A Whale of a Tale for Whaley
The Story: One of the more underrated decisions of the spring was made by Isaiah Whaley, who chose to use his pandemic eligibility to return to the men’s basketball team.
A BIG DEAL: Whaley has come into his own during his time in Storrs, and he and the team are about to be rewarded for their patience.
• A three-star prospect who was part of Kevin Ollie‘s final recruiting class, Whaley wasn’t a particularly heralded player out of high school. He spent a year at prep school, then chose UConn after taking visits to Saint Louis, Miami (Ohio) and New Mexico State.
• Whaley started 12 games as a freshman in 2017-18, when UConn went 14-18, and averaged 13.2 minutes, 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds a game. A season later, Hurley’s first, he appeared in 23 games, didn’t start once, played just 3.6 minutes a game and totaled 19 points and 24 rebounds.
• As a senior last season, Whaley was the only player to start every game, averaged eight points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks and was named the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
• Amazingly, if UConn makes it to the Sweet 16, Whaley will suit up for the Huskies as a 24-year-old. He was born on March 26, 1998.
AN IMPORTANT PLAYER: Hurley praised Whaley on Tuesday for his desire to work on “his deficiencies. He made himself invaluable. He’s a poster child for us in player development in a lot of ways.”
• “He’s a weapon in ball-screen defense,” Hurley said. “He’s an underrated passer. His basketball IQ and game management [are] very, very good. The only thing we need him to do is to make 33 percent from 3 and shoot three of them a game. If he can do that, it would be a dream come true because he gives you great positional versatility.”
• Said Whaley: “It’s been beautiful to see, especially when I first came here, being [part of one of UConn’s worst seasons]. Seeing that and then seeing the whole transformation and being able to be a part of it, that’s been a special feeling. Now I want more for UConn. I want to help UConn take that next step and I want to be a part of it.”
WHERE DOES HE FIT? Whaley figures to resume his role as a rim protector and reliable teammate, but he’ll have some competition.
• Josh Carlton may have transferred to Houston, but Akok Akok is expected to be back to his first-year form after an Achilles injury and Hurley is very high on freshman Samson Johnson‘s potential. We can’t forget about redshirt sophomore Richie Springs, either, whose career seems somewhat similar to Whaley’s.
• Hurley wants his big men (aside from Sanogo) to be able to play in the paint and gobble up rebounds or knock down shots from the perimeter when the Huskies go small.
MUST-SEE TV: The Big East released the broadcast details for its men’s basketball games yesterday and the Huskies will be on CBS or Fox more often than any team aside from Villanova.
• UConn will have five games televised on Fox, one on CBS, two on CBS Sports and the rest on FS1. Villanova will also have six games on Fox or CBS.
• Execs clearly recognize that UConn means eyeballs — and for good reason. Contending for the Big East title and making the NCAA Tournament are baseline expectations for the Huskies this season.
• Remember the old AAC contract and how UConn was practically never on national TV? Yeah, we don’t either.
Morning Reads
• The women’s soccer team (4-4, 0-1 Big East) will try to rebound from a loss to St. John’s in its conference opener when it visits Seton Hall tonight. (UConnHuskies.com)
