Welcome to the newest Husky- Dwayne Koromo

[the Blades]

Welcome to Storrs !

Dwayne Koromo.......F.....6-8/205.....RS SR.....Berlin, Germany
DH adds depth from the portal. Comes to Uconn from the NEC, he had 13pts/5 rebs vs. Uconn last year. ( also had 22/8 vs. Notre Dame) It's been awhile but it gives Uconn multiple German nationals on the roster since back when Niels Giffey, Enosch Wolf, Leon Tolksdorf were on the team in 2012-13.

Dwayne Koroma - Men's Basketball - Le Moyne College Athletics

Dwayne Koroma (3) Forward

lemoynedolphins.com

Full College stats-

Dwayne Koroma College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Dwayne Koroma - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Seems like an experienced body who can play backup minutes at the 4, and maybe even the 5 in an emergency, which is something they needed.

47% FT shooter, although he will not likely be shooting meaningful FTs at any point this year, unless it's to decide whether UConn covers a 33 point spread at the end of a game in mop up time.

 

[the Blades]

One other recruiting note- " Koroma visited UConn on Friday 5/9 alongside fellow transfer recruit Armoni Ziegler of Saint Peter’s. "

Armoni Zeigler - Men's Basketball - Saint Peter's University Athletics

Armoni Zeigler (5) Guard - Sophomore (2024-25) Played in 27 games for the Peacocks, starting 23 Averaged 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game Led

saintpeterspeacocks.com

Armoni Zeigler College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Armoni Zeigler - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Ziegler presumably would fill the roster spot formerly occupied by Darius Adams had he not decommitted. Ziegler appears to have a strong body and is an excellent rebounder from the guard position with over 6 per game. His shooting stats are nothing special. Of interesting note, his older brother, Zakai Ziegler, was the starting point guard and a fantastic player for Tennessee the past couple of years, so if you believe in the theory of bloodlines being important, there is that.

Zakai Zeigler - Tennessee Volunteers Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Tennessee Volunteers Guard Zakai Zeigler on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

On the subject of these NEC/mid major guys trying to make the jump to the UConn/Big East level, as we have seen from guys like Aidan Mahaney, Nick Timberlake, etc. it does not always work out. I am reminded, however, of a guy that Kevin Ollie brought in who was a pretty good player: Lasan Kromah. Kromah even started for a while, although Ollie eventually made the late decision to start Niels Giffey instead, which won the national championship for UConn, as Giffey was a superior all artound glue guy. But many people forget that Kromah was the top guy off the bench in the championship game vs, Kentucky and had 4 points, 6 boards, 2 assists and 1 steal to contribute to a national championship victory. Kromah led the bench with 20 minutes, while the other 2 guys coming off the bench, Amida Brimah and Terrence Samuel, had 0 and 3 points respectively. Between Phil Nolan, and Amida Brimah, UConn got 0 points and 5 rebounds out of the center position that game, proving you can win with a donut at center

So the point is if injuries were to happen these guys potentially could move up the depth chart and be factors off the bench, like Kromah was. But they probably will need injuries to happen in order to get opportunities to see meaningful minutes. Nobody wants to see that happen, but the risk of injury it is a reality of sports.

I remember another guy Ollie brought in, R.J Evans, who was a starter at Holy Cross. He had a good body but zero athleticism, could not jump at all and had his shot blocked more than any UConn player I can ever remember. He ended up being a very end of the bench type of player.

Speaking of 2014, that was the last time that the UConn men and women hit the Daily Double in national championships. Next season will be the best chance of that happening again- and becoming 3 time dual champions in basketball- since 2014.

 

[the Blades]

On the subject of these NEC/mid major guys trying to make the jump to the UConn/Big East level, as we have seen from guys like Aidan Mahaney, Nick Timberlake, etc. it does not always work out.

Correct, so these 2 FRI recruits are the type of #11-15 on the roster that GM Tom Moore had mentioned in the video presser I just posted. Things could happen, where they are needed in the mix, injuries, foul trouble, spot minutes on defense, etc.

Unfortunately for Uconn and Kansas, the type of mid major recruits, like Mahaney and Timberlake, should've been. Not counted on as top end rotation guys. (but thank you Bill Self for "stealing" NT away, since DH got Killer Cam from the B1G as the late portal "back-up plan" )

PS Did you really have to mention that clown KO, ....talk about a lost soul grasping for recruiting miracles, SMH !

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

PS Did you really have to mention that clown KO, ....talk about a lost soul grasping for recruiting miracles, SMH !

I mentioned Ollie mainly because the case of Lasan Kromah going from a mid major (George Washington) to UConn was something of a success story as far as a guy transitioning well. He was a strong bench recruit by Ollie and had some great moments that season. Kromah was a major bench contributor to a national championship team. Ditto with Joey Calcavecchia aka Joey California who was a strong bench contributor on the 2023 championship team, after transferring from the U of San Diego. Guys like this cannot be overlooked in this discussion.

I think Mahaney might have been successful if he was put in a Joey C role but that's not what UConn needed from him. They needed a backup PG. Had he just been asked to be a spot up 3 point shooter off the bench like Joey C, he might have been just as good of a good role player. But that wasn't wanted or needed from him on last year's team.

 

[the Blades]

I mentioned Ollie mainly because the case of Lasan Kromah going from a mid major (George Washington) to UConn was something of a success story as far as a guy transitioning well. He was a strong bench recruit by Ollie (Karl Hobbs) and had some great moments that season. Kromah was a major bench contributor to a national championship team.

I hear ya, I just don't want to give that bozo to much credit for recruiting him, since Lasan was one of Karl's guys he coached at GW. And if you recall that nit wit KO couldn't figure it out until almost JAN of 2014 that maybe he should stop starting & playing HIS recruit, Omar Calhoun, and insert JC's guy as the starter. Niels was actually about 4" taller, a better shooter (48% 3pt), rebounder and defender than anything Omar (24%) brought to the team. And Lasan was better too.

But better late than never since Omar only got about 5 mins a game the last month and didn't play in the Elite 8 or FF, which worked out just fine, LOL! ( Shout out to Shabazz !)

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is a posterizing slam thrown down vs. Seton Hall by Ziegler, while at St. Peter's:

Saint Peter's Armoni Zeigler throws down a WILD SLAM against Seton Hall | FOX Sports

Saint Peter's Peacocks' Armoni Zeigler threw down a wild dunk against the Seton Hall Pirates.

www.foxsports.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is another explosive dunk by Ziegler:

Armoni Zeigler throws down big jam vs. Siena Saints - ESPN Video

Armoni Zeigler throws down big jam vs. Siena Saints

www.espn.in