Obekpa still list uconn

[husky99]

http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/05/16/pollard-obekpa-still-on-board-as-late-signing-ends/

 

[Fishy]

Not to be overly critical, but if he's really favoring Cincy over some of those other schools, he's deranged.

I want to know the thought process that leads a human being to think, "Hmmm...all things considered, I'd like to be in Cincinnati". I have never heard anyone say, boy, Cincinnati is really pretty in the spring. Or in the summer. Or the fall. Or anything other than possibly a rear-view mirror.

Anywho, good luck to the kid even if he ends up in Armpitsville.

 

[husky99]

Hey in cincy defence, they really do arber day well....

 

[Kyla]

I don't think a one-year postseason ban should discourage kids like Obekpa from coming...it's not like he's a one and done player anyway

 

[champs99and04]

I might get blasted for this, but I still hope/expect either Novel Poole or Michael Chandler to committ here. Academic and character issues, but we're desperate.

 

[cohenzone]

I might get blasted for this, but I still hope/expect either Novel Poole or Michael Chandler to committ here. Academic and character issues, but we're desperate.

Kidding, right? Exactly what UConn needs right now.

 

[aceboon]

lol @ Michael Chandler, you can't be serious. Is that kid even eligible to play college ball with all that went on with him landing at UCF?

 

[champs99and04]

Kidding, right? Exactly what UConn needs right now.

UConn can afford to take a risk on a player at this point in time. They've got a tight lockerrom, and their APR scores are well above the cutoff.

These kids are both big, athletic, shotblocking type big men, which is exaclty the type of player UConn needs at this moment. We'd be two deep at every position. It's a risk, but one worth taking IMO.

 

[champs99and04]

lol @ Michael Chandler, you can't be serious. Is that kid even eligible to play college ball with all that went on with him landing at UCF?

He was mentioned in the article, so I don't know. I would glady take him if he can get his academic/character issues sorted out. Didn't he play high school ball with Boatright? I'm pretty sure he was considering us at one point in time.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

Cincy's coach is a dickface, but he's a good coach. Strong desire to win. And they've played some good ball recently.

That said, and I've said this before in other obekpa threads,if he chooses anyone but uconn from his current list then his best bet for pro ball is south Korea or the like.

If he chooses uconn, and stays at least three years, then he'll get a shot at the league, or at least Spain or turkey.

And I honestly don't even feel like a homer in saying that. That's how I feel about his list.

 

[Fishy]

Mick Cronin is a fine coach.

But he coaches in Cincinnati.

http://www.cincinnatiusa.com/attractionsandevents/

I just went to that site and within 90 seconds, I was trying to climb into the oven. Thank God my wife was here to remind me that we're not actually in Cincinnati. I'm sure Cronin's pitch to recruits is "Hey, we play almost half of our games on the road! You know, not in Cincinnati!"

And I'd say we should pass on the academic risks at this particular time. I'm sure we have a little wiggle room with the APR, but then again, taping a grenade to the side of your head is perfectly safe until the pin somehow falls out.

I think we should endeavor not to blow up our heads or the APR for now. No taping grenades to our head and no Mikey Chandler.

 

[uconnbill]

Mick Cronin is a fine coach.

But he coaches in Cincinnati.

http://www.cincinnatiusa.com/attractionsandevents/

I just went to that site and within 90 seconds, I was trying to climb into the oven. Thank God my wife was here to remind me that we're not actually in Cincinnati. I'm sure Cronin's pitch to recruits is "Hey, we play almost half of our games on the road! You know, not in Cincinnati!"

And I'd say we should pass on the academic risks at this particular time. I'm sure we have a little wiggle room with the APR, but then again, taping a grenade to the side of your head is perfectly safe until the pin somehow falls out.

I think we should endeavor not to blow up our heads or the APR for now. No taping grenades to our head and no Mikey Chandler.

Best thing in Cincinnati is their chili and that Kentucky is just over the Ohio River. It is the armpit of America

 

[Donyell]

Heard they had good dogs at the ballpark. Go Reds!!!!!! Too where that is the ?

 

[uconndennis]

Best thing in Cincinnati is their chili and that Kentucky is just over the Ohio River. It is the armpit of America

Ive been to Cincy plenty of times and the best things there are the Montgomery Inn for Ribs, their sports complex's, and the silly amount of choices in chain restaurants.

If you for one second think that the crap they call chili is even edible, I have severe doubts of your taste in anything.

 

[cohenzone]

UConn can afford to take a risk on a player at this point in time. They've got a tight lockerrom, and their APR scores are well above the cutoff.

These kids are both big, athletic, shotblocking type big men, which is exaclty the type of player UConn needs at this moment. We'd be two deep at every position. It's a risk, but one worth taking IMO.

If the past year or three haven't sunk in that success for UConn is more than just winning, I don't know what will convince some folks. This is exactly the worst possible time to take chances with kids with known issues of either grades, character or both. Good luck to those kids, I sincerely hope they get to a good personal place. Give me kids with the character of Kemba, Omeka, Neils, you name 'em, and if they don't have the goods to be anything but decent college players, that's how it goes. We all like to win, but even if how the NCAA handles things is a load of dung, the only thing that makes me proud right now is that we seem to be working out of the hole the right way.

 

[Yonick]

One of the great restraunts in the country ,Maisonette, WAS located in Cinncinati. Unfortunately, it closed about 5 years ago. Not much left here.

 

[Matt (Chicago)]

I might get blasted for this, but I still hope/expect either Novel Poole or Michael Chandler to committ here. Academic and character issues, but we're desperate.

try saying to yourself "why are we desperate... what caused us to be where we are today (APR, etc)?" one of the roots of the problem was kids with academic and character issues. so yes i agree we could certainly use the talent but i have to disagree that we should be trying to sign kids with academic or character issues, let alone both.

 

[DogMania]

This might be a big time reach, but I wonder if him delaying his decision is because he is very interested in UConn but wants to make sure he has an out in the event that JC hangs 'em up before the summer is out.

Now I don't know the rules as far as taking summer classes. Does anyone know if a player doesn't sign an LOI but takes some summer classes, can he then up and leave to another school in the fall in be eligible right away? To add to this complexity, what if that school foots the bill for those summer classes (I'm assuming the recruit would have to fill out that tuition aid form or whatever it's called). Would be be bound to that program and have to sit out a year if he enrolls somewhere else in the spring?

He seems like a real good fit, in the mold of some of our defensively ready bigs that need time to develop their offensive game. Proximity and style of play would seem to be on our side, and missing the post season for a year would not seem to be a huge issue since he seems like at least 3 year type talent.

IMO, the postseason ban is the spark to the ticking bomb of short JC shelf life. Any recruit considering UConn that equates the NBA success to JC more so than the program likely wrestles with this. I'm sure it's tough for the ones that have other solid options to pull that UConn trigger. My guess a lot of this comes down to how much they like the assistant coach(s) who are recruiting them, particularly KO who some might feel the odds are high that he would continue to stick around when JC calls it quits.

If my memory serves me, JC has 2 years left on his contract. Granted that could get extended, but in most likelihood, the recruits that have committed and the remaining 2012 ones who are still considering UConn are banking on JC being their coach for a couple years and either believe or are wrestling with that being enough to come here.

What concerns me most is the 2013 & 14 classes. Will they feel one year of JC or no years is enough? What impact is the uncertainty that the entire staff could have an overhaul in 2013 or 14? It's simply a tough situation the program has found themselves in. On one hand JC has the right to decide his own fate over the next couple years. Naming Ollie as the Coach-in-waiting might help if the AD really feels that he can do the job. The perceived continuity where JC can choose to leave at any point between now and 2 years might help with some recruits that want to know what the future holds even if there's an A & B outcome. Now if the AD feels he needs to hire a proven coach to move UConn into the future, there simply is no easy way to transition to that. If you make that plan clear, then UConn becomes a huge tough sell. A recruit would have to chose the program for the name on the jersey and not the coach since their future coach would clearly be uncertain. Most players are choosing a program because of the coaching staff of usually the Head Coach in particular.

Sorry to have scurried down this rabbit hole yet again. As Fishy has pointed out, I don't see any upside for JC not making at least next year completely a 100% clear. I'm not really sure even if he did that, it would have much of an impact for the 2013 class which is staring at 1 year max of being coached by JC. This sort of reminds me of when pro coaches are about to enter the final year of their contract. Usually the teams either extend them before that happens or fire them. Again, I do believe that JC has earned the right to leave when he wants and coach the balance of his current contract, but from a "what's best for the program" standpoint, I see 3 options that should have or should be done:

1. Right after the season ended, JC should have announced his retirement and the program should have quickly decided on a new up-and-comer head coach, preferably one that would both attract recruits and do a good job of coaching them up.

2. Announce KO as the Coach-in-waiting

3. And (combined with #2) or tear up JC's contract and extend it out another year so that at least there would be a sliver of perception that a 2013 recruit would have a possibility for 2 years under JC. Once the future looks like at most you'd get 1 year of the current coaching staff, you're really up against a recruiting wall. So far it's been a 2 year-minimum though JC's health has put that in doubt on many occasions and they still seem to find talented recruits who are willing to say "yes".

2.

 

[champs99and04]

If the past year or three haven't sunk in that success for UConn is more than just winning, I don't know what will convince some folks. This is exactly the worst possible time to take chances with kids with known issues of either grades, character or both. Good luck to those kids, I sincerely hope they get to a good personal place. Give me kids with the character of Kemba, Omeka, Neils, you name 'em, and if they don't have the goods to be anything but decent college players, that's how it goes. We all like to win, but even if how the NCAA handles things is a load of dung, the only thing that makes me proud right now is that we seem to be working out of the hole the right way.

I might be in the minority, but personally, I've never had a problem with Calhoun taking chances on questionable characters, so long as it's kept to one kid. Sometimes a kid with a rocky upbring just needs a place where he can work hard, get some help, and be granted the opportunity to become a man. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But I don't have a problem with Calhoun giving kids a chance.

 

[cohenzone]

I might be in the minority, but personally, I've never had a problem with Calhoun taking chances on questionable characters, so long as it's kept to one kid. Sometimes a kid with a rocky upbring just needs a place where he can work hard, get some help, and be granted the opportunity to become a man. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But I don't have a problem with Calhoun giving kids a chance.

Interesting, isn't it, that the kids who are "given a chance" are usually relatively well regarded for hoops talent and not much else? In general, JCs attempts at reclamation projects have failed. For example, Miles, Kellogg, and Wiggins all had high school issues and things pretty much didn't go the way one would have hoped when they arrived at UConn .The biggest success people talk about is Caron, who was pretty much on the road to recovery before he hit Storrs. But, all that aside, this really is not the time for the program to be playing around the fringes even if it means a longer recovery on the floor.

I totally favor giving people a chance. My wife and I have taken in kids from troubled homes and taken in kids who are troubled themselves. We have one living with us now and he is straightened out enough to have earned a scholarship to a respected university. It's pretty rewarding when things go well. But that isn't the purpose of an athletic scholarship. Kids with issues almost always need a hell of a lot more help than a basketball coach or an academic advisor can give them. Even more than that, they have to actively buy into wanting the help.

 

[sledog]

I went to Cinci for an interview once - way back. I saw the town, and got back on the plane. True story.

 

[HooperScooper]

Interesting, isn't it, that the kids who are "given a chance" are usually relatively well regarded for hoops talent and not much else? In general, JCs attempts at reclamation projects have failed. For example, Miles, Kellogg, and Wiggins all had high school issues and things pretty much didn't go the way one would have hoped when they arrived at UConn.

What issues did Wiggins have in high school? I knew the AD at East Hartford High School and she said he was a good kid. I don't remember him having any problems.

 

[champs99and04]

Interesting, isn't it, that the kids who are "given a chance" are usually relatively well regarded for hoops talent and not much else? In general, JCs attempts at reclamation projects have failed. For example, Miles, Kellogg, and Wiggins all had high school issues and things pretty much didn't go the way one would have hoped when they arrived at UConn .The biggest success people talk about is Caron, who was pretty much on the road to recovery before he hit Storrs. But, all that aside, this really is not the time for the program to be playing around the fringes even if it means a longer recovery on the floor.

I totally favor giving people a chance. My wife and I have taken in kids from troubled homes and taken in kids who are troubled themselves. We have one living with us now and he is straightened out enough to have earned a scholarship to a respected university. It's pretty rewarding when things go well. But that isn't the purpose of an athletic scholarship. Kids with issues almost always need a hell of a lot more help than a basketball coach or an academic advisor can give them. Even more than that, they have to actively buy into wanting the help.

I understand your point of view. Most of the time a troubled kid is just going to get into more trouble at UConn, where there are just as many, if not more temptations, to go along with the popularity of playing for the b-ball team. The negative PR has been mounting for the last ten years with this program, so I understand the cautious mindset when it comes to kids with baggage. In my mind, I'm willing to swallow all those drug problems, APR issues, and behavior problems we've had over the years if it means JC has a chance to change just one kids life for the better. In other words, I'll take the Miles, Kellog's, and Wiggins' if it means one Caron Butler, a kid who wouldn't be a millionaire with a great head on his shoulders if it wasn't for JC.

If we already had multiple sketchy characters on this team I'd be against it. But they are all incredibly loyal, intelligent, and caring individuals, at least from what I can tell. Why not bring in a Chandler--assuming he can qualify--introduce him to the leaders of the team, get him accolomated with the coaching staff, tell Shabazz to make sure he stays out of trouble, and just see what he can do? He can block shots, rebound, and throw down the occasional alley-oop. Who knows, maybe JC still has one last masterful coaching job in him. Maybe Michael Chandler will be starting in the NBA ten years from now thanking JC for the opportunity, and the life, that was otherwise headed down the wrong path.

Worth a try IMO, but I can't blame you for feeling differently.

 

[DogMania]

What issues did Wiggins have in high school? I knew the AD at East Hartford High School and she said he was a good kid. I don't remember him having any problems.

I seem to recall some sort of off the court situation, but I don't remember if it was during his senior year or a prior one. I talked to his coach a few times back in the day, he said that Dougie was a real nice kid but immature. I interviewed him before he went to UConn and he was a very polite and respectful kid. He just seemed to one of those kids that simply had the habit of making bad decisions.

I hope he's turned it around by now.