UConn MBB's freshmen enter "the cauldron"
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn freshmen arrived on campus in June, and have since had their first experiences with head coach Dan Hurley's practices. Hurley himself has described it as a "cauldron of intensity."
“I know he’s intense and he’s a little crazy, but that’s what I like and that’s what I need,” freshman point guard Rahsool Diggins said.
Slackers don’t make it on this basketball team, and that suits the three newest Huskies just fine.
“It’s not for everybody,” said Diggins on Tuesday outside the Werth Center. “You have to compete... no days off... you need to kill or be killed here.”
For the returning players and coaches, there have already been too many days off since their last game - a 63-54 loss to Maryland on March 20 in the NCAA Tournament.
The last 45:07 of the season, which includes the final minutes of the Creighton loss in the Big East semifinals, are a driving force going into a new season.
Diggins, guard Jordan Hawkins, and 6-10 Samson Johnson - all top-100 recruits in the Class of 2021 - are looking to help the Huskies build on a breakthrough season that also saw them join the Big East Conference.
The Huskies have senior R.J. Cole at the point along with junior Jalen Gaffney, but Diggins comes in with that “Philly swag” as Hurley called it.
“I think that comes from me being from North Philadelphia,” Diggins said. “My confidence is always high no matter where I am and you should be confident when you put the work in.”
With James Bouknight leaving to go be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft, the Huskies are looking for an infusion of talent and leadership from this class, headlined by Diggins, who has a reputation for being a playmaker.
“I think I can solidify myself as a leader, even though it’s all new to me, I can try and that’s what I’m doing right now.”
Off the court, Diggins has already been vocal about future recruits coming in, tweeting out to 2022 big man Donovan Clingan, who is scheduled to take an official visit to UConn on Thursday and Friday.
“They have to do what’s right,” he said. “If you want to win and compete at a high level, come here and get better.
“There’s no way you can come here and not get better.”
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Last year's team could have used Hawkins, ranked 45th in the Class of 2021, given their penchant for offensive lapses. Hawkins was named the 2020-21 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points while shooting .636 overall and .464 from three-point range at DeMatha (Md.) Catholic High School. He appears to have the potential to contribute early.
“(Hurley) has thrown me in the fire right away since day one,” Hawkins said. “He wants me to be a key contributor on the team, so I’ve been learning, soaking everything in, and asking questions.”
Johnson continues The Patrick School (N.J.) big man pipeline, joining former high school teammate Adama Sanogo in a strong UConn frontcourt. The adjustment to college intensity has been a bit rough for the 6-foot-10 forward.
“It was kind of hard for me, but I’m just getting used to it now,” Johnson said. “Just being familiar with everybody (has been tough).
Reuniting with Sanogo, who was one of the conference’s top freshmen a year ago, has been important for him.
“Yes, yes that has been a big plus for me,” Johnson said. “We are kind of like ‘big brother/little brother’ and we keep building the relationship every day.”
Hurley did not meet with the media Tuesday but raved about all three freshmen earlier in June.
“They just have that athletic talent, that it’s like validation when they start moving around the court,” he said.