College basketball is less than one month away! While we don't have a complete schedule yet, excitement around Storrs is at levels not seen since the national championship run of 2014. An impressive finish to last year, the move back to the Big East and a number of highly rated recruits means there's a buzz around the men's basketball team that is expected to make a return to the NCAA Tournament.
There are several new players to meet this year. As the preseason continues, let's get acquainted with the newest Huskies to suit up for the 2020-21 season.3
#1 - RJ Cole: He's not "new" from a program standpoint, but we'll finally get to see him on the court. A transfer from Howard, the 6-1 redshirt junior will have two years of eligibility with UConn after a stint with the Bison saw him average 22.5 points per game over two years, capped by MEAC Player of the Year honors in 2018. While expecting 20 a game is probably a little much, Cole will be expected to handle the point guard duties after the departure of Alterique Gilbert, who is now at Wichita State. While we'll go out on a limb and say he won't be Kemba Walker, think of that type of player: a scoring point guard.
“It hasn’t beeen what I’m used to as I had to sit out but it helped me grow as a player and a person and just being able to learn more and develop my game.”
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) July 16, 2020
My latest for @TheAthleticCBB https://t.co/mj5ON4kWVy
#4 - Tyrese Martin: Another transfer, Martin was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA, meaning he won't have to sit out this year after coming in from Rhode Island. Originally recruited by Dan Hurley at URI, the 6'6 wing player had a nice sophomore season a year ago (12.8 points, 7 rebounds per game). He'll bring some positional flexibility to the squad, with the ability to play as a small forward, a stretch-four (if they go small) or even a shooting guard in the right situation.
#13 - Richie Springs: Another kind of "newcomer", Springs sat out last year as an academic redshirt. A 6'9, 225-lb. redshirt freshman, he'll fight for playing time in a frontcourt that, after being decimated a year ago, should be loaded. Springs will have to find minutes alongside '19-20 breakout Isaiah Whaley, Josh Carlton, Tyler Polley (back from his ACL tear), Akok Akok when he returns from his Achilles injury, and a couple of other big-man freshmen we'll get to in a bit.
#20 - Andrew Hurley: The coach's son joins the Huskies as a freshman walk-on. Last year at East Catholic he helped lead the Eagles to a 23-1 record before the state tournament was cancelled.
#21 - Adama Sanogo: The final recruit in Hurley's freshmen class, the big man from Mali reclassified from the Class of 2021 to 2020, choosing UConn over Auburn, Maryland, Nebraska, Pitt and Seton Hall. A consensus top-75 player, Sanogo is a small-ish center (6'9, but 240 lbs.) who can rebound with the best of them. In other words - a Jeff Adrien type?
#31 - Javonte Brown: The baby of the bunch, having just turned 18 in September, Brown comes to Connecticut by way of Canada (hey Denham Brown!). Like Sanogo, he reclassified to join the Class of 2020, choosing the Huskies over the likes of Arizona, Kansas, Marquette and UCLA. A seven-footer who can step out to 15 or so feet, Brown looks to have a ton of potential given his age, size and relative lack of experience (this is his seventh year of basketball).
The good news for Brown and Sanogo? Given all the frontcourt options mentioned above (Whaley, Carlton, Polley, Akok) they won't have to come in and be world-beaters right away despite being highly ranked recruits.
#44 - Andre Jackson: He's the most highly touted freshman to come in to the program in a few years. A top-50 player, the 6'6 Jackson can electrify the gym with his athleticism and ability to get to the rim. His three-point prowess needs a little bit of work, but the thought of Jackson and James Bouknight getting out in transition should keep Big East coaching staffs up at night. He could be an Opening Night starter.
Kevin Freeman: Assistant Kenya Hunter left to join Archie Miller's staff at Indiana. To replace him, Dan Hurley hired a former Husky in Kevin Freeman. A starter on the 1999 national title team, Freeman was on UConn's staff as a director of basketball administration from 2011-18 for Jim Calhoun and Kevin Ollie. He made the jump into coaching the last two years as an assistant at Penn State.
