Rothstein on Hawkins

[pj]

Akok’s ratings varied widely. One service had him as a 5 star at one point, another had him barely inside the top 100. Kind of a unique prospect that people were guessing on.

Akok in high school reminded me very much of Ajou Deng, another kid with great talent and great upside but also high development risk.

Didn't work out for Ajou, hopefully Akok does better. Injuries can be a huge factor for players like that, both through impairing athleticism and limiting playing experience.

 

[auror]

No chance outside of significant injuries Hawkins averages 30 mpg over any five game stretch of the season. He may get 2-3 games total this season where he plays 30 mpg.

Which, by the way, may be true of every player on this roster. If there was a season long over/under on any player on UConn averaging 30 mpg and the over/under number was one, I'd take the under.

As a freshman Bouk averaged 32 min over a 9 game stretch to close the year, but you're more likely right than wrong. This team is a lot deeper, although the 2 is where we are the least deep.

 

[superjohn]

Akok’s ratings varied widely. One service had him as a 5 star at one point, another had him barely inside the top 100. Kind of a unique prospect that people were guessing on.

Nah, the rankings varied a bit but nowhere near that dramatic. From #21-#39. His composite ranking was #30 when he committed to UConn.

 

[husky429]

Nah, the rankings varied a bit but nowhere near that dramatic. From #21-#39. His composite ranking was #30 when he committed to UConn.

The weird part of Akok's ranking was that it was basically based on one 5 game stretch during July (I think). He was terrible the rest of that AAU season...played more like that 70-100 rank he had before that.

He's inconsisteny with crazy high upside. We should have known it coming in but got excited by the ranking #s.

 

[Huskyforlife]

The weird part of Akok's ranking was that it was basically based on one 5 game stretch during July (I think). He was terrible the rest of that AAU season...played more like that 70-100 rank he had before that.

He's inconsisteny with crazy high upside. We should have known it coming in but got excited by the ranking #s.

His early season play didn't help with the hype either.

 

[seeya27]

The weird part of Akok's ranking was that it was basically based on one 5 game stretch during July (I think). He was terrible the rest of that AAU season...played more like that 70-100 rank he had before that.

He's inconsisteny with crazy high upside. We should have known it coming in but got excited by the ranking #s.

The staff wanted Akok, which matters more to me than rankings. The thing about Akok is that only one chapter of his book has been written. I'm looking forward to him this season. We might, just might, see extraordinary things from him.

 

[8893]

The staff wanted Akok, which matters more to me than rankings. The thing about Akok is that only one chapter of his book has been written. I'm looking forward to him this season. We might, just might, see extraordinary things from him.

 

[nomar]

Palpable fuzz.

Ajou Ajou
Lamborghini

Not saying this kid won’t be great but well-embedded moles don’t know squat

 

[I Bleed Blue]

I think Danny has a little Led Tasso in him

 

[auror]

I think Danny has a little Led Tasso in him

View attachment 70273

Not quite the same personality lol. Similar ideology maybe.

 

[UCfor3]

The staff wanted Akok, which matters more to me than rankings. The thing about Akok is that only one chapter of his book has been written. I'm looking forward to him this season. We might, just might, see extraordinary things from him.

Him and AJax feel like huge XFactors. Their develpement seem tied to our ceiling. We have some known experienced talent and we think Cole, Sanogo and Hawkins will be major factors. Akok and Ajax feel like the guys that could make a major difference or be major enigmas. I am hopeful for major difference but want to see it with my own eyes against real competition.

 

[boog204]

He'll be our second leading scorer on a pretty balanced team, imo...

 

[Ratso]

Jackson needs to be a major factor, everything else will fall into place

 

[Jbirdp5]

The mindset that “the plan” now for an incoming player is one or two and done is concerning to Chief.
Chief has known and seen all the great ones and the thing about the really great ones coming in is that their “plan” is to win a National Championship and the draft slotting takes care of itself. Sure, draft lottery is their dream, but Coach use to say to the young guns, take care of business first.
The one year during the Calhoun era that did not happen was 2006 when too many players were focused on the draft, and we know the results. But, even given that, Rudy changed his mind and wanted to come back to win one but it was too late.
Drummond made $130M plus but Chief still believes 2 more years of college would have built the foundation for an even better pro career, but I also understood the unique circumstances with the Ban Year ahead.
With James, we discussed the situation and it was good MJ had the talk with him in Vegas about certain things that can remain private. Chief is hoping that MJ can give him some of the on/off court advice that another year of college maturity would have brought.

While I don’t disagree with the sentiment of taking care of business here as the number one objective times have certainly changed in the relatively short time since Calhoun left. If you don’t have a plan for how you are getting players to the league you most likely won’t be involved with most of these kids. I think we have to see how hurleys strategy plays out before we knock it too much. The two and done case only has one example right now.
Another two and done example for Calhoun was Caron. He probably could have cut the nets down if he came back as well. He had Calhouns blessing

 

[UChusky916]

He'll be our second leading scorer on a pretty balanced team, imo...

So he's going to outscore either Sanogo or Cole in your mind? Which one? Because I don't see that happening.

 

[Chief00]

The staff wanted Akok, which matters more to me than rankings. The thing about Akok is that only one chapter of his book has been written. I'm looking forward to him this season. We might, just might, see extraordinary things from him.

I agree, most knowledgable obseververs recognize that last year was basically a write off recovery year given his injury. However, he will now be playing in a more crowded front court with Johnson in the mix.

 

[Chief00]

While I don’t disagree with the sentiment of taking care of business here as the number one objective times have certainly changed in the relatively short time since Calhoun left. If you don’t have a plan for how you are getting players to the league you most likely won’t be involved with most of these kids. I think we have to see how hurleys strategy plays out before we knock it too much. The two and done case only has one example right now.
Another two and done example for Calhoun was Caron. He probably could have cut the nets down if he came back as well. He had Calhouns blessing

If you take care of business, the draft takes care of itself. Caron’s Maryland game was exactly that type of effort despite the team losing.
Calhoun was always very candid and honest regarding if a player was ready.