The football team is almost a week into training camp, and the women's basketball team is gearing up for a mid-August European tour, but it's been pretty quiet on the men's basketball front recently. While coach Jim Calhoun continues to be noncommittal on his coaching future (which at this point isn't really news), there is a recruiting update.
Andre Drummond, one of the best high school players in the country who happens to also be interested in UConn (and you better believe that interest is mutual), will spend a post-graduate year playing for Wilbraham & Monson Academy.
"I just wanted to focus on academics and basketball," the 6-10 Drummond, ranked the nation's No. 1 center in the ESPNU 100, told ESPN.com. "It's been crazy, the amount of rumors that have been floating around lately, but I just try to ignore it and stay focused on what's important."
A quick rumors recap:
* Drummond would graduate from high school in time to enroll at UConn this fall;
* Drummond would play professionally in Europe and then declare for the NBA;
* Drummond would play a post-graduate year and then declare for the NBA;
* Drummond would play a post-graduate year and then enroll in college.
Obviously, the Huskies and whoever their coach might be (that's a joke -- until we hear otherwise, we think it'll be Calhoun) are hoping for the latter. And while Drummond hasn't solely committed to UConn, he's clearly interested in the program. ESPN reports that he's narrowed his final list to five schools: Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, West Virginia and UConn.
"I have great respect for those coaching staffs," Drummond said. "They all have a chance to compete for a national championship, and they are committed to preparing their players for the next level."
As for the possibility Drummond could bolt for the NBA after a season at Wilbraham & Monson, well, he didn't rule it out completely.
"It's definitely an option but far from a done deal," Drummond said. "I'm open, but I'm not going to be making any decisions before spring 2012 either way. I don't think I'll have too much to say about it until then. Most people have been really great about respecting my privacy throughout this process and I really appreciate that."
Hmm. If I'm Calhoun, I'd announce my intentions to coach now and well into the future and get down to the business of recruiting Drummond. (Again, we're kidding. We suspect Calhoun, based on the additions of DeAndre Daniels and Omar Calhoun is plenty busy on the recruiting trail. We're just puzzled by all the secrecy regarding his future. Either way, the Huskies are still on Drummond's radar and that's great news.)
