UConn Men's Hoops Notebook: Thabeet impresses at camp
If all goes according to plan, the UConn men's basketball team will have five new players on its roster this season.
Judging by accounts of Hasheem Thabeet's recent performance at the LeBron James Skills Academy, an argument could be made that the Huskies will actually have six new players.
Thabeet was extremely impressive at the recently concluded camp in Akron, Ohio, on both ends of the floor. While Thabeet, the Big East's single-season blocked shot record-holder, was his typical dominant self on the defensive end, it was his effort on offense that really opened some eyes.
"Guys were telling us he was dunking, with two hands, almost everything,"
said UConn associate head coach George Blaney. "This time last year, he was falling down trying to dunk it. (This year) he was two-hand slamming things, catching everything. He had a balance problem at this time last year, offensively in particular."
Thabeet has improved his balance through hours of individual drills with UConn assistant coach Patrick Sellers - catching heavy balls while sitting in various positions, jumping rope, weightlifting, etc.
Thabeet was one of five Big East players at the camp. He was joined by Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, Georgetown's DaJuan Summers, Pitt's Sam Young and Louisville's Terrance Williams. According to one account, "he was probably the most impressive Big East player at the camp."
Calhoun 'Doing Well'
UConn coach Jim Calhoun has undergone three weeks of radiation treatment for his latest bout with cancer and has about 2½ weeks left. Although he was told that he'd grow increasingly tired as the treatments continued, Calhoun is reportedly feeling very well.
"It hasn't really affected him a lot,"
said Blaney, though he did point out that Calhoun has scaled down his recruiting a bit. "Because we're recruiting specifically in certain places, he's not going out as much as usual."
Calhoun gets his treatment in the mornings, five days a week, and is usually back at his Gampel Pavilion office for the afternoon. He took in the Red Sox-Orioles game at Fenway Park on Saturday night, sitting behind the Orioles' dugout with Dick Vitale.
Price Check
A.J. Price's rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee continues to go better than expected. In fact, he has started doing some limited basketball work - basic defensive slides through the lane that work on his balance and strength.
"He looks terrific,"
Blaney said. "He's doing everything without a limp. They're very pleased with his progress at this stage, and more importantly, A.J. seems very pleased with his progress, very confident."
Camp Time
Blaney is running Calhoun's annual youth camp, whose second and final session ends today. Several UConn players have helped out at the camp as coaches or referees, including Jeff Adrien, Gavin Edwards, Jerome Dyson, Donnell Beverly and incoming freshmen Nate Miles and Scottie Haralson. Price has given some lectures to the young campers.
Stanley Robinson has been back on campus after spending a week at the Reebok Camp in Philadelphia. Robinson is visiting an uncle who lives in the area, but his status for next season remains unchanged, according to Blaney. Calhoun said a couple of weeks ago that Robinson will not be enrolled at UConn for the first semester and almost certainly will not play for the Huskies next season. However, he could be back with the team in 2009-10.
