UConn Huskies: Moves off the Court Take Center Stage in 2011

Let me start this article by saying I am a fan of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program.  Like many others, I became addicted during the Dream Season of 1990; a season crowned by the iconic high of Tate Georges’ last shot against Clemson, but also remembered for a dastardly low, Christian Laettner’s season-ending last shot the following game. 

Jim Calhoun became the Huskies’ commander in chief in 1986.  Since then, he has accrued three NCAA championships and seven Big East championships in addition to his induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.  Calhoun’s reign has produced memories that all UConn fans will cherish for years to come.  However, there is one I would like to forget.

Considered to be one of the top incoming freshmen in the country, All-Universe Andre Drummond is also the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the still doubtful 2012 NBA draft.  The 18-year-old, 6'11" center gives Uconn a serious opportunity to retain their NCAA championship title even after losing their leader Kemba Walker to the NBA. 

The Mount Vernon native was originally scheduled to spend at least another year at prep school St. Thomas Moore in Oakdale, CT.  In quite the shocker, however, he committed to the Huskies two days before classes started.  Caught off guard, the coaching staff was unsure what to do, as their roster didn’t include Drummond.  Well, at least not this year. 

Due to recent sanctions involving troubled recruit Nate Miles along with not meeting the academic standards quota, they were short on scholarships.  Regardless, the staff couldn’t let Drummond go.

Enter redshirt freshman Michael Bradley to the fray.

Bradley was benefiting from one of those treasured UConn scholarships.  Growing up in numerous foster and children’s homes in Tennessee, he defied extraordinary odds to attend one of the top 60 universities in the country.  Knowing he would be eligible for financial aid, the coaching staff took advantage of this.  Clearly they recognized what strings could be pulled.  Bradley could give up his scholarship and still be eligible for boatloads of financial aid, while Drummond could swoop in and land on the scholarship joining the basketball family in Storrs.  No harm, no foul right? 

The world of college basketball and its recruiting process are the Wild West when it comes to playing fair.  Rules are turned inside out, restrictions are distorted and nothing is quite what it seems.  Blue-chip recruits are given a crash course from The Simpsons' lawyer Lionel Hutz’s school of honesty: “there is the truth” (head nodding and smiling) and “the truth” (head shaking with a grimace).  College coaches and friends of the programs have been feverishly teaching this curriculum for years, and UConn has followed suit under Calhoun’s rule. 

In 2005, Rudy Gay arrived on campus marred with controversy.  Calhoun and his people had become buddy-buddy with some of Gay’s AAU and high school coaches in Baltimore.  To this day, former Maryland coach Gary Williams still won’t speak to Calhoun because of the alleged theft of his potential star recruit.  The team’s latest violations landed them in the Drummond predicament.

With the addition of Drummond, the Huskies are ranked No. 3 in the country in the preseason poll.  A few days before the rankings were announced, it was reported that Bradley would be sidelined until December due to a broken ankle.  To no one’s surprise, UConn would not release when the injury occurred.

Originally thought to be a sprained ankle, could the staff have known about this nagging injury?  Possibly.  Does it appear far too convenient that just a few weeks ago Bradley gave up his scholarship for possibly the biggest recruit in Husky history?  Absolutely.

Some would say Bradley did what was best for the program.  Some might say Bradley is getting compensated regardless, so who cares.  The fact is the UConn brass pulled a scholarship from underneath the feet of a child who grew up in foster homes in pursuit of another championship.