UConn lands needed big man
Jim Calhoun and his staff at Connecticut have seen a mass exodus of post players this spring.
Alex Oriakhi transferred to Missouri, Michael Bradley left for Western Kentucky, combo forward Roscoe Smith is transferring and Andre Drummond left for the NBA.
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The sting of those losses was made a little easier late Thursday when the Huskies landed Phillip Nolan.
Ranked No. 118 nationally in the class of 2012, the 6-foot-10 center from Milwaukee (Wisc.) Riverside has the tools to find immediate playing time in Storrs.
A graceful athlete who can run the floor like a much smaller player, Nolan is quick off his feet and has good hands.
For a while, the senior big man was a question mark academically after a series of transfers but he now appears to have things in order and the Huskies should benefit.
Because of his size, athleticism and budding skill, Nolan has the tools to outplay his ranking and three-star status if he gets into the gym and works on getting stronger and competing every day.
Nolan joins a recruiting class that already features four-star shooting guard Omar Calhoun.