Cam Spencer, Samson Johnson and other Huskies show out ahead of UConn’s European tour
WEST HARTFORD – Each of the six newcomers to the UConn men’s basketball team made their way over to Jim Calhoun, in the corner of the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium at the University of St. Joseph’s, after Saturday’s practice.
They each shook the hand of the UConn legend and exchanged pleasantries before he spent some extra time with Samson Johnson and Alex Karaban, who each stood out in the three 10-minute scrimmages in front of about 400 season ticket holders and members of the Husky Athletic Fund. Donovan Clingan was hanging out with the crowd that flocked over to him, signing autographs and taking pictures as Calhoun made his way to coach Dan Hurley for some feedback after the two-hour workout.
“He was obviously positive,” Hurley said. “This time of year everyone’s pretty positive.”
Saturday’s practice was one of 10 extra practices allowed due to the program’s European Tour, which begins with a flight into Nice, France, on Wednesday.
“It was good to get some butterflies experienced and play in front of fans, kind of for our young guys to get one under their belt. And really this was a little bit of an introduction to college basketball and to our fan base of what we’re putting on the court this year, so it’s good to get out here,” Hurley said, noting it was important to get in some sort of game shape before competing overseas.
“You travel around the world, and we’re the reigning NCAA champion, when we show up to play there should be some level of quality to what we bring… I’m excited (for) just the bonding aspect of it. I’m a homebody, if I’m gone from Connecticut long, I don’t love long trips unless it’s happening in March or April – I love some of those extended stays in Vegas and Houston, I’ll stay forever.”
The trip, nine days with a game in Monaco and two in Barcelona, Spain, will be a critical time for the new team to bond and for the “new Big Three,” as Hurley referred to returners Clingan, Karaban and Tristen Newton, to step into leadership roles.
“To think about where we are relative to where we would be without the trip, the trip has been big for us to stop the celebrating and work hard,” Hurley said. “I mean we’ve worked really hard this summer and obviously there’s still things for us to do in terms of celebrating, but every time we’re not celebrating we’re grinding and we’re working super hard. This trip got us back to hard ass practice like we’re in season mode in a way.”
In turning the page on last year’s national championship season, the vocal leadership role – which was mostly handled by Andre Jackson Jr. last year – has been handed down to Karaban, the sophomore with three semesters under his belt since he enrolled early.
“I didn’t expect it to be this early, but yeah I have to be that vocal leader for us,” he said. “I think Tristen does a perfect job setting the example, Donovan is gonna help with the vocal as well but I think I have to really lead the vocal. I was here last year and half the year earlier so I’ve seen RJ (Cole), Tyrese (Martin) and Andre and Adama (Sanogo). So I’m really trying to use my voice, that’s something I’m working on every day with the coaching staff, just trying to get them going and create a competitive environment.”
Karaban could be heard during Saturday’s scrimmages, though Hurley would like him to be a bit more assertive in telling his teammates what to do rather than suggesting it. On one play, after one of the freshmen forced up a bad shot, Karaban had both his index fingers pointing to the sides of his head suggesting there was a smarter play to be made.
“Someone’s got to bring the voice, so I know I’ve got to step into that role and I’m more than capable of doing it,” he said.
Spencer shows out
It was clear why Hurley and the coaching staff had their eyes on Spencer, from Rutgers, in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-4 guard showed off his shot, what he is mostly known for, but also his ability to create his own shot and that for others from anywhere on the court.
“Cam doesn’t make a lot of mistakes at either end of the court and the shooting’s a weapon but he can facilitate,” Hurley said.
New UConn guard Cam Spencer was once a recruit from Baltimore nobody wanted
Spencer also got high remarks from Clingan: “He’s an absolute dog and there’s no one on this team that wants to win more than him, maybe besides Coach Hurley, but I mean he is just a great all-around player. He could shoot the ball lights-out, he could pass the ball, he’s just so patient with his game, the pump-fakes, the step-throughs, the no-look passes – he’s got all of it. I’m excited for what he’s going to bring to the team this year because he’s going to be a really special player for us.”
Spencer committed to the Huskies the night he landed home in Maryland after his visit in June and, once his paperwork was finalized, immediately flew back to campus and got involved with team workouts.
“I was here for like three days and it felt like I was here for a year,” he said.
Taking Clingan to another level
The 7-footer from Bristol took just about every one of his warm up shots from beyond the 3-point line (and made about half) before Saturday’s practice, showing off a fairly smooth set shot that is still being tinkered with. Clingan didn’t steal the show in the scrimmages, however, as the new pieces (and some returners like Johnson and Karaban) drew most of the attention.
“Today was some concepts in transition, some five-out things that we’re working on. We haven’t really implemented a lot of our high-low game as he’s setting up shop at the front of the rim, ducking in as a 7-2 target, what that’s gonna do to the other team’s defense,” Hurley said. “We’re expecting him to be one of the best centers in the country and to do what he did last year. His conditioning I think is really good, he looks good, we just need him to play 27 minutes a game, 26, 27, 30 minutes a game, 24 – whatever it is – at the level he played 14.”
Samson Johnson, “a whole new player”
During the first of three 10-minute scrimmages Saturday, Johnson, who missed nearly all of last season with a foot injury, got the crowd going. With a subtle stepback move on Clingan, Johnson pulled up and made a 3-pointer – he went to the bench right after for some rest, so Clingan had to respond by dunking on freshman Youssouf Singare.
“Samson, he’s a whole new player,” Clingan said. “He’s been in the gym and he’s been putting in the work so it’s starting to show and pay off. He played great today, he’s been playing great every day in practice. I’m happy for him and hope he keeps stepping up to the table and he’s gonna play a big role for us this year.”
Samson Johnson looks to make major leap in new role for UConn men next season
Johnson is expected to find minutes in the frontcourt when Karaban or Clingan needs a breather.
Setback for Stewart
Jaylin Stewart, the four-star recruit from Seattle who couldn’t get to Storrs until July 7 because of his school schedule, spent most of his time Saturday on a stationary bike off in the corner. He is working his way back from a recent, seemingly minor, groin injury.
“Just the Seattle school system there didn’t do us any favors just not getting him out, graduated in time for Summer One. They really worked against us,” Hurley said jokingly, later clarifying that he isn’t upset at the teachers. “So he comes in late when we’re working at a very high rate, gets a soft tissue injury and now he misses some valuable time. But he’s a very instinctual player, he’s a very talented offensive player, we’re gonna need him this year.
“But he misses these moments to build the toughness, to build the grit. These hard, early practices really, they make a man.”
