UConn’s Carlton ready to play for Hurley
STORRS — It’s not that Josh Carlton had one foot out the door when Kevin Ollie was let go and Dan Hurley was hired as UConn men’s basketball coach in March. Far from it, actually.
But there certainly was some uncertainty, Carlton admitted.
“It’s always gonna be like that after your coach gets fired,” the 6-foot-9 rising sophomore said.
Carlton didn’t know much about Hurley, but there was one common thread between Carlton’s family and the new Husky head coach: George Blaney, the former longtime UConn assistant.
Blaney had coached Hurley at Seton Hall, and Hurley has credited Blaney numerous times as the reason he remained in the game after contemplating leaving the sport.
About a decade before that, Blaney had coached Carlton’s father, James, at Holy Cross. James Carlton was a 6-foot-5 forward for two seasons in the early 1980s under Blaney, “the kind of player, the kind of guy I always liked: strong, quick. Terrific player, great, great kid.”
Carlton averaged 8.2 points per game as a freshman, but as a sophomore took a wicked fall during the game that actually briefly paralyzed him. The injury effectively ended his career at Holy Cross.
As his son pondered his college basketball future a few months ago, James decided to give a call to his former coach to inquire about Hurley.
“They were going through whether Josh should stay or go,” Blaney recalled. “I told him, ‘I know Danny and (assistant) Tommy Moore love Josh. Let me call them and see what they think.’”
Hurley and Moore told Blaney they thought Carlton had great potential and could be a really good college player if he wanted to stay and work with them.
Josh Carlton, who didn’t even know about the connection between his dad and Blaney until this winter, also wanted to make sure he sat down with Hurley to hear him out. He liked what he heard.
“He gave me a plan, what he wants to do here,” Carlton said last week. “And I’m all-in and on board with what he plans to do here at UConn. His commitment to me and his commitment to the program is all I really needed to see.”
Added Blaney: “I think they wanted to see what Danny was like. I think they wanted to stay right from the beginning, I don’t think they were looking to go. I think Danny convinced them immediately, and hopefully I was helpful in telling them about Danny and about Connecticut, and what an opportunity he has.”
Carlton had his ups and downs as a freshman last season, but at times was one of the few bright spots among the team’s young big men. He tallied 15 points and nine rebounds in a Jan. 6 loss at Memphis, one of three straight games in double figures. Carlton displayed some genuine offensive skills throughout the season and wound up averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds, both tops among the team’s big men.
He also showed a propensity for foul trouble, and at times seemed to lack intensity. Indeed, one of the frequent criticisms of Carlton is that he needs a better motor.
“I would pretty much bet my house,” Blaney said with a chuckle, “on that motor getting better under Danny.”
It seems Carlton is already showing improvements during UConn’s brutal summer sessions. Hurley said late last week that Carlton really struggled through the first five or so sessions, but has come alive recently.
“He’s just like a baby, physically, right now,” Hurley noted. “The last 2 ½, three workouts, he’s starting to emerge and have an impact. (On Friday), he stood out. He was getting drilled early in the week, physically just kind of getting beat up. But he’s starting to get adjusted to the physicality and getting tougher and more active.”
And that’s exactly why Josh Carlton — with a little help from George Blaney — decided to return to UConn this season.
“It’s a perfect time for Connecticut, a perfect time for Dan Hurley, and a perfect time for Josh,” said Blaney. “Everything is new. You can work with a guy who’s gonna really push you to be really good. He’s a terrific coach who knows what he’s doing and is completely committed to basketball. He’s gonna be a lifer.”
After last year’s 14-18 train wreck (not to mention the 16-17 season the year before), that’s exactly what Josh Carlton was hoping for.
“He wants to win here at UConn,” Carlton noted. “I wouldn’t want to leave anything on the note if I had left (after last season).”