Christian Vital, a 6-foot-2 combo guard from Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More and the PSA Cardinals AAU program, committed to UConn on Friday, he Tweeted.
New England you stuck with through my hardships and struggles I’m glad I have the chance to repay you back! �� #Huskies
– Christian CV Vital (@I_AMCV) April 29, 2016
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A first-team NEPSAC AAA selection who averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season, Vital took an unofficial to the campus on Monday with his mother following an official visit the week before.
“Basically [Kevin Ollie], he’s texted me before 9 every day this week,” Vital told Scout.com. “Just letting me know about he Lakers situation and that he loves me and he’s staying at UConn. That really means something to me, to have that kind of relationship with the head coach, knowing he has a million things to do.”
Ollie has been linked to the Lakers coaching vacancy but told ESPN’s Andy Katz it would take something “very special” for him to leave UConn.
Asked what Ollie’s message to Vital was, he told SNY.tv: “He wants me. He wants a guy like me who has my versatility. There is a spot for me to earn minutes right away.”
UConn lost Daniel Hamilton to the NBA Draft, Sterling Gibbs to graduation and Sam Cassell Jr. to transfer (Iona), but returns guards Jalen Adams and Rodney Purvis and adds incoming floor general Alterique Gilbert and VCU transfer Terry Larrier.
“Christian is a player a coach loves to work with,” St. Thomas More head coach Jere Quinn said. “He is the first in the gym and last to leave. He has all the intangibles as a player. His skill set is many. He loves to defend but can score in a many ways. He is a great kid with a bright future.”
“CV is a tremendous competitor and a lock-down defender who takes pride in defense,” St. Thomas More assistant Pat Quinn told SNY.tv. “He can knock down shots and is go-to in the clutch.”
He added: “He will get stronger with a major program’s strength and conditioning program. He’s a combo guard who will need to get more comfortable at the point.”
The Queens Village native decommitted from UNLV following the coaching change and then cut his list to UConn, Louisville and Iowa. He took an official visit to Louisville but never tripped to Iowa.
NChristian Vital, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More, committed to UConn on Friday, he Tweeted.
