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

[Ewekon]

Looks like he's doing the grind at least

 

[HuskyHawk]

Perfectly fine backup center project. He can play defense, rebound and get a put-back or two, that's all we are looking for behind Carlton. You hope he develops some back to the basket offensive skills, as Carlton has, and by the time he's a junior he's a solid contributor. You still recruit over him next year if you can.

There isn't any scenario where our team is going to be 12 4* and 5* guys. You need a bench of either experienced guys with low ceilings or projects that may turn into really good players.

 

[mauconnfan]

I mean, sure. But, 25% is still a pretty big impact

Like I said a couple more points and a rebound and even that is probably an exaggeration. He was athletic and clueless at the same time. Good kid wish some others had his passion though he certainly left what he had out there.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

I'd take another Amida in a heartbeat. Sign him up!

I'll take another Amida, especially with a coach who has already proven he can actually develop players.

 

[uchusky32]

How much would Brimah have helped our defense this year?

Tremendously. But paired with Polley? We would only get the ball after our opponents scored. Rebounding would be scarce.

 

[Stinger92860]

He hit a free throw, I’d take him.

 

[intlzncster]

Well, we're gonna need someone to back up Carlton. 2019 pickings at the 5 are slim.

For next year, it has to be someone developed. 5th year makes the most sense, as it doesn't lock up a scholarship.

Fact: we've got too many marginal guys on the team as it stands right now. We don't need to add another one. Either add elite (or close to) talent, or fill holes for a year.

A guy like this makes sense when you already have a bunch of good talent in the pipeline.

 

[intlzncster]

4 years same player? 25% staff and 75% on the player at best. This staff maybe would get another point or 2 and maybe .5 or 1 more rebound. Didn't understand the game, nothing natural besides jumping and that hurts coach ability in a huge way. Having said that I'd take him last year and this year. But the main thing we need to improve on is smarter basketball players so the staff can impact them.

At the college level, I think that's a little low. Especially with guys who are fundamentally so raw and haven't played since they are kids. They don't know what they don't know. They need a lot more developmental work than others. And It's no secret we haven't had legit big development for years. There's one constant there and that's the staff.

I also think it's pretty clear that we had a team that didn't work hard enough. And a lot of that comes from the top, and as Hurley says, having a "culture" in place.

I don't think Amida would have been something special, but I do think he would have been a lot better under a coach better at developing (and motivating!) guys.

 

[Scrutineer]

Just wondering, how is a guy like this not rated on any site? Not too sure how the ins and outs of the recruiting sites work, assuming there’s a good reason

Rivals has him as a 3 star with offers from Denver, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas Tech.

Bella Vista Prep: https://www.bellavistacollegeprep.com/

 

[Scrutineer]

Ooof. No. Has the same Bambi-on-ice physicality Amida did without the length, and "only been playing for 3 years" scares me.

Rivals has him at 7'1", 225, and he sure looks to be bigger and thicker (if you can use that word on someone who only weighs 225 and is over 7 feet tall) than Brimah. Seems more powerful and able to score around the basket than Brimah at the same stage of their development while also blocking and altering a lot of shots. Of course, it's high school, but maybe he's that diamond in the rough some of us have been hoping falls in our lap?

 

[Phoenixhusky]

We need to find a hidden gem like Yetna.

 

[Kenny11]

Have we offered any of these "new" big guys?

 

[BFieldHusky]

We have better options imo. There are a half dozen jucos and grad transfers that would help our team immediately. This kid won't.

I prefer Ugboh.

 

[CL82]

He'd need a ton of quality Sal time not only for bulk but for reaction time. He is very slow off the ground but he makes up for with size. I'd take him. He give some quality minutes but mostly it is an investment in the future.

 

[VKong]

I always though Brimah was a natural born runner who grew really tall and by default started playing basketball. Loved what he did for us when he was here, but I don't think he'll ever be able to bulk up. Perhaps this guy has the frame to add more weight and get into the 240-250lb range?

 

[Jaybird65]

We have better options imo. There are a half dozen jucos and grad transfers that would help our team immediately. This kid won't.

We might have better options whoever they might be but until we land one of those other options, we might need to keep an open book.

 

[UConnRock]

Rivals has him at 7'1", 225, and he sure looks to be bigger and thicker (if you can use that word on someone who only weighs 225 and is over 7 feet tall) than Brimah. Seems more powerful and able to score around the basket than Brimah at the same stage of their development while also blocking and altering a lot of shots. Of course, it's high school, but maybe he's that diamond in the rough some of us have been hoping falls in our lap?

He is capable of a one-handed dunk which is a step up from Amida. In a non stalking observation that this kid is meatier than Amida as a HS senior and that there is more potential for him to gain and hold weight.

 

[husky429]

We might have better options whoever they might be but until we land one of those other options, we might need to keep an open book.

These are the kinds of kids that have conditional offers. Wait to see how things pan out. Nothing wrong with that--part of the game.

 

[Scrutineer]

Here's Eric Bossi's take on him from 12/19/18:

".... An intriguing big man option in 2019 is Rick Assanza

A legit seven-foooter who is quick off his feet, has a solid upper body and plays with some fire, he's a piece that makes a few plays a game that make you shake your head and wonder how much potential he might have. Offensively he's still working, but the Phoenix (Ariz.) Hillcrest senior has only been playing for three years and there is a lot of raw talent to work with. He's been offered by Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU with Oregon, LSU, VCU, Arizona and Arizona State among those showing interest. "

 

[mauconnfan]

At the college level, I think that's a little low. Especially with guys who are fundamentally so raw and haven't played since they are kids. They don't know what they don't know. They need a lot more developmental work than others. And It's no secret we haven't had legit big development for years. There's one constant there and that's the staff.

I also think it's pretty clear that we had a team that didn't work hard enough. And a lot of that comes from the top, and as Hurley says, having a "culture" in place.

I don't think Amida would have been something special, but I do think he would have been a lot better under a coach better at developing (and motivating!) guys.

Just think too many of you underestimate the requirements for understanding the game. Can't teach someone who doesn't get the details by the time their 19-20 and this is why Sid scares me. Let me ask you this, why is Cobb still dreadful on D despite this staff hammering him everytime he overextends himself on a hedge or help or doesn't react in time to help? I can promise you a coachable kid with basketball smarts would have picked it up after a couple games this year it doesn't have to be taught for 3 years before you get it. Some players that age just don't develop the understanding of the game and it hurts them dramatically.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Just think too may of you underestimate the requirements for understanding the game. Can't teach someone who doesn't get the details by the time their 19-20 and this is why Sid scares me. Let me ask you this, why is Cobb still dreadful on D despite this staff hammering him everytime he overextends himself on a hedge or help or doesn't react in time to help? I can promise you a coachable kid with basketball smarts would have picked it up after a couple games this year it doesn't have to be taught for 3 years before you get it. Some players that age just don't develop the understanding of the game and it hurts them dramatically.

I think this is spot on. We call it "basketball IQ", though that's not exactly right since IQ is innate, and basketball obviously isn't quite like that.

However, I think it's probably like learning a language. If you don't do it early, it's just not as easy to pick up when you're older. Moreover, there is an IQ element to it, where guys like Okafor can quickly learn how to be effective, while guys like Brimah cannot (coaching clearly plays a role here as well).

Too many recruits over the last 5 years either were late to the game or did not possess the innate basketball intelligence to pick up the principles. Some of them are still on our roster and expected to be major contributors going forward.

 

[jibsey]

He doesn't look as fragile as Brimah. His first year a feather could knock him over. you can't teach that height.

 

[UConnStats]

HS and AAU numbers leave much to be desired. Big time project

 

[RichZ]

To be honest, he looks like contingency plan D or E. He's tall. Very tall. He didn't start playing the game until he was tall enough to dominate based on height alone. So he never really had to concentrate on acquiring skills to compete against the smaller competition he faced. 3 or 4 of his blocks in the highlight video were marginal goaltends and as much as he seems to like swatting it off the backboard, that is one of the things that seems to generate goaltend calls.
On the offensive side, he does seem to be able to stuff the ball from quite far away from the hoop, and he doesn't appear to give up on a play.
Do I want him? Not really.
Would I take him if it came down to that? You bet.

 

[businesslawyer]

For next year, it has to be someone developed. 5th year makes the most sense, as it doesn't lock up a scholarship.

Fact: we've got too many marginal guys on the team as it stands right now. We don't need to add another one. Either add elite (or close to) talent, or fill holes for a year.

A guy like this makes sense when you already have a bunch of good talent in the pipeline.

Just add elite (or close to) talent.

Thank you. I wish someone had thought of this before the last three seasons.

 

[intlzncster]

Just add elite (or close to) talent.

Thank you. I wish someone had thought of this before the last three seasons.

Me too. But I didn't have KO's ear.

 

[Fishy]

I thought Brimah was overrated, but he'd absolutely be playing 20-25 mins a game on this team/next year.

I would take him every day of the week if you told me Danny Hurley would be coaching him instead of the guy who did coach him.

 

[gtcam]

*not trying to turn this into another KO thread*

Brimah to me was one of the biggest tragedies of the previous era. I think given a different coaching situation, he could’ve developed into something special.

I’m very happy that Carlton, Polley etc are not going to suffer the same fate.

Man this is crazy
The kid didn't have the heart or the drive to work on the things he was told to by not only KO's staff but pro scouts
He was a project coming in with limited basketball experience and frankly, based on the practice and off season efforts, he did as well as could be expected
you can lead a horse to water.........
Glad you're happy - me too

 

[weyuo]

If you could get the right coaches to work with that guy for a year or two. I don't think Ollie's staff knew how to coach up centers. They did an awful job with Brimah. Even Thabeet should have been so much better with the right teachers.

 

[Stainmaster]

Some of them are still on our roster and expected to be major contributors going forward.

Dan Hurley plans on some of them being major contributors going forward too. I hope you get over it someday.