Hurley breaks down UConn roster

ROCKY HILL — UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley used his annual appearance at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast to break down his roster and offer some insight into his team.

On Friday morning, Hurley said three starters are set: Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins. He also noted that the starting point guard job is up for grabs as transfers Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra compete for the role.

He had plenty more to say about the rest of his roster.

Hurley said Sanogo was the best player in the league, and that the 6-foot-9 forward who led the Big East in rebounding last season will take his game out on the perimeter a bit this season.

“We want Adama to shoot 3s this year,” the coach said. “Adama can shoot 3s.”

Hurley noted that 7foot-2 freshman center Donovan Clingan has lost nearly 40 pounds since last season at Bristol Central and will combine with Sanogo as one of the best center combinations in the country.

Redshirt freshman Alex Karaban will have a “huge impact” this season, Hurley noted, and sophomore Samson Johnson “may be the most talented athlete I’ve coached, next to Andre ... it’s a matter of putting it all together, the nuances of basketball.”

Joey Calcaterra, the grad transfer from San Diego, is better than he looked on film and, apparently, has a new nickname.

“Joey California will torch you, if you’re not on point,” Hurley warned.

Little-used Richie Springs had a great practice Thursday that would have put him “in the rotation of our top nine” if the Huskies had had a game Friday night.

“If Richie was brutal today,” Hurley added, “he’d fall out of that.”

Apostolos Roumoglou, a freshman from Greece, could eventually earn a role as a third guard or small forward if he keeps working hard, while Israeli freshman Yarin Hasson, who’s just 17, needs to keep getting bigger and stronger.

Hurley also took the opportunity to address the numerous business owners in Friday morning’s crowd.

“UConn athletes are elite, they’re champions,” he said. “They’re amongst the hardest workers in all of collegiate athletics, they represent the university in an incredible way. It is truly an all-sports school. I would never make the arrogant mistake that this is just a basketball school.”

“And they do it the right way. They’re exceptional young people that could represent your brands in an outstanding way. We would urge you to create opportunities to them.”