Another Big Recruiting Win As Larrier Picks UConn

In another high-profile recruiting coup, Kevin Ollie has won the services of VCU transfer Terry Larrier, who chose the Huskies over Maryland and others, as reported by Evan Daniels of Scout.com. Larrier, a 6-7 forward from the Bronx, will sit out the 2015-16 season after transferring, as per NCAA rules, and will have three years of eligibility remaining. With the win here, Ollie has exacted some degree of revenge against the Terps, who beat UConn for 5-star center Diamond Stone earlier this year.

Larrier is an athletic, skilled combo forward in the Scott Burrell/Donny Marshall mold, and should start in 2016-17, particularly if sophomore Daniel Hamilton leaves for the NBA draft, as many expect. Because of his size and skill, Larrier is an option to replace forward Shonn Miller, as well as to replace Hamilton.

UConn was one of the finalists for Larrier coming out of high school, only to see him sign with Shaka Smart and VCU. With Smart leaving the Rams for the University of Texas, Larrier was one of several players (including former UConn target Tevin Mack) who elected to go elsewhere.

This continues a trend for UConn, which has been rebuilding its roster through less conventional means recently after some high-profile recruiting misses. Miller and guard Sterling Gibbs both look to be starters this upcoming season after graduating from Cornell and Seton Hall, respectively, and entering graduate school at UConn. With the recent addition of 2016 F/C Mamadou Diarra, Ollie’s prior recruiting troubles seem to be over, at least for now.

The addition of Larrier means that the Huskies have one scholarship remaining for the upcoming season. Whether they elect to fill it with a new player or to again give a scholarship to senior Nnamdi Amilo again this year remains to be seen.

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