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Some noteworthy items from the eve of Kevin Ollie’s first game as UConn coach:

*Enosch Wolf (concussion) will not be available for Thursday’s exhibition against AIC. He participated in non-contact drills Wednesday and is expected to be a full-go by Saturday. Judging by his progress, it seems he’ll almost certainly be ready for next week’s season opener versus Michigan State.

*Ryan Boatright twisted his left ankle during Wednesday’s practice and sat out as a precaution, according to Ollie. He is expected to play Thursday night.

*Olllie did not reveal Thursday’s starters, but said he has “three lineups floating around in my head.”

R.J. Evans (AP)

*Ollie raved about senior R.J. Evans, a Salem, Conn. native who previously played at Holy Cross.

“He’s been wonderful,” Ollie said. “He’s given us that rock, that person in the locker room that can talk to guys. I imagine they said ‘Oh, this guy from Holy Cross, we ain’t going to respect him.’ But when they got on the court, they started respecting him each and every day….He just knows how to play. You need guys who are going to be those grind-it-out guys. I know what I’m going to get from R.J. Some other guys I don’t, but I know what I’m going to get from R.J.”

*Thus far in practice, Ollie has been pleased with the transition offense, and says the rebounding still needs some work.

*Jim Calhoun sat with recently hired Ricky Moore, the assistant director of basketball administration, during Wednesday’s practice. Niels Giffey says Calhoun is there “every other day.”

“I feel like I can talk to him more now,” Giffey said. “He doesn’t have as much to do now.”

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Jordan Bell, one of the nation’s top uncommitted power forwards, will take an official visit to UConn this upcoming weekend.

Bell has narrowed his college choices to Auburn, Oregon and UConn. He’s long been high on the Huskies, and he told Hearst Connecticut Monday that coach Kevin Ollie has extended a scholarship offer. Bell’s numbers as a high school junior were modest — 8.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 2.2 assists per game for Long Beach Poly Tech, which went 29-3 — but, as you’ll see below, he possesses game-changing athleticism.

If Bell commits, he’ll join Kentan Facey, another elite shot blocker, and point guard Terrence Samuel in the Huskies 2013 class. UConn is also recruiting top 10 prospect Noah Vonleh and former Penn State commit Brandon Austin.

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Before he could settle (or play a regular season game) in Houston, Jeremy Lamb was shipped 450 miles north.

Dealt from Houston to Oklahoma City in last weekend’s blockbuster trade, Lamb becomes one of several young ex-Huskies in an intriguing situation. Let’s examine them all, starting with the Thunder’s newest addition.

JEREMY LAMB, OKLAHOMA CITY: How many lottery picks get the chance to contribute immediately for a title contender? Answer: Name one outside of Lamb. I can’t. Even though veteran swingman Kevin Martin ( 23.5 points per game in 2010-11), will likely replace James Harden as the team’s sixth man, Lamb is still in line for significant minutes. His ability to move without the ball and use screens bodes well in Oklahoma City’s offense.

PREDICTION: Eight points per game in 18 minutes.

Jeremy Lamb (AP)

A.J. PRICE, WASHINGTON: John Wall is on the shelf until December, and it appears Price has fended off Shelvin Mack and Jannero Pargo for the starting gig in the nation’s capital. This is a huge opportunity for Price, who was cast aside after a solid rookie year with the Pacers. He won’t ‘wow’ anybody with blow-by quickness or athleticism, but Price is an above-average jumpshooter and a respected leader.

PREDICTION: 12 points, 5 assists while Wall is sidelined.

HASHEEM THABEET, OKLAHOMA CITY: With Cole Aldrich out of the picture, the 7-foot-3 Thabeet will likely serve as the back-up to Kendrick Perkins. In three years, Thabeet has already made a trio of pitstops — Memphis, Houston and Portland — and has averaged a paltry 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. Between Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin and Lamb, the Thunder don’t rely on the frontcourt for much scoring. That’s good for Thabeet. If he can alter shots  (and stay out of foul trouble), he could earn some minutes.  Thabeet provided glimpses in the preseason, according to The Oklahoman.

PREDICTION: Stats similar to his first three years.

ANDRE DRUMMOND, DETROIT: Another “boom or bust” UConn big man, Drummond was impressive throughout the preseason. After a inconsistent freshman campaign, a few things were clear: Drummond was high on potential, still low on polish. If Drummond were to become an impact NBA big man, the consensus was that it would take a few years (at the bare minimum). Perhaps people were wrong. Thus far, the Detroit media has raved about the 19 year old. Drummond averaged 9 points, 5.9 boards and 1.4 blocks per game in the preseason, though it’s worth adding that he shot 37.5 percent from the line.

PREDICTION: Eight points, five rebounds, 1.5 blocks in 20-24 minutes.

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Junior center Enosch Wolf suffered a concussion during practice last Friday, the third head injury of his collegiate career. Wolf, the team’s only true center, is expected to be ready for the Nov. 9 season opener against Michigan State. Kevin Ollie said the Huskies are “taking their time” with the big man.

Shabazz Napier (AP)

“We don’t want him to get another concussion and then it might be career threatening,” Ollie said. “I know he wants to get back and make that Germany trip.”

In addition to Wolf, freshman big man Phil Nolan (flu) sat out of Wednesday’s practice. The Huskies used DeAndre Daniels, Leon Tolksdorf and Tyler Olander in the frontcourt. Expect to see a small lineup — Daniels at the four — even when Wolf returns.

“When we secure the basketball, with DeAndre at the four, I don’t think there’s too many teams in America that can keep up with him,” Ollie said.

*Sophomore guard Brendan Allen, a walk-on from Windsor, has been awarded a scholarship, which means the Huskies have one available scholarship for the 2012-13 season (they also get one back next year).

“We gave him a scholarship, so we think he’s doing something,” Ollie said. “We need him to continue doing it academically and bring it on the court. Brendan is a guy, if I play him one minute or I play him 20 minutes, he’s going to be ready. We want guys like that who don’t rock the boat.”

*Ollie mentioned that Shabazz Napier may spend time off-the-ball, enabling him to come of screens and better utilize his outside shooting ability.

*Long Beach forward Jordan Bell has narrowed his choices to UConn, Auburn and Oregon, according to the Compton Magic Twitter account. The Compton Magic also tweeted that Ollie would be in Long Beach Thursday to visit Bell, a 6-foot-7 shot blocking extraordinaire. USA Today’s Jason Jordan reported that Bell will visit Oregon this weekend and UConn the weekend of Nov. 2.

*UConn added several walk-ons to its roster, including Terrance Ditimi, a 6-foot-3 sophomore forward from Stamford High. The other new members: Tor Watts (6-foot-1, Brooklyn); Dave Vandal (6-foot-2, Stonington, Conn.); and Trey James (5-foot-9, Middletown, Conn.).

*Practicing with just nine scholarship players, Ollie mixed-and-matched his lineups in Wednesday’s practice: Ryan Boatright, R.J. Evans, Brendan Allen, Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander wore the white jerseys while Shabazz Napier, Omar Calhoun, Evans, DeAndre Daniels and Leon Tolksdorf were in blue. Yes, Evans was on double-duty. And in case you’re wondering how that’s possible, white and blue never scrimmaged against one another. They simply took turns against the walk-ons.