Rakim Lubin Commits to UConn!!!

[3uconn]

@OntheRadarHoops: 2014 PF Rakim Lubin Buford (GA) @WhitehartHoops has committed to UCONN per his coach

 

[uconnforlife]

What do we know about this guy?

 

[Matrim55]

I think I speak for all of us when I say that this is the kid we wanted at PF all along.

 

[UConnDan97]

Welcome to the Dog Pound, Rakim!!!

 

[GoldCstHusky]

Sooooo what does Ollie know/see in him that no one else does?

 

[AtlantaHusky]

Woohoo!!

 

[husky99]

welcome....

 

[James]

6'8 230 played for the prestigious Atlanta celtics aau program. Apparently powers through defenders with a massive rip move. Excited

 

[Matrim55]

Sooooo what does Ollie know/see in him that no one else does?

Probably the same thing Marquette saw in him - and they've made a living getting under-the-radar athlete/effort guys over the last five years.

I don't care that he's not a "typical" UConn recruit, and don't care that we were clearly the best team after him. I'm certain that KO will be able to coach him up and make him a productive contributor.

EDIT: Jerry Meyer says that UConn "settled." By the numbers, he's probably right, but he doesn't account for the fact that kids who come here actually improve, unlike most of the other big schools.

 

[uconnbill]

Rakim Lubin
Big strong player in the post. Rebounds at a high level and powers through helpless defenders with a massive rip move on the turn. Soft touch. I got this from Phenom report....Not much else online I could see

 

[tcf15]

Welcome Rakim! When's the last time we got a guy heavier than 220? Wonder what this means for Kasongo.

 

[husky99]

do we lose the Canadian because of this?

 

[tentoes4rings]

Probably the same thing Marquette saw in him - and they've made a living getting under-the-radar athlete/effort guys over the last five years.

I don't care that he's not a "typical" UConn recruit, and don't care that we were clearly the best team after him. I'm certain that KO will be able to coach him up and make him a productive contributor.

EDIT: Jerry Meyer says that UConn "settled." By the numbers, he's probably right, but he doesn't account for the fact that kids who come here actually improve, unlike most of the other big schools.

Seeing as we're going to have 6 scholarships or so for next season, I'm hoping this signing is for depth purposes. Hopefully this doesn't affect our signing Kasongo or another higher profile 4. Good that we have 3 guys now in the mix for 14-15.

 

[champs99and04]

Anybody know when we offered him?

 

[selles]

Rakim Lubin
Big strong player in the post. Rebounds at a high level and powers through helpless defenders with a massive rip move on the turn. Soft touch. I got this from Phenom report....Not much else online I could see

Here's a link with stories on his games last season in Alabama.

http://www.gtpreps.com/sports/players/8932/rakim-lubin-gadsden-city-high-school-titans/#

Sounds like an intriguing player, welcome aboard!

 

[mauconnfan]

Thanks for wanting to be a better player Rakim......and WELCOME to Storrs!

 

[Matrim55]

Seeing as we're going to have 6 scholarships or so for next season, I'm hoping this signing is for depth purposes. Hopefully this doesn't affect our signing Kasongo or another higher profile 4. Good that we have 3 guys now in the mix for 14-15.

Agreed - worth noting, though, that Meyer thinks we'd be settling for Kasongo as well.

My personal opinion is that, once you get outside the first 30 or so players, the real difference is in coaching and mental skill set rather than physical skill set. Give me the #250 player in the country with Ollie coaching him up over the #50 player with Squid wasting his career.

 

[3uconn]

Was just told this by someone on twitter:
@lifeball22: @B_WRecruiting 6'8 245 Rakim "Rak" Lubin
Is as gifted 17 feet and in as any big in the country scoring the ball Uconn got a monster.

Lubin was hurt this summer supposedly so that may be why there isn't much about him from recently.

 

[caw]

do we lose the Canadian because of this?

Well Calhoun did take Edwards and Kelley in the massive 7 person class. Also had Thabeet, Robinson as power players. With UConn having 13 scholarships, and 6 openings (possibly) I think UConn would take both. Not sure how Kasongo feels about it though.

 

[Candyman]

I was hoping for Big Ray but it's always about who commits first.

 

[GoldCstHusky]

Was just told this by someone on twitter:
@lifeball22: @B_WRecruiting 6'8 245 Rakim "Rak" Lubin
Is as gifted 17 feet and in as any big in the country scoring the ball Uconn got a monster.

Lubin was hurt this summer supposedly so that may be why there isn't much about him from recently.

Looks to be someone affiliated with his AAU team.

 

[Kitaman]

Jeff Adrien redux

 

[husky91]

Stupid statement. Go find a kid outside top 100 that was a factor here in last 20 years.

This seems desperate. Did Kasonogo eliminate us? Who did we beat out South Al and UAB??

Agreed - worth noting, though, that Meyer thinks we'd be settling for Kasongo as well.

My personal opinion is that, once you get outside the first 30 or so players, the real difference is in coaching and mental skill set rather than physical skill set. Give me the #250 player in the country with Ollie coaching him up over the #50 player with Squid wasting his career.

 

[arnie3]

They're both on the 2014 Maxpreps watch list. Lubin, however is rated much higher coming in at the #15 best player in Alabama (Ray was 169th in KY). Obviously, they're both under the radar, but it seems that Lubin is farther along as a shooter. I think that it's a very good pick-up. He adds depth to our front court which is really needed. And he's huge!

 

[caw]

Stupid statement. Go find a kid outside top 100 that was a factor here in last 20 years.

This seems desperate. Did Kasonogo eliminate us? Who did we beat out South Al and UAB??

A few kids moved into the top 100 because they signed with UConn. At this point in high school I don't think Okafor or Boone were top 100 players though. Boone went to prep and Okafor was like 99 or so even when he signed. Travis Knight probably wasn't or Jake?