Coach Kevin Ollie believes that Amida Brimah could be another in a long line of outstanding UConn basketball big men.

After the Huskies received Brimah's signed national letter of intent on Monday, Ollie commented for the first time.

Ollie raved about Brimah, a 6-foot-11, 215-pound center out of Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School in Miami.

"Amida was one of the most passionate basketball players I saw during the entire recruiting period, and I fell in love with his passion for the game," Ollie said in a released statement. "He showed leadership both on and off the court, and then he was the best player in the game."

During his senior season, Brimah averaged 16 points, 11.7 rebounds and 7.2 blocks while shooting 68 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line and leading Carroll (26-5) to the Florida Class 4A regional semifinals. Brimah, orginally from Ghana, has been playing organized basketball for about three years.

"He's a terrific shot-blocker and rebounder," Ollie said. "He's obviously got to get stronger, but he's got a chance to make an impact right away. I love the fact that he is dying to get up here this summer."

Brimah is the third member of the recruiting class, joining 6-4 guard Terrence Samuel of Brooklyn and 6-9 forward Kentan Facey of Glen Head, N.Y.

"With Amida joining Kentan and Terrence, we think we have three new players coming in who can all help us," Ollie said. "What I like best is they each have a relentless motor that just keeps going. They are excited to play basketball."

- Gavin Keefe