Spencer’s dream came true

[HailUConn]

What a brilliant move by both parties:

 

[Scrutiner]

Hopefully more players will realize such dreams via the Huskies.....

 

[nomar]

I loved that story about his family getting bored during the NIL part of the pitch and then getting won over by the basketball part.

This kid wants to win more than anything else. Same with Castle. They see the big picture. And that’s an organizational culture.

 

[KembaRunner]

I loved that story about his family getting bored during the NIL part of the pitch and then getting won over by the basketball part.

This kid wants to win more than anything else. Same with Castle. They see the big picture. And that’s an organizational culture.

Haven’t heard that- can you find the article?

 

[nomar]

Haven’t heard that- can you find the article?

It’s the opening anecdote from the recent Athletic article:

When Cam Spencer visited Connecticut last spring, he got the usual treatment. Photoshoot. Pitches on branding and NIL. The fluff, UConn coach Dan Hurley calls it.

Spencer goes out of his way to avoid what others seek. He’s not on social media. His interests are minimal. And Hurley could see Spencer and his family losing interest.

Then they started talking hoops. Style of play. How Spencer fit in UConn’s system.

“The group perked up,” Hurley says.

Cam Spencer lights UConn's fire

Spencer, the Rutgers transfer, has the best offensive rating in the country. But his competitiveness is even more valuable to the Huskies.

theathletic.com

There’s also this:

On Patrick’s 21st birthday — he was born on the Fourth of July — the family visited their grandparents’ condo in Ocean City, Maryland. They decided to play tennis with their grandparents. Cam was with Grandpa and Patrick with Grandma. Cam and his grandpa strategically kept placing the ball toward Grandma’s backhand because it was a “little weak.” Patrick was agitated, and then he finally got a ball hit his direction. He put it in the net, and then slammed his racket against his head and gashed his forehead. The game ended because he needed to go to the hospital to get stitches.

“But we won, my grandpa and I,” Cam says. “He forfeited. We won.”

 

[KembaRunner]

Lol that second anecdote.

Article is behind a paywall and I can’t read it unfortunately

 

[HuskyBoi]

Coach wanted someone hungry that's never been there.

Surround someone with that mindset with those who already been there done that, and this is what you get.

In Hurley we trust

 

[AllHusky]

Coach wanted someone hungry that's never been there.

Surround someone with that mindset with those who already been there done that, and this is what you get.

In Hurley we trust

Don’t know tons about him, but my sense is that the appeal of the Merrimack kid is a little like Cams.

 

[jibsey]

Hopefully more players will realize such dreams via the Huskies.....

I was amazed after Ollie’s 2014 that we never got the influx of studs. I scratched my head on that.

 

[uconnfan68]

It’s the opening anecdote from the recent Athletic article:

When Cam Spencer visited Connecticut last spring, he got the usual treatment. Photoshoot. Pitches on branding and NIL. The fluff, UConn coach Dan Hurley calls it.

Spencer goes out of his way to avoid what others seek. He’s not on social media. His interests are minimal. And Hurley could see Spencer and his family losing interest.

Then they started talking hoops. Style of play. How Spencer fit in UConn’s system.

“The group perked up,” Hurley says.

Cam Spencer lights UConn's fire

Spencer, the Rutgers transfer, has the best offensive rating in the country. But his competitiveness is even more valuable to the Huskies.

theathletic.com

There’s also this:

On Patrick’s 21st birthday — he was born on the Fourth of July — the family visited their grandparents’ condo in Ocean City, Maryland. They decided to play tennis with their grandparents. Cam was with Grandpa and Patrick with Grandma. Cam and his grandpa strategically kept placing the ball toward Grandma’s backhand because it was a “little weak.” Patrick was agitated, and then he finally got a ball hit his direction. He put it in the net, and then slammed his racket against his head and gashed his forehead. The game ended because he needed to go to the hospital to get stitches.

“But we won, my grandpa and I,” Cam says. “He forfeited. We won.”

I can’t even imagine playing any sport with my grandchildren that doesn’t end up with my wife and I in the hospital.

 

[UConnJim]

I was amazed after Ollie’s 2014 that we never got the influx of studs. I scratched my head on that.

2015 brought in Enoch and Jalen Adams both top 50 recruits and 2016 was the 8th rated recruiting class although the group was injury prone and the best player in the group, Vital, was the lowest rated recruit in the class.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I shudder to think that we might've gotten the other guy.

 

[mussels]

Haven’t heard that- can you find the article?

Artical also touches on how Hurley and Cam recognize each other as kindred spirits growing up and competing with very atheletic older brothers.

Cams brother was a big time lacross player at Loyola, winning the lacross version of the Heisman Trophy, then playing a year of hoops for Northwestern, and recently signing a two way with the Golden State Warriors.

 

[Waquoit]

I was amazed after Ollie’s 2014 that we never got the influx of studs. I scratched my head on that.

He stopped putting in the work. He thought players were going to line up at his door. Even K and Squid had to put in the work for players.

 

[Mazhude]

He stopped putting in the work. He thought players were going to line up at his door. Even K and Squid had to put in the work for players.

And he recruited players by their ranking, not their culture...

 

[Agent0]

Don’t know tons about him, but my sense is that the appeal of the Merrimack kid is a little like Cams.

I don’t think so. That Merrimack isn’t in Cam’s world in terms of talent

 

[RC111]

2015 brought in Enoch and Jalen Adams both top 50 recruits and 2016 was the 8th rated recruiting class although the group was injury prone and the best player in the group, Vital, was the lowest rated recruit in the class.

Development. I'm sure all of those guys could have done more with more coaching. That class was highly rated but always looked lost and never played as a team: pass around the perimeter till someone throws up a three or makes a last-ditch, shot clock-expiring drive. No purpose to their play.

And something odd happened to make most of them transfer. Benedict did exit interviews, but I never heard what forced them all out. I always suspected they didn't think they were improving under Ollie

 

[B1GEast]

He earned it. I'm happy to see him enjoying himself out there. It seems like he's been here forever. I hope he and the team make it happen.

 

[willie99]

He's all FIRE

Special kid in a special place, love him, love the FIRE

 

[jostar1]

Lol that second anecdote.

Article is behind a paywall and I can’t read it unfortunately

https://archive.ph/gkHiN#selection-3227.0-4018.0