Pikiell , Calhoun first recruit ?

[ucjoet]

It was mentioned during current Stony Brook game that Steve Pikiell was JC's first recruit. My recollection is that both Steve and Tate George committed to UConn when Perno was still coaching. Perno was let go and JC was then hired.

When JC was hired in spring , he then recruited James"Tex" Spradling. So I always taught Tex was his first recruit. I can be wrong, but I think Steve was Perno recruit.

Being from Bristol and a St. Paul Grad, I always followed Steve's career. I think I am correct on this, but I am getting older and don't remember things as well as when I was younger. Let me know if any of you agree or disagree with my recollection

 

[Chin Diesel]

I always thought it was Spradling too.

 

[Tucker]

I believe you're correct. Had a bunch of classes with Steve. Always gave me the impression he had an uphill battle with JC but that was also as an upperclassman after he was injured so I could be mistaken as well

 

[boog204]

99.9% it's Tex. Pikiell had a very good freshman year on a JCs first UConn team. It seemed like Pikiell's shoulder would then dislocate every five minutes so he never was much more of a factor on the court; although he did play quite a bit and I think was Capt. his junior and senior years (dream season.)

 

[Waquoit]

I was always pretty sure it was Lyman DePriest.

 

[UConnNick]

Who the heck is "Tex" Spradling? He does make for a great answer to this trivia question, just in name alone.

Sometimes it's better to just print the legend, regardless if there's any truth in it. The Pikiell first recruit story, even though fatally flawed, is a better one, because nobody knows who "Tex" is.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Nah, some Huskies' fans recall ole Tex. If not the legend, at least the name. IIRC, Tex may have transferred after a few seasons; maybe to UTSA or somewhere back home in the Republic of Texas.o

Edit: close, Tex transferred to UT Arlington. As of 2014, this article ssays he was an engineer in St. Louis.
http://blogs.rep-am.com/time_out/2014/12/05/the-night-yale-beat-uconn-where-are-they-now/

 

[donyell34]

Tex it was. Lasted 1 season.

 

[Palatine]

Tex. Feel free to "Tex"t TBS about the error.

 

[FrostyNuggets]

Spradling was Calhoun's first recruit, that year's recruiting class was pretty much picked over by the time Calhoun started.

Want to say DePriest was Calhoun's first top 50 or top 75 recruit.

 

[RabidHusky]

Lyman Depriest is correct. JC saw him at an event in Detroit and singned him on the spot as a defensive specialist.

 

[prankster]

Lyman Depriest is correct. JC saw him at an event in Detroit and singned him on the spot as a defensive specialist.

Hey, Rabid! Where you been?

 

[RM99]

Tex was definitely JC's first recruit. He was encouraged to transfer after one season. When Lyman DePriest came to UCONN he wanted to be an architect. I'm not sure if he ever did, but he sure helped build and design UCONN basketball.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I think Tex is right as well, Lyman was in the next year's class.
I thought the only other possible answer was Willie McCloud, but turns out my memory is off and Willie was a JuCo transfer in Calhoun's second season.

Pikiell got a lot of burn after Cliff & PhilG were academically ineligible for 2nd semester, but largely disappointed until he had a huge game (sadly best game of his career due to aforementioned shoulder injury) in what was then an annual 8-9 game loss by the Huskies before the real big east tournament started. That is every bit of the 29 years ago ancient history it is.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Tex was definitely JC's first recruit. He was encouraged to transfer after one season. When Lyman DePriest came to UCONN he wanted to be an architect. I'm not sure if he ever did, but he sure helped build and design UCONN basketball.

Graphic artist, He designed the logo for the Manchester Road Race one year.

 

[Waquoit]

Graphic artist, He designed the logo for the Manchester Road Race one year.

They still use the logo he designed. Go to their website and there it is at the top of the page.

 

[Huskybass]

Pikiell was a pretty good player prior to the shoulder injury. He averaged over 8 points as a freshman and I seem to recall him having one real big game with 27 points against Boston College. He struggled after the shoulder injury, but was still a captain during his last year or two.

 

[Waquoit]

Pikell was a starter as a senior. He was on that team that beat Shaq.

 

[UCweCONN]

Yes, SP was an inherited recruit from Perno. He was a tough kid who stuck through the injuries and was a real leader. The NIT started the UCONN run to prominence.