SG Hamidou Diallo (UConn Offer)

[Rocktheworld]

I hate creating pressure for a freshman, but I think Gilbert has the goods to lead the team as a freshman. He wouldn't be the first one to come to UConn with that ability and that height.

And were any of those undersized talented guards ready to lead as freshmen?

Kemba? Nope
Bazz? Nope
Boat? Nope

So you're putting him above those three when you say he can lead a team as a freshman

 

[Gringo]

And were any of those undersized talented guards ready to lead as freshmen?

Kemba? Nope
Bazz? Nope
Boat? Nope

So you're putting him above those three when you say he can lead a team as a freshman

I think he was referring to Khalid.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I think he was referring to Khalid.

Fair enough but my overall statement stands: you're putting him above Kemba, Bazz, and Boat when you say he's ready to lead a NC contender as a freshman

 

[Gringo]

Fair enough but my overall statement stands: you're putting him above Kemba, Bazz, and Boat when you say he's ready to lead a NC contender as a freshman

Bazz played 25 minutes a game on a national champion team where he played Robin to Kemba's batman. Next year will be Jalen Adams team. I don't think it's unreasonable to think he can play a Bazz type role. But you're right, he won't be leading the team. Adams will most likely be the leader.

 

[ctchamps]

Fair enough but my overall statement stands: you're putting him above Kemba, Bazz, and Boat when you say he's ready to lead a NC contender as a freshman

Your putting words into my post. I don't see any NC in my post. Just has the goods to lead the team.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Fair enough but my overall statement stands: you're putting him above Kemba, Bazz, and Boat when you say he's ready to lead a NC contender as a freshman

Does that mean that Khalid was better than all of those guys? Maybe it's possible that not all players have the same career arc.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Your putting words into my post. I don't see any NC in my post. Just has the goods to lead the team.

I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but I see our 16-17 team as a contender. And you said you see him having the goods to lead said team.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Does that mean that Khalid was better than all of those guys?

As far as being a capable leader as a freshman, as is the topic of this little tangent? Yes.

 

[ctchamps]

Bazz played 25 minutes a game on a national champion team where he played Robin to Kemba's batman. Next year will be Jalen Adams team. I don't think it's unreasonable to think he can play a Bazz type role. But you're right, he won't be leading the team. Adams will most likely be the leader.

This. I'm not saying Gilbert is better than Adams or will be the team leader. But he can be a floor general at times when KO chooses to use him in that role.

 

[CallMeBruce]

As far as being a capable leader as a freshman, as is the topic of this little tangent? Yes.

So what does that have to do with Gilbert? Why are Kemba, Napier, and Boatright being treated as hallowed untouchables? Some players are able to run NC contenders as freshmen. Maybe Gilbert is one of them. Why bring up Walker, Napier, and Boatright, none of whom had the opportunity, like them not doing it proves something?

 

[Rocktheworld]

So what does that have to do with Gilbert?

You tell me, you're the one who brought that up.

Why are Kemba, Napier, and Boatright being treated as hallowed untouchables?

They aren't. No need to exaggerate for me.

Some players are able to run NC contenders as freshmen. Maybe Gilbert is one of them. Why bring up Walker, Napier, and Boatright, none of whom had the opportunity, like them not doing it proves something?

And that's the other half of my point. Because Adams will be there ahead of him, just like Gibbs is ahead of Adams this year. And, although he is talented, I haven't seen much about Adams leading this team this year and certainly didn't before Gibbs transferred; it was all on Purvis back then. It's hard for a freshman to stand out on a NC contender caliber team, let alone lead it, even for guys like Kemba Walker. Our last three great undersized guards couldn't. Is Gilbert that good? It would definitely be a nice surprise.

Although I'll admit Gilbert will have a better chance than the previous three, as at least a third of the team will be freshmen in '16-'17

 

[Huskyforlife]

Why did we stop? Why did nearly everyone else stop?

This isn't hard.

Whose "everyone else"

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

1. At this point, there's no legitimate reason to worry about getting a SG for 2016. Purvis' status for 2016 in a UConn uniform is up in the air. If he doesn't return, Ollie will find a solid recruit, grad transfer, or Diallo. Ollie's got Diallo in his back pocket, just a matter of when. I don't understand the fuss, there's a reason Ollie didn't go after Bruce Brown.
2. DHam and Brimah are gone after this season, barring injury. Ham will have a great year, and his stock will be first round material. As for Brimah, I feel like his stock will plateau after this year. If he stays through his senior year, as a NBA GM, not sure how I would feel about a project center at the age of 22-23.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

So what does that have to do with Gilbert? Why are Kemba, Napier, and Boatright being treated as hallowed untouchables? Some players are able to run NC contenders as freshmen. Maybe Gilbert is one of them. Why bring up Walker, Napier, and Boatright, none of whom had the opportunity, like them not doing it proves something?

I'm not a part of this conversation but I really don't see how this is that difficult to understand. The point is that it's a dangerous game to go into 16-17 relying on Gilbert to be able to handle that big of a role (as a side note, I also think fleuds has backed off his original statement a bit). The point is that not one of those three was ready to be the guy or a focal point of a team when they came in as freshmen (say all you want about Bazz's national championship, but a lot of people forget how rough it got during the regular season for that team). I think the smart move is to plan on Gilbert being a key secondary piece of the team but they need another guard.

 

[Candyman]

Gilbert is a 5 star recruit, if Purvis is gone and we pick up no one else then he will start and play a lot of minutes. He will be thrown to the fire and that's fine with me. Just because no one else in UConn history has came in as PG and started as a freshman doesn't mean it will turn out badly. Kentucky and Duke both have had 5 star freshman point guards lead their teams to national titles.

Gilbert will have a former PG head coach, two former PG assistant coaches, Adams at the 2 and Cassell as an experienced mentor off the bench.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Gilbert is a 5 star recruit, if Purvis is gone and we pick up no one else then he will start and play a lot of minutes. He will be thrown to the fire and that's fine with me. Just because no one else in UConn history has came in as PG and started as a freshman doesn't mean it will turn out badly. Kentucky and Duke both have had 5 star freshman point guards lead their teams to national titles.

Gilbert will have a former PG head coach, two former PG assistant coaches, Adams at the 2 and Cassell as an experienced mentor off the bench.

So was Kemba and he sure as heck wasn't ready to start and lead a team from the outset. He's incredibly talented but putting our season on the hope that a high schooler transitions that quickly and at that high of a level to the college game is not smart IMO (especially when in the scenario you put out, there is zero contingency plan). And you're right, he may be ready to step in right away and run the team but I believe KO is a smarter coach than to play that maybe game with no backup plan.

 

[ctchamps]

I'm not a part of this conversation but I really don't see how this is that difficult to understand. The point is that it's a dangerous game to go into 16-17 relying on Gilbert to be able to handle that big of a role (as a side note, I also think fleuds has backed off his original statement a bit). The point is that not one of those three was ready to be the guy or a focal point of a team when they came in as freshmen (say all you want about Bazz's national championship, but a lot of people forget how rough it got during the regular season for that team). I think the smart move is to plan on Gilbert being a key secondary piece of the team but they need another guard.

Just clarified it. KEA was able to be a floor general from day 1. Kemba was able to move to the off guard position when Bazz was inserted. DHam was effective with running plays. Just think Gilbert will be effective as a freshman. It was a shout out to a recruit because the day before I watched a lot of the tape tcf15 provided on Gilbert. Never meant to imply he would supersede the leadership of Adams. Never implied that UConn was set at the guard position if Purvis leaves. Absolutely think UConn needs a third guard and Diallo is my overwhelming preference. And should Diallo chose UConn the trio of Diallo, Adams and Gilbert would be incredible even though they would lack experience.

 

[DogMania]

Gilbert is a 5 star recruit, if Purvis is gone and we pick up no one else then he will start and play a lot of minutes. He will be thrown to the fire and that's fine with me. Just because no one else in UConn history has came in as PG and started as a freshman doesn't mean it will turn out badly. Kentucky and Duke both have had 5 star freshman point guards lead their teams to national titles.

Gilbert will have a former PG head coach, two former PG assistant coaches, Adams at the 2 and Cassell as an experienced mentor off the bench.

Having a freshman PG leading your team is not ideal but do some think Adams will be a one and done? Isn't Adams a PG Combo?

With that said we could use another guard who can handle the ball, 2G or Combo for 2016. If the team looks like an NC Contender, I doubt they'll have a problem picking up a solid graduate transfer if they don't add a recruit.

 

[Candyman]

So was Kemba and he sure as heck wasn't ready to start and lead a team from the outset. He's incredibly talented but putting our season on the hope that a high schooler transitions that quickly and at that high of a level to the college game is not smart IMO (especially when in the scenario you put out, there is zero contingency plan). And you're right, he may be ready to step in right away and run the team but I believe KO is a smarter coach than to play that maybe game with no backup plan.

We are putting our whole season on one kid? Thats being dramatic. Why can't they both play the PG like Bazz and Boat did? Bazz was the main ball handler his senior year, which Adams can do and Gilbert play off the ball like Boat and be a defensive specialist and be in attack mode when he has the ball.

I'm not saying were done and that I don't want Diallo, I do, I'm just saying everything will be okay with Gilbert starting as a freshman if for some reason we don't get another guard or transfer.

 

[intlzncster]

Gilbert is a 5 star recruit, if Purvis is gone and we pick up no one else then he will start and play a lot of minutes. He will be thrown to the fire and that's fine with me. Just because no one else in UConn history has came in as PG and started as a freshman doesn't mean it will turn out badly. Kentucky and Duke both have had 5 star freshman point guards lead their teams to national titles.

You mean like Taliek Brown and Khalid El-Amin?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

We are putting our whole season on one kid? Thats being dramatic. Why can't they both play the PG like Bazz and Boat did? Bazz was the main ball handler his senior year, which Adams can do and Gilbert play off the ball like Boat and be a defensive specialist and be in attack mode when he has the ball.

I'm not saying were done and that I don't want Diallo, I do, I'm just saying everything will be okay with Gilbert starting as a freshman if for some reason we don't get another guard or transfer.

It's not dramatic when your entire depth chart at guard is theoretically Adams, Gilbert, and Cassell. Hopefully Cassell can become quality depth but that's TBD, so yes, while they could split PG duties, you still have only two high-level talents and one is an undersized freshman. If he doesn't make the transition like we all hope he will, then you potentially have one quality guard for at least a good chunk of the season while he adjusts. If he does, you're still looking at the issue of having zero depth. In an ideal world we'd get Diallo to spread that pressure or get a 5th year that is able to allow Gilbert to ease in. I feel like people really glaze over the adjustment periods of guys like Kemba, Shabazz, and Boatright when they look back at their careers. It's not a knock on them or Gilbert, it's just that this is a really freaking hard transition to make.

 

[intlzncster]

It's not dramatic when your entire depth chart at guard is theoretically Adams, Gilbert, and Cassell. Hopefully Cassell can become quality depth but that's TBD, so yes, while they could split PG duties, you still have only two high-level talents and one is an undersized freshman. If he doesn't make the transition like we all hope he will, then you potentially have one quality guard for at least a good chunk of the season while he adjusts. If he does, you're still looking at the issue of having zero depth. In an ideal world we'd get Diallo to spread that pressure or get a 5th year that is able to allow Gilbert to ease in. I feel like people really glaze over the adjustment periods of guys like Kemba, Shabazz, and Boatright when they look back at their careers. It's not a knock on them or Gilbert, it's just that this is a really freaking hard transition to make.

They do.

 

[HuskyCLT]

You guys might realize that Cassell isn't that bad. Let's see him play without a stress fracture in his leg. In 2016 there's a chance we'll be a mostly young team and there can be a few growing pains, but we will be stocked with young talent. Gilbert is a 5 star PG and has been lighting it up everywhere he plays this past year. Adams will be a talented stud sophomore. The three of them are more than capable of running the point. We'll be fine. There will be other talent on the team with some experience to go with our stacked Frosh class - Larrier, Enoch, a senior Facey, whoever stays out of Purvis/Hamilton/Brimah.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

You guys might realize that Cassell isn't that bad. Let's see him play without a stress fracture in his leg. In 2016 there's a chance we'll be a mostly young team and there can be a few growing pains, but we will be stocked with young talent. Gilbert is a 5 star PG and has been lighting it up everywhere he plays this past year. Adams will be a talented stud sophomore. The three of them are more than capable of running the point. We'll be fine. There will be other talent on the team with some experience to go with our stacked Frosh class - Larrier, Enoch, a senior Facey, whoever stays out of Purvis/Hamilton/Brimah.

People are willing to give Cassell a chance but to this point he hasn't shown enough (some injury related, some not) for me to be confident that he can be a key piece of a good team. Can you honestly say that you'd be comfortable with him being first guard off the bench or the starter if an injury were to happen? I really hope now that he's healthy he becomes that guy and going into next year I can answer that question "yes".

 

[HuskyCLT]

People are willing to give Cassell a chance but to this point he hasn't shown enough (some injury related, some not) for me to be confident that he can be a key piece of a good team. Can you honestly say that you'd be comfortable with him being first guard off the bench or the starter if an injury were to happen? I really hope now that he's healthy he becomes that guy and going into next year I can answer that question "yes".

I just think his injury hampered his ability a lot more than we realize last year. He was playing hurt the entire time once the real season rolled around. It effected his speed, and I'd think the comfort in his jump shooting. He seems like a smart kid who has good ball handling skills and is a student of the game.

I think he will show us a lot more than he did last year, and at worst his previously heralded 3 point shot will fall. After this year, he will have another year of experience under his belt and will be a senior. People do improve their game over time. So yes, I can feel comfortable with him as a key piece of the team in 2016-2017. Imagine, if Cassell were healthy last year, I bet he takes almost all of the minutes that T Samuel saw and we would have been in much better shape. He might not be an NBA player, but a serviceable guard as a senior? I think so.