Gilbert ready to start strong
Finally able to spend summer on skills rather than recovery
STORRS – Alterique Gilbert wasn’t wearing a brace under his T-shirt. It only looked that way because, for the first time since he’s been at UConn, he’s been able to spend a summer working on getting bigger and stronger and improving his game, instead of rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
“It gave me an opportunity to actually build my skills and gel with my teammates,” Gilbert said Saturday, after a morning workout at the Werth Family Center. “I definitely feel better physically. My body feels great, I’m lifting a lot more.”
Gilbert, technically a redshirt junior, is going into his senior year at UConn. He’s on pace to graduate in the spring. Though he will have another year of eligibility after missing most of his first two years with
shoulder injuries, it’s too early to decide if and how he will use it.
“I’m going into my senior year and I’m approaching it as my senior year,” he said. “But that decision will be later on down the line.”
Gilbert’s star-crossed career at UConn can have a happy ending. A McDonald’s All-American, he had surgery on his troublesome left shoulder three summers in a row. After playing only nine games his first two seasons, he played in 20 games last season, missing time with shoulder soreness and a late-season concussion, averaging 13.0 points and 3.8 assists.
With the first official practice less than a week away, Gilbert, 6 feet and 180 pounds, is finishing up a productive summer, building his upper body to better absorb contact and asserting his leadership from the middle of the action. “Shaking off the rust,” a phrase coach Dan Hurley used often to describe Gilbert’s performance last season, will no longer be an issue.
“He looks great physically,” Hurley said. “He’s had so many reps, and he’s been able to again be a leader. It’s hard to be a leader if you’re on the side, hurt. He’s kind of heart-and-soul-of-a-team type of guy. He’s got to mentally get himself into a joyful state; the season is approaching and be so grateful for the position he is in … and not ruminate over what he’s missed out on.”
When the season begins, Gilbert and senior Christian Vital will be leading a young cast, with the five newcomers.
“We’ve got to make it work,” Gilbert said, “Christian and I talk about it all the time. We’re going to put it all in, it’s not a secret.”
Youthful infusion
Hurley, who returned to running practices on Wednesday and is still recovering from spinal surgery, sounds a lot more optimistic about his team as his second season approaches. His recruits, including freshmen James Bouknight, Jalen Gaffney, Richie Springs and Akok Akok, are making their presences felt.
“You know that we’ve got a lot more depth,” Hurley said. “Were going to be able to play a much deeper rotation, have a much more athletic team. The five new guys add a lot to the quality of practices. They’re all exactly what we thought they’d be. All very talented. They’re going to have some up and downs, but they’re going to be great for us someday. It’s just going to take some time.”
Tyler Polley, who twisted his ankle late in the workout Saturday, looks bigger and more assertive, as does Josh Carlton, Sid Wilson, Isaiah Whaley and Brendan Adams. Transfer RJ Cole will not be able to play this season, but is having an impact in the workouts.
“Things that we were struggling to pick up in February, these guys are doing in September,” Hurley said. “This group is picking up concepts. Just that youthful infusion, it gives everybody a spark, picks everybody up. Adds another layer of energy. … There are a lot more people in the gym who are equipped to play the way we want to play, athletically.”
News and notes
Andre Jackson, a 6-6 shooting guard from Albany, was on an official visit watching UConn’s workout. Now that Hurley is back from his surgery, the program will be hosting recruits the next few weekends. UConn will have two scholarships available for next season, and could fill those early, — a front court player and big guard are obvious needs from the Class of 2020 — and wait until spring to see if Gilbert, or anyone else, moves on. … Former Husky Jalen Adams was on campus this week working out. He’ll be reporting to training camp with the Pelicans, who signed him after the NBA Draft, at the end of September. … Hurley is participating fully in the practices, though he must tone it down a little. The surgeons went through the front of his neck with a small incision, so he is drinking more tea as his vocal cords recover. … UConn had placards reading, “consistent improvement” and “relentless effort” set up during the workout, along with a photo of the American Athletic Conference trophy set up during practice. … The conference schedule, which was released Friday, gave UConn six games on Sundays, one more than last season, and front-loaded games against the better teams, starting with road games at Cincinnati and South Florida at the start of conference play. After the nonconference game at Villanova Jan. 18, UConn will have to go to Houston five days later. … UConn’s first practice will be next Saturday.