Buford (Ga.) power forward Rakim Lubin took one visit during his recruiting process and couldn't even get back on the plane for a return trip home. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound big man committed to UConn on Saturday morning during his time in Storrs.

Lubin's commitment was confirmed by Buford head coach Allen Whitehart.

"He said he liked practice and loved the way (head coach Kevin) Ollie connected with players," Whitehart said of his player. "(The) process he laid out for Rakim athletically and academically was really good. His mom said the same thing. The way they laid out for him...sold it."

A back injury slowed him down in July but a number of schools made the trek to Buford to see Lubin in workouts this fall. UConn assistant coach Ricky Moore was one of them. Moore was the coach that offered and invited Lubin up to Storrs for the visit.

Interestingly enough, the last time Ollie saw Lubin play was during the spring evaluation period. Troy, Marshall, Western Carolina, Houston, Memphis and Marquette all came in to see Lubin play over the last couple of weeks.

"I think his best basketball is ahead of him," Whitehart said. :He's still really raw. Anything he does is just power."

Since transferring to Buford, a nationally-renowned football school, Lubin has added 12 pounds of muscle thanks to the strength and conditioning program. Whitehart said the first time Lubin did a bench press max, he put up 275 pounds three times.  

"You can't teach his skill, size and strength and he runs like a deer," Whitehart said. "He's light years of where he was back in June when we got him."