Noah Vonleh

[3uconn]

@FinkelsteinNERR: Breaking News - Noah Vonleh commits to Indiana - story in moments on http://post original url/rNKxquCf

 

[tcf15]

Well, there goes that.

 

[huskiesnyc]

Damn I didn't he would pull the trigger so fast

 

[Dann]

just threw up

 

[superjohn]

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

 

[ctchamps]

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

Maybe one of the coaches wives is playing the role that Laurie Fine played at the Cuse!

 

[ctchamps]

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

On a more serious note Crean is a very good coach. Moreover, Indiana, up until recently, has been a top ten program. Of course it also possible shenanigans are going on. After reading the University of Miami's stuff, I am amazed how something that hardly was disguised and was so flagrantly rotten and involved so many players went undetected by everyone. And the University of Arizona stuff showed how boosters play quieter roles and only get caught by accident. Of course UConn had Miles, but I'm still puzzled by that whole thing. I still can't figure out why JC would have anything to do with a guy who stole from one of his players. It goes against his character.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

Indiana is #1 in the country and a top 5-10 program in the history of the sport. Is it really surprising they are having recruiting success?

 

[dsturdy5]

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

Why would California kids come to Connecticut? Recruiting doesn't always make sense.

 

[uconNYC]

UConn has always won championships with lower ranked kids so I don't get that riled up about recruiting. Our best recruiting class on paper was probably last year with AD, DD and RB or the one with Curtis Kelly, Robinson, etc. and we saw how that turned out.

With good coaching, as long as we land top 100 or even 150 players we should be solid.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Indiana is a bit of a different culture than New England but part of the difference is the devotion to college (and HS) basketball. Our fan base exceeds the rest of New England combined but cannot compare to what the Hoosiers have as a following. Believing that it makes no sense for a kid from the northeast to pick Indiana is crazy.

 

[emshorts]

3 championships in the past 12 yrs. i think those are damn good results of uconns recruiting

 

[mauconnfan]

Next.................

 

[husky99]

Good luck..he was a way way long long shot....

 

[upstater]

Boring Big10 basketball.

 

[Brochacho]

Would have been a nice get. Seemed to be a more post oriented DD with 25-30 pounds more muscle. And I don't really get the whole notion of winning chips with lower ranked kids. Yeah, we don't do it like UK but lets take a look at the 2011 team:

Kemba: 5 star
Lamb: 4 star (although he was a 2 when he committed)
Roscoe: 4 star (#5 SF in the class, fringe 5 star)
Oriakhi: 5 star
Chuck: Not Rated
Napier: 4 star (5 star in 2011 class before reclassifying)
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel: 4 star
Bev: 3 star
Olander: 3 star

Its not like we put teams to the level of Providence on the floor.

 

[husky91]

Umm, he knows who the coach will likely by in 2014.

Blame this on Manuel.

Don't understand why Crean is getting all these kids, why would a New England kid want to go to Indiana, the state completely blows.

 

[mauconnfan]

Lamb was a 2 star......barely 100 until UConn signed him
Roscoe was highly overrated, especially as a shooter/slasher
Alex was beyond overrated
Napier was a 3 star who was going to prep if UConn didn't offer
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel not a very good player at all
Chuck, Tyler, Donnell all throw in's, late in all cases I believe........

So reality all the highly rated players they took were not very good so the magazines won them over..........I like them going out and getting the players who fit the program and their needs.........a class of Facey, Samuel and Austin/Bell (or both) would be great. yeah you need to sprinkle in an AA here and there, but that will come with success, tourney hopes and KO's renewal. Until then they will win the old fashioned way which I like best....good hard working kids who get overlooked by the hype of the recruiting "guru's" for whatever reason!!

 

[kelde1wd]

That sucks, but recruiting life goes on. I am sure we will continue to get those big name recruits in the future, just maybe not in the next year or so. Let us not forget that some of our best years were not the result of highly rated recruiting classes. We have always been good at finding those underrated players that just needed a chance to prove people wrong. UCONN will be fine now and in the future.

 

[Brochacho]

Lamb was a 2 star......barely 100 until UConn signed him

Napier was a 3 star who was going to prep if UConn didn't offer

Chuck, Tyler, Donnell all throw in's, late in all cases I believe........

1. Well, I'm happy someone finally says this. I remember arguing with some people that Lamb was a 2 star but they just wouldn't take it, he was a four star when they looked so it had to be impossible that he could ever be a two!

2. Out of all your points, I contest this the most. Napier was the #27 overall player in the 2011 class, a 5 star. And if he was a 3 star, why would he get a one star bump by moving up a year? I don't mean this in a rude way, but to quote JC "get some facts".

3. Yes, yes, and yes. Although Bev was the only player in his class. We were going all in on Durant I believe. But even if they were toss ins, I sure as hell don't want to give any of them back.

Basically, I know how they turned out as players. I was going from the angle that UConn is winning with sub-par recruits, but that simply is not true. We have the guys who play to their rankings, under-perform, and over-perform but it all balances out. We aren't the first school to have 4's and 5's flop or have 2's and 3's turn into great ones.

 

[upstater]

1. Well, I'm happy someone finally says this. I remember arguing with some people that Lamb was a 2 star but they just wouldn't take it, he was a four star when they looked so it had to be impossible that he could ever be a two!

2. Out of all your points, I contest this the most. Napier was the #27 overall player in the 2011 class, a 5 star. And if he was a 3 star, why would he get a one star bump by moving up a year? I don't mean this in a rude way, but to quote JC "get some facts".

3. Yes, yes, and yes. Although Bev was the only player in his class. We were going all in on Durant I believe. But even if they were toss ins, I sure as hell don't want to give any of them back.

Basically, I know how they turned out as players. I was going from the angle that UConn is winning with sub-par recruits, but that simply is not true. We have the guys who play to their rankings, under-perform, and over-perform but it all balances out. We aren't the first school to have 4's and 5's flop or have 2's and 3's turn into great ones.

Our assistant coaches have done a wonderful job of scouting in the past. This is key for UConn's future. I hope Facey and Samuel turn out to be gems.

Look at how GW is unwinding since Hobbs left. For all of freescooter's criticism of a lack of coaching tree for Calhoun, I'll note that the high mark for DePaul and GW in the last three decades came under Calhoun proteges.

 

[mauconnfan]

1. Well, I'm happy someone finally says this. I remember arguing with some people that Lamb was a 2 star but they just wouldn't take it, he was a four star when they looked so it had to be impossible that he could ever be a two!

2. Out of all your points, I contest this the most. Napier was the #27 overall player in the 2011 class, a 5 star. And if he was a 3 star, why would he get a one star bump by moving up a year? I don't mean this in a rude way, but to quote JC "get some facts".

3. Yes, yes, and yes. Although Bev was the only player in his class. We were going all in on Durant I believe. But even if they were toss ins, I sure as hell don't want to give any of them back.

Basically, I know how they turned out as players. I was going from the angle that UConn is winning with sub-par recruits, but that simply is not true. We have the guys who play to their rankings, under-perform, and over-perform but it all balances out. We aren't the first school to have 4's and 5's flop or have 2's and 3's turn into great ones.

I seriously don't remember Bazz ever being that high unless I missed where he was ranked prior to reclassifying......if I did I apologize but he didn't seem to be getting recruited like a #27 but again I don't know......

Agree on other schools having the same but for the most part, until the last few years most or all of the high recruits UConn won played out on the court!!! .......they'll be fine!!

 

[Rico444]

I thought Bazz was in the 60s? Something like the 8th or 9th ranked PG.

 

[Brochacho]

I thought Bazz was in the 60s? Something like the 8th or 9th ranked PG.

I don't believe so. I discreetly remember looking at him ranked #27 but since I don't have any proof besides my memory I can't really contest that. But I do have this: Napier was the 14th ranked PG in the 2010 class, according to scout. They first 8 PGs were 5 star recruits. I personally don't feel that Bazz would go from an 8/9 in 2011 to the 6th best 4* in the 2010 class. And he was the 62nd player in the 2010 class. The 13 PGs ahead of him were: Irving, Selby, Knight, Joseph, Miller, McCallum, Jackson, Harrow, Marshall, Releford, Pressey, Ellington, Cottrill. 5 in the NBA already, 4 projected to go in the first round this year. Was a really good PG class.

But I guess all that matters is he plays for the good guys and he is a pretty good player whether he was 27th or in the 60s, right?

 

[ctchamps]

Lamb was a 2 star......barely 100 until UConn signed him
Roscoe was highly overrated, especially as a shooter/slasher
Alex was beyond overrated
Napier was a 3 star who was going to prep if UConn didn't offer
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel not a very good player at all
Chuck, Tyler, Donnell all throw in's, late in all cases I believe........

So reality all the highly rated players they took were not very good so the magazines won them over..........I like them going out and getting the players who fit the program and their needs.........a class of Facey, Samuel and Austin/Bell (or both) would be great. yeah you need to sprinkle in an AA here and there, but that will come with success, tourney hopes and KO's renewal. Until then they will win the old fashioned way which I like best....good hard working kids who get overlooked by the hype of the recruiting "guru's" for whatever reason!!

Exactly. Nice post.

KO has a lot of obstacles this season none of which were the result of his making. There is the APR fiasco, the turmoil with the BE changing, the negative publicity UConn received recently including but not exclusive to the APR thing, and the fact he doesn't have a track record. Throw in the contract he received and it is only natural recruiting will suffer.

KO is in a similar position to what JC had when he first arrived at UConn. He will have to find enough success in the beginning without relying on blue chippers. And if he can do that it will translate into winning some of the battles for the blue chippers.

This is my comparison of JC and KO when both took over the coaching position at Uconn:

JC had some coaching resume coming to UConn, KO doesn't. KO has NBA experience which is attractive to high school players, JC had none. JC didn't promise recruits anything. Some players loved the opportunity to prove themselves. KO will continue this policy. But his recruits will understand what he says when he tells them this. UConn was a bottom dweller when JC arrived. KO inherits the program when it is one of the elites programs. JC had to battle other established successful programs for recruits. KO will have to do so as well. But I believe there are more established successful program currently than when JC took over the UConn coaching job making it more competitive and harder to get top recruits. And I believe, and this is a personal opinion only, recruiting is a far slimier process than when JC arrived at Storrs making it far more difficult then before to be a coach of integrity and be successful.