CONNECTICUT RECRUITING UPDATE
VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Stanley Robinson, F (Birmingham, AL)
The Hartford Courant, citing a report on Rivals.Com, has the story on Stanley Robinson's commitment: Stanley Robinson Commits to UConn.
Projected 2006-2007 Roster:
Seniors: Marcus Williams (PG), Josh Boone (PF/C)
Juniors: Rudy Gay (SF)
Sophomores: AJ Price (G), Marcus Johnson (WG), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G), Robert Garrison (PG).
Freshmen: Curtis Kelly (BF/C), Will Harris (F), Ramar Smith (G), Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F)
Links to our previous Connecticut recruiting write-ups: Sept 19 Report, Sept 18 Report, Sept 6 Report, July 8 Report, July 25 Round-Up.
Read More...Click Below!
Jim Calhoun and his Connecticut staff has done it once again this year. With the early signing period closing in, just four weeks away, the Huskies had added to their recruiting haul with Stanley Robinson from Huffman High in Birmingham, AL. As a junior, the 6'9 220 lb Robinson averaged 16 PPG and 9 rebounds. Robinson can play both forward spots, he has the size to play the 4 and the athletic ability to play the 3. The past success of UConn in getting big wings to the NBA probably had a big role in his decision and he could be a perfect replacement for Rudy Gay, who will likely declare for the NBA draft after this upcoming season.
With Jerome Dyson, Ramar Smith, Stanley Robinson, Will Harris, Curtis Kelly and Jonathan Mandeldove, this is being called possibly the best class assembled by Jim Calhoun. The recent national championship, the plethora of UConn players in the NBA and the Hall of Fame credentialed coach is making Connecticut one of the elite destinations among the best players in America. In the new Big East, UConn is definitely among those raising the bar and others are going to have to keep up or catch up.
Looking over the projected roster, there is 14 names for next year. The list still contains AJ Price whose status medically and legally is unclear. Also, Rudy Gay is most likely a top 5 NBA pick in the next NBA draft and Josh Boone and Marcus Williams, who also has legal issues, could also be 1st round picks in the June NBA draft. So, that roster fo 14 could be sliced down to 10 very easily, and all 10 players would be freshmen or sophomores.
I think their biggest need is still in the middle. They were very actively recruiting Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson and both decided to go elsewhere. It is still a tough sell, even for Connecticut, to recruit another C or BF in the class to compete with Kelly and Mandeldove because most want to be the lone recruit for the position in their class. Also, they might want to wait out the process a little bit and see what happens in the spring. It is expected that Josh Boone will graduate in three years and move to the NBA, but things can change. Also, adding a JUCO front court player to give them a little experience and maturity is not a bad route to go and will give the class some balance.
They still have a tentative date set with Lance Thomas, but he plays a very similar position as Robinson, so, I doubt there would be a match at this point. Point guard is still somewhat of a question mark as neither Ramar Smith or Jerome Dyson would be ideal point guards, but with Garrison and Austrie, and maybe Price or possibly Williams, there will be enough talent to get by and should but Connecticut in prime position to land a top point in 2007 and I am sure they are laying the groundwork there.
One thing is for certain, UConn and Jim Calhoun is proving in the new Big East, the rich get richer and the rest better keep up!
The Hartford Courant, citing a report on Rivals.Com, has the story on Stanley Robinson's commitment: Stanley Robinson Commits to UConn.
Projected 2006-2007 Roster:
Seniors: Marcus Williams (PG), Josh Boone (PF/C)
Juniors: Rudy Gay (SF)
Sophomores: AJ Price (G), Marcus Johnson (WG), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G), Robert Garrison (PG).
Freshmen: Curtis Kelly (BF/C), Will Harris (F), Ramar Smith (G), Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F)
Links to our previous Connecticut recruiting write-ups: Sept 19 Report, Sept 18 Report, Sept 6 Report, July 8 Report, July 25 Round-Up.
Read More...Click Below!
Jim Calhoun and his Connecticut staff has done it once again this year. With the early signing period closing in, just four weeks away, the Huskies had added to their recruiting haul with Stanley Robinson from Huffman High in Birmingham, AL. As a junior, the 6'9 220 lb Robinson averaged 16 PPG and 9 rebounds. Robinson can play both forward spots, he has the size to play the 4 and the athletic ability to play the 3. The past success of UConn in getting big wings to the NBA probably had a big role in his decision and he could be a perfect replacement for Rudy Gay, who will likely declare for the NBA draft after this upcoming season.
With Jerome Dyson, Ramar Smith, Stanley Robinson, Will Harris, Curtis Kelly and Jonathan Mandeldove, this is being called possibly the best class assembled by Jim Calhoun. The recent national championship, the plethora of UConn players in the NBA and the Hall of Fame credentialed coach is making Connecticut one of the elite destinations among the best players in America. In the new Big East, UConn is definitely among those raising the bar and others are going to have to keep up or catch up.
Looking over the projected roster, there is 14 names for next year. The list still contains AJ Price whose status medically and legally is unclear. Also, Rudy Gay is most likely a top 5 NBA pick in the next NBA draft and Josh Boone and Marcus Williams, who also has legal issues, could also be 1st round picks in the June NBA draft. So, that roster fo 14 could be sliced down to 10 very easily, and all 10 players would be freshmen or sophomores.
I think their biggest need is still in the middle. They were very actively recruiting Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson and both decided to go elsewhere. It is still a tough sell, even for Connecticut, to recruit another C or BF in the class to compete with Kelly and Mandeldove because most want to be the lone recruit for the position in their class. Also, they might want to wait out the process a little bit and see what happens in the spring. It is expected that Josh Boone will graduate in three years and move to the NBA, but things can change. Also, adding a JUCO front court player to give them a little experience and maturity is not a bad route to go and will give the class some balance.
They still have a tentative date set with Lance Thomas, but he plays a very similar position as Robinson, so, I doubt there would be a match at this point. Point guard is still somewhat of a question mark as neither Ramar Smith or Jerome Dyson would be ideal point guards, but with Garrison and Austrie, and maybe Price or possibly Williams, there will be enough talent to get by and should but Connecticut in prime position to land a top point in 2007 and I am sure they are laying the groundwork there.
One thing is for certain, UConn and Jim Calhoun is proving in the new Big East, the rich get richer and the rest better keep up!
posted by NBE Blogger @ 7:58 AM
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