Okay, here is my KO recap on the players: Coach Ollie was introduced by Donny Marshall--a lot of closeness and respect between them. KO said that they did things he can't talk about, they fought, they are the best of friends.
Freshman:
Terrence Samuel: KO sees himself in Terrence, super hard worker.
Kentan Facey: Staying very positive despite uncertainty about playing. From where he comes from, being at UConn is heaven. Loving every minute.
Amida Brimah: Going to be a BIG time shot blocker and another great person. Arm span that goes from one side of the ballroom to the other.
Rodney Purvis: Like having a Ferrari in the garage that you can't drive--big, strong, quick, can shoot from outside, from midrange, and can get to the basket pretty much at will.
He made some cracks about having to get "NC State" out of Rodney.
New player: Lasan Kromah: versatile, can play 2,3,4 if needed. A very smart basketball player, highest b-ball IQ next to Bazz on team.
Sophs:
Phil Nolan: We need a center to claim the spot and for Phil to do so, he needs to let himself feel the emotion, the passion inside him. This is a work in progress for Phil, KO encouraged everyone to tell him to let his emotions out.
Omar: got skipped, mentioned in passing.
Leon: Hard worker, never complains, earned 3.7 gpa, second highest to Shabazz on team. Lost weight and always ready to give his best.
Juniors:
Ryan: Sometimes he just needs to shut-up. Great competitor, never says die, learning to be a better point guard, is listening to the coaches to get better.
Said he's from Chicago, a different place (took this to be a reference to trash talking). Super kid, incredibly quick.
Deandre: a top ten kid coming out of high school, had the natural talent, but not the skill. People were in his ear about transferring prior to last year, but his
father told him "N0," said he came to UConn to get tougher and he was going to stay to do that. Spoke about the huge progress he made and expects great things.
Seniors:
Niels: Captain, always does what was asked and then says "What's next?" Confidence very high after summer on German national team and he is making KO
struggle to find time for him. Sees him competing for a starting job while also referring to him as the "glue guy."
Tyler: KO only wants people of high character on his team and Tyler has has some issues with his choices...came out and labeled issues with alcohol and with women. Sees
him doing better with seeing that his time at UConn is precious and is more serious about making the most of it.
Shabazz: When he first came, he was an "" (laughter). He went on a long time about Shabazz, how he will end up being one of the greatest people to ever go through UConn. He
spoke about how much he has grown as a person and a leader. How he could have left for the NBA and he has no doubt he would have stuck on a team no matter when or if he was drafted.
He spoke about how Shabazz decided to come back to get his degree for his mother and himself. The pride in Shabazz just radiated out of KO.
KO finished by talking about gazelles and lions, how gazelles have to run each and every day to stay alive. No days off or get caught by the lions and die. The lions have to chase and catch the gazelles or starve.
It's life and death and there's no second chances. That's how he sees life and he wants to be, and is one of the lions. He said when he got the head coaching job, he was scared. So he attacked it and does not want to waste a single moment in trying to be the best he can be.
--KO was awesome, said we are all family (so he can share things) when he made comments about Boat needing to shut-up or Bazz being an "" as a freshman. Going down 11 flights of stairs, I heard older guys in suits talking about how KO can stay as long as he wants.
