I always find it fun to look back and see what was being said about UConn players back when they were being recruited or had just committed to the Husky program.

And with Shabazz Napier finally starting to generate the national buzz that he deserved last season, what better time to hark back to the blog files on when Napier first became a Husky.

*** Napier made his unofficial visit to UConn on Feb. 28, 2010, taking in the Huskies' 78-76 loss to Louisville at Gampel. Josh Selby was slated to visit that day, too, but had "car trouble." Later, after committing to Kansas, Selby was found to have received improper benefits and was suspended the first nine games of the 2010-11 season.

*** Napier committed to UConn on April 2, 2010. West Virginia, Florida, Miami and Memphis were among the other schools offering him scholarships. He was listed as Class of 2011 at the time, and he was attending Lawrence Academy. The hope was that he would be able to re-classify, however, and he did so after transferring back to Charlestown High (where he spent his first three years) late in the school year and graduating from there.

I found out later that day that Napier had, indeed, re-classified to 2010. It's funny, reading the comments on my blog from that day (back in the days before Twitter, when people still commented on my blog), there was so much concern that signing Napier meant the Huskies were going to miss out on Brandon Knight, Cory Joseph and Selby, among others.

All three wound up as one-and-dones, and none of them have an NCAA championship ring.

*** Kevin Wiercinski, Napier's coach at Lawrence Academy, had a lot of good things to say about him at the time of his commitment. A couple of quotes stand out:

"He’s a good kid and an exciting player, that’s for sure. He's probably one of the more dynamic point guards around. He's exciting athletically: as quick as they come, handles the ball real well, right hand/left hand, and he's a very good shooter with excellent range. He makes all the open ones and the tough ones, too. He's got a real ability to warm up in a hurry. And he's such a great penetrator."

"He's really dynamic on the offensive end, and you add that to how instinctual he is, his anticipation is off the charts, and he's a real gamer. When the chips are down, he doesn't shy away from that stuff at all."

Some things never change.

*** I thought this rivals.com post, linked to my blog at around the time of Napier's commitment, was very telling: "Napier eventually would nail 11 threes, and looked the part of a big time player. Most of Napier's shots were created by himself, and he was even well defended, but still there was nothing that could have been done."

*** Napier held a press conference to sign his national letter-of-intent on April 22, 2010, up at the Tobin Community Center in Boston's Mission Hill section. Me and the J-I's (then Connecticut Post's) Neill Ostrout went up for it, and I posted this blog entry (I really wish the video was still working. And no, the link doesn't work anymore, either.)

Anyway, it was obvious from the start that Napier didn't lack for confidence.

My favorite quote that day, after Napier was asked about being able to play with Kemba Walker for a season:

“He’s a great player. He’s fast, I’m fast. We’ve played against each other, it’s hard. I think it’s going to be good, because he can teach me some certain things, and I guess I can teach him how to shoot better.”

Hey, guess it worked, no?

Brandon Knight, arguably the No. 1 recruit in the nation, will announce his collegiate decision Wednesday at 4 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNU. After that, the rest of the dominos (Josh Selby, Cory Joseph, C.J. Leslie, Doron Lamb, etc.) will fall.

For UConn fans crossing their fingers for Knight to come to Storrs, here's a bit of news: there has been contact between Knight and the UConn staff within the last day or two. That may not mean anything, but it's all we've got right now.

Stay tuned ...

Greetings from the Bronx, where it's cold but not raining … yet. Looking like the rain is going to hold off and we'll get in Game 2 of the ALCS tonight.

I didn't make practice today because I was driving down to the Bronx to cover tonight's game, but check out colleague Chris Hunn's story on UConn's first official practice in tomorrow's Register. I did learn that the Huskies are hosting Cory Joseph on an official visit this weekend. He was at First Night last night.

Joseph is a 6-foot-3 guard out of Findlay Prep in Henderson, NV, who is ranked as the No. 6 point guard in the Class of 2010 by scout.com.


Also at First Night last night was frequent UConn visitor Andre Drummond and a new name – Cleveland Melvin, who plays at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. Melvin is a 6-7, Class of 2010 forward.

As mentioned last night, Maurice Harkless, a 6-6 junior forward from Forest Hills (N.Y.) High, was in the house, as well. And, of course, Roscoe Smith, who we talked to last night.

(Quiz question: What all-time comedy classic features the line, "Hello, Cleveland!"

Roscoe Smith is in the house here at First Night, on an official visit to UConn. Nice kid, and certainly not lacking in confidence.

At 6-foot-8, Smith is the No. 6-rated small forward in the nation by scout.com. But he's not about to pigeon-hole himself as just a small forward.

"I'm a versatile-type player. I can do it all," he said. "Anything the coach needs of me, I can do."

Smith has narrowed his college choices down to three: Georgetown, UConn and Duke. He visited Georgetown two weeks ago, and plans to make a visit to Durham, N.C. in another couple of weeks.

What will his final decision come down to?

"It depends on which one wants me the most," said Smith, who added that he plans to take his time with his decision after the Duke visit.

So far, he's impressed with what he sees in Storrs.

"The main thing about UConn is coach Jim Calhoun. And also, the legacy of the players that played here, like Rudy Gay, Ben Gordon, etc."

(Incidentally, Donyell Marshall is in the house tonight, as well).

Smith added that the Husky coaching staff has told him, "If I come to UConn, the world is mine."

***We got to thinking: How many famous Roscoes are there? I can think of two: Roscoe Tanner, the former tennis player, and Roscoe P. Coltrane, the "famous" Dukes of Hazard cop. Anyone we're forgetting?

***Also due to be here tonight: Khem Burch, a freshman at the South Kent School who's on crutches (not sure why). Also here is Maurice Harkless. Cory Joseph and Angel Nunez are slated to be here, too, but I haven't seen them yet. Doesn't mean they're not here.

Much more to come ...

We all know that Jim Calhoun pitches Comcast (among other things), but he'll never be a pitch man for First Night.

"It's not my favorite night. Never has been, probably never will be," said Calhoun, who no doubt holds his breath every time Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson & Co. go up for a highlight-reel jam during the obligatory dunk competition.

Calhoun's not-so ringing endorsement aside, Friday night's First Night festivities should be a fun way to kick off the 2009-10 season.

Doors open for the event, which is free to the public, at 6 p.m. Players on both the men's and women's teams as well as coaches Calhoun and Geno Auriemma will sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m.

The show starts at 7 p.m., with the first-ever combined men's and women's introductions, augmented by a laser light show. Shooting and dunk contests by both the men and women (gee, that oughta be exciting) will follow. Unlike in years past, there will be no intrasquad scrimmages.

Popular R&B artist Lloyd will provide entertainment.


All fans have a chance to win prizes from UConn athletics, Big Y and CBS Radio. UConn students will have opportunities to win free food, free t-shirts and other prizes.

As usual, several top-notch recruits are expected to be in attendance. Angel Nunez, a 6-foot-7 forward from New York; Roscoe Smith, a 6-7 forward out of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia; and Cory Joseph, a point guard out of Findlay (NV) Prep have said they will be in the house.