HARTFORD, Conn. – The press row seats aren’t occupied by many NBA scouts anymore.
There seems to be little interest in the University of Connecticut men’s
basketball team these days. The first reason is the lack of postseason eligibility, the second is not one surefire NBA pick that makes scouts and others take notice.
It wasn’t like that last year, when NBA scouts flocked to XL Center and Gampel Pavilion like they were season ticket holders.
That’s not the only difference between last year’s UConn team that began the season ranked in the top 5 and had top 5 talent before meandering through a 20-14 season and an early NCAA tournament exit.
Here’s a nice video feature by SNY’s Brian Custer on UConn-bound big man Kentan Facey, who leads Long Island Lutheran into the SNY Invitational this weekend.
NEW YORK — Princeton (Md.) Day Academy coach Van Whitfield told his team to watch out for Terrence Samuel.
In the final seconds of a back-and-forth game, Whitfield knew the Brooklyn South Shore guard would have the ball in his hands.
Yet despite the warning, they still couldn’t stop Samuel as he drove through the defense for the eventual game-winning layup as South Shore beat Princeton Day, 64-63, at the Big Apple Basketball Invitational at Baruch College.
“We were prepared for it,” Whitfield said. “We knew it was going to be [Samuel]…And we said do not let anyone get behind you. We let their best player get behind us. He made his play, that’s what good players do.” To read more of this story, click here
Florida big man Amida Brimah has committed to UConn during his weekend visit and is head coach Kevin Ollie’s third pledge for 2013.
Brimah joins Brooklyn South Shore point guard Terrence Samuel and Long Island Lutheran big man Kentan Facey in UConn’s class.
“I will be playing college basketball at University Of Connecticut#Blessed,” he Tweeted.
The 6-foot-11 center from Miami Archbishop Carroll is considered raw but with a big upside. The native of Ghana reportedly has a 7-6 wingspan. He is averaging about 15 points, 12 blocks and 6 blocks per game. To read more of this story, click here
Here’s a few quick notes and quotes off today’s initial Big East conference call.
**UConn coach Kevin Ollie, who has recently been spotted watching some extremely big fish, like 2014 big man Jahlil Okafor of Chicago, says his five-year extension helps him in recruiting.
“It’s helping out,” he said. “Of course it takes a question off the table that a lot of parents and a lot of players and whoever’s involved in the recruitment is going to have, is the coach going to be there? To read more of this story, click here
UConn officials made a smart move Saturday by giving Kevin Ollie a five-year extension.
The deal — reported by ESPN.com and other outlets — lifts the pressure off of Ollie, who is working under a one-year, $625,000 that ends in early April.
It will allow him to recruit on a national level going forward and should ease the minds of any potential recruits uncertain about Ollie’s future. Ollie had already landed New York products Kentan Facey of Long Island Lutheran and Terrence Samuel of Brooklyn South Shore for the 2013 class.
“Great decision by UConn,” Long Island Lutheran coach John Buck told SNY.tv. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Ollie. The decision will undoubtedly help him in recruiting going forward.”
The Huskies are 9-2 entering Saturday’s game against Washington and own a victory over then-No. 14 Michigan State in the season-opener.
STORRS, Conn. – Back in 1979 the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team was in no-man’s land.
A regional program unsure of where it was going.
That all changed when the Huskies became one of the charter members of a basketball conference called the Big East. To read more of this story, click here
The Charlotte Bobcats have signed former UConn forward Jeff Adrien, who is expected to join the team today and be available for Monday’s game against Golden State.
In order to make room for Adrien, Rod Higgins, the Bobcats’ president for basketball operations, said the team had waived his son, Cory Higgins, in his second season with the team.
The 6-foot-7 Adrien has appeared in five games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging team-highs of 17.6 points and 11.2 rebounds. He led the team in scoring in two of the team’s five games.
Adrien last played in the NBA with Golden State and Houston during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. In 31 career games, he averaged 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Undrafted in 2009, Adrien played in 133 games for UConn, averaging 12.1 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Dwayne Morgan picked up a UConn offer Saturday and is planning several official visits in January.
“UConn head coach Kevin Ollie offered and called [Saturday],” Dwayne Wise, Morgan’s AAU coach, told SNY.tv.
The 6-foot-7 small forward out of Baltimore St. Frances is ranked as the No. 18 player in the Rivals150 for 2014.
He now holds offers from UConn, Maryland, Georgetown, Florida, LSU, UNLV, Indiana, South Florida, Seton Hall, Missouri, N.C. State and San Diego State.
Under a new rule that allows juniors to begin taking official visits in January of their junior year, Morgan will take officials to UNLV, Missouri and Indiana next month, Wise said. To read more of this story, click here
With 24 NBA scouts on hand, Daniels went 2-for-6 for seven points, one rebound and four turnovers as UConn lost to No. 25 N.C. State, 69-65, in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
“DeAndre’s gotta play better,” Huskies coach Kevin Ollie said. “Everybody knows that and he knows that, first and foremost. “I believe that he has the talent and the ability to go out and create more. Go out on that low post and not settle for the 3.” To read more of this story, click here
Florida big man Amida Brimah has committed to UConn during his weekend visit and is head coach Kevin Ollie’s third pledge for 2013.
Here’s a few quick notes and quotes off today’s initial Big East conference call.
UConn officials made a smart move Saturday by giving Kevin Ollie a five-year extension.
By JOHN F. SILVER
Dwayne Morgan picked up a UConn offer Saturday and is planning several official visits in January.
NEW YORK — DeAndre Daniels came into UConn with a lot of hype.
