PF/C Juwan Durham (Signed LOI on 11/11)

[Stainmaster]

Two best bigs in the AAC in 3 years? That will be a fun matchup to watch.

 

[Fishy]

Not trying to be a bummer, but isn't Enoch's skill set basically the same? (only less)? I'm ecstatic we have Durham. Just hope Enoch doesn't feel he made a mistake. I imagine Ollie has had a conversation with any player who feels recruited over.

No.

Not sure if you've taken a gander at the roster lately, but UConn has Enoch listed at 6'10", 245 pounds these days - he's an order of magnitude larger than Durham. Durham is a stretch-four in the DeAndre Daniels mold.

 

[Scottzer]

I agree with Stairmaster, Enoch has some size to him. Maybe we look at a future Kaminsky and Dek combo in Enoch and Durham. But, with a better backcourt, and, maybe a little skinnier. Okay, I'm stretching.

 

[Rocktheworld]

That was an issue in 1995, not so much in 2015. Not sure A high school ACL injury has seriously impacted a guys college career recently has it?

I just remember my one friend tore his ACL and MCL around the same age Durham did and his knee was never the same. Tore it again a couple years later taking a cut for football and that was the end of his sporting career.

Then again, he wasn't an elite prospect so I'm sure he wasn't getting the medical/rehabilitative attention that I imagine Durham is/has been getting. Just curious.

 

[Gblow8690]

Agreed. Kentucky also had a lot more talent on their bench and in their starting five the year we beat them in the National Championship. Remember that?

I do remember that and also remember Kentucky went to another Final 4 and we didn't even make the tournament. This isn't about just one year. We need to get back to making the Tourney every year and were not even close yet.

 

[zls44]

I do remember that and also remember Kentucky went to another Final 4 and we didn't even make the tournament. This isn't about just one year. We need to get back to making the Tourney every year and were not even close yet.

Yeah a top 40 guy really hurts the cause.

 

[superjohn]

Not trying to be a bummer, but isn't Enoch's skill set basically the same? (only less)? I'm ecstatic we have Durham. Just hope Enoch doesn't feel he made a mistake. I imagine Ollie has had a conversation with any player who feels recruited over.

No. You go to a top program and you know you are going to compete for minutes with other talented players. They will both play a ton.

 

[Samoo]

Enlighten me on all the 6'11 power forwards who are successful at the next level. To better utilize his skills , mismatching vs opposing centers seems most beneficial. Instead of him chasing around stretch 4s....lol terrible post FOH

LaMarcus Aldridge, to name one.......

 

[huskyharry]

If he is 6'11 with a plus differential wingspan , he is a 5 man and won't be playing along side any "bigs".

I think he will look great next to M. Diarra or S. Enoch!

 

[huskyharry]

Welcome Aboard Mr. Durham!

 

[TasteofUConn]

We need to get back to making the Tourney every year and were not even close yet.

Dude, what?
1. The goal is to win it all, not "make the tourni" every year.
2. If the goal was to "make the tourni" every year, you think we "are not close"? Wow.

SMH at posters who anguish and quip that "we need to get back to" or "we need to start ---" or "we can't keep relying on -----------" when we just won 2 in 5 years and are literally the envy of every fan base in the country not named Kentucky or Duke.

 

[donyell34]

Just woke up and did usual morning routine and then punched in the bone yard and wow!!!!!!! Great news and super start to the day. Welcome Juwan.

 

[AtlantaHusky]

bumping this above d00k thread. who gives a flip who d00k gets?

 

[aceboon]

Intrigued by what @Zionn, @husky99 and other insiders heard. From my uninformed pov, this came somewhat out of left field, making it even sweeter than a commit that had been a long time coming (like Gilbert).

Why not just read the quotes from Durham and his coaches, those are your insiders.

 

[Dabutlerdidit]

this guy plays 10 mins from my house...i'll have to check him out and post some clips. Is he gonna play this winter coming off the ACL injury?

 

[noeynox]

Who the is this Gblow guy? Two national titles the last 5 years and were not close? Close to what? The goal is to make the tourney every year? WTF?

 

[Drame]

Well if you would look at the rankings you would see we are already ahead of Kentucky for 2016... I am not saying that we will remain up there, but for now, yes I believe we would be number 1 if Larrier were factored into the equation.

Why does everyone want to place Larrier in the 2016 class. He's from the class of 2014 and is a transfer with three years of eligibility and probably 2 years worth of credits to fulfill before graduation. Not in the 2016 class!

 

[Huskybass]

I do remember that and also remember Kentucky went to another Final 4 and we didn't even make the tournament. This isn't about just one year. We need to get back to making the Tourney every year and were not even close yet.

Take a look at the current roster and the recruits who have committed for next year and tell me that the program isn't in great shape. Really ???

 

[Huskybass]

Why does everyone want to place Larrier in the 2016 class. He's from the class of 2014 and is a transfer with three years of eligibility and probably 2 years worth of credits to fulfill before graduation. Not in the 2016 class!

I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that it is because that's when he becomes eligible along with the incoming 2016 freshmen.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Not trying to be a bummer, but isn't Enoch's skill set basically the same? (only less)? I'm ecstatic we have Durham. Just hope Enoch doesn't feel he made a mistake. I imagine Ollie has had a conversation with any player who feels recruited over.

When you're putting together a roster of anywhere from 11-13 scholarship players you're going to have two, if not three, guys at every single position. They're not "recruiting over" people, they're trying to put together a roster.

Plus like others have mentioned, their skillsets are plenty different. Enoch's physicality should allow him to play plenty of minutes at the five over the course of his career.

 

[UChusky916]

Enlighten me on all the 6'11 power forwards who are successful at the next level.

Off the top of my head... 2 of the most dominant PFs of all time, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, are both 6' 11".

You clearly don't know . Quit while you're behind man.

 

[Excalibur]

Enlighten me on all the 6'11 power forwards who are successful at the next level.

I can't believe that this is even possibly a serious question, but

Kevin Garnett
Chris Bosh
Chris Webber (listed as 6'10 in some places)
Tim Duncan
Lamarcus Aldridge
Dirk (listed as 7'0 in some places)

 

[Danzz]

I agree that Durham is the better prospect, but Bradley is the better center prospect. I'd love to bring in a true center who doesn't need to gain 30 pounds.

With Durham, what really impresses me is his hands, his footwork, and his finishing. I think he's going to be a really outstanding player. The play he makes at 1:10 is incredibly for a guy his size, and he never looks out of control with the ball.[/QUOTE
Not many true centers out there. Love Durham's skill set and an outstanding recruiting year from a staff that can't recruit.

 

[DCUconnfan]

I do remember that and also remember Kentucky went to another Final 4 and we didn't even make the tournament. This isn't about just one year. We need to get back to making the Tourney every year and were not even close yet.

“Somebody told me we were Cinderellas, and I was like, 'No, we're UConn,'" Ollie said. “I mean this is what we do. We are born for this. We’re bred to cut down nets. We’re not chasing championships, championships are chasing us." - Kevin Ollie, April 7, 2014

 

[Brochacho]

I can't believe that this is even possibly a serious question, but

Kevin Garnett
Chris Bosh
Chris Webber (listed as 6'10 in some places)
Tim Duncan
Lamarcus Aldridge
Dirk (listed as 7'0 in some places)

Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka