Safe to Say 1 Player is Returning

[UConnStats]

Just curious, this is the first I heard of it. Was this in another thread?

Thanks for the update. Hearing any others to follow? Polley?

Is he looking for that red shirt year or something? Does he not like the guys on the team? Or did he really like Ollie and crew?

He is a big Chillious guy. I haven’t heard that anyone else is transferring, but haven’t heard anything on Diarra or Polley at all. I like Carlton a lot so I hope he can be reeled back in, however, I’m not the only person who has heard he is on his way out.

Diarra (in my opinion) is doubtful to transfer since he has already redshirted.

 

[JimHurley]

I don’t think Carlton is soft at all. I just think he’s unsure sometimes and thinks way to much when he gets the ball. That can come off as being timid or soft

Bottom line is I think he showed some flashes and has potential, but he is certainly replaceable and it’s not the end of the world if he leaves.

 

[Towney007]

I'm admittedly surprised as much of this team is willing to stick it out as they are. But that's a good thing. Contrary to popular belief around here, this all of a sudden isn't a total rebuild and with the conference where it's at - it might be a faster turnaround than some would think.

 

[AdamaNation]

Bottom line is I think he showed some flashes and has potential, but he is certainly replaceable and it’s not the end of the world if he leaves.

I think we get a bigger version of the same in athletic grounded player with no lift. I was ok with Carlton but not blown away. Can he be good. Sure. But not adrien good. Strength and confidence will come but I have rarely seen explosiveness off the floor emerge over 4 years.

 

[Hoophound]

I think we get a bigger version of the same in athletic grounded player with no lift. I was ok with Carlton but not blown away. Can he be good. Sure. But not adrien good. Strength and confidence will come but I have rarely seen explosiveness off the floor emerge over 4 years.

He’s much taller than Adrien. I see a Roy Hibbert type without the jumper at this point. Soft hands, can put the ball in the hoop, potential to develop with his back to the basket. I’d love to see him be a threat from 15’ or more.

 

[Jaybo]

Just hope hope 4-5 games in he's not done.or even 20 games in.

 

[pj]

Vital, Adams, and Gilbert Would make a great foundation

Don't leave out Wilson. The perimeter could be pretty solid.

 

[the Q]

He’s much taller than Adrien. I see a Roy Hibbert type without the jumper at this point. Soft hands, can put the ball in the hoop, potential to develop with his back to the basket. I’d love to see him be a threat from 15’ or more.

I'm not sure he has Hibbert's length or his IQ.

Despite having almost not explosion hibbert was an elite defender, not just in college, but the NBA. Which is just insanely impressive.

 

[fatlucy]

Maybe Harris can be convinced to come to UCONN with his coach

Jermaine Harris - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN

 

[the Q]

Maybe Harris can be convinced to come to UCONN with his coach

Jermaine Harris - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN

Getting him and getting Akinjo back would be huge

 

[AdamaNation]

If Harris is coming with Hurley we can let Carlton go.

 

[Jaybo]

Maybe Harris can be convinced to come to UCONN with his coach

Jermaine Harris - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN

Has he signed with them already?

 

[auror]

Has he signed with them already?

Yes. LOI. Not that it means anything, considering we've had 2 guys back out of it in less than 2 years.

Also, we're putting 2 carts in front of the horse with this particular speculation.

 

[the Q]

Was thinking the same thing. Seems like already have a good crew coming back in Rique + JA (unconfirmed but seems likely), CV, Sid, Whaley, and Cobb. Diarra, Matthews, and Kisunas are the main 3 I want on top of that. With those 9 it’s:

G Jalen Adams
G Christian Vital
F Sid Wilson
F Isaiah Whaley
C Eric Cobb

Rique as the ballhandler off the bench,
Matthews at the wing off the bench
Diarra as the 4 off the bench
Kisunas as the center off the bench

I don't get all this love for Cobb.

He really didn't show much this year. He was still out of shape, and had some impressive skills compared to your average college center, but nothing earth shattering.

Does he start for any of the 11 seeds we just watched the last few nights?

I'd rather let Diarra and Whaley figure it out as long they can (with foul trouble) and then have guys like Cobb and Kisunas off the bench.

 

[Coach J]

That is a good thing. One of the few players that improved and always works hard. A coach that holds him accountable for his gunner mentality could turn him into an all-aac type player.

An old school program player!

 

[Stainmaster]

I don't get all this love for Cobb.

Players who positioned themselves as adversaries of Ollie tend to experience upticks in popularity. See Jalen after cussing him out at halftime of the Temple game in February of 2016.

 

[Kembacity]

He’s much taller than Adrien. I see a Roy Hibbert type without the jumper at this point. Soft hands, can put the ball in the hoop, potential to develop with his back to the basket. I’d love to see him be a threat from 15’ or more.

Where is he hiding his other 7 inches of height then? If Carlton was 6'11" I'd be all on board with him being a gem we need to keep. He's 6'9" and not all that jumpy or athletic. He did show some signs of skill at scoring around the basket, but he's only 6'9"... If Hurley is the guy and he has some skilled dudes with some height in for URI next season, bring them on and good luck with your future Carlton. We need taller dudes than 6'9", bottom line

 

[the Q]

Where is he hiding his other 7 inches of height then? If Carlton was 6'11" I'd be all on board with him being a gem we need to keep. He's 6'9" and not all that jumpy or athletic. He did show some signs of skill at scoring around the basket, but he's only 6'9"... If Hurley is the guy and he has some skilled dudes with some height in for URI next season, bring them on and good luck with your future Carlton. We need taller dudes than 6'9", bottom line

you don't need 7 footers to win. But yeah he's a lot less bouncy than what we are used to.

 

[Kembacity]

you don't need 7 footers to win. But yeah he's a lot less bouncy than what we are used to.

but I still want 1 guy who is at least a solid 6'10", or a skinny long tall dude to block shots a la Brimah. If Carlton was built like Cobb, I'm on board, but he's not big, not athletic, not long... not indispensable to me

 

[AdamaNation]

Where is he hiding his other 7 inches of height then? If Carlton was 6'11" I'd be all on board with him being a gem we need to keep. He's 6'9" and not all that jumpy or athletic. He did show some signs of skill at scoring around the basket, but he's only 6'9"... If Hurley is the guy and he has some skilled dudes with some height in for URI next season, bring them on and good luck with your future Carlton. We need taller dudes than 6'9", bottom line

Who can jump

 

[JimHurley]

but I still want 1 guy who is at least a solid 6'10", or a skinny long tall dude to block shots a la Brimah. If Carlton was built like Cobb, I'm on board, but he's not big, not athletic, not long... not indispensable to me

I agree with the Carlton thoughts but I said something similar earlier and got a warning from a moderator to “stop trashing players.” So sensitive.

 

[Kembacity]

I agree with the Carlton thoughts but I said something similar earlier and got a warning from a moderator to “stop trashing players.” So sensitive.

Yeah its odd, and I liked Carlton, but just voicing my reasons for not seeing him as someone we really need to hang on to. We definitely need more height I think

 

[intlzncster]

He’s much taller than Adrien. I see a Roy Hibbert type without the jumper at this point. Soft hands, can put the ball in the hoop, potential to develop with his back to the basket. I’d love to see him be a threat from 15’ or more.

Roy was a complete stiff when he stepped on campus. He developed as well as any player I've seen. If Carlton becomes that, then you've hit a home run.

 

[intlzncster]

Yes. LOI. Not that it means anything, considering we've had 2 guys back out of it in less than 2 years.

Also, we're putting 2 carts in front of the horse with this particular speculation.

Yeah, plus it doesn't feel all that great talking about poaching other schools kids.

 

[Ottomatic]

Very good news. If Alterique can get healthy and stay healthy, we would have quite the backcourt. But I think we would be a very different team if we also just had a big presence in the middle. Someone like an Emeka Okafor kind of guy that could do some damage underneath. There seems to be a big vacuum there now.

 

[UConNation]

Was told today from a very reliable source that Jalen is "100% coming back." Take it for what it's worth. If nothing else, it's good news on a day filled with #HurleyGate

 

[the Q]

Roy was a complete stiff when he stepped on campus. He developed as well as any player I've seen. If Carlton becomes that, then you've hit a home run.

FWIW, Roy's freshman year he played 507 minutes (about 1 half of basketball more than carlton) and had 1.6 win shares.

that would've been third on our team this year. And his .125 WS per 40 would've been second.

His second year he jumped up to 5.7 WS and .287 WS per 40.

I'd say he develped rather quickly.

He's actually a guy who should've declared after their magical final four run in 2007.

He would've gone in the top 10.

 

[intlzncster]

FWIW, Roy's freshman year he played 507 minutes (about 1 half of basketball more than carlton) and had 1.6 win shares.
that would've been third on our team this year. And his .125 WS per 40 would've been second.

Not big on using WS to compare players across teams and positions, in college especially*. It's so dependent on playing with different systems, different players, and different leagues, the effect of one player vs another is practically rendered meaningless, given how much each player relies on one another. Different time periods as well. Let's just say it's a bit murky in that sense. *due to different developmental curves by position

I mean, it's not like you could plug Roy in our team this year and he would contribute those WS numbers to the squad. Very likely, they'd fall. Similarly, JC's would rise with better players/system etc. WS are so great with baseball because of the individual nature of the game.

JMO of course.

That said, I do like it when looking at an individual players development over time. So your point is a good one there with respect to Roy:

His second year he jumped up to 5.7 WS and .287 WS per 40. I'd say he develped rather quickly.

Quicker than I intimated. He made a big second year jump. His first year, he looked like he had two left feet. Great development.

My point remains, if Carlton was like Hibbert, we'd have hit a homerun. I don't think JC is like Hibbert though.

 

[Jaybo]

Promising for now

 

[the Q]

Not big on using WS to compare players across teams and positions in college. It's so dependent on playing with different systems, different players, and different leagues, the effect of one player vs another is practically rendered meaningless, given how much each player relies on one another. Different time periods as well. Let's just say it's a bit murky in that sense.

I mean, it's not like you could plug Roy in our team this year and he would contribute those WS numbers to the squad. Very likely, they'd fall. Similarly, JC's would rise with better players/system etc. WS are so great with baseball because of the individual nature of the game.

JMO of course.

I do like it when looking at an individual players development over time:



Quicker than I intimated. He made a big second year jump. His first year, he looked like he had two left feet. Great development.

My point remains, if Carlton was like Hibbert, we'd have hit a homerun. I don't think JC is like Hibbert though.

All fair points. System and coaching is incredibly crucial when it comes to development for some players.

I was a big hibbert fan so you really got me looking at him. I initially thought he was better than you were giving him credit for, but even I didn't see him being that good.

FWIW, his 5.7 WSs as a sophomore is probably top 30 in CBB this year. But sports reference only goes top 20 so I'm just guess. But #20 was 5.9 so I feel pretty good about that guess.