2026 Recruiting: Sara Okeke

[Zonepress]

Sigh.

They do have the 20.5 million and have allotted for it. “Donor Money” has to be part of that 20.5 money.

Third party money is all that isn’t part of the 20.5 cap. You know like Nike etc. UConn has the connections to play that gamer too,

I don’t know why UConn fans want to continually downgrade their ability to pay NIL. For Wbb in particular they may have more than us football rich programs.

Geno doesn’t want to play the bidding game. Dawn doesn’t either. Both have backed off recruits who throw that out as their primary goal but, for kids that want to play for championships, there is still a nice pot of money that is to be shared with the other players while individual third party money can be chased by players with the championship brand.

Boston and Bueckers did alright on that third party money

sigh sigh

wow u really believe there will be nothing beyond 20 million!?
the schools cannot limit payments from outside parties third
donors etc the language the ncaa is using to try and monitor
outside payments will be challenged and found to be illegal
nothing will stop outside NIL other than the donors not wanting g to pay

have agreed previously with your part about GA
and Bueckers and Boston

 

[BIGMAC]

Wasn't this thread about Sara Okeke?

 

[southie]

Is this AI or photo shopping, or did she really visit Indiana?

 

[southie]

Guess it was photo-shopped

 

[BBallF]

Maybe not. Their direct pay cap of 21.5 million is the same as UConn and everybody else in the SEC/Big10. Probably less than UConn who will probably allocate more than 5 percent toward wbb than those football conferences.

Schools in major markets like U$C probably have more ability to procure indirect pay from third parties.

But, as noted by @Boreifs above that probably doesn’t matter with an international player unless she has a work visa instead of a student visa - HOWEVER that limitation may even be questionable because Texas is in the 5the circuit where Last Tear Poa vs. US is pending.

While the direct pay cap is equal, the amount available for NIL payments through a third party, such as a private athletic fund or other entity, is nowhere near equal. The policing authority for NIL is the College Sports Commission, not the NCAA. The new Commission is a creature of the Conferences. I really don't see them nullifying too many NIL contracts on the grounds that there is not a fair exchange. While USC and St. John's(men's) may have already benefitted from the markets they are in, football rules the roost and the amount of money that will be available to be distributed as NIL for those players at those schools will be enormously disproportionate. The House case may have addressed the direct pay issue but not the twin demons of NIL and the transfer portal.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[oldhusky]

Don't know how to assess the odds for LSU or Tennessee, but while South Carolina may have been near the top of her list, their 2025 class and the recent French C addition I would think would lower their chances substantially. How she is potentially used could be an important factor for us.

I think she could play effectively with the Big O, with Okeke playing the 4 defensively but the 5 offensively and Vukosa just the opposite. She could also get more minutes at the 4 with Sarah playing more at the 3, and of course all three of them could play together with Sarah at the 3 as well.

In many ways the key to potentially freeing Sarah up to play the 3 depends on getting Okeke. Sarah can be great at three positions, the issue is we don't currently have a very good alternative 4. Ayanna and Ice are passable but by Uconn standards certainly nothing special. In Geno's current rotation of 9, the one position we don't use a backup for is the 4.

If we had a good one, Sarah could be used wherever it was best, not be tethered to the 4 with occasional need as the backup 5. In addition to the big lineup, Okeke could also become part of a great three big rotation with Vukosa and Strong, where she swings between the 4 and 5 like Dorka did her first year with Uconn along with Liv and Aaliyah. That of course would depend on her being a significant upgrade over Jana.

There may not be an obvious vacancy sign for a certain role, but also multiple ways she could achieve major playing time on a great team, partly because of her versatility defensively between 4 and 5, Vukosa's offensive versatility between the same two positions, and Sarah's do everything versatility all over.

 

[Zonepress]

While the direct pay cap is equal, the amount available for NIL payments through a third party, such as a private athletic fund or other entity, is nowhere near equal. The policing authority for NIL is the College Sports Commission, not the NCAA. The new Commission is a creature of the Conferences. I really don't see them nullifying too many NIL contracts on the grounds that there is not a fair exchange. While USC and St. John's(men's) may have already benefitted from the markets they are in, football rules the roost and the amount of money that will be available to be distributed as NIL for those players at those schools will be enormously disproportionate. The House case may have addressed the direct pay issue but not the twin demons of NIL and the transfer portal.

than you for your post .. for providing clarity, for those people who think the house settlement has fixed everything
The only thing I would add is that any nullifying up an NIL contract would be over, turned by the courts very quickly
The NCAA he’s looking for Congress to help them
That seems very unlikely to happen, and the courts would most likely overturn that anyway
Judge Kavanaugh, and his statement on the ruling suggested that collective bargaining would be the only way to put limits on NiL
a donor , who want to fund basketball can certainly be competitive
I find all the hang wringing about this to be kind of a waste of energy
This is the new way of doing things and you can can continue to have an interest in college sports or not
I’m quite old, but not so old that I don’t realize that change is an evitable

 

[visitingcock]

Let’s have a full, dedicated NIL thread ( after the season ends). In the meantime. This is a Sarah Okeke thread and she can’t get NIL (for now) unless she has a work visa instead of a student visa- which is doubtful.

And YES I think SCar is out of the race for Okeke

 

[visitingcock]

Leyte have a full, dedicated NIL threads after the season ends. In the meantime. This is a Sarah Okeke thread and she can’t get NIL (for now) unless she has a work visa instead of a student visa

 

[Bone Dog]

I think she could play effectively with the Big O, with Okeke playing the 4 defensively but the 5 offensively and Vukosa just the opposite. She could also get more minutes at the 4 with Sarah playing more at the 3, and of course all three of them could play together with Sarah at the 3 as well.

I sure hope Okeke understands the situation as clearly as you lay it out here. You’re right, I think, that she could have a great college career in Storrs, playing next to Strong el Alfy Gandy the Big O and Blanca. There’s no roadblocks for her in those lineups. She’d get two seasons playing with perhaps the greatest 3/4 in D1 history and next to Jana and Olivia, and two seasons as the anchor of the frontcourt next to Olivia. Folks worry that all the talent would discourage her from committing. But the talent isn’t in her way. It’s the cohort she’ll win with.

 

[BobbyJ]

I sure hope Okeke understands the situation as clearly as you lay it out here. You’re right, I think, that she could have a great college career in Storrs, playing next to Strong el Alfy Gandy the Big O and Blanca. There’s no roadblocks for her in those lineups. She’d get two seasons playing with perhaps the greatest 3/4 in D1 history and next to Jana and Olivia, and two seasons as the anchor of the frontcourt next to Olivia. Folks worry that all the talent would discourage her from committing. But the talent isn’t in her way. It’s the cohort she’ll win with.

This is mainly true. I believe these international kids have very little if any knowledge of rosters, depth charts etc. I think UConn gets many of these recruits that they want based on the program's popularity, it's reputation for pro preparation, and of course Auriemma's notoriety. And the ones that leave other programs tend to do it because obviously a negative situation pops up like at UCLA where the coach didn't realize that Aarnisalo would become her best PG if she had played her enough. Her loss and NC's gain. Other than lack of PT, there usually are no reasons for them to want to leave UConn and GA/CD tend to know in advance if a kid is good enough to play for them other than Bettencourt which was a last minute/scramble type recruiting situation. I think UConn would be an OK place for OKeke.

 

[Hayven]

Let’s have a full, dedicated NIL thread ( after the season ends). In the meantime. This is a Sarah Okeke thread and she can’t get NIL (for now) unless she has a work visa instead of a student visa- which is doubtful.

And YES I think SCar is out of the race for Okeke

I wouldn’t agree. You know Dawn collects Bigs like their infinity stones

 

[donalddoowop]

Don't know how to assess the odds for LSU or Tennessee, but while South Carolina may have been near the top of her list, their 2025 class and the recent French C addition I would think would lower their chances substantially. How she is potentially used could be an important factor for us.

I think she could play effectively with the Big O, with Okeke playing the 4 defensively but the 5 offensively and Vukosa just the opposite. She could also get more minutes at the 4 with Sarah playing more at the 3, and of course all three of them could play together with Sarah at the 3 as well.

In many ways the key to potentially freeing Sarah up to play the 3 depends on getting Okeke. Sarah can be great at three positions, the issue is we don't currently have a very good alternative 4. Ayanna and Ice are passable but by Uconn standards certainly nothing special. In Geno's current rotation of 9, the one position we don't use a backup for is the 4.

If we had a good one, Sarah could be used wherever it was best, not be tethered to the 4 with occasional need as the backup 5. In addition to the big lineup, Okeke could also become part of a great three big rotation with Vukosa and Strong, where she swings between the 4 and 5 like Dorka did her first year with Uconn along with Liv and Aaliyah. That of course would depend on her being a significant upgrade over Jana.

There may not be an obvious vacancy sign for a certain role, but also multiple ways she could achieve major playing time on a great team, partly because of her versatility defensively between 4 and 5, Vukosa's offensive versatility between the same two positions, and Sarah's do everything versatility all over.

I see you completely ignore Jana.

 

[visitingcock]

I wouldn’t agree. You know Dawn collects Bigs like their infinity stones

Oh, I’m not saying Dawn has lost interest. I just don’t think Okeke wants to battle someone for PT who is in the same recruiting class ( Tournabize and Kelsi Andrews) while also battling upperclassmen Edwards, Watkins and Kitts the first year. I could be wrong. She might relish the competition and look beyond the first year.

 

[oldhusky]

I see you completely ignore Jana.

Not really. My projection of what could be for Okeke and how she could be a major player with big minutes includes several assumptions. If someone thinks of Okeke as purely a 5, then she has to be better than either the Big O or Jana to get playing time, and of course Gandy as well.

If she is considered a 4, then the path to some very limited minutes is probably easier, namely being better than Ice or Ayanna, but being just Sarah's backup at the 4 is a pretty limited role. To get major minutes off the bench she would need to play some at 4 and 5, and even better if Sarah is freed to play more of the game at the 3, with more 4 minutes available.

I didn't mention it before, but there is a possible three big rotation that could include Jana, particularly if Okeke doesn't come here. If yo u assume Sarah and the Big O star theret, then you could go conventional with Jana backing up the 5 and either Ice or Ayanna at the 4. But if one of those big backups was significantly better than the others, say Jana, then you could go with a three big rotation with Jana getting her time at the 5, and Vukosa swinging to the 4 when teamed with Jana.

If Jana was significantly better than Ice or Ayanna next year, that could happen, and alleviate the need to use a true backup 4, but there would be a potential downside as well. On the offensive end I think that combo could work as Vukosa has perimeter skills, but on the defensive end Vukosa would have to guard 4's, some of whom could give her trouble.

With Okeke, Vukosa with Sarah in a three big rotation, or with Sarah at the 3 at the same time, it could be so much better. Vukosa and , Okeke could compliment each other very well if in the lineup at the same time. Okeke is more low post scorer so make her the 5 on offense, with Vukosa and her more versatile perimeter skills at the 4. On the defensive end switch them with Vukosa guarding the paint as the 5, and the far more quick and mobile Okeke guarding the 4's. That is a potentially great combination and use of skills.

If the Okeke/Vukosa pairing works very well, then imagine being able to use Sarah more at the 3, and Blanca more at the 2 as a result. At least potentially, Okeke could give us a very good backup 4 we currently don't have IMO, a possible upgrade over Jana as backup 4, and significantly upgrade the 2 and 3 by making Sarah and Blanca more available to play there. If Sarah actually wound up playing a lot at the 3, then Jana might be the biggest benefactor of that move.

 

[ec33]

Not really. My projection of what could be for Okeke and how she could be a major player with big minutes includes several assumptions. If someone thinks of Okeke as purely a 5, then she has to be better than either the Big O or Jana to get playing time, and of course Gandy as well.

If she is considered a 4, then the path to some very limited minutes is probably easier, namely being better than Ice or Ayanna, but being just Sarah's backup at the 4 is a pretty limited role. To get major minutes off the bench she would need to play some at 4 and 5, and even better if Sarah is freed to play more of the game at the 3, with more 4 minutes available.

I didn't mention it before, but there is a possible three big rotation that could include Jana, particularly if Okeke doesn't come here. If yo u assume Sarah and the Big O star theret, then you could go conventional with Jana backing up the 5 and either Ice or Ayanna at the 4. But if one of those big backups was significantly better than the others, say Jana, then you could go with a three big rotation with Jana getting her time at the 5, and Vukosa swinging to the 4 when teamed with Jana.

If Jana was significantly better than Ice or Ayanna next year, that could happen, and alleviate the need to use a true backup 4, but there would be a potential downside as well. On the offensive end I think that combo could work as Vukosa has perimeter skills, but on the defensive end Vukosa would have to guard 4's, some of whom could give her trouble.

With Okeke, Vukosa with Sarah in a three big rotation, or with Sarah at the 3 at the same time, it could be so much better. Vukosa and , Okeke could compliment each other very well if in the lineup at the same time. Okeke is more low post scorer so make her the 5 on offense, with Vukosa and her more versatile perimeter skills at the 4. On the defensive end switch them with Vukosa guarding the paint as the 5, and the far more quick and mobile Okeke guarding the 4's. That is a potentially great combination and use of skills.

If the Okeke/Vukosa pairing works very well, then imagine being able to use Sarah more at the 3, and Blanca more at the 2 as a result. At least potentially, Okeke could give us a very good backup 4 we currently don't have IMO, a possible upgrade over Jana as backup 4, and significantly upgrade the 2 and 3 by making Sarah and Blanca more available to play there. If Sarah actually wound up playing a lot at the 3, then Jana might be the biggest benefactor of that move.

As you pointed out above, the Okeke/Vukosa pairing works quite well (at least in theory at this point) as their games are complementary accentuating their strengths and covering for weaknesses -- and that is the most important big relationship for them as they would have four years together (in theory). That should be Geno's sales pitch. High-quality coaching in a play style that best suits Sara's abilities paired with a very good partner.

That Sarah Strong and Blanca have the necessary versatility just seals it as it provides a pathway to solid minutes early on.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Oh, I’m not saying Dawn has lost interest. I just don’t think Okeke wants to battle someone for PT who is in the same recruiting class ( Tournabize and Kelsi Andrews) while also battling upperclassmen Edwards, Watkins and Kitts the first year. I could be wrong. She might relish the competition and look beyond the first year.

Has no reason to be afraid of players in her own class ....

but you'd think we would have to save powder for a (point) guard or two out of portal .

 

[visitingcock]

Has no reason to be afraid of players in her own class ....

but you'd think we would have to save powder for a (point) guard or two out of portal .

We have plenty of room to take her and a transfer

 

[ConnMotors]

We have plenty of room to take her and a transfer

No we don’t! Three out and two coming in so far. T

 

[The CDR-Ret]

No we don’t! Three out and two coming in so far. T

visiting... is talking about South Carolina having space, NOT UConn.

Go Huskies!!!

 

[GetReal2day]

visiting... is talking about South Carolina having space, NOT UConn.

Go Huskies!!!

some clarity please, is Sara Okeke visiting UCONN and who is talking about us not having space. Surely, if Geno has made it clear he has a spot for her, she would understand that. Plus, SC has many bigs at the 4 and 5, we are a better fit for contributing right away.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

some clarity please, is Sara Okeke visiting UCONN and who is talking about us not having space. Surely, if Geno has made it clear he has a spot for her, she would understand that. Plus, SC has many bigs at the 4 and 5, we are a better fit for contributing right away.

I said SCar might not have room and Visiting disagreed. V- is correct that there are plenty of roster spots remaining.

Dawn suggested that she has limited money remaining though.

 

[Charliebball]

I said SCar might not have room and Visiting disagreed. V- is correct that there are plenty of roster spots remaining.

Dawn suggested that she has limited money remaining though.

Needing hundreds of thousands or more to recruit a player..........what a sad state of affairs......

 

[IDWT]

I said SCar might not have room and Visiting disagreed. V- is correct that there are plenty of roster spots remaining.

Dawn suggested that she has limited money remaining though.

Do international students receive NIL? Are they eligible?