Prince Ali

[kansashusky]

FWIW talked with a couple coaches about Turtle, and the consensus was he jumped on our offer when he was hurt because he was worried about stock dropping. Then with his play this summer, wants to be bigger fish in smaller pond. Writing is on the wall with our pursuit of other guards. Hopefully, if anything happens, happens soon, and both sides walk away happy.

 

[Scot-e]

I agree, but there's always the possibility that KO has zeroed in on another recruit he likes better for the ship that PA would have taken. If still highly interested in UConn, he runs the risk of no longer being KO's top priority at that position, or another equally talented or more talented recruit could snatch up that ship before he's ready to recommit. It does happen when a recruit commits again to a program, but that's not usually the norm. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm not counting on him being here, but if it does happen, I'll welcome him with open arms.

The fact that he decommitted early, had little to no impact on other recruits interesting in UConn. If he had decommited late in the process, I, and likely many others, would not be so unforgiving. But since he opened things up early, I have no problems with what he did and wish him the best wherever he lands.

KO will do the right thing and we really don't know much about PA as a person- but if he did what he did for the right reasons I imagine KO would take him back in a minute- if it went down otherwise I imagine KO has no interest in someone who is not 10 toes in.

 

[mauconnfan]

Prince made a decision and now with many guards in the fold at 1/2 I would like to see them get a bigger "3" type, longer and taller as PA is lucky to be 6'3" and we have guards that big. Just with Rodney ad DHam along with TSam, Cassell Jr, Jalen now there's plenty of lineups covered…….a Derrick Jones would be much more complimentary of the guards we will already have with his size and length.

 

[Kitaman]

Need ten toes in. Otherwise, godspeed.

I hear you but ten toes in doesn't start till after the Husky Run. Before the 1st practice Ollie grabs all the freshman/transfers, puts them in a locked room, and inundates them with Husky Championship culture. From that point forward 9 toes in just won't do.

 

[upstater]

Easy.

2 of Enoch, Sharma, Comanche, Stone
1 of Smith or Jones
J. Adams and maybe another guard like Newman or Briscoe.

 

[Palatine]

Next.

 

[B1GEast]

The sad thing is that Prince liked Uconn and committed, but some so called adult encouraged him not to go to his dream school and now with jalen on board, his chance of having a spot is slim. It's very unfortunate, but that's the way recruiting is.

Coaches, parents and family should let kids follow their heart

 

[jibsey]

The sad thing is that Prince liked Uconn and committed, but some so called adult encouraged him not to go to his dream school and now with jalen on board, his chance of having a spot is slim. It's very unfortunate, but that's the way recruiting is.

Coaches, parents and family should let kids follow their heart

There are only so many slots and we may find that this may start a wave of recruits pulling the trigger for us to insure their chance to play for KO. The national championship bounty that we've been waiting for.

 

[RMoore1999]

I hear uconn is out of the ali race

99, what's the background on this? what changed?

 

[tzznandrew]

I'm not in love with getting 2015 commitments early, and then having those early commitments all de-commit.

Not because I begrudge the kids necessarily, but I think it looks bad however you want to interpret for us (we are a stepping stone, or we are committed to our recruits, or whatever else we want to add).

 

[upstater]

Reading between the lines, Ollie stopped calling. Ali's last quote was about UConn making him feel wanted.

 

[djct1999]

Reading between the lines, Ollie stopped calling. Ali's last quote was about UConn making him feel wanted.

If I read between the line$, all I $ee are dollar dollar bill$ y'all. He blew up, a handler stepped in. I am not one to gossip, but I received a text a few weeks back, right after the decommit, of Ali posing in front of a brand new car. Not sure if it means anything, but not sure it doesn't.

 

[djct1999]

Reading between the lines, Ollie stopped calling. Ali's last quote was about UConn making him feel wanted.

i doubt ollie stopped calling him, especially with the spring/summer Prince as had. Maybe Prince was offended that Ollie didn't stop calling others. Who knows. Hard to take anything these kids or their aau coaches say these days seriously.

 

[Askgreek]

i doubt ollie stopped calling him, especially with the spring/summer Prince as had. Maybe Prince was offended that Ollie didn't stop calling others. Who knows. Hard to take anything these kids or their aau coaches say these days seriously.

There were a lot of reports from his camp performances that he had dominating performances with the ball in his hands. Meaning he was running the 1/2 and either getting to the hole or setting up someone else on his team. So, I suspect, his expectation, was that he would play a similar role at UCONN. That would translate into a 2, combo guard, with some PG skills. I believe KO recruited him more as a dynamic 3, that could slash to the hole, finish with authority / athleticism and shoot consistent enough to keep defenses honest. Although he may be dominating in a guard 1/2 role in AAU/High School, College is another whole level and I think the staff doesn't see him as that type of player. With our play-making guards at the 1/2, who have exceptional ball skills, he was not going to get that opportunity. I suspect that he believes another school will let him play that role. I think, once this started to become clear, we picked up our recruiting of Ray Smith and Jones, hence the recent visit by both. I think the staff has moved on and so has Ali. The players we are recruiting now are likely a better fit for the 3 role in our system and should compliment our dynamic 1/2 guards. Let's see how it plays out, but I am not worried one bit. KO and the staff will find the right talent to build the team for years to come.

 

[jibsey]

Prince's tapes are killer no doubt, and we can use his skills but the addition yesterday is a great foundation for a team leader and point guard, so more important. We took down the whole field last year led by 2 point guards and Kemba in 2011. And this kid is not going anywhere else so the memory and discomfort of Prince opting out is about gone.

 

[Strummer]

I have it on good authority that P. Ali decommited because he didn't like the direction our new Logo was taking us.

The outlandishness of the speculation in this thread is off the charts.

Kid decommited. Not the first, definitely not the last. I could care less. I only want kids who want us. If you're not sure, then Storrs isn't for you, and we'll find young men who are sure.

We've won 4 of 16 without having UK recruiting classes. I'm completely unconcerned about the paper credentials of your recruits. I hold out Brimah as Exhibit A. Kid is going to be a monster, but his paper credentials didn't support that.

Trust in Ollie.

 

[Fishy]

Ali just had second thoughts, buyer's remorse, whatever.

Let's not overthink it.

Once these kids decommit, they rarely come back, so let's just move on. He's good, but that ship has sailed.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Was really hoping we could introduce him to his own personal theme song too:

 

[CTBasketball]

Meh.

 

[arnie3]

Seriously, why bother?

 

[sawxfan23]

This kid is going to UCLA

 

[caw]

I would love to hearr the real story on this one day. It just makes no sense. I'm not worried bc Ollie will coach up whomever he gets but this was a very good fit and probably still is.

I hold out a slim hope he ends up like Snider at UL, bc it would be a very good fit. Michigan is a solid program but he doesn't fit their style of play (bomb threes). IU is a step above a dumpster fire and Crean is just creepy. Maryland just had a mass exodus of starters partially bc they hated their coach. UCLA could be solid fit but it depends on who stays an who goes, plus Alford isn't the greatest coach around (I'd place him 4th among that list of schools even with one being Creepy Crean).

 

[uconnbill]

Heard that ship sailed awhile ago as well.

I wish him well wherever he ends up, but it is time to move on as fishy stated

 

[Hysteria]

Ali seriously too a look at who's on the team & who is coming in..he realized he is going to get more playing time somewhere else....more heartbreak & losses too might I add