Kentucky fans know Ahmad Nowell as well after landing as one of his finalists before picking UConn.
Nowell is a 6-foot-1 guard out of Philly who brings a hard-nosed type mindset and tougness to the floor. Say no more if you're Mark Pope. That's the exact player that he's targeted to build his program.
"Ahmad brings the kind of hard-nosed Philly toughness that will fit perfectly with the culture we have established here at UConn," Hurley said of Nowell when he signed. "He is a powerful guard who can shoot, drive and score through contact, as well as be an aggressive on-ball defender."
If that doesn't fit in with what Mark Pope is building, I don't know what does.
Nowell can play on or off the ball but can really impact the game without having the ball in his hands or having plays run for him. He's an athletic guard who is dynamic on both ends of the floor.
While Nowell is looking to be a major impact player right when he steps on campus, he would surely find that same role under Mark Pope.