SVP’s one big thing: Dan Hurley’s return to Yukon

Any college coach knows the rule of thumb when it comes to recruiting. If you got that 5-star on campus, you need to get a commitment before they leave. It’s the Glengarry Glen Ross rule of “ABC” — always close. That’s the rule. You can get them if they go home to think about it, but the odds are greatly reduced.

When UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley left LA without agreeing to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, it was telling. On Monday, he told the world he was going to run it again at Storrs and try to make it a threepeat.

I mentioned the Billy Donovan parallel on Sunday. He won back-to-back titles in Gainesville and actually took the Orlando Magic job. Then he thought better of it and moved back to Florida. He will eventually answer the NBA’s siren song, and Hurley probably will one day. As much as he said. But not now.

Regardless of what happens from here, what Harley has done in the last two years to change his place in the sport forever is astounding. This is a man who spent most of his basketball career shadowed by his father and brother. Now, he’s all grown up — and they take a back seat to him.

Sound like hyperbole? Tell me something — how many coaches in the same offseason got to tell Kentucky, college basketball and the Lakers, NBA royalty, thanks for the interest — sincerely — but I’m ready. Hurley managed to pass those two gigs in two months. If you had told me that when he was raging in Rhode Island, I would have bullied you mercilessly.

We are here. He’s in — at Storrs. still There are thin palm trees on the ground, but there are a ton of trophies. All of them earned in the last quarter century and he wants more. there

I admire high achievers who create comfort in their living spaces rather than being driven to be happy. Only she knows how comfortable… only she knows how hard it was to say no. From this point on it will be noted, what Harley chose not to do. I bet he poured himself into whatever he decided to do — coach UConn and frantically prepare to make the show.