Will Jackson Commits To UConn!!!!!!

[boog204]

This is a great pick up. But I have to say, Jackson has the most boring youtube videos of any recruit I can remember. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing as he looks like a very solid player all around and we have seen tons of all hype videos covering a full year of randomness as opposed to Jackson's videos which appear to all come from individual games. But there's nothing in those videos that blows me away, just lots of really solid, fundamentally sound play. A lot of reports say he is a really good athlete, but that doesn't really show in the vids. Either way, I really like that he's coming along.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Could you elaborate a little more for those of us who didn't see the show. Was KO brought into the discussion for the double technical?

It was Tirico who was ranting, mostly about the behavior of coaches in the Big 10. He called their antics "childish". He seemed to be mostly referring to McCaffery, the Iowa coach.

 

[mauconnfan]

This is a great pick up. But I have to say, Jackson has the most boring youtube videos of any recruit I can remember. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing as he looks like a very solid player all around and we have seen tons of all hype videos covering a full year of randomness as opposed to Jackson's videos which appear to all come from individual games. But there's nothing in those videos that blows me away, just lots of really solid, fundamentally sound play. A lot of reports say he is a really good athlete, but that doesn't really show in the vids. Either way, I really like that he's coming along.

It is boring but that's okay because actually in way so is DHam's and you know why? Because we like dunks and whacky crap too much instead of watching a real solid all around basketball player lay it up, be creative and stuff like that…….love this kids game too….big guard will only get better and more mature by the time he is here. great get

 

[caw]

This is a great pick up. But I have to say, Jackson has the most boring youtube videos of any recruit I can remember. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing as he looks like a very solid player all around and we have seen tons of all hype videos covering a full year of randomness as opposed to Jackson's videos which appear to all come from individual games. But there's nothing in those videos that blows me away, just lots of really solid, fundamentally sound play. A lot of reports say he is a really good athlete, but that doesn't really show in the vids. Either way, I really like that he's coming along.

Go watch Prince Ali's if you want excitement. Lol

 

[boog204]

It is boring but that's okay because actually in way so is DHam's and you know why? Because we like dunks and whacky crap too much instead of watching a real solid all around basketball player lay it up, be creative and stuff like that…….love this kids game too….big guard will only get better and more mature by the time he is here. great get

Oh I agree... Prince Ali's is over the top. I think I like that they are simple videos of a really solid basketball player. The only thing that took me a back a tiny bit is he didn't look overly athletic. But of course they were videos from 1-2 years ago so they are not a true indicator.

 

[TheChamps990411]

6`5 pg?!!! Nice!

 

[Dove]

6`5 pg?!!! Nice!

Ve-e-e-e-ry nice!! No disrespect to the Boatman.

 

[ctchamps]

Oh I agree... Prince Ali's is over the top. I think I like that they are simple videos of a really solid basketball player. The only thing that took me a back a tiny bit is he didn't look overly athletic. But of course they were videos from 1-2 years ago so they are not a true indicator.

I thought it was a video of this season. I would expect him to be somewhat cautious after a knee injury. Outside of the power dunks, he has a terrific handle, can shoot well and distributes well. Sounds like a bigger version of Bazz at the least.

 

[boog204]

I thought it was a video of this season. I would expect him to be somewhat cautious after a knee injury. Outside of the power dunks, he has a terrific handle, can shoot well and distributes well. Sounds like a bigger version of Bazz at the least.

There's a few videos on youtube from a few seasons. He looks virtually the same in all of the them. Good handle, decent shot (his form could use a little work; it looked like he shoots from the chest) and good court vision. Definitely a great pick up!

 

[David 76]

yawn. Wake me up when we get a high rated big man.

Have you tried Prozac?

 

[huskyharry]

I'm sorry, but I get as kick out of the I'm not religious line, so I'll chime in with the so called religious minority point of view since it's not that prevalent here in New England. I love that KO is a high character man who loves Jesus and people. I actually hate the term religious. Ollie is not some grandmama who drives her Buick to church every Sunday and defines himself as a clean living, no drinking, no whatever churchian. He lives every day to honor the God that has given him so much by being a devoted husband, dad, coach, friend and representative of the kingdom of God in whatever way he can.

I'm sure I'm coming across preachy here, but I just feel people cheapen Ollie's faith and have little to no understanding of what he believes and how he lives his life by dropping the religious line.

I'm psyched that he is attracting quality kids who love Jesus. I'll be just as excited when he recruits Jewish, Muslim and non-religious kids who are quality kids. For what it's worth, JC recruited his share of similar kids. Jake and Jeremy were two who came from Christian homes and we're open with their faith.

KO's ability to attract talented players because of his character, faith and the fact that he's a good coach offsets the conference issues and the post-JC impact. As much as I like talented players, I love rooting for talented kids who are quality young men. I don't mind having some kids that have an edge and some attitude to them. It's good to have different personalities. Though I don't like punk kids. That I can do without. I think UConn under Ollie is going to cast a new image that will not only carry the out-will you, out-tough you and out-work you tradition we've all witnessed under Calhoun, but will also be a very likable team on a national level. I'm not saying the program wasn't liked by many, but JC and the program had its share of haters.

KO seems to be well respected and liked and it seems the team will begin to, and seem to already, take on his personality.

Okay, I'm done.

Amen Brother!

 

[David 76]

"I'm sure I'm coming across preachy here, but I just feel people cheapen Ollie's faith and have little to no understanding of what he believes and how he lives his life by dropping the religious line

KO's ability to attract talented players because of his character, faith and the fact that he's a good coach offsets the conference issues and the post-JC impact. As much as I like talented players, I love rooting for talented kids who are quality young men. I don't mind having some kids that have an edge and some attitude to them. It's good to have different personalities. Though I don't like punk kids. That I can do without. I think UConn under Ollie is going to cast a new image that will not only carry the out-will you, out-tough you and out-work you tradition we've all witnessed under Calhoun, but will also be a very likable team on a national level. I'm not saying the program wasn't liked by many, but JC and the program had its share of haters."

I agree with all you say about character and I love recruiting character kids and that KO is so principled. But, if I'd stated I'm not religious (I'm not) it would be to explain me, not to demean KO's faith. I admire people's faith, I just don't have it and can't fake it.
On a lighter note, I took me a second read to be sure which JC you meant in your post.

 

[upstater]

I'm sure I'm coming across preachy here, but I just feel people cheapen Ollie's faith and have little to no understanding of what he believes and how he lives his life by dropping the religious line

KO's ability to attract talented players because of his character, faith and the fact that he's a good coach offsets the conference issues and the post-JC impact. As much as I like talented players, I love rooting for talented kids who are quality young men. I don't mind having some kids that have an edge and some attitude to them. It's good to have different personalities. Though I don't like punk kids. That I can do without. I think UConn under Ollie is going to cast a new image that will not only carry the out-will you, out-tough you and out-work you tradition we've all witnessed under Calhoun, but will also be a very likable team on a national level. I'm not saying the program wasn't liked by many, but JC and the program had its share of haters.

I agree with all you say about character and I love recruiting character kids and that KO is so principled. But, if I'd stated I'm not religious (I'm not) it would be to explain me, not to demean KO's faith. I admire people's faith, I just don't have it and can't fake it.
On a lighter note, I took me a second read to be sure which JC you meant in your post.

I don't see the change you're talking about.

If you go back into the past, you see kids who were ripped in the past by other fans nationally, and here I'm talking about Khalid El-amin, AJ Price, Marcus Williams, etc., even Thabeet. Or Jeff Adrien. All were quality kids. I don't know much about Adrien's family, but we know that the first 3 came from tight families. I remember an article from a Pittsburgh paper in 1999 that said that, although UConn won the game, the game was not won by student athletes. And why? Because UConn's upperclassmen were black compared to Duke's? Is that why? That Duke team had several players go pro or leave Duke and never get a degree: Chris Burgess, Corey Maggette, Will Avery, Elton Brand, etc. Whereas UConn had seniors like Ricky Moore, Rashamel Jones, and a bunch of other solid kids. For all we know, they got their degrees. No one other than Rip Hamilton (a junior) left early that year. So why the perception?

This is a racial thing for many reporters and onlookers.

I just don't see the difference between Daniel Hamilton, Sam Cassell Jr., Rodney Purvis, and the players from the past.

 

[UconnDon]

back court would be getting crowded. for '15 we would have cassel Jr, purvis, samuel, ali, and now jackson. Although they are all big guards so I guess it wouldn't be a stretch to throw hamilton into that group and pick any 3 to throw on the court at any time.

The newspaper accounts posted have Jackson as a sophomore in high school. That would make him a Class of 16 by my calculation.???

 

[tzznandrew]

I don't see the change you're talking about.

If you go back into the past, you see kids who were ripped in the past by other fans nationally, and here I'm talking about Khalid El-amin, AJ Price, Marcus Williams, etc., even Thabeet. Or Jeff Adrien. All were quality kids. I don't know much about Adrien's family, but we know that the first 3 came from tight families. I remember an article from a Pittsburgh paper in 1999 that said that, although UConn won the game, the game was not won by student athletes. And why? Because UConn's upperclassmen were black compared to Duke's? Is that why? That Duke team had several players go pro or leave Duke and never get a degree: Chris Burgess, Corey Maggette, Will Avery, Elton Brand, etc. Whereas UConn had seniors like Ricky Moore, Rashamel Jones, and a bunch of other solid kids. For all we know, they got their degrees. No one other than Rip Hamilton (a junior) left early that year. So why the perception?

This is a racial thing for many reporters and onlookers.

I just don't see the difference between Daniel Hamilton, Sam Cassell Jr., Rodney Purvis, and the players from the past.

We've had great kids for a long time, and sometimes kids from great families who didn't always live up to their families. I don't think the religious aspect makes them better kids at all.

But, I assume people are talking about kids like Doug Wrenn, Antonio Kellogg, and (although he never played) Nate Miles when they make such generalizations.

That said, give me Caron Butler. His "lack of a good family" and troubled background didn't make him any less of a great human being.

 

[David 76]

I agree we've always had a lot of great kids but it did slide. Nate Miles, Wren, Kellogg but also the drug busts, laptop thefts, non-class attending crew that were toward the end of JC's tenure.
Unlike Caron, who gained a father figure in Calhoun, JC tried to become enabler in chief for Miles. If you want to see the difference compare how the Coaches handled the situations when their player had a domestic violence situation with a co-ed, Calhoun defended Miles, Ollie withdrew Wolf"s scholarship.
That is different and it is not racial.
I love and thank JC almost as much as anyone. But if you don't see the difference between JC through most of his tenure and JC at the end of his career, you're not looking.

 

[caw]

I agree we've always had a lot of great kids but it did slide. Nate Miles, Wren, Kellogg but also the drug busts, laptop thefts, non-class attending crew that were toward the end of JC's tenure.
Unlike Caron, who gained a father figure in Calhoun, JC tried to become enabler in chief for Miles. If you want to see the difference compare how the Coaches handled the situations when their player had a domestic violence situation with a co-ed, Calhoun defended Miles, Ollie withdrew Wolf"s scholarship.
That is different and it is not racial.
I love and thank JC almost as much as anyone. But if you don't see the difference between JC through most of his tenure and JC at the end of his career, you're not looking.

Miles (and this has been stated in every account I've read) broke the restraining order by calling the girl. Also have read the reatraining order had zero to do with violence. Assuming Wolf laid a hand on the girl, big difference.

 

[David 76]

Miles should never have been recruited in the first place. Five schools in 4 years and a "checkered" past. Not to mention the incredible number of violations used to recruit him.
But he had, allegedly, assaulted the young women physically and sexually prior to restraining order violation. (Bigger Difference) Then he called her about as soon as he could coming out of the court being told not to have any contact. Courts are very explicit in explaining restraining orders and I'm pretty sure he was no more confused that was wrong than he thought it was OK to accept $ and surgery from Nichomson. (He know basically makes the girl out to be a nope).

http://ballinisahabit.blogspot.com/2008/10/nate-miles-expelled-from-uconn.html

"
Miles was a 20-year-old freshman when he finally gained his eligibility and enrolled at UConn for a summer session in June of 2008. On Sept. 22, a 19-year-old female student turned Miles into campus police, alleging that he physically and sexually assaulted her. She said that he ground his nails into her leg when she wouldn’t have sex with him, slapped her and became possessive of her. The campus police arrested Miles on Sept.25 and issued a restraining order.

Within 16 minutes of being served the order, Miles called the woman. He was charged with a felony for violating a restraining order and referred to counseling which could lead to the charges being dropped. The case is pending in Connecticut superior court.

 

[upstater]

I agree we've always had a lot of great kids but it did slide. Nate Miles, Wren, Kellogg but also the drug busts, laptop thefts, non-class attending crew that were toward the end of JC's tenure.
Unlike Caron, who gained a father figure in Calhoun, JC tried to become enabler in chief for Miles. If you want to see the difference compare how the Coaches handled the situations when their player had a domestic violence situation with a co-ed, Calhoun defended Miles, Ollie withdrew Wolf"s scholarship.
That is different and it is not racial.
I love and thank JC almost as much as anyone. But if you don't see the difference between JC through most of his tenure and JC at the end of his career, you're not looking.

So, next time, let's not recruit a future laptop stealer even though he was raised middle-class Ivy-League educated parents.

 

[ColoradoUCFan]

"I don't do any social media," Jackson stated bluntly. "I don't see any need for it really. I just stick to the basics I don't do Twitter or Instagram or any of that. Plus little kids look up to you and I wouldn't want to post anything stupid."

Awesome how all of us bloggers just "liked" Jackson's disdain of social media.

 

[mauconnfan]

Jim Calhoun saw Caron in Nate Miles and he extended a hand to help this very good player try to make it in life. Was it a 2 way street, sure it was but if you remember the story about Nate Miles and the way he grew up wandering around with his sister, i think that is part of why JC took a chance on him and that's what was always great about Coach. Sorry, it turned out to be a mistake but JC really thought he could help turn around another kids life originally……..then all the other crap blew it up.

 

[David 76]

So, next time, let's not recruit a future laptop stealer even though he was raised middle-class Ivy-League educated parents.

What's the point? Laptop theft = assault? If we could see the future would we use it against upper middle class kids as well as poor kids? (All for it!) Problem was he defended both when they got in trouble, one because he had a troubled pass, he other because he was from a "good family".

 

[mauconnfan]

What's the point? Laptop theft = assault? If we could see the future would we use it against upper middle class kids as well as poor kids? (All for it!) Problem was he defended both when they got in trouble, one because he had a troubled pass, he other because he was from a "good family".

He recruited them why wouldn't he defend them? Kids make mistakes everywhere you just hear about it more at UConn.

AJ Price didn't turn out fine?

 

[David 76]

Jim Calhoun saw Caron in Nate Miles and he extended a hand to help this very good player try to make it in life. Was it a 2 way street, sure it was but if you remember the story about Nate Miles and the way he grew up wandering around with his sister, i think that is part of why JC took a chance on him and that's what was always great about Coach. Sorry, it turned out to be a mistake but JC really thought he could help turn around another kids life originally……..then all the other crap blew it up.

That and he saw great basketball players in both. Let's not kid ourselves. None of these excuses apply if the kid was marginal or a walk on. I think JC saw great basketball skills before he saw a redemption project. Sorry,I think our amazing, historical, HOF, basketball coach began cutting corners with recruitment and character to get a third title before his health caught up with him. This does not negate all he has done for us. And I believe JC always did try to help his kids. Bu I think the facts are there with grades, recruitment, arrests, the team quitting on him,etc. that he lost it.

 

[upstater]

What's the point? Laptop theft = assault? If we could see the future would we use it against upper middle class kids as well as poor kids? (All for it!) Problem was he defended both when they got in trouble, one because he had a troubled pass, he other because he was from a "good family".

That's not what happened.

They were both defended (if that's what you call a suspension) because in the previous couple of years, there were 52 other students caught stealing laptops. They received semester suspensions, and that's why the faculty committee suspended the two players.

 

[David 76]

So, next time, let's not recruit a future laptop stealer even though he was raised middle-class Ivy-League educated parents.

I still don't know what you mean by this. Price did work out fine. I don't know why you brought him up

 

[David 76]

Let's agree to disagree. There are ton of folks here who think Calhoun did nothing wrong. I'm not one of them. Don't think he was innocent with Nate and I don't buy the "everyone does it" theory. I don't think it was a coincidence that graduation rates, legal problems, a recruiting violation,and a poor attitude on the team all happened around the same time.

 

[mauconnfan]

That and he saw great basketball players in both. Let's not kid ourselves. None of these excuses apply if the kid was marginal or a walk on. I think JC saw great basketball skills before he saw a redemption project. Sorry,I think our amazing, historical, HOF, basketball coach began cutting corners with recruitment and character to get a third title before his health caught up with him. This does not negate all he has done for us. And I believe JC always did try to help his kids. Bu I think the facts are there with grades, recruitment, arrests, the team quitting on him,etc. that he lost it.

So he began "cutting corners" when the Miles issues arose but not when Caron came in? I call BS………in case you missed i mentioned "Was it a 2 way street, sure it was" so I get that part……but it was still JC trying to help a kid out and thinking he was part magician giving him a chance…….the cutting corners is BS

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

That's not what happened.

They were both defended (if that's what you call a suspension) because in the previous couple of years, there were 52 other students caught stealing laptops. They received semester suspensions, and that's why the faculty committee suspended the two players.

When Jerime Anderson got arrested for stealing laptops at UCLA a year or so ago he missed a grand total of 2 games, and one of them was an exhibition. More importantly, the entire story was a blip on ESPN's radar. The Price / Williams fiasco was treated like Watergate by comparison, which still annoys the ____ out of me.

 

[mauconnfan]

I still don't know what you mean by this. Price did work out fine. I don't know why you brought him up

Wait because he worked out fine everything is fine but if some other kid screwed up it's not okay? C'mon Gavid be consistent