Spoke (very) briefly to Lasan Kromah today. He said his transfer to UConn isn't official yet, but it's what he's hoping to do.

It seems Kromah's decision to transfer had as much to do with the fact that, under NCAA guidelines, he can do so without having to sit out a year as it does anything else. Obviously, he was recruited by current UConn assistant Karl Hobbs and played for Hobbs his first two years (though he sat out his sophomore season with an injury), so that figured to be an attraction.

GWU assistant coach Pete Strickland said that he hasn't been made aware of where Kromah is heading to, but hasn't spoken to him in a couple of days. (Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan is away at the A-10 meetings).

Here's what Strickland said about Kromah as a player:

"He definitely has the ability to score the ball. He has a very instinctive ability to get to the rim. He doesn't really fit a type -- he's not a 'classic' anything -- he just has a unique ability to get to the rim. He's got great length to him and a nice nose for the basket."

Strickland said that Kromah was considering transferring to UConn, Indiana and Xavier, among others. He noted that the 6-foot-5 Kromah has "plus-four" length. In other words, he's got a 6-9 wingspan.

"Defensively, because of his length, he's kind of disarming," Strickland said. "He had nine steals in a game (on Dec. 28, 2011, against UAB) that set a school record. He just kind of unfolds. You think you have a pass ... now you don't."

As for Kromah off the court: "He's an upbeat kid. I think he really likes Karl. I think that's probably a good fit."

*** Also, Rodney Purvis has been invited to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team training camp. Here's the press release sent out by UConn:

Rodney Purvis (Raleigh, N.C.), who has transferred into the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program, is one of 24 players who have accepted invitations to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team training camp.

Purvis, a 6-4 guard, and the rest of the invitees will travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to participate in the training camp, which begins on June 14. The final 12-man team will be selected during training camp and will train in Colorado until June 19, continue training in Washington D.C., through June 22, then leave for Prague, Czech Republic, to compete in the June 27-July 7 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Purvis, a former McDonald’s All-American, played his freshman season at North Carolina State in 2012-13, appearing in 35 games, starting 23. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, shot 44.2 percent overall and 38.5 percent from three-point range. As per NCAA transfer rules, he must sit out the 2013-14 season, although he can practice with the Huskies. Beginning with the 2014-15 season, he will have three years of eligibility remaining for UConn.

Besides Purvis, the rest of the invited players include:  Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova University/Langhorne, Pa.); Bryce Alford (La Cueva H.S./Albuquerque, N.M.); Brandon Ashley (University of Arizona/San Francisco, Calif.); Robert Carter (Georgia Tech/Thomasville, Ga.); Damyean Dotson (University of Oregon/Houston, Texas); Kris Dunn (Providence College/Oakdale, Conn.); Javan Felix (University of Texas/New Orleans, La.); Michael Frazier (University of Florida/Tampa, Fla.); Marcus Georges-Hunt (Georgia Tech/College Park, Ga.); Shaq Goodwin (University of Memphis/Atlanta, Ga.); Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty H.S./San Jose, Calif.);  Jerami Grant (Syracuse University/Bowie, Md.); Montrezl Harrell (University of Louisville/Tarboro, N.C.); Rondaé Hollis-Jefferson  (Chester H.S./Chester, Pa.); Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.); James Robinson (University of Pittsburgh/Mitchellville, Md.); Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State University/Flower Mound, Texas); Jarnell Stokes (University of Tennessee/Memphis, Tenn.); Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke University/Houston, Texas); Devin Thomas (Wake Forest University/Harrisburg, Pa.); Mike Tobey (University of Virginia/Monroe, N.Y.); Nigel Williams-Goss (Findlay Prep/Happy Valley, Ore.); and Justise Winslow (St. Johns H.S./Houston, Texas).

The USA U19 World Championship Team will be led by Florida head coach Billy Donovan, who will be assisted by Virginia’s Tony Bennett and VCU’s Shaka Smart. The player selections for the team will be made by the 2013-2016 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.

Purvis is one of 16 of the invited players who has previous USA Basketball experience. He was a member of the 2012 U18 USA National Team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and qualified the U.S. team for the FIBA U19 World Championship.

*** Finally, this from the American Athletic Conference:

In its first full meeting as the American Athletic Conference, the league made important strategic decisions and addressed many pertinent issues as its membership moves forward together in the reinvented Conference.

The Conference’s Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Head Football Coaches and Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches participated in the meetings.

“I am pleased and proud to be a part of a group that is dedicated, optimistic and effective,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco.  “We have accomplished a great deal and are moving ahead with great confidence.  We have a strong new name that has been well-received.  Our soon-to-be-released new logo will support our new name.  The American is going to be a prominent force in college athletics.”

Among the subjects addressed by the league’s Presidents and Athletic Directors:

•          Agreed on a financial distribution plan for the member institutions
•         Approved a new conference logo, which will be revealed in the near future
•         Further developed a branding, marketing and public relations strategy
•          Narrowed the search for men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournament venues
•          Discussed plans for a digital network
•          Met with television partners to discuss scheduling and promotional plans
•          Discussed The American’s position in the College Football Playoff
•          Agreed to pursue the creation of its own bowl game and maintain an outstanding Conference bowl lineup

The Conference Presidents chose R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, as their new Chair.  Susan Herbst, President of the University of Connecticut, will serve as Vice-Chair.  Outgoing Chair Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, will remain on the Executive Committee, ensuring continuity in governance.  Genshaft provided outstanding leadership in the transformation of the Conference.

“The American Athletic Conference has tremendous institutions that are committed to excellence in academics and athletics,” said Genshaft.  “We are moving forward as a Conference with great resolve.”   

“I am honored to help shape the future of the American Athletic Conference,” said Turner.  “Everyone is excited about our extremely bright future and working together.”

"We are moving quickly on all fronts and I am so pleased with the progress,” said Herbst. “UConn is proud to be building this new league and thrilled to be part of all the excitement that comes with creating a bold new vision for student-athletes and our fans. Our exposure will be greater than ever, and we look forward to showing our championship ways to even broader audiences."

The American has television agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports, two of the most prestigious media organizations in sports.  The contracts will provide unprecedented national coverage for the league.  All football and men’s basketball conference games will be televised.

According to multiple reports, Lasan Kromah, a fifth-year senior-to-be, is transferring from George Washington University. He'll be able to play immediately.

Kromah missed his entire sophomore season due to a left foot sprain, hence the year of eligibility. He was second on the Colonials in scoring last year at 10.1 points per game.

Kromah would take the scholarship of Enosch Wolf, whose suspension is over and has been invited back to the team -- as a non-scholarship player.

Not sure if I like that. I guess you could say UConn is still giving Wolf the chance to play, and that he made his own bed by getting arrested in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend in February.

Still, it seems UConn is finding a way to open up a scholarship for a player at the expense of another player. 

Enosch Wolf's suspension is over and he can return to the Huskies team -- as a non-scholarship player. Interesting.

Here's UConn's press release:

Junior Enosch Wolf’s suspension from the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program has ended and he is eligible to return to the team for the 2013-14 season as a non-scholarship player.

Wolf, a 7-1 center from Goettingen, Germany, played in 22 games for the Huskies last season, starting three, and averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 59.0 percent, in 13.7 minutes per game. His highest-scoring games of the season were 12-point efforts against Wake Forest and North Carolina State.

Wolf had been suspended from the program on Feb. 11, 2013, and he did not participate in the final eight games of the season.

Wolf returned to his home in Germany following the end of the second semester and is expected to make his decision about coming back for his senior year within the next few weeks.  

Jim Calhoun was honored last night at the eighth annual Dick Vitale Gala, which raised money for the fight against pediatric cancer through the V Foundation for Cancer Research, along with Bobby Bowden and Bill Self. Among the celebrities in attendance were Billy Donovan, Jim Larranaga, Tom Izzo and Jay Wright. Here's the press release sent out by the V Foundation:

Celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment crowded the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota on Friday for the Eighth Annual Dick Vitale Gala to raise money in the fight against pediatric cancer through The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The event was hosted by ESPN’s Dan Shulman and honored three sports icons: former Florida State University and Hall of Fame football coach Bobby Bowden, former University of Connecticut and Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Calhoun, and University of Kansas head men’s basketball coach Bill Self.


The sold out event hosted more than 800 people and featured over 70 celebrities. Attendees included the this year’s ACC championship coach University of Miami’s Jim Larranaga, back-to-back national championship coach University of Florida’s Billy Donovan, and former Virginia Tech head men’s basketball coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg. Other NCAA men’s basketball coaches in attendance included Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, NC State’s Mark Gottfried and Villanova’s Jay Wright. Attendees enjoyed an after party with live music from The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.

Since the event’s inception in 2006, the Vitale Gala has raised more than $10 million for cancer research. This year, net proceeds of the event will benefit pediatric cancer research.

The Hamilton brothers have saved their parents a lot of money in college tuition over the past decade or so. Here's a video from the L.A. Times on the four -- Greg, Jordan, Isaac and new UConn commit Daniel:

According to the Bovada online sports betting website, UConn has 33-to-1 odds on winning the NCAA championships next April.

Here are the odds on some other major teams, sent to us by Jimmy Shapiro (with UConn AAC conference mates in bold):

2013-14 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Odds to Win     

Kentucky                              5/1

Kansas                                 11/2

Louisville                              17/2

Michigan State              12/1

Duke                            14/1

Arizona                                 15/1

North Carolina                    16/1

Florida                                  18/1

Ohio State                    20/1

Syracuse                              25/1

Connecticut                         33/1

Indiana                                  33/1

Memphis                              33/1

Michigan                              33/1

Colorado                              40/1

UCLA                            40/1

Baylor                           50/1

Creighton                      50/1

Georgetown                        50/1

Gonzaga                       50/1

Iowa                                       50/1

Marquette                            50/1

Missouri                               50/1

NC State                       50/1

New Mexico                        50/1

Oklahoma State            50/1

Pittsburgh                            50/1

St. Louis                              50/1

VCU                             50/1

Wisconsin                            50/1

Butler                                     66/1

Illinois                                    66/1

Minnesota                            66/1

St. John's                     66/1

Tennessee                           66/1

UNLV                            66/1

Villanova                       66/1

Virginia                                 66/1

Wichita State                 66/1

Florida State                 75/1

Notre Dame                  75/1

Alabama                               100/1

Arizona State                100/1

BYU                             100/1

California                             100/1

Cincinnati                             100/1

Iowa State                     100/1

Kansas State                100/1

Miami Florida                     100/1

Ole Miss                       100/1

Oregon                                 100/1

Purdue                          100/1

San Diego State            100/1

Stanford                       100/1

Texas                                    100/1

Vanderbilt                     100/1

West Virginia                      100/1

Arkansas                              150/1

Boise State                   150/1

Colorado State              150/1

Dayton                                  150/1

St. Mary's                     150/1

Temple                                  150/1

USC                             150/1

LSU                              150/1

Caught up with Rodney Purvis this morning at Gampel. He arrived in Storrs with his mother, Shanda McNair, on Sunday, and already feels at home.

"Based off when me and my mom were driving around the campus, once we first got here, I could tell it was definitely a great family-oriented place," he said.

Purvis, who started taking summer courses today, met with Jim Calhoun this morning in Calhoun's office.

“Just being in his presence is a great thing for me," Purvis said. "He couldn’t believe it was me at first. When he first saw my face, he was like, ‘Holy smokes!’ That was pretty cool."



Purvis very nearly committed to Calhoun after making an official visit to UConn in September, 2011. But the Raleigh, N.C. native wound up choosing his hometown school, NC State.

“I was kind of leaning towards UConn once I left here. But once I got back home, things kind of switched up a little bit. It’s just a learning experience for me, that’s how it is. God’s just making my steps for me as I go along. I feel like this is the place I deserve to be at.”

At the time, rumors were rampant that Calhoun might be retiring. But Purvis said Calhoun's potential departure played no role in his decision 20 months ago.

“This is a great place, no matter what. Coach Calhoun built this, I knew for a fact he’d still be around. I knew Coach Ollie would be next in line. Coaching didn’t really have anything to do with it. It was just me being young-minded, me being a kid, a 17-, 18-year-old kid, and not wanting to leave my mama, that’s it.”

Purvis's freshman year at NC State didn't quite pan out the way he envisioned.

“There were a lot of distractions, with me being from Raleigh, and just trying my best to adapt to the offense, things like that, that was really it," he said.

As a transfer, he must sit out this season. But he'll be the consummate teammate.

“(I'll) just bring a lot of energy. Basketball’s a lot of fun, just being around guys who love the game, sharing the same passion as these guys, because that’s the type of university that Connecticut is. I just can’t wait to get in the gym with my teammates.”

“Coach Ollie told me he can see me playing 1, 2 and 3. I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team win. I just can’t wait until it’s my turn to play. And while I can’t play, I’m going to cheer my teammates on and be the best cheerleader for the team."

*** Also ran into Andre Drummond, who will be on campus for the next couple of months to work on finishing his degree. His first class, a health class, began today, and he'll be taking communications classes starting in June's summer class period. He also hopes to take online courses during the season.

Here's the funny thing: if and when Drummond does get his degree, UConn won't benefit from it from an APR standpoint. Why? Because he was a walk-on his freshman year with the Huskies.

Drummond was very happy with his rookie season, despite missing 22 games late in the year due to a fractured tailbone.

“My main goal was to come in, play as hard as I can, let things come to me and not try to outdo myself," he said. "When my time came, I did what I needed to do, played with a lot of effort and energy. That’s what Detroit loves.”

Drummond returned to play the final 11 games of the season with the Pistons and reports no ill effects from the injury.

“Everything’s great. It was just a freak accident.”

*** We can also report that Tony Robertson has recently earned his degree. And Taliek Brown is close, too. Neither will help UConn's APR either, however, since they left school so long ago.

*** Oh, and don't completely discount the possibility of UConn still playing at Washington this season.