UConn In On Rhett

[3uconn]

@GoodmanESPN: Rhett -- who will be eligible next season as a fifth-year grad transfer, said he got off phone tonight with Kevin Ollie. UConn interested.

@GoodmanESPN: Tennessee State transfer MJ Rhett (@@carolinaboy_4) has been to Oklahoma State, Tulane and Ole Miss. Will visit USC Friday and Miami Monday.

 

[jfuchs91]

6'8", 235 pounds. Sign him up.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

What is his game? Hopefully a rebounder?

Edit: Just checked. 9 boards a game... sign him up!

 

[OkaForPrez]

Do we have the Scholly or is this a signal on Dre?

 

[Dynasty]

Do we have the Scholly or is this a signal on Dre?

There is still one unused for 2014.

 

[UConn17]

Get this kid! Big, bouncy, and can grab boards

 

[stick]

I know he put up decent rebounding numbers but the team he played on had all of 5 wins. Granted, I haven't seen any of his games but someone had to score & get boards for them. He also didn't have stellar numbers his freshman & sophomore years.

 

[auror]

MJ Rhett
OR%- 10.1, DR%- 22.5.

Those are very solid rebounding numbers. Rebounding numbers translate very well from college to pros, and I suspect from lower-levels to higher levels as well. More about effort, technique, and body size than raw athleticism.

Amida Brimah for comparison.
OR%- 10.3, DR%- 11.1

 

[Sportsman5]

I know he put up decent rebounding numbers but the team he played on had all of 5 wins. Granted, I haven't seen any of his games but someone had to score & get boards for them. He also didn't have stellar numbers his freshman & sophomore years.

If it was a random boneyarder bringing him up as a guy we want, than I might have the same concerns as you. However, if the staff is interested enough in him that Ollie is giving him a call one week after we win the championship, than he must be legit.

 

[Matrim55]

MJ Rhett
OR%- 10.1, DR%- 22.5.

Those are very solid rebounding numbers. Rebounding numbers translate very well from college to pros, and I suspect from lower-levels to higher levels as well. More about effort, technique, and body size than raw athleticism.

Amida Brimah for comparison.
OR%- 10.3, DR%- 11.1

Not a great comp, since Brimah's main focus - rim protection - often takes him out of good defensive rebounding position.

 

[auror]

Not a great comp, since Brimah's main focus - rim protection - often takes him out of good defensive rebounding position.

No problem. Daniels, statistically, was our best rebounder this year (and if Brimah's D took him out of rebounding position, that would allow Daniels to grab more of the scarce quantity that are rebounds):

OR%- 6.3, DR%- 16.9%.

 

[SeattleHoop]

All I gotta say is, this dude can play some ball

 

[UConn990411]

If the song choice for the highlight video isn't a good omen, I don't know what is.

 

[auror]

He also didn't have stellar numbers his freshman & sophomore years.

True for his offense, but his rebounding numbers have hovered around the same (excellent) %'s.
2012: OR- 9.7, DR- 21.8
2013: OR- 10.7, DR- 21.4
2014: OR- 10.1, DR- 22.5

Note that the 22.5 DR% he posted this year was 85th-best nationally. He'd be the best rebounder on 3 out of every 4 teams in the nation if he walked into their locker rooms tomorrow.

More comparisons... the top 5 rebounding beasts in our conference last season:
Justin Jackson: OR- 13.6, DR- 17.4
Montrezl Harrell: OR- 12.1, DR- 19.7
Markus Kennedy: OR- 10.2, DR- 22.5
TaShawn Thomas: OR- 10.4, DR- 18.5
Anthony Lee: OR- 10.9, DR-20.2

If the song choice for the highlight video isn't a good omen, I don't know what is.

First thing I thought of was one of Kemba's mixtape, which I've watched something like 1,000 times. Of course the intro video, too.

 

[bmayuc]

Dude. Get this kid Ollie.

Between him and Rakim that could be a nice set of bangers.

 

[BlueMAB]

I know he put up decent rebounding numbers but the team he played on had all of 5 wins. Granted, I haven't seen any of his games but someone had to score & get boards for them. He also didn't have stellar numbers his freshman & sophomore years.

Do you think Ollie has seen him play?

 

[Fishy]

Might be tough - someone is going to be able to offer him a starting role.

Looks like he plays big, but hard to tell on a highlight reel.

One thing that jumps off the game log is the number of disqualifications. The kid fouled out of seven games last season - hopefully, he's gotten that under control a bit as only two of those came after the turn of the year.

 

[auror]

One thing that jumps off the game log is the number of disqualifications. The kid fouled out of seven games last season - hopefully, he's gotten that under control a bit as only two of those came after the turn of the year.

He played a decent number of minutes as a big (about same proportion of minutes possible as Boatright played for us, 78%), so you're going to get some fouls. Translates to 4 fouls/40 min, which isn't that bad. Brimah and Nolan were over 7 fouls /40 each.

 

[Kitaman]

I like him as we may need some Phil Nolan insurance next year.

 

[Storrsbred]

Is there not interest in a similar kid from somewhere south (don't remember his name)? Maybe UConn is finally at a point of being able to pick and choose.

 

[Danzz]

Pass on him. We need to hold the scholly for a 3-4 year player.

 

[UConn3432]

there will always be minutes for a guy that rebounds extremely well, defends and dunks everything. if there aren't, this team will win another title.

 

[B1GEast]

Might be tough - someone is going to be able to offer him a starting role.

.

Yes, but how many programs can offer him a championship?

 

[Waquoit]

Yes, but how many programs can offer him a championship?

And couldn't the same have been said about Kromah? Maybe they guy wants to part of a big-time situation. Ollie has a good track record with grad students.

 

[tcf15]

Pass on him. We need to hold the scholly for a 3-4 year player.

If he came, he would only be here for one year, similar to RJ Evans & Lasan Kromah. At this point, without any decommits throughout the college landscape, a 5th year transfer would be better than any 2014 recruit left.