The UConn Draft

While we plot and scheme for this offseason’s bracket game, another hypothetical took root in our running staff email chain. The premise: if a draft was held including only UConn players from the Jim Calhoun & Kevin Ollie eras, how would that play out?

This idea was too ridiculous, too pointless, too time-consuming for us not to do it.

First some ground rules; unlike a fantasy team draft where player positions are concrete, we were to draft the best team we saw fit. Much like past UConn teams, we could play with two point guards, no center, whatever works. The only goal is to win. Players eligible must have played for either coach Calhoun or coach Ollie. We settled on 14 rounds, the final of which is exclusively reserved for a walk-on.

This part’s important: when you draft a player, you get them at their UConn-best. Meaning, if you draft Hilton Armstrong, you get senior year Hilton, not freshman year “where am I and what am I doing here?” Hilton.

The draft order was randomly generated and we picked in a serpentine fashion.

In this piece we’ll give you the pick-by-pick breakdown, including some explanations along the way. If that bores you, tomorrow we’ll post the complete rosters including lineups and statistics. In a third post, we’ll ask you – the readers – to vote on which team would win if they all went head-to-head.

So without ado, here are the results from our staff draft.

Round 1, Pick 1 – Team Tyler selects: Emeka Okafor, C

“While probably not the best player in the draft pool, Okafor presents the most clear advantage over the other players at his position. I’m also making a calculated guess that these teams will end up very guard-heavy so I’m going for size. Also, as the smartest member of the A Dime Back staff, I feel uniquely qualified to coach Okafor.”

Round 1, Pick 2 ­– Team Meghan selects: Ray Allen, G/F

“This is just a no-fucking-brainer, here. Ray is the GOAT. The best shooter to ever hold a basketball. Any game gets close, and I’m getting the ball to Ray.”

Round 1, Pick 3 – Team Peter selects: Donyell Marshall, F/C

“We’re assuming peak-level players, and nobody had a better peak at UConn than Donyell, who dominated the Big East at a level not often seen before or since. ‘Yell is also the most versatile player on the board, with the potential to play at three different positions, and offering scoring inside and out, rebounding, and shotblocking.”

Round 1, Pick 4 ­– Team Russ selects: Richard “Rip” Hamilton, F/G

“In my mock draft (yes, mock draft), Hamilton was already taken, so I didn’t expect the opportunity to grab the Pride of Coatesville (no disrespect to Shamon Tooles). So why Rip? He could play the 2 or the 3 and is more of a scorer than a shooter. He was going to give me versatility, no matter who I drafted around him and has as good a midrange game as anyone in this draft.”

Round 1, Pick 5 –  Team Alex selects: Kemba Walker, G

“I try to be a man of the people, and the people chose Kemba as their man in the A Dime Back Ultimate UConn Challenge. He’s Cardiac Kemba. He’s the guy you want with the ball in crunch time. He is a consummate leader, lethal scorer, and charming dancer. Easiest pick of the entire draft.”

Round 2, Pick 6 – Team Alex selects: Caron Butler, F

“Try not to root for this guy. So happy to see him make it. The inspiration of my team, and an all-around game befitting a superstar.”

Round 2, Pick 7 – Team Russ selects: Clifford “Uncle Cliffy” Robinson, C/F

“Uncle Cliffy is more Meghan’s time, but I decided to go with the first great big to play under Jim Calhoun with my second pick. Donyell and Emeka were off the board, making this one a no-brainer. A consistent 18-and-10 threat inside was too good to pass up, especially after half a year of watching this year’s UConn team.”

Round 2, Pick 8 – Team Peter selects: Shabazz Napier, G

“I was assuming that Napier would have been taken with either the 7th or 8th pick, and I was planning to take Gordon here. Then Russ took Uncle Cliffy, leaving me the opportunity to settle the point guard spot early with one of the clutchest motherfuckers of all-time.”

Round 2, Pick 9 – Team Meghan selects: Ben Gordon, G

“This also seemed like an obvious choice given what was on the board. Gordon was the best player available (BPA) at this point, and it solidified my get-the-best-guards strategy.”

Round 2, Pick 10 – Team Tyler selects: Rudy Gay, F

“Honestly, was planning on Cliff being here so I adjusted. I’ll take talent and hope that playing with Okafor takes some pressure off.”

Round 3, Pick 11 – Team Tyler selects: Khalid El-Amin, G

“I didn’t take a pudgy kid with my first two picks, so I had to here.”

Round 3, Pick 12 – Team Meghan selects: Chris Smith, G

“With my first three picks, I got the best three shooters I could get, with the bonus of two ball handlers. I can have either Gordon or Smith on the court, or they can play together. Just try to figure out who to guard when they’re playing next to Ray.”

Round 3, Pick 13 – Team Peter selects: Hasheem Thabeet, C

“I didn’t want to get caught reaching for a center later, and I knew that wing players would be easy to come by, so Thabeet was the obvious choice here.”

Round 3, Pick 14 – Team Russ selects: Jeremy Lamb, G/F

“Lamb’s athleticism and potential offensively were too much to ignore here. I didn’t NEED him because RIP could have filled that void easily, but I went for it anyway. With the way a snake draft works, I knew I’d have another pick soon anyway, so I could grab my point guard then. If my target disappeared in the meantime, there were plenty more.”

Round 3, Pick 15 – Team Alex selects: Andre Drummond, C

“I wasn’t about to have a UConn team that didn’t block shots, and Okafor and Thabeet were taken. Maybe his freshman season didn’t quite live up to the hype, but he still fills the role better than any center taken after this point. Also, his outstanding NBA career so far probably swayed me towards him (even though that doesn’t count for this exercise…but it kinda still does). Also, the thought of Kemba throwing no-look alley-oops to Drummond is…appetizing. ALSO: He is the mentor to my MyPlayer in NBA 2K and is my friend.”

Round 4, Pick 16 – Team Alex selects: Doron Sheffer, G

“I wanted 2 guards who could handle the ball, and also play comfortably off the ball. Sheffer and Kemba both fit this bill. Also, they can both shoot reasonably well. Neither of them are the greatest shooters in our illustrious history, but they are steady hands. This combo on the floor is lethal, like a pair of assassins. Brothers from different mothers. Dancing and sniping all around the defense. If I am forced to defend this combo, I might as well do the cowardly thing and Boeheim Zone them. But the most important reason to draft him is because this picture exists.”

Round 4, Pick 17 – Team Russ selects: Marcus Williams, G

“The others were a little surprised by this pick, though they all conceded that Marcus was a badass. Here’s my reasoning for springing for him so early: I had already taken Lamb, Hamilton and Cliffy — three guys who at one point were the go-to option offensively. So how do you get them the ball? By drafting the most prolific assist man in UConn history. Also considered: every other amazing point guard that has paraded through Storrs.”

Round 4, Pick 18 – Team Peter selects: Scott Burrell, F/G

“I had my center, power forward, and point guard, and Burrell was the best wing available. He played both shooting guard and small forward at UConn, so he was versatile enough that I wouldn’t be limited when my next pick came up.”

Round 4, Pick 19 – Team Meghan selects: Jeff Adrien, F

“With all these shooters, I needed to get a rebounder (I mean, even Ray the God doesn’t make every shot), and Adrien was the best rebounder on the board at this point.”

Round 4, Pick 20 – Team Tyler selects: Kevin Freeman, F

“Foiled again! I wanted Adrien, but Freeman’s a nice silver medal. Basically I want a rebounding 4 who doesn’t get in Okafor’s way.”

Round 5, Pick 21 – Team Tyler selects: Ryan Boatright, G

“Always play two point guards. Always. El-Amin and Boatright are a hilarious combo.”

Round 5, Pick 22 – Team Meghan selects: Ricky Moore, G

“I got a rebounder with Adrien, so I decided I would take the best damn on-ball defender UConn ever had (with apologies to Boat) as well as an all-time-great glue guy, Ricky Moore. He can handle the ball, gets steals and assists, and can run the break.”

Round 5, Pick 23 – Team Peter selects: Charlie Villanueva, F

“I was definitely not expecting Villanueva to be available here, so I made a BPA choice rather than fill the hole I still had at SG. Charlie would give me ideal depth up-front, allowing me to freely rotate Donyell and Thabeet without a significant drop-off in talent.”

Round 5, Pick 24 – Team Russ selects: Stanley “Sticks” Robinson, F

“What a freak.”

Round 5, Pick 25 – Team Alex selects: Nadav Henefeld, F

“Why not complete the Israeli connection? Oh and also he was really great in his one season.”

Round 6, Pick 26 – Team Alex selects: Donny Marshall, F

“The attitude of my team. If he were a Ninja Turtle, he’d be Raphael.”

Round 6, Pick 27 – Team Russ selects: Travis Knight, C

“If given the choice, I think I’d start Knight with Cliffy at the 4. He’s good for a couple blocks per game and would give me a 4-5 combo that’s tough to match. As a bonus, he took (and missed) five threes as a freshman. We’d work on that in the first practice and turn him into a perimeter threat.”

Round 6, Pick 28 – Team Peter selects: AJ Price, G

“I needed a shooting guard, and while Price doesn’t actually fit the bill, he was the last elite guard left on the board, and he has the size and shooting to play off the ball. I had considered taking Slash here, but I knew that there would be other options available, and I wanted to make sure I had an extra ballhandler. This is a UConn team, after all.”

Round 6, Pick 29 – Team Meghan selects: Jake Voskuhl, C

“At this point, I needed a center. But I don’t need my center to do much, and certainly not on offense. Voskuhl plays good low-post defense, especially when he’s got a big body next to him (see:  Elton Brand, 1999 National Championship), and I have him starting next to Adrien. More importantly, he sets a great high screen and can pass from the high post. I’m having shooters coming off screens all day e’rry day.”

Round 6, Pick 30 – Team Tyler selects: Josh Boone, F/C

“I need a little Okafor insurance and I like Boone’s versatility. Plus he’s proven he can play with Okafor as well.”

Round 7, Pick 31 – Team Tyler selects: Rashad “Slash” Anderson, G/F

“I was concerned that none of my first six picks owned Scream masks.”

Round 7, Pick 32 – Team Meghan selects: Kevin Ollie, G

“With KO, I get a true point guard who regularly played next to another point guard. With all these shooters I needed some ballhandling, and KO gives me that and some great defense. And, also, he’s the greatest human in the history of humans. You know you want KO in your locker room.”

Round 7, Pick 33 – Team Peter selects: Phil Gamble, G

“Everyone forgot that Gamble was actually a really good player at UConn, particularly his junior year. I considered going with Jerome Dyson with this pick, but I wanted a shooter, and Gamble’s outside game is much stronger than Dyson’s.”

Round 7, Pick 34 – Team Russ selects: Jerome Dyson, G

“The key here is to remember that we’re doing “peak UConn,” so think of Dyson at his best. Now think of him playing alongside Stanley Robinson again, but with both of them always at their best. Think about how good that 2010 team should have been. You’re probably crying about what could have been. I’m sorry.”

Round 7, Pick 35 – Team Alex selects: DeAndre Daniels, F

“I’m guilty of maligning DeAndre a bit, but the reality is that by the end of the 2013-2014 campaign, he was the 2nd biggest reason (Bazz is #1, obvi) we made it as far as we did (National Champs…in case you forgot). I always viewed him as a player who lacked strength and toughness and was too streaky to be a reliable threat as a shooter. By the end of last season, though, he put those concerns to bed. He drove the lane and threw it down with authority, he hit 3s, hit FTs, and he rebounded. It was everything you want from a forward. That’s the DeAndre I drafted.”

Round 8, Pick 36 – Team Alex selects: Albert Mouring, G

“I felt like I needed a shooting guard with this pick and I was suprised when reviewing Mouring’s numbers. I’m not even sure which year to pick. He shot 48% from 3 and 39% from 2 in his junior season. He shot 37% from 3 and 48% from 2 in his senior season. We are just going to call it 48% from 3 and 48% from 2. That provides real value as a shooter off the bench!”

Round 8, Pick 37 – Team Russ selects: Tate George, G

“It’s late! It’s great! It’s in prison for his role in a Ponzi scheme!”

Round 8, Pick 38 – Team Peter selects: Denham “111” Brown, F/G

“This was a value pick that also filled a need. I felt that Denham was the best player left on the board, and I needed another wing player at some point, so this seemed like the right move. Denham could always do a little of everything, which makes him an ideal bench player.”

Round 8, Pick 39 – Team Meghan selects: Taliek Brown, G

“At this point, I’ve decided I’m just going full-court press on every defensive possession. With Brown, and my previous pick, I grabbed a couple straight-up ball handlers. Just picture Taliek driving into the lane to kick out to Ray Allen. I love this so much. Seriously, I can have four guards just running past everyone. It would be bananas, but I would love to watch that game.”

Round 8, Pick 40 – Team Tyler selects: Amida Brimah, C

“The big man ranks are about to thin out really fast, and I’m pretty convinced I can find capable guards later, so I’m going full Team Giant.”

Round 9, Pick 41 – Team Tyler selects: Rod Sellers, C/F

“Team Giant!”

Round 9, Pick 42 – Team Meghan selects: Kirk King, F

“Ok, honestly, I forgot about Armstrong. I would have taken him if I’d realized he was on the board, but I’m totally fine with Kirk King coming off the bench for rebounds and general badassery. Also, reunited with his brother in NCAA bullshit, Ricky Moore. This feels right.”

Round 9, Pick 43 – Team Peter selects: Hilton Armstrong, C

“Armstrong was another guy who fell a lot further than I’d expected. After Boone, he’s probably the best backup center anyone got, and it’s always good to have extra big men, especially ones who block shots.”

Round 9, Pick 44 – Team Russ selects: Johnnie Selvie, F

“Johnnie is a punchline for the Hartford Courant Internet comment coalition ‘The Boneyard‘, but in our hearts, he’s still the No. 1 community college transfer who nearly ran down a cop in his car.”

Round 9, Pick 45 – Team Alex selects: Alex Oriakhi, C/F

“I have forgiven and forgotten with this National Champion, who really was quite good that season.”

Round 10, Pick 46 – Team Alex selects: Niels Giffey, F

“I almost want him to be the 6th man. GLUE GUY. Does the little things, and the big things, like hitting 50% of his 3s.”

Round 10, Pick 47 – Team Russ selects: Rudy Johnson, F

“Rudy Johnson is my dad’s favorite player of all-time, and I’ve done everything I could throughout my 24 years on earth to make him happy and it still hasn’t worked.”

Round 10, Pick 48 – Team Peter selects: Tony “Supertone” Robertson, G

“I wanted another shooter here, particularly one who could handle the ball. There weren’t any good options left that were actual point guards, but I knew I wanted one of Supertone/Gwnn/Fair, and I liked Robertson’s game the best.”

Round 10, Pick 49 – Team Meghan selects: Rashamel Jones, F/G

“Glue guys galore! Rash is my utility player. Also, remember we get peak UConn, and sophomore Rash started 31 games, averaging 13 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. I think he was a huge get so late in the draft.”

Round 10, Pick 50 – Team Tyler selects: Daniel “JCDH” Hamilton, F

“Shocked he fell this far, to be honest. Jean Claude Dan Ham is another versatile guy who let’s me go small with him or Gay at the 4.”

Round 11, Pick 51 – Team Tyler selects: John Gwynn, G

“Slash and Gwynn are probably the two most prolific bench scorers in UConn history, and now I’ve got them both on my bench.”

Round 11, Pick 52 – Team Meghan selects: Brian Fair, G

“It’s just all guard everything at this point.”

Round 11, Pick 53 – Team Peter selects: Gavin Edwards, F/C

“By round 11, you’re going three deep at positions, and Edwards was one of the last decent bigs left on the board. I probably would have taken Fair if he were still available, since I’m still not thrilled with my guard situation, but Edwards was a good, solid big who could play a couple of positions and block a few shots.”

Round 11, Pick 54 – Team Russ selects: Edmund Saunders, F

“Connecticut product. Not Doug Wiggins. #Toughness”

Round 11, Pick 55 – Team Alex selects: Roscoe Smith, F

“Sure, this. But I still love him. He did admirable mean-mugging whenever Kemba hit a game winner. Of note: solid rebounder.”

Round 12, Pick 56 – Team Alex selects: Lasan Kromah, F

“Glue. Guy.”

Round 12, Pick 57 – Team Russ selects: Rodney “Purv” Purvis, G

“Vroom vroom.”

Round 12, Pick 58 – Team Peter selects: Lyman DePriest, G/F

“I wanted a good defensive perimeter defender here, and Alex the Fart had just taken Roscoe Smith and Lasan Kromah. DePriest wasn’t much value on offense, but he was a good athlete and a great defender, so he helps to patch up some holes here.”

Round 12, Pick 59 – Team Meghan selects: Souleymane Wane, C

“If I’m getting someone to back-up Jake Voskuhl, I might as well get the guy who actually backed-up Jake Voskuhl.”

Round 12, Pick 60 – Team Tyler selects: Doug Wiggins, G

“I’m taking a chance on Doug, hoping the drill sergeant combo of Okafor and Freeman will keep him on the straight and narrow. Also, Khalid needs someone to hang out with and this one seems too obvious…”

Round 13, Pick 61 – Team Tyler selects: Ed Nelson, F

“I drafted Nelson because I really want my opponents to get stuck.”

Round 13, Pick 62 – Team Meghan selects: Kentan Facey, F

“Facey gives me another rebounder and a really good back-up for Adrien. When I go super small with all my guards, he can play the five. I like this as my last pick. A lot.”

Round 13, Pick 63 – Team Peter selects: Terrence Samuel, G

“I didn’t want Craig Austrie, so I took Samuel.”

Round 13, Pick 64 – Team Russ selects: Craig Austrie, G

“This was the easiest pick for me. In reality, I’m indifferent toward Austrie, but the entire A Dime Back crew seems to throw him under the bus at any opportunity, so I’ve become the designated Austrie fan. This made me obligated to take him with my final pick.”

Round 13, Pick 65 – Team Alex selects: Omar Calhoun, G/F

“I picked him to throw more good karma his way. One of the only fun things about this season has been watching him break his slump. Here’s to his continued improvement.”

Walk-on Round

Pick 1 – Team Alex selects Kenny Borton, G

“I selected Kenny Borton because he is from the same town as me and he is nice.”

Pick 2 – Team Russ selects Sami Ameziane, G

“Two reasons. First, due to the inconvenient booting of Antonio Kellogg from the 2005 team, Sami saw meaningful NCAA Tournament minute(s). Secondly, he’s a standup comic. This team will need some humor.”

Pick 3 – Team Peter selects Pete McCann, G

“I actually worked with Pete McCann at Rockville High School, and he’s a bro’s bro. Pete, if you’re reading this (he’s not), way to be the man.”

Pick 4 – Team Meghan selects Marty Gagne, G

“The Pride of Vernon, Connecticut, and the producer of Ed Nelson’s epic UConn rap track, ‘Pick-Up Truck.’ Another no-brainer.”

Pick 5 – Team Tyler selects Tor Watts, G

“As if this was even a question.”

Coming up next, the complete team lineups including statistics.