2026 recruiting targets?

[husky429]

This kid is awesome. Averaged 17 ppg, 5 rbs per game, 55% fg, 39% threes, 85% ft's over the 4 Adidas games for his new team BABC. They went 4-0.

Adidas rosters are stronger this year too. Compton Magic was a legit team. Fun game

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

This is a strange one, must be a roster filler candidate.

They're not recruiting high school kids to be roster fillers going forward. If they get in on a high school kid it's because they think he's going to have an impact day 1.

 

[Huskyforlife]

They're not recruiting high school kids to be roster fillers going forward. If they get in on a high school kid it's because they think he's going to have an impact day 1.

I'd imagine roster fillers can be anyone who accepts the role. Plus high school kids probably cost less, especially kids with only mid major offers taking a chance.

That being said, we could just be getting in before the blow up, wouldn't be the first time.

 

[JT-55]

They're not recruiting high school kids to be roster fillers going forward. If they get in on a high school kid it's because they think he's going to have an impact day 1.

I don't think this is true and not the sense I got from the Tom Moore interview. I think we are going to be taking swings at the top 15-2O high school kids who can make an immediate impact (McNeeley, Castle, Flagg, etc...) and then kids below 60 who the staff evaluate as having potential and are willing to sit a year and develop. Jahda Swann looks like the perfect type who is perhaps under recruited and would be willing to come here and sit over the offers he already has.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't think this is true and not the sense I got from the Tom Moore interview. I think we are going to be taking swings at the top 15-2O high school kids who can make an immediate impact (McNeeley, Castle, Flagg, etc...) and then kids below 60 who the staff evaluate as having potential and are willing to sit a year and develop. Jahda Swann looks like the perfect type who is perhaps under recruited and would be willing to come here and sit over the offers he already has.

I got the opposite sense from the Tom Moore interview. He specifically said they're going to go "all in" on one or two elite guys and bank scholarships for portal season. But we'll see.

 

[JT-55]

I got the opposite sense from the Tom Moore interview. He specifically said they're going to go "all in" on one or two elite guys and bank scholarships for portal season. But we'll see.

Yeah I could be wrong. I thought he was talking more about bringing in a class that has three top 50 kids in it. Then you have the issue with kids wanting to play right away vs the transfer portal kids. I don't see how we could totally get away from high schools kids when you have 15 scholarships to give out. Guess we will see how it plays out in the 26 class.

 

[auror]

I don't think this is true and not the sense I got from the Tom Moore interview. I think we are going to be taking swings at the top 15-2O high school kids who can make an immediate impact (McNeeley, Castle, Flagg, etc...) and then kids below 60 who the staff evaluate as having potential and are willing to sit a year and develop. Jahda Swann looks like the perfect type who is perhaps under recruited and would be willing to come here and sit over the offers he already has.

I think you're right but your sense of scale is off. Probably the non 5s will end up being like 150+ development guys not just outside the top 60. Abraham was around 60 for example and that didn't work.

 

[husky429]

I got the opposite sense from the Tom Moore interview. He specifically said they're going to go "all in" on one or two elite guys and bank scholarships for portal season. But we'll see.

I don't know how someone could take anything but this away from the interview. It's what he said directly.

No more big classes. High-end HS talent. And portal. Everyone else is filler.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I got the opposite sense from the Tom Moore interview. He specifically said they're going to go "all in" on one or two elite guys and bank scholarships for portal season. But we'll see.

 

[david]

Jahda Swann looks like the perfect type who is perhaps under recruited and would be willing to come here and sit over the offers he already has.

I'll go on record saying I think he's going to be top 5-10 in his class by the end of his senior year. I remember watching Jeremiah Fears last year before and after his reclass when he was around 35th in the country and you could tell he was a lottery pick. Same thing with Swann.

 

[ec33]

I don't know how someone could take anything but this away from the interview. It's what he said directly.

No more big classes. High-end HS talent. And portal. Everyone else is filler.

I'm guessing the definition of "filler" is what is throwing people off?

Personally, I think what will be more interesting is the definition of "high end." Is it just Castle, McNeeley, and Mullins among recent recruits? Or do future players like Ball and Reibe still make the cut if they are flexible? I am suspecting it is one- or two-and-dones and a bunch of mercenaries (who will also be one- or two-and-dones).

So greater than 50% roster turnover every season.

We will see how long they go before adjusting.

 

[husky99]

I don't know how someone could take anything but this away from the interview. It's what he said directly.

No more big classes. High-end HS talent. And portal. Everyone else is filler.

It seems clear cut from the tom Moore interview. I agree 100% with husky429

 

[Lafayette]

Not sure what the post-Karaban team will look like..

1. Reibe at Center for a year, Reed out of eligibility
2. new PG as Demary likely gone, Smith no eligibility next year so gone too
3. SG - Ball? Maybe stays as a Senior, doubt it; Mullins OAD is 50/50 as of now
4. Wing - Stewart / Ross as Seniors? Maybe - depends on their jump to Junior really.
5. Furphy 2 years - probably, but maybe not - depends on what he shows here this upcoming season.

So in the realm of possible our team would be:

Mullins, Furphy, Ball, Stewart, Ross, Reibe: 6 with 3 from last recruiting class, 3 from championship teams.

But in all likeliness:

Furphy, Ross, Reibe and would need 8-9 incoming between recruit and transfer.

 

[bjc42]

I'm guessing the definition of "filler" is what is throwing people off?

Personally, I think what will be more interesting is the definition of "high end." Is it just Castle, McNeeley, and Mullins among recent recruits? Or do future players like Ball and Reibe still make the cut if they are flexible? I am suspecting it is one- or two-and-dones and a bunch of mercenaries (who will also be one- or two-and-dones).

So greater than 50% roster turnover every season.

We will see how long they go before adjusting.

I think what will end up happening is all of the 3 year development guys will end up starting at mid majors and then transferring back up. I know there are some that will stay at the High Major level, but I don't see it happening too much. I still think there will be a lot of the Ball types, where he can't be a day one starter, but years 2 and 3, they really get rolling. I suspect that there will be a lot of transfer guys that come in and out, and maybe even some second year transfers with more eligibility that can play at the UConn level for longer before graduation. LMK what you think.

 

[JT-55]

I think you're right but your sense of scale is off. Probably the non 5s will end up being like 150+ development guys not just outside the top 60. Abraham was around 60 for example and that didn't work.

Yeah my numbering was way off..It would be more like what you said 150+ kids who could sit and develop. I guess some people are calling that “filler” which is fine because we are not counting on these kids to contribute it’s taking a flyer on some potential. I just don’t see us totally abandoning player development to turnover the roster every year like St John’s

 

[navery12]

Yeah my numbering was way off..It would be more like what you said 150+ kids who could sit and develop. I guess some people are calling that “filler” which is fine because we are not counting on these kids to contribute it’s taking a flyer on some potential. I just don’t see us totally abandoning player development to turnover the roster every year like St John’s

I agree we're not gonna be like St John's and turnover the roster every year, but I also think that still means likely 50% of the roster leaving. 2-3 guys to the NBA, 2-3 guys transferring and 1-2 graduating every year

 

[ec33]

I think what will end up happening is all of the 3 year development guys will end up starting at mid majors and then transferring back up. I know there are some that will stay at the High Major level, but I don't see it happening too much. I still think there will be a lot of the Ball types, where he can't be a day one starter, but years 2 and 3, they really get rolling. I suspect that there will be a lot of transfer guys that come in and out, and maybe even some second year transfers with more eligibility that can play at the UConn level for longer before graduation. LMK what you think.

I think you have it. I guess UConn's future success will be their ability to both spot and successfully recruit future Ball-type players after their freshman year.

IOW, can UConn pluck Adams from Georgetown next spring?

 

[BuffaloHusky]

I agree we're not gonna be like St John's and turnover the roster every year, but I also think that still means likely 50% of the roster leaving. 2-3 guys to the NBA, 2-3 guys transferring and 1-2 graduating every year

I mostly agree with this and think their will be 1-2 Freshman every year that will need to transfer because their earning power is so diminished if they don't get playing time.

This also circles back to the idea of redshirting. Unless a player is a clear contributor from Day 1 on P5 team, they should either redshirt and bank 5 years of earnings or realize they need to play for a mid major (or for a consistently poor P5 team) to prove their value in the next year's transfer market.

 

[6&counting]

I don't think this is true and not the sense I got from the Tom Moore interview. I think we are going to be taking swings at the top 15-2O high school kids who can make an immediate impact (McNeeley, Castle, Flagg, etc...) and then kids below 60 who the staff evaluate as having potential and are willing to sit a year and develop. Jahda Swann looks like the perfect type who is perhaps under recruited and would be willing to come here and sit over the offers he already has.

Are they recruiting the Swann kid as a potential PG? He's the biggest dude on the floor for his HS team but gets a ton of assists and is their big time playmaker

 

[Lafayette]

Going into '25-'26:

• Freshman: Braylon Mullins, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy
• Sophomores: N/A
• Juniors: Solomon Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, Silas Demary, Jr.
• Seniors: Tarris Reed, Jr., Alex Karaban, Malachi Smith

Heading into '26'-27:

• Freshman: N/A
• Sophomores: Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy
• Juniors: N/A
• Seniors: Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross

Assuming Solo Ball, Silas Demary, Jr., and Braylon Mullins depart for the NBA

We would have 4 players and need at least 10 so we are getting 3 recruits and 3 transfers or 2 and 4.

 

[bjc42]

I think you have it. I guess UConn's future success will be their ability to both spot and successfully recruit future Ball-type players after their freshman year.

IOW, can UConn pluck Adams from Georgetown next spring?

I think that would be interesting. I think he needs a year of development but I'm not sure if they'll want him back. Interested to see how that goes though!

 

[Huskyforlife]

I think you have it. I guess UConn's future success will be their ability to both spot and successfully recruit future Ball-type players after their freshman year.

IOW, can UConn pluck Adams from Georgetown next spring?

If the reports of an amicable split are true, I don't see why not? Minutes at PG or SG could be available next season if Ball or Demary goes pro, Adams has this year to prove he's ready to start for a program like ours, and the pre existing relationship should help us here.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[3rdbass]

I'm not sure the level of interest but it looks like we reached out on this guy.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Tristan Reed, brother of Tarris, going to Link Academy for his senior year. Top 100 player per 247, would assume were at least kicking the tires here.