Apr 25, 2014 04:41 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Connecticut junior and second-leading scorer Deandre Daniels (13 ppg, 6 rpb) will enter next year's NBA draft, ESPN reported. He's the fifth player -- the first underclassman -- that won't be returning to defend the team's national championship. Experts project him in the early to middle second round.

Daniels' departure adds some pressure to the so-far failure-free existence of head coach Kevin Ollie. In his first year they weren't eligible for the postseason. In his second they won the national title.

Ollie has proven he's a good coach, but can he build a program? During last season's championship run, he used a roster largely created by former head coach and living legend Jim Calhoun. Shabazz Napier, Deandre Daniels, Ryan Boartright, and departing seniors Niels Gaffey, Lasan Kromah, and Tyler Olander were all signed by Calhoun. They were also the top five scorers from last year's team.

So far, Ollie's most promising recruit is 7-foot rising sophomore Amida Brimah. He's the team's Chris Obkepa, or St. John's rising junior who nearly swats more shots than he makes (both a positive and negative attribute). Last year, Brima averaged 4.1 ppg (64 percent shooting), 3.0 rpb, and 2.3 bpk in about 16 mpg.

Brimah wasn't actually Ollie's highest rated recruit last year. Kentan Facey (83/100 compared to Brimah's 71) was, but he only earned five minutes per game. In a UConn system that can be tough on some freshmen, the 6-foot-9 forward could get his chance next year.

The biggest recruit this year is 30^th ranked Daniel Hamilton from Los Angeles. ESPN has him at an 89. At 6-foot-6, he'll play shooting guard.

Ollie still has some learning to do on the recruiting trail; luckily, he'll get one more year of Boatright, who showcased his talent and potential for greater things in this year's tournament. It's been tradition for embattled (which Boatright has been at times) but highly touted UConn guards to thrive their senior year (with Napier and Kemba Walker prime examples). Thus, next season Boatright, along with Brima, Facey, and Hamilton, could support a contending team in the AAC.

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