Rick Issanza (C, 7'1", 225) to visit

[HuskyHawk]

Sure, good things happen. But comparing the 2 is a reach, Carlton was ranked 190 composite, Issanza isn't in the 553 players ranked and doesn't even have a composite ranking

And yet he has offers from TT, OU and Baylor. How long has he even been playing basketball?

 

[navery12]

And yet he has offers from TT, OU and Baylor. How long has he even been playing basketball?

And if he ends up there I'll obviously be wrong, but lots of players get "offers". I haven't seen any connection between them since they offered

 

[mauconnfan]

Who's your starter & why?

All depends and why?:

Sid - does he use the summer to improve in many areas. Key areas to improve are shooting, ball handling and defense. Defense is will and understanding so if he wants to he will to a point. If he understands the game he can be a really good defender - jury is out there. Shooting? I think he could become a decent shooter but he needs to calm down not rush as well as grab some air on his arc. Handle the ball to get to the rim, he's not awful but needs to get stronger to enable no strips to the rim. Also tougher, rebound the ball and box out more. Will he do all of this or even a nice % - one would hope and he could be in the line up.

Polley - He made a nice jump from first to second year. We know he can shoot it, we know he has nice length and despite what many think here he was better at D, not great but solid aghast those he matches up with better. Not against the 4's, strong ones or real quick 3s. Needs to get quicker, lower to the ground and use his length more. Stronger and rebounding will be huge to start and get more minutes. Needs to average at lest 5-6 boards and it's not at all too much to ask.

Bouk - Gut feeling is at some point this kid may be our 3 this year. Don't ask why just see some of a few guys in his game that will enable him to overcome the inexperience. But heck it's only video so I could be completely off on this. I see some Rip, some Lamb, some Ben he has some skills which will help him score for sure. Thing is he's a freshman so he will find the game to be faster so can he defend and grab some rebounds to add to offensive prowess?

Lots to answer here but the one thing for sure is at times you can throw away the "3" or others as sometimes you will see a couple of these guys on the floor at the same time anyway. It's just going to be the way 2019-20 is going to play out unless we get some splash of a commit soon. Interesting topic, the hope is all 3 come ready in September to compete. Thats a good thing.

 

[gtcam]

Haven't seen enough of this kid but at 7'1" and 7'7" reach = I can't believe this coaching staff can't improve him with some basic basketball footwork and orienting him with D1 defensive priorities for the 5 slot, if they can't they shouldn't be here
7'1" (I know it's overused) can't be taught and he looks like he possesses athletic ability - he should be able to be a back-up - at a minimum IMHO
Unless there is a sure fire serviceable BIG that is 100% going to sign - I would take a shot at this kid

 

[Hurleyman216]

Sure, good things happen. But comparing the 2 is a reach, Carlton was ranked 190 composite, Issanza isn't in the 553 players ranked and doesn't even have a composite ranking

Just curious, which videos did you watch? The one recent Youtube video I saw of him he looked pretty compelling as someone we should grab as a backup center. I kept thinking in my head he’s a taller Hilton Armstrong. Nice frame that he can add muscle to, good hops and seems to have pretty good hands. Sometimes these guys who haven’t been playing long get overlooked because recruiting services are in kids so young now that if they haven’t been watching you for 5-6 years you aren’t on their radar. I think I read somewhere he’s only been playing organized ball for 2-3 years?

 

[Chuck]

I'm a terrible judge of talent. I thought Akinjo looked overrated. I didn't post about it when he committed to us or when we lost him, but I admit I was surprised that he supposedly had a great freshman year at Georgetown. I also thought Daniel Hamilton was going to be a star and legit NBA player after seeing his first couple of UConn games.

I share that because I profess no expertise, maybe even the opposite. But I think this guy looks okay. He dunks relatively quickly and with some power, which some big guys can't do. He seems to understand how to defend, not getting fooled with every pump fake, and I saw him block a couple with his left hand (yes, I know these are just highlights). He seems adequately athletic and he's 7'1"!

 

[navery12]

Just curious, which videos did you watch? The one recent Youtube video I saw of him he looked pretty compelling as someone we should grab as a backup center. I kept thinking in my head he’s a taller Hilton Armstrong. Nice frame that he can add muscle to, good hops and seems to have pretty good hands. Sometimes these guys who haven’t been playing long get overlooked because recruiting services are in kids so young now that if they haven’t been watching you for 5-6 years you aren’t on their radar. I think I read somewhere he’s only been playing organized ball for 2-3 years?

Watched all the ones in this thread, obviously there's highlights in there. I just see less of it coming from talent and more him being 7'1 in HS. But there's a reason I'm on the Boneyard and not recruiting players

 

[Huskyforlife]

Who's your starter & why?

Hopefully Wilson, but that's based on blind faith he'll take a big step forward.

 

[JimHurley]

Who's your starter & why?

If Wilson puts in the work this summer, he should easily start. I think it’ll be Gilbert, Vital, Wilson, Akok, and Carlton.

 

[InKembaITrust]

If Wilson puts in the work this summer, he should easily start. I think it’ll be Gilbert, Vital, Wilson, Akok, and Carlton.

Wilson, Akok, and Carlton is a deadly block party.

 

[RipCity]

If Wilson puts in the work this summer, he should easily start. I think it’ll be Gilbert, Vital, Wilson, Akok, and Carlton.

Wilson/Akok makes sense because Akok can spread the floor and Wilson can’t. Wilson needs to play next to a 4 who can shoot until he shows he can.

And that Jackson kid is an even worse shooter than Wilson so we better hope Polley and Akok shoot the lights out

 

[Chief00]

Chief plans to publish a breakdown by June 8th. Make what you want of the timing.

 

[Jimdish255]

Chief plans to publish a breakdown the by June 8th. Make what you want of the timing.

Should we make something of it, or nothing of it?
Are we baiting, or setting the hook?
Are we the hunters, or the hunted?
(questions only Chief can answer )

 

[mauconnfan]

Wilson/Akok makes sense because Akok can spread the floor and Wilson can’t. Wilson needs to play next to a 4 who can shoot until he shows he can.

And that Jackson kid is an even worse shooter than Wilson so we better hope Polley and Akok shoot the lights out

You make a great point if Sid never finds his shot, I hope he does, bringing in Jackson too wouldn’t be a great mood as you need shooters from the wing in this day and age. Not a fan of 2 great athletic wings on a roster who can’t throw it in from the perimeter.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You make a great point if Sid never finds his shot, I hope he does, bringing in Jackson too wouldn’t be a great mood as you need shooters from the wing in this day and age. Not a fan of 2 great athletic wings on a roster who can’t throw it in from the perimeter.

Who is Jackson?

 

[djct1999]

We have been down this road before, this long, winding, unpaved road that usually leads to no where. There would be nothing more telling(and alarming) about how difficult recruiting to UConn has become and how difficult this rebuild we be, if this is how we fill our one available scholarship(or two).

 

[mauconnfan]

Who is Jackson?

You don't know jAckSoN?

Andre the 2020 recruit.

 

[pj]

We have been down this road before, this long, winding, unpaved road that usually leads to no where. There would be nothing more telling(and alarming) about how difficult recruiting to UConn has become and how difficult this rebuild we be, if this is how we fill our one available scholarship(or two).

Overwrought. If he comes here, it's because the coaches think he can develop into a player for us. In fact, we have a need at backup center and an athletic 7'1" shotblocker is almost the perfect guy to fill it. The roster can afford to carry three centers so he'll not block other needs.

 

[HawkHusky]

You don't know jAckSoN?

Andre the 2020 recruit.

Nah. Vance.

 

[djct1999]

Overwrought. If he comes here, it's because the coaches think he can develop into a player for us. In fact, we have a need at backup center and an athletic 7'1" shotblocker is almost the perfect guy to fill it. The roster can afford to carry three centers so he'll not block other needs.

When you land option H, that means there were a bunch of other ways the staff thought could help this roster. Yes, we need front court help. This is more a reach than a get. The cool thing about throwing darts is every so often you throw a bullseye. The bad thing about throwing darts, is most often you miss all together. If this is how we fill our available scholarship, its less about impact and more about the staff being overwrought. Kudos for the word choice.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

When you land option H, that means there were a bunch of other ways the staff thought could help this roster. Yes, we need front court help. This is more a reach than a get. The cool thing about throwing darts is every so often you throw a bullseye. The bad thing about throwing darts, is most often you miss all together. If this is how we fill our available scholarship, its less about impact and more about the staff being overwrought. Kudos for the word choice.

On the other hand, there are always kids who blossom late (or like in his case start late) and might have been under recruited until now. An athletic 7-1 guy with a 7-7 wingspan and good timing and hand-eye coordination has tons of upside.

 

[djct1999]

On the other hand, there are always kids who blossom late (or like in his case start late) and might have been under recruited until now. An athletic 7-1 guy with a 7-7 wingspan and good timing and hand-eye coordination has tons of upside.

so true. sometimes when you throw darts, its lands in the dead center. most times, it doesn't. on a team that needs immediate help, you would hope the staff would land someone who could give us just that. we will face some formidable front courts next year. this team needs someone the staff knows will help with that, not someone you tag as "tons of upside". that remains tbd.

 

[husky429]

On the other hand, there are always kids who blossom late (or like in his case start late) and might have been under recruited until now. An athletic 7-1 guy with a 7-7 wingspan and good timing and hand-eye coordination has tons of upside.

You're assuming he is athletic, has good timing, and hand-eye coordination. I'm not entirely sure that's true. To me, he looks like any huge kid does in HS basketball.

The size you can't teach, and I would imagine that's why the staff had him on campus. It says a lot that a kid not being seriously recruited by any other great schools hasn't committed yet though.

 

[navery12]

You're assuming he is athletic, has good timing, and hand-eye coordination. I'm not entirely sure that's true. To me, he looks like any huge kid does in HS basketball.

The size you can't teach, and I would imagine that's why the staff had him on campus. It says a lot that a kid not being seriously recruited by any other great schools hasn't committed yet though.

Don't tell some people on the board this. Some Big 12 schools reached out in August and nothing since so he has a great list

Edit: And right on cue 2 posts later...

 

[Palatine]

You're assuming he is athletic, has good timing, and hand-eye coordination. I'm not entirely sure that's true. To me, he looks like any huge kid does in HS basketball.

The size you can't teach, and I would imagine that's why the staff had him on campus. It says a lot that a kid not being seriously recruited by any other great schools hasn't committed yet though.

To my eye he runs well, shows good hands and moves his feet well (for a guy 7-1).

Of course it's a highlight tape. And as I have said before, highlight tapes never show a guy fumbling the ball out of bounds. However, I see a guy who will get minutes very early on because of his unteachable physical traits.