When Enoch was first mentioned on this board I believe I was one of the first detractors. Let me defend that assessment by saying my analysis came from 3 or 4 games I saw him play in Dec/Jan last year. In those, especially the loss @ Bpt Central, he looked lost and overwhelmed. Kind of a deer in headlights kind of thing. Looked athletic and talented just not like a high major player.
Now, let me be the first to say that it looks like I was wrong. If the videos I'm watching now are for real he has made amazing strides in just his understanding of the game. My fear with him was/is still that Ater Majok fear; tons of talent but just trouble adjusting to the speed of the game. But I had the same feeling about Brimah. If we get him I hope he proves me wrong some more.
I don't think Ater is a fair comparison since Ater was much older coming in and might have developed into a solid player if he had stuck around. The fact that Enoch is so young will probably help with him sticking around for a while. Also, I noticed that there was an article that stated that he had only been playing hoops for a couple years. Basketball is a very tough game to pick up late, particularly with ball handling, but the fact he's a big, explains a lot as far as what you observed. Unlike a guard picking up the game late, a big can not only get away with a late start in this sport, but they also tend to be slow developers.
If he's as athletic as they make him out to be and his improvement is skyrocketing, then KO should try to reel him in now. He sounds like a great player to come here since he probably is quite mold-able doesn't have some of the bad habits that some players bring with them. The fact that he's a CT kid, I hope the program does a good job of keeping that elite local talent here in state. With that said, I understand a staff has only so many ships to work with and there's always the chance they end up landing a player at his position who's better. I just hope they don't go after him halfheartedly and end up missing out on both some elite player as well as him. I don't envy the juggling act a D1 hoops coach has to go through with putting a recruiting class together. You stick too long with a blue-chip recruit or two or even more, you can end up missing out on some very good recruits that just need a little more time to develop and end up being at their college hoops peak as an upperclassman leading the team to another NC. Young uber-talented kids who leave after one year rarely end their college career with a championship, unless they're surrounded by a key upperclassman or two.
I'm both excited and extremely curious as to what type of 2015 class KO ends up with. I have little doubt that they will be some very good prospects. I'll be just as fine if he lands a top 10 to 20 type recruiting class made up of players who are excited to come here and fit our system as I'll be if he lands a top 1 to 3 type class landing one or more elite recruits.
Incredible how far he's come and I want this kid at UConn!! He projects as a 4 at the next level so getting him doesn't hinder our chances for the package deals.
