2026 Recruiting: Sara Okeke | Page 12 | The Boneyard

2026 Recruiting: Sara Okeke

Status
Not open for further replies.
UConnCat said:
Skim says Okeke will commit to USC Trojans.
Expand ...
USC is getting a fantastic talent.
I wonder if Geno looks to sign two Wing/power forwards for the ‘27 class, Lauren Hassell and Eve long or does he find a power forward through the portal.
 
oldhusky said:
I agree with most that suggest there are signs she may have lost interest in us, and Skim is usually a reliable source. At the same time, however, that timeline that Skim said was possible has passed, Uconn does not tend to be very public about visits in advance, and unless I have missed something, I don't recall us being officially eliminated either.

I have gone from optimistic to pretty pessimistic, but retain a slight hope that Sarah might appear on campus this weekend for our opening round game.
Expand ...
Didn't Skim say "shortly" within a week? I mean with HS team saying April and Skim saying "wrap up quickly, maybe within the next week" on March 1...I think the timeline of two weeks fits into quickly wrapping up.

She might have made the decision a week ago and Skim just posted last night since her announcement is today, I think?
 
CL82 said:
All part of Geno's secret plan to field an "all Sarah" starting team in the 2027, 2028 season.
(This plan, apparently involves Olivia legally changing her name to Sara.)
Expand ...
Ahh. This explains the last second effort to recruit Sara Popovic. Geno will go all over the world to find more Saras. And don’t forget Blanca ‘Sarah’ Quinonez.
 
Bone Dog said:
Ahh. This explains the last second effort to recruit Sara Popovic. Geno will go all over the world to find more Saras. And don’t forget Blanca ‘Sarah’ Quinonez.
Expand ...
Season 2 Plan GIF by Paramount+
 
.-.
Bone Dog said:
Ahh. This explains the last second effort to recruit Sara Popovic. Geno will go all over the world to find more Saras. And don’t forget Blanca ‘Sarah’ Quinonez.
Expand ...
Just think of the confusion in the opposing team’s huddle when the coach asks her team, “Who’s got Sarah?” and 5 players all raise their hands at the same time….,. 😎
 
BBallFan86 said:
Correct. You just can't have in-person contact on game days or give tickets for NCAAT games.
Expand ...
According to the rules, in this particular case, the staff can have in person contact with a recruit on game day during an OV because the visit and tournament game is on their campus. And they can provide comp tickets for a tournament game they are participating in whether it's at their campus or a neutral site. However, at a neutral site they can't have in person contact because it's during an evaluation period.
 
BobbyJ said:
According to the rules, in this particular case, the staff can have in person contact with a recruit on game day during an OV because the visit and tournament game is on their campus. And they can provide comp tickets for a tournament game they are participating in whether it's at their campus or a neutral site. However, at a neutral site they can't have in person contact because it's during an evaluation period.
Expand ...
Did that recently change?
 
IndyMark said:
USC is getting a fantastic talent.
I wonder if Geno looks to sign two Wing/power forwards for the ‘27 class, Lauren Hassell and Eve long or does he find a power forward through the portal.
Expand ...
It is an interesting question. I tend to think Hassell and Long are an either or scenario but not both, mostly because their natural position appears to be the 4 and Sarah will have two more years. I could see one of those plus a one year rental from the portal, for example an addition at the 4 for just one year before the 2027 recruit arrives.

Another rationale for adding two 4's would be playing Sarah a great deal at the 3, and maybe even Blanca more at the 2. The opposite of our current small ball preference, but that probably requires several things before happening, both the Big O and Jana doing very well and consuming pretty much all of the minutes at the 5, and at least one of the newcomers at the 4 being a Uconn starter level performer that takes up most of the minutes at the 4.

For now I would be happy with one of the two, and would take a look in the portal, but it might be hard to find the ideal candidate, which IMO might be a one year backup to Sarah at the 4, that is good enough to be better than Ayanna, and good enough to be in the rotation, but probably for not that many minutes.
 
sorry to be so naive, but what are we even talking about here. If the "Big O" is olivia vukosa, the 2026 national gatorade player of the year finalist has already committed to UConn, right?
 
.-.
oldhusky said:
It is an interesting question. I tend to think Hassell and Long are an either or scenario but not both, mostly because their natural position appears to be the 4 and Sarah will have two more years. I could see one of those plus a one year rental from the portal, for example an addition at the 4 for just one year before the 2027 recruit arrives.

Another rationale for adding two 4's would be playing Sarah a great deal at the 3, and maybe even Blanca more at the 2. The opposite of our current small ball preference, but that probably requires several things before happening, both the Big O and Jana doing very well and consuming pretty much all of the minutes at the 5, and at least one of the newcomers at the 4 being a Uconn starter level performer that takes up most of the minutes at the 4.

For now I would be happy with one of the two, and would take a look in the portal, but it might be hard to find the ideal candidate, which IMO might be a one year backup to Sarah at the 4, that is good enough to be better than Ayanna, and good enough to be in the rotation, but probably for not that many minutes.
Expand ...
Very good points all the way around. Hassell has a good outside shot. Long is a little quicker so both bring a couple of different options based on what Geno is wanting his power forward to accomplish.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but I read that Hassell is a silent commit to UConn. The same person said that 6’ 5” Sydney Douglas, from the 2028 class may be a silent commit to UConn as well. Who knows if either are correct, just passing along what I read from a post on UCONN recruiting from a YouTube channel.
Olivia is the real deal, so glad that she is a Husky. The Big O will have one or two years to play along side Strong. The 4 position is what we are looking for long term. We have Eve Long coming in this weekend for an official visit. Perfect weekend for her to experience a game day atmosphere.
Shooting Guard/Wing Haylen Ayers has been to UCONN two times and Geno was at her game as well this season. There is a lot to be excited about with the 2026 & 2027 classes.
 
.-.
Bone Dog said:
I think the school's name recruits for it.
Expand ...

I know what you mean, also location, location, location, but I would think UCLA should be a more attractive place, but they don't have as much success recruiting vs USC. I wonder why.
 
pvdoggy said:
I know what you mean, also location, location, location, but I would think UCLA should be a more attractive place, but they don't have as much success recruiting vs USC. I wonder why.
Expand ...
I guess by the name of the school I was kinda thinking of the location. Though the actual location of USC in South Central LA isn’t all that attractive. Westwood (where UCLA is located) is much more posh. But the reputation of those schools mainly rides on the football programs and USC’s is rather more storied.
 
.-.
I just saw Sara chose USC Trojans. Healthy this makes them most likely pre season #1. 2 of the 3 best international bigs, and the #1 player (supposed to be better than Jazzy) What are they doing to land all this talent. Her pitch and who knows how much money they are spending.
 
pvdoggy said:
I know what you mean, also location, location, location, but I would think UCLA should be a more attractive place, but they don't have as much success recruiting vs USC. I wonder why.
Expand ...
A team whose games have woeful attendance &1 in a financial dumpster fire within a financial dumpster fire (UCLA WCBB program and UCLA Athletics) doesn’t help UCLA’s high school recruiting.
  • Cori Close has been complaining about NIL and thinks aspects of it is hurting her high school recruiting, blaming it for making her rely on the portal, when there are probably more fundamental reasons (below and above).
  • Suspect that the NIL dollars cannot compare with rival USC, with better finances and an avid fanbase (aside: both coaches seem to have other assistant coaches that they heavily rely on (here and here)).
  • So, Close relies more heavily (“reloading”) on the portal (transfers are less expensive, NIL-wise, per Dawn) which feeds a vicious cycle &1 with high school recruiting.
&1 Close has more motivation in winning the NCAAT. Maybe then, it will attract more fans and change the program’s annual narrative.
 
Last edited:
i wish Lindsay well in making a team out of her remarkable recruiting success. She hasn’t had much success in this regard so far. One question for me is whether she’ll also hit the portal for next season, or will she let the youngsters form a team out of their own considerable talents. Another question is how Jazzy and Saniyah will get along with Juju when she returns. Either one of these issues could result in another exodus after next season.
 
pvdoggy said:
I know what you mean, also location, location, location, but I would think UCLA should be a more attractive place, but they don't have as much success recruiting vs USC. I wonder why.
Expand ...
USC has endless alumni money. It’s where all the rich kids go
 
BRS24 said:
As far as I can tell, visits with UK, Texas, IU, and USC. Unless there was a super secret visit with UConn, I don't think she's coming, and I'm ok with that, as you want players that want to play in Storrs.
Expand ...
Yep. Good luck Sara!
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,098
Messages
4,553,229
Members
10,436
Latest member
Bovrilandja


Top Bottom