How Colorado men’s basketball assistant Mike Rohn found a steal in J’Vonne Hadley

The Buffs typically don’t recruit JUCO players, but J’Vonne Hadley is a worthwhile exception

The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team watched a flurry of players leave in the offseason: Jabari Walker, Evan Battey, Elijah Parquet and Keeshawn Barthelemy, most notably.

Another significant loss was Bobi Klintman, who ended up leaving Boulder due to academic issues. Those losses all hurt Tad Boyle’s team, but they were able to land J’Vonne Hadley on a junior college transfer.

With the 2022-2023 season approaching for the Buffs, it has been Hadley who is giving this team a surprising spark, and all the credit goes to assistant coach Mike Rohn (h/t Pat Rooney of BuffZone):

“Kudos to Mike Rohn. We had a little bit of a curveball thrown at us with the recruitment of Bobi Klintman last spring,” Boyle said. “When that went south, we were in desperate need of a big guy. Especially with Jabari (Walker’s) decision to leave for the NBA, we knew we had to sign a good, quality big. We thought we had that with Bobi.

“When that didn’t happen coach Rohn, who is the ultimate grinder in recruiting, said he let this kid (Hadley) know if we had an opening in the spring, we’re going to be interested. And we did. He was still available, and we got a hell of a player.”

With Boyle saying that the Buffs could come out of the gates struggling a bit, Hadley has a perfect opportunity to emerge and earn some quality minutes.

The former JUCO transfer loves what he is seeing in Boulder thus far, too.

“Ever since I got here me and Steve (Englehart, CU’s strength coach) have been working every day. I grew a little bit. I can see my body transforming, and that was kind of the goal as I made my decision here. His program that he puts us through is outstanding.”

If Hadley continues to develop, he could end up being a steal of the offseason and a blossoming piece for Boyle’s squad this season.

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Tad Boyle tests positive for COVID-19, will miss Thursday’s game vs. Oregon

Tad Boyle will miss Thursday’s game against Oregon

Following a nearly week-long road trip, Tad Boyle has tested positive for COVID-19.

The 12th year Colorado head coach will be sidelined (at his home) for Thursday’s game against Oregon. Associate head coach Mike Rohn, who Boyle hired as an assistant back in 2010, was named the acting head coach.

Rohn and the Buffs will look to sweep the regular season series against Oregon on Thursday.

“While I’m disappointed I can’t be on the court with our team, I have full confidence in our coaching staff and know that coach Rohn will have our team ready to play on Thursday,” Boyle said. “We’re all doing everything we can to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, and I’m grateful for the expertise and care of our medical staff in ensuring we take the proper steps to keep our student-athletes and staff safe.”

As of Tuesday, Boyle’s status for Saturday’s matchup against Oregon State is expected to be decided later in the week.

Colorado, which has lost four of its last five, has been severely shorthanded in recent games. Starting forward Tristan da Silva missed the Buffs’ two previous games with COVID and Elijah Parquet was sidelined against Washington State due to a lingering foot injury. Freshman 7-footer Lawson Lovering also suffered what is likely a season-ending MCL injury last week.

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