When it comes to recruiting, it's been a good few weeks for the Huskies. On Friday, prep star Mamadou Diarra committed to UConn. The 6-8 power forward is Kevin Ollie's first commit for the class of 2016.
Details of how Diarra made his way onto UConn's radar via the Hartford Courant's Dom Amore:
UConn had become very interested in one of Diarra's teammates, guard Hamidou Diallo, but associate head coach Glen Miller, who works with the program's big men, spotted Diarra and had coach Kevin Ollie take a look. When Diarra went to the Huskies' game against Memphis on March 5, he was struck by Ollie's handling of players. When he returned for a visit in April, and played with some of the current players, Ollie saw enough and made him an offer he would not refuse.
"I feel like when [Ollie] tells you something, he means it," Diarra told the Courant. "He loves all his players. I believe that. … You see so many players transferring now; I don't want to be one of them."
Diarra would join Jalen Adams and Steve Enoch, who will be freshmen this fall, but the Huskies will only have transfers Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs for one season, which means there will be plenty of scholarships available in 2016. Amore writes that the Huskies have also been watching 6-8 Terry Larrier, who is transferring from VCU after his freshman season. Two years ago, Larrier chose VCU over UConn but with coach Shaka Smart leaving for Texas, Larrier will transfer. According to CBSSports.com, it's down to UConn and Maryland.
