2026 Transfer Portal - UConn Interest Only

[Samoo]

Screams Malachi Smith 2.0 AKA a local area kid (Sumler was born in Waterbury) who uses their last year of eligibility to play for his dream school (I'm just assuming UConn is his dream school, lol).

I really like Sumler as a bench option that can play all three backcourt positions. 6'4 200, started at PG, but also played minutes at the 2 and the 3.

Nice mix of volume (74th highest usage rate in nation) and efficiency (112.3 offensive rating; 52.5 2P%; 40.7 3P%, assist rate is almost double turnover rate) and I like his propensity of drawing fouls (5.3 fouls drawn per 40 is 192nd in the nation) even though his FT% this season wasn't good (65.7%). Not great defensive rates, though.

Here's a clip of his on-ball skills.

I really like him - caveated that this is highlights against lesser competition). Not saying he is near the quality, but he plays a bit like Jrue Holiday - he doesn't get rushed even when he's in the paint and has good pacing and vision both in seeing opening for himself and on passing. Has a bit of the Castle deceleration game too.

 

[Kenny11]

Are we sure he fits our system? Seems ball dominant and not great from 3. He definitely is shifty but what has made UConn successful in the portal is they recruit for fit not talent. Not sure he fits.(albeit I only seen him once vs us)

I actually think we can use some of that. At least when he’s ball dominant he’s getting somewhere. Too many possessions this year where Malachi was holding the ball while the shot clock went down and our shooters weren’t open because of switches

 

[Bigbrad1029]

You guys are freaking insane.

I’d take Royal in a heartbeat.

My Concernwith Royal is that he profiles as same player as our top recruit C. Landrew, don’t want that kid to get cold feet if Royal shows up, plus’s what about Ross and Stewart?

 

[ec33]

Is there any interest in Flory? The guy would be perfect as a 4 / insurance 5 (if Reibe doesn’t work out). Or just the starting 5 outright. I assume he has one of, if not the highest price tag in the transfer portal though.

You answered your own question.

 

[Edward Sargent]

That list doesn't look relatively inexpensive.

I was talking about Wilkins only

 

[Edward Sargent]

Figured he would with Dybantsa gone. DMV kid nice family

 

[HuskyFich]

I said a few weeks ago, hes a court slapper. Be careful with this one, not sure he has the personality for a Hurley team. Nothing says me, me, me like slapping the court

Ryan Boatright and Christian Vital would beg to differ.

 

[UconnU]

Any 7’1+ European kids who played pro ball when they were 16 out there? That seems to be the winning formula.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Figured he would with Dybantsa gone. DMV kid nice family

Pitino will be all over him.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Curious about the interest in Royal. I believe we have a more than capable starting 3 with breakout potential already on the roster.

 

[Sec202]

Ryan Boatright and Christian Vital would beg to differ.

I knew some smart would bring that up

 

[TheHorde]

Question for you all—do we think we are done recruiting from the high school class of 2026? Or would a late transfer out or early entry into the NBA make it possible for the staff to take one more high school player?

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Listed at 7'2 285, McKeever averaged 8.2p, 9.2r, 1.8a and 0.8b per game in just 23.2 mpg. Top-2 OR% and DR% rates in WCC play and finished amongst the Saint Mary's top defensive efficiency rates.

Clearly, he's got great size, is an excellent rebounder, but I also did his ability to pass out of the post, which was a fun bonus we got to see from Reed this year.

 

[HuskyFich]

I knew some smart would bring that up

you mean you knew your argument was flawed?

 

[Get a Job]

Bobby Hurley was one of many Duke court slappers.

The first time I remember seeing it was in the 1988 final four when Danny Manning beat them in the semifinals. For the entire run (from 1986 through 1984 they only missed two final fours) the media made a huge deal of Duke's players doing that when they got back on defense.

This explains why some on this board have an aversion to it and I don't. I didn't really become aware of college basketball until 1998, by which time a lot of players from many teams were slapping the court. I was not aware that it had any connection to Duke. TIL!

 

[TheHorde]

Najai Hines looks very interesting as a rim protector with good shooting percentages and three years of eligibility remaining.

 

[nomar]

Because I don’t want to do my job, I went over to the OSU board they almost unanimously say that Royal’s issue is that he thinks a 3 but his significantly better as an undersized 4. They also didn’t like him all that much and were surprised we’d be interested. Man, the freaking portal is crazy.

Like I said in the other thread, I must be missing something, because he's an undersized 4 who neither blocks shots or hits 3s.

 

[ec33]

As much as we hate it as fans, this is the way to handle the situation if you are a PG or C that aren't NBA material. It might make it hard to get a degree, but Wright is going to make around $15 million before heading to Europe to play professionally. Just take some finance classes along the way and he should be fine.

 

[auror]

I was talking about Wilkins only

I'm saying the suitors on Wilkins' list implies he will be highly coveted by those with money and that demand will push up his price to not be cheap.

 

[Kembafan]

As much as we hate it as fans, this is the way to handle the situation if you are a PG or C that aren't NBA material. It might make it hard to get a degree, but Wright is going to make around $15 million before heading to Europe to play professionally. Just take some finance classes along the way and he should be fine.

Absolutely. I will never blame a player like Wright for going for as much money as they can while they're in college. I've always felt bad for supremely skilled players who are just not quite big enough for the NBA. Now is their time.

 

[RuffRuff]

Absolutely. I will never blame a player like Wright for going for as much money as they can while they're in college. I've always felt bad for supremely skilled players who are just not quite big enough for the NBA. Now is their time.

It does make you wonder if we should try to find and retain smaller PGs - kid like this can be someone you have for 4 years in a leadership role. Maybe we tried that with Nowell and it didn’t work we hoped.

I know we like the tall PGs, but I think there is a way to be tall everywhere else and be lightning quick at PG.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Well we made it 12 hours with this thread staying on topic about only transfers UConn is interested in

I actually made a post here this morning that was semi-off topic but then deleted it because I really wanted a thread devoted to this topic alone. It was a nice effort on your part though

 

[JungleLobo]

Curious about the interest in Royal. I believe we have a more than capable starting 3 with breakout potential already on the roster.

Yeah, I don’t know that tweeners were great with few exceptions decades ago let alone in today’s game

 

[JungleLobo]

Like I said in the other thread, I must be missing something, because he's an undersized 4 who neither blocks shots or hits 3s.

There’s something to be said for someone can open up the midrange but on D a 6’6” PF is a liability and that’s where the need is - at the 4.

It’s been a no brainer for 4 years with AK

 

[aburks41]

Has anyone seen confirmation that we've reached out to Najai Hines?

Here is a very lengthy NBA scouting report someone did on him Najai Hines Scouting Report

He is my #1 WANT in the portal. If this guy somehow ends up in Queens or Providence, I'm going to be so mad.

 

[auror]

Has anyone seen confirmation that we've reached out to Najai Hines?

Here is a very lengthy NBA scouting report someone did on him Najai Hines Scouting Report

He is my #1 WANT in the portal. If this guy somehow ends up in Queens or Providence, I'm going to be so mad.

Trilly confirmed, yes. Other sources have said that St. John's is a frontrunner, so you still might end up mad.

 

[RuffRuff]

Has anyone seen confirmation that we've reached out to Najai Hines?

Here is a very lengthy NBA scouting report someone did on him Najai Hines Scouting Report

He is my #1 WANT in the portal. If this guy somehow ends up in Queens or Providence, I'm going to be so mad.

Hopefully Shah in his ear

 

[lateralous]

As much as we hate it as fans, this is the way to handle the situation if you are a PG or C that aren't NBA material. It might make it hard to get a degree, but Wright is going to make around $15 million before heading to Europe to play professionally. Just take some finance classes along the way and he should be fine.

Has BYU decided not to be big spenders all of a sudden? They have a good coaching staff and he just averaged 18 PPG for them. I guess this could be a leverage play but it seem like the money would be there so that the delta on moving on wouldn't be that big.

I don't follow BYU beyond our game against them and seeing them in the opening game the night we played Florida so I have no idea if this is a mutual separation.

To keep in on topic, I will add that I would love to see Hines in a Huskies uniform next year.

 

[RuffRuff]

Has BYU decided not to be big spenders all of a sudden? They have a good coaching staff and he just averaged 18 PPG for them. I guess this could be a leverage play but it seem like the money would be there so that the delta on moving on wouldn't be that big.

I don't follow BYU beyond our game against them and seeing them in the opening game the night we played Florida so I have no idea if this is a mutual separation.

Wondering if they follow trend and invest more in the FC to start

 

[Husky Alien]

Curious about the interest in Royal. I believe we have a more than capable starting 3 with breakout potential already on the roster.

They might know something we don't