Twitter/Alterique Gilbert
The University of Connecticut won their last championship with a scoring point guard, Shabazz Napier. Is Alterique Gilbert his heir apparent?
The UConn Huskies grabbed another top point guard, a staple in their program and a big part of why they won championships in 2011 and 2014. In 2014, Shabazz Napier led the team to victory while in 2011, it was Kemba Walker.
The recent commitment of 5-star point guard Alterique Gilbert may continue the tradition that coach Kevin Ollie inherited from the legendary Jim Calhoun. Gilbert cites his bond with Ollie as the reason he chose UConn over Louisville, the other top contender.
"I love the relationship me and coach [Kevin] Ollie have, and my mom as well," Gilbert told ESPN. "My reasoning for the commitment is me being comfortable with the whole situation. I just decided to take the best thing for me and my family. We just came to a conclusion together that it would be the best fit for me."
"I think I fit in real well," Gilbert adds. "I know UConn is a guard-oriented program. They like to get out in transition and create isolation opportunities for the guards. I'm just looking to create opportunities for myself and my teammates."
Gilbert, just like Napier, will enter the program with an incumbent starting guard in Jalen Adams. Napier entered in 2011 during Kemba Walker's last year. CBS Sports projects that Gilbert "should see major minutes in 2016-17 next to Jalen Adams, a freshman who like Gilbert was one of the top guards in his high school class."
Even with the acquisition of Gilbert, UConn is still on the recruiting trail with targets like center Udoka Azubuike and guard Markelle Fultz. Both are also five-star prospects.
Alterique Gilbert's skills are on full display in this video:
