Category: transfer portal

Season Grades for Each Bench Player so Far

With the Huskies having seven conference games remaining before the Big East tournament at this time last month, I thought it would be a good time to give grades to each player on the team for how they have played up to this point of the season. I decided to first focus on the bench, before moving on to the starters after the Marquette game tonight. This article focuses both on the player’s strengths as well as their weaknesses, and what they can do better in these final weeks. I will update this article after the Marquette game. Enjoy!   

Donovan Clinigan: A-

Clinigan may have hit a little bit of a freshman wall recently, but there’s no denying that he has been a huge surprise on both ends and helped solidify the UConn frontcourt.

Coming into the season, Clinigan was still viewed as a project by many fans and reporters, even despite reports out of stores in the preseason that he looked much more game-ready than the staff had predicted. A large part of this was Clinigan dominating at Bristol Central instead of at a prep school, where many fans thought he should have gone for a post-grad season. However, the combination of losing weight and practicing against Adama Sanogo in practice every day has helped Clinigan become one of the best freshmen bigs in the country.   

Clinigan is averaging 7.8 points on 72.7% shooting, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 13.6 minutes per game. He has an offensive rating of 119.1 (103.8 in the Big East) with an effective field goal percentage of 69.4. While Clinigan almost never shoots more than five feet from the basket, his strength and improved athleticism allows him to bully almost any defender. Clinigan is already very strong at finishing shots and is a constant threat to score on dunks and lobs as well as put back shots due to his great offensive rebounding (he has rebounded 18.3% of opportunities this season). His one weakness is at the free throw line, where he shoots 52.4%. Clinigan’s rate and per-40 minute stats on offense are insane, and he definitely is more effective on that end than Sanogo as a freshman.

On defense, Clinigan has also established himself as one of the best shot blockers in the country already. He has blocked multiple shots in 13 games and four or more in five games, and his percentage of shots blocked is 14.9%. He has excellent hands, and his size and quick reaction speed allows Clinigan to constantly block and alter shots. He is also an excellent defensive rebounder, and has gobbled up more than 34% of opportunities in Big East play. Clinigan has a rebound in every game he has played and four games with 10 or more. Clinigan does struggle to guard without fouling due to over-aggressiveness and being fooled by his man, but I am confident he will learn to control it with his basketball intelligence, especially as referees give Clinigan more respect.  

There’s no telling what heights Clinigan can reach as a sophomore and junior at UConn if he stays, and he arguably has the upside of someone like Zach Eddy, who is on his way to winning the Wooden award. Clinigan is struggling right now defensively and playing less due to foul trouble, but I am confident he will figure things out just like Alex Karaban did. Marquette could be a particularly good matchup for him, as he had 20 and 10 with 5 blocks in the first matchup with the Golden Eagles.

Hasan Diarra: C+

Diarra’s biggest selling point when UConn grabbed him from the transfer portal last season was that he had a reputation as a strong on-ball defender and high-energy point guard off the bench at Texas A&M. These traits have been on display throughout the season and during conference play. In just 14.5 MPG, Diarra is averaging nearly a steal a game and a steal percentage of 3.5%, and he’s had five games with multiple steals. Diarra is also plenty capable of blocking a shot despite his 6-2 frame. He generally does an excellent job of using his strength and athleticism to pressure ball handlers and pick off passes. If UConn pressured more on defense like I want them to do against certain opponents, he would be especially adept at doing so.

So why does Diarra have such a mediocre grade? As anyone who has watched UConn a decent amount this season, it’s because of his lack of production on the offensive end. Diarra is averaging just 2.9 PPG on 32.9% shooting., with an effective percentage of 37.1%. While he is putting up 2 assists per game, he also has a career-high turnover percentage of 28.9%. Diarra was never a great shooter at the line with the Aggies, but he has shot just over 53%  at the line, nearly 20% worse than last season. Couple with that Diarra’s lousy perimeter shooting and habit of making costly turnovers, and there is a reason that he has never started this season even when Newton was struggling heavily. Unless there is an injury, I am sure Diarra won’t see the floor for more than 10 minutes at most the remainder of the season. It will be interesting to see how much playing time he gets next season with the arrival of Stephen Castle and possibly another strong transfer point guard to replace Newton.

Naheim Alleyne: C

When Alleyne transferred from Virginia Tech to UConn for his senior season, I said that he should be a better version of Tyler Polley, as the two has a similar game but Alleyne plays much better defense. Alleyne has mostly lived up to the expectations on the defensive end, but his outside shot has pretty much deserted the guard for the entire season, leading to a bad domino effect for the entire team at times.  

First, the good: Alleyne has been a strong perimeter defender for the Huskies, particularly during the first two months of the season. The 6-4 guard does a good job using his length to affect shots and has the athleticism to stay in front of his man. The biggest issue with Alleyne on the defensive end is his propensity to be too handsy and pick up fouls, a bad habit which has gotten worse against the tougher competition in practice. While Alleyne’s defense has still been better than most of his teammates in the last month as UConn struggled, he has not done as good of a job keeping his man in front of him and limiting penetration. Hopefully, Alleyne’s individual defense will pick up along with the team down the stretch.

Alleyne’s struggles from beyond the arc has been inexplicable this season, especially since it’s lasted all season and not just in conference play. After shooting over 38% from three during his ACC career, Alleyne is at 27.9% this year (28.6% in the Big East). He has not made more than one trey in a conference game, and only did it four times in nonconference games. Alleyne’s percentages inside the arc have also plummeted in conference play, and he rarely gets to the charity stripe. It’s no wonder Alleyne has not scored more than five points in a game this year and had his minutes dwindle consistently, and I am not surprised he has not started for Jackson at any point recently despite his struggles. Along with Calcaterra, Alleyne shooting closer to his career average on 3-pointers the rest of the season would make the Huskies a much bigger threat to end the regular season well and go on runs in March.

Update: UConn fans were waiting for Alleyne to have a breakout conference game and he finally came through on Tuesday, draining three 3-pointers on his way to 13 points. Alleyne’s treys constantly came at big moments, including one at the end of the first half that gave the Huskies a 16 point lead going into the break. Alleyne’s form looked great on the 3-pointers, and UConn’s excellent screening and passing gave the senior space on each shot. Alleyne’s defense was also steady as always and he played disciplined on that end, committing zero fouls. He recorded his highest point total of the season, and hit a trio of threes for only the second time. With Alleyne’s big bench performance and his general improvement over the last few games, I am bumping his grade to a C+. Even more than Calcaterra, Alleyne’s stronger overall game and accomplished history as a shooter can make him a microwave scorer for UConn thest last few weeks as long as he maintains confidence.

Joey Calcaterra: B

It’s been a roller-coaster season for Joey California. The fifth-year transfer from San Diego was the least heralded of Dan Hurley’s transfers but was a star for the first two months of Big East play. He averaged 9.1 points through 13 games while shooting over 50% from three and had a habit for coming up in the clutch moments. Combine this with Calcaterra’s energy and nifty passing, and it’s no surprise that he became a folk hero quickly for the whole fan base. Calcaterra was one of the biggest reasons for why the Huskies started 14-0.

After the high-water of a 14-point performance against Georgetown on December 20th in which he led the team to a 14-point performance, Calcaterra has crash-landed in the last 11 games. He has not scored more than 6 points in a game since and is now shooting 27.3% on three’s in the Big East. Calcaterra is similarly struggling inside the arc and has gotten to the line just once! Overall, his offensive ranking in conference games is 91.7 and true shooting percentage 36%.  

Calcaterra has never been a particularly good defender due to his lack of athleticism. He was able to hold his own to some extent in the nonconference season, but he has predictability struggled against the stronger and more athletic guards in the Big East and been unable to keep his man from penetrating. With Calcaterra’s shooting struggles and lack of defense, his playing team has decreased significantly. Even if his shooting pics up again, Calcaterra will get fewer minutes than the first half of the season as Hurley shortens his roster.

This rating is probably a little too generous. However, I cannot imagine that Calcaterra’s shooting improves somewhat down the stretch, and it already has slightly over the last six games. Before the end of the year, I believe Calcaterra will give us a few more unforgettable moments and clutch shots. Long live Joey California.

Update: Calcaterra played within the flow of the offense in his 10 minutes. He moved the ball and screened effectively, and picked up a layup as well as earning an assist and rebound. Calcaterra surprisingly did not take a three. It was nice to see Joey California contribute without scoring, but he desperately needs to have a game where his shooting touch returns and Joey gains some confidence. Just like Alleyne, UConn is not going to reach his full potential if Calcaterra isn’t making big threes against good teams.

but on Johnson: Incomplete

Johnson has had a tough two years in Storrs, and so far appeared in just four games due to an ankle injury. After sustaining the injury in the opening game and missing two months, Samson finally returned on the 22nd against Butler. Johnson hasn’t looked bad in the limited minutes he has played, scoring a combined 11 points on 4-8 shooting, and grabbing six rebounds. However, he hasn’t played more than 7 minutes since returning and is getting back into game shape. I expect Hurley to give Johnson spot minutes here and there the remainder of the regular season, but don’t think he will play against any big-time opponents like Marquette barring significant foul trouble. While Johnson may not have the experience and stamina to fill the rim protection role UConn desperately needs yet, I hope decent minutes the remainder of the season and an offseason of working on his game will allow Johnson to unlock his potential next year.

Update: Nothing has changed. Johnson did not play at all against Marquette, and I would be shocked if he did against Creighton. There have also been no updates about how many minutes Johnson is capable of playing in a game. It looks more and more like this will sadly be a lost season for him.

Richie Springs: N/A

The 2023 season was obviously not destined to be we unleashed Springs. His only apparence in Big East play came for less than a minute against Butler, despite actually playing fairly well in the few minutes he got during the nonconference schedule. If Hurley isn’t willing to use Springs for even two or three minutes as a big body and rebounding threat as a junior, then I don’t think Storrs is theplace for Springs. Let’s hope for his sake that Springs transfers in the offseason and finds a low-major program where he can get valuable minutes and prove himself.  

Fans Need to be More Positive About Team

During the few weeks leading up to UConn’s preseason against Stonehill Monday night, I noticed a frustrating trend from the Huskies fanbase: Way too many members of Husky nation are extremely cynical about this team. Yes, there is the small contingent whom are already certain UConn will be lifting the national championship trophy. But many, especially online, are constantly questioning the team’s reliance on transfers and the ability of certain players to live up to the hype. These fans are especially skeptical of Dan Hurley’s ability to adjust as a coach and lead the Huskies to greater postseason success.

I don’t mind reasonable skepticism about UConn’s ability to be successful this season, and share a lot of the same questions and concerns as these fans to some extent. However, this cynicism is misplaced. Yes, there will be growing pains as the team integrates a lot of new faces and probably new styles of play (four-out on offense and a faster pace of play, zone on defense), and the Huskies will eventually have to demonstrate they can consistently win close games against tough opponents. But there will also be more depth and likely offensive versatility than the last few seasons, players are primed to take large steps forward, and the transfers each offer clear strengths already. The beginning of the UConn season is a time for optimism, not worry.

First, I believe the fanbase is expressing too much concern about transfers Tristen Newton (senior guard), Hassan Diarra (junior guard), and Naheim Alleyne (senior guard). UConn has shown already that they can develop transfers from smaller conferences into impact players in R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, and that will continue.

Newton, a 6-5, 190-pound combo guard, had a huge season at East Carolina last season, averaging 17.7 points and 5 assists and earning First Team All-AAC honors. He averaged just under 12 points overall in three seasons at ECU. Newton showed last season that he can take over games and be a floor general against strong competition, and brings more size and speed to UConn’s backcourt.

As he gets comfortable against the tougher competition, Newton should develop into a go-to scorer for the Huskies. He does not need to be the guy constantly handling the ball for UConn with Andre Jackson and Diarra also right there, and I don’t expect him to be. Newton just needs to gain the trust of his teammates and Hurley and demonstrate reliable ball-handling. By the middle of the season, I think Newton will be main guy the team relies on to attack the rim and get big-time buckets and free throws in crunch time. Dan Hurley has indicated he has high expectations for Newton and that he needs to work hard to meet them, and I believe Newton can meet Hurley’s demands.

 While Newton’s success will likely depend on his ability to create offense for both himself and others and make baskets when the game is on the line, Darra’s will depend on him being a junkyard dog and doing all the little things, especially on defense. The 6-2, 190-pound combo guard from Queens and Texas A&M is highly regarded as an on-ball defender and can use his size and strength to force turnovers. He showed at A&M that he can be a primarily ball-handler when necessary, and improved his assist-to-turnover ratio tremendously from freshman to sophomore year.

While Diarra is still an inconsistent offensive player, he similarly made strides as a shooter and demonstrated he could be a threat behind the arch, most memorably in the Big 12 Tournament. Diarra was highly regarded by the Aggies coaches for his work ethic and competitiveness, and all reports indicate Hurley and his staff feel the same way. I strongly believe that Darra’s strength and competitiveness could help him develop into a solid rebounder for a guard of his size.

Diarra seems like he is destined to eventually become a fan favorite at UConn. With his defense, ability to play the point, and improved shooting, he could be a sparkplug off the bench or an ideal running partner for Andre Jackson, Newton, and Jordan Hawkins. Diarra showed off his versatility against Stonehill (11 points on 5-8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals) as well as his intensity. Reports coming out in the preseason said that Diarra was demonstrating improved shooting and the ability to run the offense effectively, and Hurley seems to get the most out of any player who plays all out. In a few years, Diarra could emerge just like Christian Vital did as a senior.

While Alleyne players shooting guard and not forward, it appears to me his game is a better, more complete version of Tyler Polley. The 6-4, 195-pound senior transfer was a reliable perimeter scorer in three seasons at Virginia Tech and made 37.3% of his threes for the Hokies last season. He is over 38% in his career from deep. While Alleyne missed all four threes, he took against Stonehill, there is no reason to think those numbers will not be similar at UConn. With his size and shooting range, Alleyne should open up the offense for whomever else is on the floor.

Alleyne is more than just a 3-point specialist, however. He is considered a solid defender, and had four steals in the opener. Alleyne can play at small forward against certain teams and has been both a starter and sixth man. His maturity and extensive experience playing in a high-major league can allow him to be a leader for the Huskies, especially in these first few weeks while Jackson and possibly Hawkins are out with injury.

Most of the feedback about Alleyne’s play in the preseason was positive, and Hurley expressed satisfaction with the flexibility he offers UConn on both ends of the court. Alleyne is the perfect complimentary player every good program needs to improve.

I have become even more frustrated over the skepticism fans have in the ability of Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins to become more complete and efficient players. All the offseason work Sanogo put in to expand his game, and the team’s efforts to make the offense more flexible, can allow him to be the Big East Player of the Year. Fans have read the reports/stories and seen video about Adama expanding his shooting range and passing ability, and his passing certainly looked much smoother against Stonehill. I expect Sanogo to become a more disciplined defender over the course of the year as well, especially if Hurley fully adjusts the defense so Sanogo must defend the high hedge less. I also think that with the encouragement of Hurley, Sanogo will be more aggressive offensively (more dunks please!). Finally, the likely improvement of the Huskies shooting can make it much easier for Sanogo to score and create offense for others. Fans will have to wait a while to see if he can consistently make jumpers against good teams when the opportunity arises. But Sanogo has told the rest of the Big East for two years that they should not bet against him.

Andre Jackson is already likely the most essential player to UConn reaching its ceiling not named Sanogo, as well as my favorite Husky now that Martin left. He improved tremendously as a defender (I would argue he is one of the best in the Big East) and rebounder last season, and as a ball-handler in the second half of the season. While Jackson’s offensive game was extremely inconsistent and his shooting mechanics remained ugly, he significantly improved his shooting last season and was a 3-point threat, albeit with very few attempts. With all the hard work Jackson put in to improve those mechanics and ability to finish at the rim during the offseason, and the positive feedback Hurley and reporters have given about those efforts, I think Jackson will be a more aggressive offensive player and consistent scoring threat. He may even be able to average double digits.

While I am excited about Jackson’s potential to improve as a scorer, I am way more bullish in his ability to run the offense and create good scoring opportunities for others. Jackson’s speed, vision and unselfishness is unique, especially for a forward. If he can just be more disciplined and not always go for the spectacular pass, he can be a nightmare for defenders, especially on the fastbreak. Throw in Jackson’s eagerness to embrace the role of the Huskies vocal leader, and there is a reason Hurley thinks Jackson is the heart and soul of the team. I need a little time to see if Jackson can really be a point guard like he claims, especially if Jackson is rusty when he returns from injury in a week or so, but the NBA will come calling if he can.

I am a little less confident in Hawkins’s ability to take as big of a leap offensively as fans and pundits are predicting, and that the added muscle and weight he put on in the offseason will still make it easier for him to score and avoid injury. And of course, that fear of him getting injured has only increased since his possible concussion against Stonehill that will keep him out at least one game. Hawkins has excellent shooting mechanics and was consistently praised for the offensive improvements he showed in preseason practice and scrimmages by both Hurley and reporters. While James Bouknight was better as a freshman than Hawkins, Hurley has shown the ability to develop talented freshman into sophomore stars in both Bouknight and Sanago. There is a reason NBA scouts are so high on him and he is already projected to be a first-round pick if he leaves UConn. If Hawkins can improve his ball-handling and ability to score around the rim, Hawkins will be a double-digit scorer and could consistently take over games. And as a result, UConn will likely go on a postseason run and put Hawkins in position to be a possible lottery pick next summer. 

Finally, I feel a small but loud contingent of fans believe that based on the last two seasons, Dan Hurley is incapable of winning a majority of close games against quality teams and taking the Huskies to a Big East Tournament championship and far in the NCAA tournament. These fans have unrealistic expectations for Hurley and can sound ridiculous when saying he should be fired if UConn does not get to the Sweet 16 or further in the next two seasons. I am frustrated by how the past two seasons ended, and feel that Hurley can be too slow to make in-game adjustments and call timeouts, especially in their final minutes. His tendency to always be highly emotional in games also appears from my high to have a negative effect when the players are struggling. Still, Hurley’s strengths fair outweighs his faults. He appeared to make the necessary roster adjustments in the offseason for UConn to became a more well-rounded team.

Hurley is an excellent defensive coach, and his teams the last two seasons have been especially strong at guarding the paint and getting blocks, led by the incomparable Isiah Whaley. With the departure of Martin to the NBA and Whaley and Cole to other professional leagues, Hurley made sure to bring in two well-regarded defenders in Diarra and Alleyne. While Hurley’s offenses have been more limited, he made a concentrated effort to add better shooting and ball-handling through both the portal and recruiting (for this season and next). As already stated, generating improved perimeter shooting should give Sanago more space to operate in the post, which he frequently lacked last season.

In regards to returning players, Hurley has been clear that he plans on playing Jackson at point guard frequently when he returns. While that is an audacious move to make with a guy that was recruited as a forward and has been sloppy with his passing at times, it has a ton of upside. Jackson has outstanding court vision and length and has improved his ball handling, and a point guard with his speed and size could help UConn run a devastating fastbreak. Finally, Hurley has indicated he is willing to play more zones and other defensive styles with this year’s team instead of being so reliant on the high hedge. I think doing so successfully will help the big guys a ton, especially Sanago and Clinigan, and possibly allow the Huskies to have more energy for the end of games.

I am sure I will be plenty critical of Hurley on this blog at times throughout the season, especially if the Huskies continue to lose close games like they did last year. But if Hurley truly can adjust and learn from his mistakes, this is the year the team should break through in March Madness and win a few games. Who knows what will happen in future seasons, but it is nice to have a top-5 recruiting class coming to Storrs next season.

I urge Husky nation to embrace this fun team with so many newcomers. Enjoy the opening slate of games and the opportunity to see less experienced players contribute, and do not freak out if UConn drops a game or two when they start facing powerful out-out conference teams. This group has the talent to seriously challenge for the Big East titles and go on a tournament run, and is showing a lot of promise already despite missing some key players. If UConn has a strong year, it will put them in position to likely challenge for a Final Four in the next couple of years with the talent coming in. Support the players and enjoy the ride!

Tristen Newton Should be Playmaker Team Needs at Point

Despite UConn’s success the last three seasons, the program has not been blessed with a reliable scorer and playmaker at point guard. Enter Tristen Newton, formally of East Carolina. He was heavily recruited after entering the transfer portal when the Pirates season ended and the Huskies pounced on him quickly to fill their hole in the backcourt. After his official visit, Newton was quickly on board with playing in Storrs.

Newton was considered one of the top guards in the entire transfer portal and for good reason. He averaged 17.7 points, 5 assists and 4.8 rebounds for the 15-15 Pirates, regularly carrying the team in the AAC. Barring an injury, Newton seems penciled as Newton’s primary point guard next season (although Andre Jackson should run the offense to a decent extent).

The “6-5”, 190 pound Newton can score from anywhere on the floor and is particularly adapt at getting to and finishing at the rim, as well as reaching the free throw line. He was automatic from the stripe last season, shooting 87.9% overall and leading the American with an 87.4% mark. Factor in Newton’s ball-handling, ability to make plays for teammates and rebound and defend, and it’s clear he could have been successful day one at whatever program he transferred to.

Newton’s advanced stats as a junior show why he was a star for ECU. Newton had a true shooting percentage of 57.5% and an effective field goal percentage of 49.9%. In conference play, he ranked 16th in true shooting percentage. While Newton isn’t a huge threat from beyond the arc, his mark of 33.3% last season was more than respectable. Newton’s assist rate in conference play ranked second at33.2, and his overall rate of 34.4 was 24th in the nation. Newton demonstrated he could he could carry an extremely heavy workload last season, averaging the highest percentage of minutes of any AAC player and the third-most percentage of possessions.

Newton’s arrival should give the team a reliable three-true outcome scorer. In particular, Newton can both stretch the floor and effectively find teammates for good scoring opportunities. His versatility will especially be key if Hurley chooses to play four-out on offense for stretches. I can just imagine Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo getting a lot of quality scoring chances because of Newton’s ability to create.

On defense, Newton’s steal percentage last season was 2.4% and he was excellent on the defensive boards for a point guard, grabbing 13.1% of his opportunities. Newton had multiple steals in 14 games, and five or more rebounds in 15 games. His size and athleticism will allow him to reliably pressure ball-handlers, and Newton’s rebounding ability can help UConn get out ahead of teams and and effectively run the fast-break. Dan Hurley also mentioned that Newton’s length will possibly allow the Huskies to play zone more.

Newton is expected to become UConn’s to-to player from day one along with Adama Sanogo. However, he certainly knows there are things he can immediately improve on both now and throughout the season. Newton specifically pointed to improving his strength and conditioning to withstand the tougher competition in the Big East.

Newton embraced the Huskies when he entered the portal after Hurley and the coaching staff demonstrated knowledge of his background and game, something that was not true of many programs that reached out to Newton. His bond continued to strengthen with the coaches and players once Newton reached campus. Like many players, he appreciates Hurley’s passion on the court.

“Ever since the first phone call, I knew that they cared about their players,” Newton said. “They’re players’ coaches. They’re going to push you hard and want the best for you. That’s what drew me here.”

It’s a question mark right now how likely Newton is to use his extra year. On one hand, he can be a signature player for the Huskies and a leader embraced by fans. On the other hand, Newton can put himself in position to be drafted if he has a strong season.

Newton can surpass R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin as maybe the highest-impact transfer in UConn history. In particular, he can be the key to the program becoming much more versatile on offense and finally lead them to a tournament run again. If Newton is successful with the Huskies, it will only make them more appealing for transfers going forward. Bring him on!

Naheim Alleyne Brings Experience and Shooting to Storrs

Naheim Alleyne had three strong years at Virginia Tech, averaging 9.9 points. But after a tough first-round NCAA tourney loss for the Hokies, Alleyne was looking for a fresh start in the transfer portal. That’s when Luke Murray and UConn came calling.

While the “6-4” shooting guard was heavily pursued by programs looking for shooting, Murray was the only assistant coach who directly messaged Alleyne on Instagram. Alleyne then forged a close connection with the rest of the assistant coaching staff, and once he met Dan Hurley in person and saw the school up close, Alleyne realized the Huskies were the perfect fit for him.

UConn met the three criteria he was looking for in a program: skill development, a strong relationship with the coaches, and an appealing campus environment. Meanwhile, Alleyne was fulfilling the Huskies desire for a veteran guard who could reliably put the ball in the basket and bring a winning mentality.

As a player, Alleyne profiles as a sharpshooter, reliable ballhandler and skilled defender. He is a career 38.7% 3-point shooter and has been very consistent from deep throughout his career. Last season, he shot 37.3% from three and was twenty-third in ACC play at 37.9%. He made three or more treys in 10 games. With Virginia Tech, Alleyne especially provided himself adept moving without the ball and shooting off of screens.

Overall on offense, Alleyne averaged 9.6 points per game last season with an effect field goal percentage of 48.2% and a true shooting percentage of 51.8%. Alleyne’s shooting inside the arc was again underwhelming (38.8%), but he did shoot over 85% at the line. Alleyne scored in double-digits 17 times and was strong in February during ACCC play, averaging 10 points. However he struggled in the ACC tourney even as the Hokies won, averaging just 6.5 points, and scored four on 1-3 shooting in their first round NCAA tourney loss to Texas.

While Alleyne is known for the three, he has the ability to be a solid midrange shooter as well as take the ball to the rim and score. Alleyne is not going to be a guy who regularly creates his own offense, but he can make a shot from anywhere on the floor with enough spacing. At the same time, Alleyne has the passing ability to find open teammates anywhere on the floor.

Alleyne is a very reliable ballhandler, as he committed just over one turnover per game last season. In ACC play, his turnover percentage of 13% was 19th in the conference. While Alleyne averaged just 1.5 assists, he is universally regarded as a good passer and that percentage should go up if UConn is able to knock down outside shots and spread the floor. Alleyne should especially be able to find teammates like Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson open inside for easy looks. Because of Alleyne’s size and length, the Huskies can also rely on him to break the press in certain situations.

With his size and agility, Alleyne should be a handful against any guard or small forward he defends. He is known for his aggressiveness and active hands as well as his ability to avoid fouls. The senior transfer averaged a steal a game and had six games with double digit steals last season. With how well Alleyne seems to fit Dan Hurley’s defensive system and the coach’s ability to teach it, I could easily see these numbers going up.

Alleyne certainly has lofty goals now that he has arrived in Storrs. He told the Courant that his goal is to win both the Big East title and national championship as well as improve as a player. He also wants to show more emotion on the court at UConn, emulating Dan Hurley as much as he can.

I believe Alleyne was another great portal pickup for UConn. He’s the ideal 3-and-D player, and we know he want be intimidated playing in the Big East after facing so much talent in the ACC. All the feedback about Alleyne so far this offseason has been positive. Alleyne will definitely push Jordan Hawkins for the third guard spot in the starting lineup, although it’s more likely that he would be the first guard of the bench. Alleyne found a great landing spot, and I look forward to seeing him drain threes in my dreams.

Hassan Diarra Comes Home to Storrs

When Hassan Diarra was starring for Putnam Science Academy in high school, UConn heavily recruited the four-star recruit hard but came up short for the shooting guard, who decided to head to the Southwest and Texas A&M. When Diarra was ready for a new opportunity after his sophomore season, however, it didn’t take much time for Diarra to decide to come home.

Diarra, a ‘6-2’ shooting guard, averaged 6.2 points and 1.4 assists last season and 6 points in his two seasons with the Aggies, who just missed the NCAA tournament last season. He added 19 assists last season in 39 games. Diarra developed a reputation for clutch shooting last season, hitting three 3-pointers that either tied or won the game for Texas A&M. Diarra is certainly not scared of the big moment, telling the media “I think it’s just a testament to how hard I work. I work hard every day, and it showed in the biggest moments.”

Diarra showed some growth last season but still has a lot of room for improvement with the Huskies, who he can play up to three seasons with due to the extra Covid-19 year available. He improved his shooting significantly as a sophomore, going up 13 points in his offensive rating according to KenPom and recording solid jumps in his effective field goal and true shooting percentages as well (to 43.8 and 48.7). Diarra cut down his turnover rate by 7.3 points to 21.4, and improved his assist rate in conference play. After a tough start to conference play, Diarra ultimately ended up with seven double-digit scoring games and ultimately had 11 on the season. The muscular Diarra is a solid finisher and shot 48.7% inside the arc during conference play.

Diarra does not have a great handle and committed multiple turnovers in 12 games. However, he will be capable of providing additional ball-handling when necessary and support Tristen Newton, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins with running the offense during short spurts. Diarra will likely compete with Hawkins for starter’s minutes. A key factor for Diarra earning more minutes is improving his 3-point shooting. He knocked down 31.2% beyond the arc as a sophomore and drained multiple threes in eight games.

Diarra should be a solid defender for the Huskies. He has demonstrated the ability to use his size and athleticism to body up on defenders and pressure the ball. Diarra has a knack for getting steals and earned a steal rate of 2.5% with the Aggies last year, forcing multiple ones in six games.

The long-standing relationship that Hassan’s brother Mamadou has with the UConn program certainly didn’t hurt when Diarra was deciding to transfer. Mamadou played briefly for UConn under Kevin Ollie before injuries ended his on-court career, and has been a member of the coaching staff for four years now. He was recently promoted to the role of Director of Player Development. Ultimately however, Hassan told the media that his final decision in where he transferred came down to the relationship with the coaches, where he could see himself thriving, and the program having winning as a priority.

Diarra is especially valuable to the program as a skilled player who will be with the program for at least two years (barring him transferring) and can develop under the tutelage of Dan Hurley. As a junior, he will likely play 15-20 minutes at most. Diarra should play significantly more minutes next season at shooting guard if Tristan Newton and Naheim Alleyne choose to not use the super senior year available to them due to Covid-19 or Andre Jackson decided to pursue a professional career.   

UConn was in need of two-way players who have had proven success at a high level, and Diarra absolutely fills that niche. If he can provide an immediate impact on defense and continue to become more well-rounded on offense, the Huskies could find themselves with an indispensable piece and fan favorite in Hassan’s final season in Storrs.

Transfer Joey Calcaterra Brings Reliable Outside Shooting to Bench

The former San Diego Torrero will be leaving the West Coast Conference and heading to the East Coast for his sixth and final college season. Calcaterra, a ‘6-3’ shooting guard, played four seasons for USD and averaged 8.5 points and shot 34.4% from three as a regular starter last season. Calcaterra struggled with injuries at times, missing two games, and had a shooting slump in the middle of the season that caused his rate states to go down in comparison to his sophomore and junior seasons, when he averaged double figures.

If one just briefly looks at Calcaterra’s stats from last season, they can be forgiven for wondering why the Huskies would want to bring in a super senior transfer from a mid-major conference that isn’t elite in any one area, especially as the program’s likely final transfer portal acquisition. But looking closer, you recognize that Calcaterra’s perimeter and free throw shooting, passing and experience makes him a great fit for the Huskies as a rotational guard, especially considering Dan Hurley’s stated desire to play a 4-out offense.

In addition to his injury issues, part of Calcaterra’s offensive inconsistency last season was due to the lack of help his teammates gave him. San Diego’s offensive efficiency was ranked 298th on KenPom, and players assisted on just over 39% of field goals, the fourth-worst mark in the nation. Calcaterra is much more suited to playing a catch-and shoot game than creating off the dribble, and it’s easy to see how having to constantly create his own scoring opportunities as well as for others could depress both the sharpshooter’s overall stats and efficiency. With UConn, Calcaterra will benefit from open, high-quality shots and be pressured into turnovers less.

In Storrs, Calcaterra should be an effective off the bench sniper who can consistently provide 10-20 quality minutes on offense, especially against defenders he matches up well with physically that he can shoot over. Calcaterra should be able to get good looks both when set and on the move off of screens. While his shooting splits were mostly down across the board as a fifth-year senior (41/.2/34.4/86.8), they were much more efficient during his pandemic-shortened junior year (44.6/37.7/867), when his true shooting was at 62.3%, and even Calcaterra’s sophomore campaign. When you go back and look at videos of his shooting stroke from last season it appears to be as technically sound as ever, even if the ball didn’t go in the basket as much. With UConn, I expect Calcaterra to improve on his shooting percentage from three as he’s given more space to operate. Even if he doesn’t, similar shooting numbers should be more than acceptable with the other perimeter threats joining the Huskies both through the portal and as freshman.

The feedback fans have gotten back about Calcaterra’s performance in practice and scrimmage since he arrived should make them even more confident about his ability to be a “microwave scorer” off the bench. Associate head coach Kimani Young called him “the best shooter by far” in the summer sessions in early August, and both Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins testified to Calcaterra’s shooting prowess as well as his leadership ability.

Calcaterra’s ability to contribute in areas other than perimeter shooting are a little more up in the air. White he could act as a secondary ball handler for brief stretches of time against certain opponents, he was an unspectacular ball handler and passer with the Toreros and did not show the ability to create plays off the dribble for others. This is borne out by both video and Calcaterra’s stats, as he has averaged more turnovers than assists every year of his college career (his rates were 10.8% to 19.5% last season). UConn fans know after last season that its team needs as many spare ball handlers as possible, but don’t expect Calcaterra to soundly develop a great handle or playmaking skills anytime soon. Hurley and the Huskies didn’t recruit him for that role, and it’s mostly fine.

Calcaterra’s ability to be an effective defender is also up in the air. While he is widely seen as a hard worker on that end, Calcaterra may struggle to cover more quicker and more athletic perimeter players who he doesn’t have a size advantage on. At the same time, what was considered strong defense against WCC opponents will definitely not carry over against top Big East and additional power conference foes. Calcaterra’s overall box plus-minus was -2.4 last season. Dan Hurley has shown the ability to especially coach up and help improve players on the defensive end however, and I expect him to be able to do the same for Calcaterra. And again, the transfer is at UConn to provide depth and versatility on offense in likely limited minutes.  

While Calcaterra’s defense and ball-handling may not make a positive impact in his final college season, it is heartening to see how eager he was to play for a prestigious program like UConn and willing to take a reduced role to play for a winner. When he officially transferred, Calcaterra told the media that “It’s just an exciting time to be a part of such a historic program and successful program and the opportunity itself is just really a blessing,” and “I know nothing’s gonna be given to me. Obviously, they have a great roster already, so I’m just excited to get out there and play with the guys that are on the roster.” Every program needs experienced guys who take that mentality, especially as the transfer portal becomes a much bigger part of the game. The Huskies need experienced starters to set an example for such a young team, and Calcaterra’s ability to do so is just as important as the stats he will put up.

After becoming more familiar with Calcaterra over the past few weeks, I think he was a great pickup as a reliable and heavily experienced shooting guard who should be able to regularly play 10-15 minutes and have a few standout performances when his 3-pointers are following. You can’t do much better for a sixth backcourt option, especially now that Hurley has committed to regularly playing a 4-out offense. I can immediately see Calcaterra becoming a favorite of myself and many other loyal fans. One thing is for certain: Hurley’s quartet of transfer pickups (Calcaterra, Tristen Newton, Hassan Diara and Nahiem Alleyne) has to be one of the most impressive of any power conference team and bodes well for their chance of improvement.