2025 McDonald's AA Day 1 Recap

[huskymedic]

 

[Drame]

Based on pictures I've seen of Mullins standing next to Hurley and others I would guess he's 6'4 barefoot.

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I was at the game last night and I would say Mullins is 6'4" max, maybe a hair shorter. Dont think hes big enough to start at the 3.

 

[Richmondhsky]

Does the staff advise these guys to get in the weight room to start working on the strength before they get to campus? Are any of them coming to campus this summer? I’m assuming the staff advises, but their influence only goes so far at this point. Unless they have Cam Spencer-like dedication, they pretty much enjoy their senior year as kids. No judgment, just an observation.

Played football back in late 70’s and we were given weight training regiments in the spring prior to Freshman year. I would be shocked if each guy gets a personalized lifting and diet in today’s world. Tested the first practice to measure progress etc

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Wait, what? When did that happen?

Umm….year 23-24…can’t remember the exact time frame.

 

[HooperScooper]

How incoming UConn men’s basketball trio fared in McDonald’s All-American Game

Braylon Mullins avoided a scoreless night for the trio of UConn commits at the McDonalds All American Game when he made a shot over No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa.

www.courant.com

Alternate access:
How incoming UConn men’s basketball trio fared in McDonald’s All-American Game

 

[nomar]

People are making way too many conclusions about the impact these guys will have based on an all star game with a bunch of guys playing iso ball

This times a gazillion. Hilarious seeing hot takes about how bad a guy will be or how poor a class this is (3 AAs!!!) based on a glorified pickup game.

I feel good about Mullins. The fact he wasn't a ball hog doesn't mean anything. I think we knew Reibe wasn't going to dominate on Day 1 based on him getting demolished by Boozer. That's fine. He's got the size and skill to succeed. As far as Adams goes, with the caveat I haven't watched much, I've been waaaaaay less enthusiastic about him than our other 3 recruits. But if anybody can coax him to maximize his talent, it's this staff.

 

[nomar]

How worthless is the McDonald's game as an evaluation tool?

Does anyone remember Mike Rosario, former game MVP?

I do!

But point taken and agreed with.

 

[Pmac923]

It's not an excuse, it's reality. I'm not saying you need to think all 3 will or won't contribute, just that basing it off last night is dumb. If Boozer makes passes to a wide open Mullins a few times people here would be loving him, but because he didn't get the ball his stat line doesn't look as great as it could have. In UConn's offense he's always getting that pass

Mullins was fine but Adams tripped over the floor twice, airballed 3 wide open shots, and each player stepped out of bounds. This is a glorified exhibition but I’d expect some level of composure in that setting .

 

[RuffRuff]

Bundalo was super active, played great. That kid needs to gain a few pounds though. Ament needs to as well

Ament is an interesting case. He’s super skilled for his height, but boy is he narrow. He’s a branded OAD and in every interview you hear from him he almost only talks about how a program gets kids to the NBA. How much NIL is this kid worth? These kids like DP, Boozer, AJ are built like men. Ament is still a boy.

He’s got loads of long term potential but how much value is he going to bring in one year? The fact he’s still waiting on where he’s going out of 5 teams is absurd.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I will say Rip Hamilton looked awfully skinny in the 96 McD game. He also looked so so in the game

 

[TouchdownHusky]

I think Mullins will be one and done.

Mullins only touched the ball 8 times from my count. Three of them were on steals, one was a pass Ament through going out of bounds that Mullins saved, one was an assist, one was Mullins catching the ball with his foot on the line where he made the three, one was a pass to an open three the guy missed. He drove once and it was a sweet move from out at the corner three where he put it on the floor drove into the lane and did a spin move for a hanging floater.

Here we go again - one and done. UConn is not Duke or Kentucky or UNC that can absorb one and dones after another one and done. Plus let's see how it works out for LM, who just is not ready for the NBA after just one year of ball.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Here we go again - one and done. UConn is not Duke or Kentucky or UNC that can absorb one and dones after another one and done. Plus let's see how it works out for LM, who just is not ready for the NBA after just one year of ball.

Repeat after me: Liam McNeeley will get access to better coaching, better S&C, practice against better competition, and not have any practice time restrictions in the NBA.

There is a better development apparatus in the NBA for high picks than there would be remaining in college.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

One thing we lacked last year (and currently next year too) is a guy who excels at iso ball. We still don’t have that.

UConn desperately needs more athleticism.

The UConn guys took 7 shots COMBINED. Guys like Dybantsa, Peterson, Acuff, Boozer all took 10+ shots individually. Can we relax over a glorified exhibition?

Yeah, because no programs want those players anyway, right? Oh wait, those players are in high demand.

 

[RuffRuff]

Repeat after me: Liam McNeeley will get access to better coaching, better S&C, practice against better competition, and not have any practice time restrictions in the NBA.

There is a better development apparatus in the NBA for high picks than there would be remaining in college.

Truly amazing how anyone thinks players develop better in college than under NBA coaching.

 

[Son of Robert]

Mullins really did a lot of good things in limited action (he got minutes - but was rarely involved). Picked Dybzantsa clean in the open floor, then scored on him, then AJ demanded the ball to go at him and lowered his shoulder. Mullins could have flopped but stood him up and AJ did hit a little short jumper. But he wanted to show Mullins up after the steal and bucket and ended up with sort of a soft basket, whereas in a real game, maybe Mullins draws the charge there and wins another battle. Then Peterson tried to iso on him and he locked him up. Fadeaway contested three. Brick. Those are the two top recruits in the country and he didn’t back down.

Mullins also swung the ball beautifully to an open shooter instead of thinking “finally I get to shoot” - which the other 23 players in the game would have done. He read the D and made smart back cuts and was ignored and spaced the floor properly and was ignored. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a personality clash that affected how people played with him. Boozer in particular. He had about 7-8 chances to do a fundamental pass and swing the ball his way and passed it zero of those times. Ament ignored him too. Maybe it was just standard all star game selfishness - but it looked weird to me.

Adams obviously will want to burn the game film, but he showed foot speed on defense a couple times that I didn’t see from any of our guys this year. He might get bully-balled by larger wings, but he looks like someone with the quickness to guard smaller people and disrupt them with his length. If he is indeed a better 3 pointer shooter than he showed - there’s 3 and D potential.

Reibe looked comfortable shooting - but didn’t look like he had the instincts to be a rim protector. But we’ll see - some of that is strength and conditioning too and getting quicker off your feet.

Good stuff, nice post.

 

[Mr. French]

I do!

But point taken and agreed with.

Mike Rosario was a bucket! Just ask Coach Hurley's dad.

 

[dennismenace]

I don’t know what to think about this group to be honest and these reports aren’t the best, but it’s free flowing practice.

Mullins looks like an A+ shooter but I’m not sure what else he brings to the table. McNeeley was great last season in large part because he can do a little bit of everything. So even if his 3 was falling he could still find other ways to score and was solid defensively.

For Mullins if there’s stretches where his 3 isn’t falling what will he be able to provide?

Adams being slender and possibly asked to play the 1 doesn’t bode well IMO for instant impact his first year. Even though I like his game the best and he played well in this scrimmage. I’m just unsure how his high volume game and shot selection will fit on next years team as a freshman off the bench.

Reibe seems like he needs to get stronger. I wonder if next year is a year Singare may be ready to get playing time just in case.

isn't Singare in the portal?

 

[Klm.0606]

How worthless is the McDonald's game as an evaluation tool?

Does anyone remember Mike Rosario, former game MVP?

What people don’t understand is what leads up to this game. They had several practices over the weekend, that is where the evaluation comes from not this game.

 

[SoFla Steve]

isn't Singare in the portal?

Yes, he is. 247 ranks him at #191 in their top transfers list.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

isn't Singare in the portal?

That post was before the Singare announcement lol

 

[jibsey]

Furphy has the most physically ready body of these freshmen, and has what looks like the instincts to adjust quickly. He looks and plays older.

I think Mullins is a kid that is going to need a couple years. He’s not rolling in here with a Steph or Liam physical profile. He looks incredibly young. It would have been good to see him try to at least once dribble the basketball.

Reibe needs to learn the position. He’ll be very good with time but don’t expect him to come into year one ablazing. Excited to watch him develop.

I can’t even comment on Adam’s until I see him put 20 pounds on. You can’t play at the high D1 level at his strength level.

No one is coming with a Steph physical profile. Steph was made out of steel.

 

[dennismenace]

We better hit the portal hard.

We seem to be gravitating back to recruiting long beanpole players. We're still in the Big East and we don't look like we are acquiring rebounders or defensive gritty players. We had better pull out some muscle and speed in the portal or consider joining a West coast league. Are we still looking to be a picture perfect 5 out tall lean 3 point bombing machine? No D, no speed and no rebounding?

 

[dennismenace]

That post was before the Singare announcement lol

Sorry, I'm late to the thread as usual.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Sorry, I'm late to the thread as usual.

I’m happy you have more important things to do and focus on to be late sir