into the 2nd round, but his lack of bulk, deep shooting and perceived upside might be more in line for being an undrafted free agent.
Reed is a mistery to me still. He looks like a slightly more athletic Sanogo type big. The dig on him has been his tendencies to lack focus, effort and decision making, well according to one podcast that I wondered was suspect. There were times early in the exhibition where he seemed passive. He got out hustled for a long rebound that 8 felt he should have battled for, but Hurley got through to him where he had a stretch during the game, I think in the second half, where he showed signs of dominance inside. If he improves his skills, motor and processing, he has a chance to find himself hearing his name called. He has 2 seasons to get there.
All the others (Karaban, McNeeley, Mahoney, Ball, Stewart, Nowell, Abraham) seem to have a lot of game that Hurley will coach out of them, getting them to the league. Of them, Abraham will need to wait awhile for his turn, but he seems to have a great combination of size, strength and skill to get there, similar path as Ross that will take a little longer than the more ready to contribute recruits. For Nowell, it's just a matter of waiting his turn. He'll get some PT this season. He's just too good not to. Next year will be his time to shine.
Next season's roster might end up with more NBA drafted players than this season in light of who is coming in and who will be retained. Both are stacked for sure.
.
