Virginia SF Chris Clarke (#59 on Rivals) has chosen to stay close to home, committing today to Donnie Tyndall and the Tennessee Boy Volunteers. Clarke had been a UConn target, but his desire to stay local and play early made Tennessee a more attractive destination.
It’s always disappointing to lose out on a targeted prospect, but fortunately, Kevin Ollie has a number of other options he’s pursuing:
Wisconsin C Diamond Stone (#5) is Ollie’s current top target. Stone is a highly skilled, back-to-the-basket center the likes of which UConn hasn’t had in quite some time. He’s taking his final official visit today and tomorrow at UConn, so it’s possible he could commit soon. It’s been indicated that he would decide by the November signing period, but remarks from his father have put that into doubt. Wisconsin remains the top roadblock for UConn to land Stone, but recent rumors seem to show UConn as the favorite.
Missouri SG Malik Newman (#3) is one of the most sought-after scorers in the country at the moment. UConn appeared to be out of the picture some time ago, but Newman recently confirmed on Twitter that he’s still seriously considering coming to Storrs. Newman and Stone had been long-discussing a package deal wherein the two of them would attend the same school, so it’s possible that a Stone commitment gets UConn strongly back into the mix on Newman. Mississippi State and Kentucky seem to be the strongest contenders for Newman’s services.
South Carolina SF Tevin Mack (#70), a sharpshooting wing with NBA size, is also being targeted heavily by the Huskies. Mack recently named UConn in his top 5, and last week was rumored to be prepared to commit to the Huskies, but VCU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Clemson have continued to show interest, keeping the pressure on. VCU in particular seems to be pushing hard for Mack, and it’s rumored that his mother may want him to stay closer to home, which would make things difficult for UConn. Mack is highly skilled and should be ready to contribute right away at any school.
Pennsylvania SF Derrick Jones (#42) is also on UConn’s radar. Over the summer, it looked like a Jones commitment was inevitable, but when he decided to wait until the spring to commit, things got a little dicey. UNLV has picked up some steam, and it’s possible that Jones may view himself as a one-and-done player, and is looking for a school where he won’t have to fight for playing time as a freshman so he can showcase himself for the NBA. Jones is considered to be a much more explosive athlete than Clarke or Mack, though may not have Clarke’s motor or Mack’s shooting ability.
New Jersey PG Isaiah Briscoe (#9) remains a possibility, though a remote one. Briscoe is probably the best point guard in the 2015 recruiting class, and is highly-developed, both physically and skill-wise. Briscoe would be an excellent replacement for Ryan Boatright, but he may have concerns about competing with Sam Cassell, Jr. and Terrence Samuel, as he’s likely also a one-and-done player. Briscoe’s preferences appear to be Kentucky and St. John’s.
