Vital likely to return to Huskies

Instagram message led some to wonder if he was leaving school

When it was announced on Friday that Christian Vital intended to declare himself eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft, but not hire an agent, the conventional wisdom was that Vital was just trying to gauge what NBA personnel thought about him, then eventually announce he’s returning to UConn.

Then came an Instagram post later on Friday afternoon that seemed to indicate that maybe, just maybe, Vital wasn’t planning on returning to Storrs for his junior season after all.

“UConn, thank you for all of the opportunities you have given me on and off the court!” Vital wrote in the post. “I have come to peace with the decision that I will enter the 2018 NBA Draft. Thank you to anyone who has played a positive role in this process.”

More than a few UConn fans thought that sounded a bit like, “Thanks for all you’ve done, UConn ... I’m outta here!”

But that doesn’t appear to be what Vital is thinking.

Jere Quinn, who coached Vital for two seasons at St. Thomas More Prep, spoke with the guard over the weekend and believes Vital will ultimately return to UConn.

“He aspires to play in the NBA,” said Quinn, who won his 1,000th career game this past winter. “I think he just wants to listen to people as to where he is and where he’ll stand. Then, he’ll come back to Connecticut.”

As for the “goodbye, UConn” vibes from that Instagram post?

“That isn’t the feel I got at all when I spoke to him,” Quinn said. “It’s what young people are doing now. The NBA is giving all kinds of athletes the chance to see where they stand in their eyes. I don’t know why 300 people aren’t go-

Associated Press file photo Christian Vital’s former coach at St. Thomas More Prep, Jere Quinn, believes Vital will ultimately return to UConn for his junior season.