2026 Transfer Portal - UConn Interest Only

[navery12]

They literally copied what we did to win our two titles.

Other than Mara being like Clingan they did not. They built a great roster so I'm not questioning that. I'm just saying UConn also has a pretty great roster template so the calls for sweeping changes is a little weird to me

 

[Bigbrad1029]

Why? We played Cam, Steph and Tristen together. Silas is 6'4, Wilkins is 6'5. Why can't they play together?

Silas plays the tristen role and Wilkins plays a Cam Spencer esque role

Don’t forget that Junior County committed and is one of top combo guards and you still have Ball and potentially Mullins if he stays

 

[Fishy]

They incorporate a lot of movement concepts, it’s just simpler than what we run and relied more on Wilkins basic PnR. To me there’s not much projection about how well he’d fit in this system.

This.

Furman's offense is pretty complex - 5 out with a ton of action. Sort of a modified Princeton.

If a player can function in that offense, they can function in ours.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Have you seen St. John's? Have you seen the kind of players that they have that we that cannot seem to handle? Well, Royal is the solution to some of that. He's an undersized four in the KFree mold, rather than a wing.

But we'll see if the staff is actually involved. Who knows what's real in terms of what's being reported?

I can see a little Bryce Hopkins in him, but Bryce was a 3 for St. Johns and could shoot 3s (especially in the tournament it seems). I like the physicality, I'd just like it at the 3 to complement even more of it at the 4.

Mullins lacked the physicality we had with Castle and even McNeeley. Or even Cam at SG. It is definitely a need. Landrew is more like it.

 

[Bigbrad1029]

I know nothing about Wilkins’ intentions but if I was him I would look to capitalize on a star season and go to a power conference where a lot of shots are guaranteed to boost my draft profile. Wouldn’t be looking for a 2-3 year development plan. UConn probably isn’t the place, and that’s okay

I really liked Najai Hines at Seton Hall. Him and Reibe could be a good 1-2 punch at C. Reibe as the more fluid offensive big and Hines as the more physical and monster big. From NJ. Very intrigued here. And they’re both young so we’d have years of development (pending any NBA decisions)

Is this Devin Royal thing real? 6’6 PFs only succeed in modern basketball if they are absolute dogs. Exactly the Hurley type. Assuming if he comes here, it’s with the expectation of starting? Can he play SF?

Assuming Murauskas will follow Bennett to ASU? If not, he might be the answer at PF

Hines is perfect for us, Royal I don’t see since Landrew coming and if Ross and Stewart sta where does he fit?

 

[superjohn]

I mean, it helped that Lendeborg was a shell of himself with the MCL strain and ankle injury. It was pretty clear that bothered him significantly.

Sure it did but Silas clearly wasn't the same after his injury and they let Cadeau play like a football player while Silas wasn't allowed to breathe on anyone. There were two distinctly different whistles in that game and it crushed our team. A fair whistle in that first half and we're up 6 instead of down 4.

 

[superjohn]

I can see a little Bryce Hopkins in him, but Bryce was a 3 for St. Johns and could shoot 3s (especially in the tournament it seems). I like the physicality, I'd just like it at the 3 to complement even more of it at the 4.

Mullins lacked the physicality we had with Castle and even McNeeley. Or even Cam at SG. It is definitely a need. Landrew is more like it.

That's what I see too and their counting stats look just about the same but Hopkins advanced stats are a lot better.

 

[Bigbrad1029]

Defensively he's worse than Solo Ball. That's hard to do.

No interest in Wilkins particularly if Mullins comes back..would rather see what Junior County has and play Furphy in a Cam Spencer type role, he is that kind of player

 

[Dutch Boyd]

Other than Mara being like Clingan they did not. They built a great roster so I'm not questioning that. I'm just saying UConn also has a pretty great roster template so the calls for sweeping changes is a little weird to me

The only thing I would say is we weren’t an above the rim type team this year with our bigs. We didnt finish on transition well and any lob pass usually ended up in the 5th row. I’d like to have an upgrade on that.

 

[Inyatkin]

Other than Mara being like Clingan they did not. They built a great roster so I'm not questioning that. I'm just saying UConn also has a pretty great roster template so the calls for sweeping changes is a little weird to me

Why do people act as though Karaban was not the 4 on our title runs. We were not giant outside the center position

 

[djct1999]

I love people who speak in absolutes without having even a shred of actual information.

This is sort of like calling the kettle black.

 

[djct1999]

If you haven’t heard, Mullins is also a definite lottery pick and gone too.

I saw that - one less thing to worry about, I guess.

Yeah, we are better off listening to you two. One who craps constantly on the program and the staff and the other who doubts it and complains. Let’s see who is right. If I am wrong, I am happy to go silent. Can we hope for the same courtesy when both of you are?

 

[Skiblets]

seems most are in love with wilkins but after monday would love a PF n C... versatile PF that can play min at 5

Im not. Two data points
1. His coach talked about letting him turnover 4-5 times before reeling him in

2. Something about his body language bugged me especially once they got down

He’s an athletic freak but I sensed a few warning signs albeit from a small sample

 

[Fishy]

Yeah, we are better off listening to you two. One who craps constantly on the program and the staff and the other who doubts it and complains. Let’s see who is right. If I am wrong, I am happy to go silent. Can we hope for the same courtesy when both of you are?

Feels like I hit a nerve with the rando here.

 

[djct1999]

Feels like I hit a nerve with the rando here.

Far from a rando. Just tired of your act.

 

[Fishy]

Far from a rando. Just tired of your act.

Odd.

Until this second, I had no idea you existed.

I'll likely forget in a few minutes.

 

[3rdbass]

Why do people act as though Karaban was not the 4 on our title runs. We were not giant outside the center position

But we were more athletic for sure and both those teams had good size 3s with top notch athleticism in Jackson and Castle.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Have you seen St. John's? Have you seen the kind of players that they have that we that cannot seem to handle? Well, Royal is the solution to some of that. He's an undersized four in the KFree mold, rather than a wing.

But we'll see if the staff is actually involved. Who knows what's real in terms of what's being reported?

Do we want an undersized 4? I’d much prefer an oversized one

 

[Edward Sargent]

Yeah, that's literally the only guy we've been rumored to be of interest of where the fit doesn't really make sense to me.

On the flip side, having Landrew, Royal, Ross, Stewart and Furphy provides an interesting wing mix at the 3 and 4 that can mix-and-match. One thing Royal does really well is slash and get to the line (4.6 fouls drawn (18th in Big Ten), 80 FT%) and he finished the season well, averaging 14p, 6r per game and hit 49% of his 2s and 40% of his 3s across the final eight games of the season.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I hope we can retain enough guys to not need a 6'6 230 starter in the portal. He's not a 4 and we actually have a need for a starting 4.

"I hope we can retain enough guys" me too

 

[bendm]

Of the portalers mentioned thus far I think the two St Mary’s guys, Merauskas and McKeever are the best fits given the current roster speculation.

Merauskas has better size than Royal at PF and his numbers across the board are better. My #1 want thus far.

McKeever and Reibe could split time at C whereas Hines would presumably start and average 30mpg? That could scare Reibe away.

I like Wilkins too obviously but if he’s replacing Mullins as a starter (i assume) that’s an even smaller three G lineup than we had this year but it could work

Wilkins / County
Demary / Ross
Ball / Landrew
Merauskas / Stew
McKeever / Reibe

 

[Fishy]

Do we want an undersized 4? I’d much prefer an oversized one

We're not limited to just one player here. We can actually get a couple of forwards if we'd like.

 

[djct1999]

Odd.

Until this second, I had no idea you existed.

I'll likely forget in a few minutes.

I hope you do. Sort of like what I have done with you since 2011.

 

[RuffRuff]

I hope you do. Sort of like what I have done with you since 2011.

 

[Huskyforlife]

If there was a Mara in the portal, I’d say go get him, but none of the taller players stand out to me. Clingan and Mara were athletic for their size. Give me Hines and a stretch 4, until we see who comes back at guard.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This is going to be a long ass offseason.

 

[QDOG5]

No interest in Wilkins particularly if Mullins comes back..would rather see what Junior County has and play Furphy in a Cam Spencer type role, he is that kind of player

I hope you’re right about Furphy. I’m not quite sure what type of player he is yet. He only played 13 seconds this year.

 

[RuffRuff]

I hope you’re right about Furphy. I’m not quite sure what type of player he is yet. He only played 13 seconds this year.

I think we really have to wait and see on which of our guys sign up to come back before we know what the hell our staff is doing.

 

[AdamaNation]

If there was a Mara in the portal, I’d say go get him, but none of the taller players stand out to me. Clingan and Mara were athletic for their size. Give me Hines and a stretch 4, until we see who comes back at guard.

I’m all about Najai. Just wonder about the motor and culture. No idea how he is with that, but if it’s going to be a renegotiation each year I’ll pass. He’s perfect though. Anyone leaving a good school after having pt is a big no to me. Acaden? Really? Not a good look. I’d say he’s SEC bound.

 

[Inyatkin]

This is going to be a long ass offseason.

Especially if we keep making up things to be worried about

 

[Excalibur]

So are many big ticket schools. If we get outbid by Pitino will be a sad state.

You mean the guy with a multi billionaire backing him who says he will write whatever check is necessary to get players for him?