2026 Recruiting: Abdou Toure Announces Top Seven

[Huskyforlife]

Howard has heavy competition, not holding my breath there. Landrew is interesting but many think he’ll stay south. Toure is a CT kid that we’ve been recruiting for a long time with seemingly only Arkansas as scary competition. Makes me wonder if we end up prioritizing Toure after all?

 

[Mooch82]

And Bryson Howard all the way up to #12. I'd imagine UConn is only taking 1 player from that group. I guess throw Samuels into that group also. But who knows?

Agreed....seems like Toure, Howard, Landrew, and Samuels are all sort of vying for one spot. It seems to be as if Howard is the #1 choice, and Landrew may be second. I'm not sure how we feel about Samuels...and I think we are still keeping tabs on Toure in case the other guys fall through.

I'm interested in how the Mingo recruitment impacts County. Seems to me like Mingo is priority #1 in the whole class. Would we also take County? Would County still be interested if Mingo commits? They definitely could play together, but County may be on the Darius Adams type plan where he wouldn't get significant time in year one (and maybe two). Would be up to him as to whether he would be OK with that or not.

Cloer seems to be the desired AK replacement....I feel good about that one if we really put the full court press on.

Big is the biggest ? I have. Doesn't look like we are in the mix for too many guys. Keita visited but we have heavy competition there. Diane seems like a Houston lean. He's ranked a bit lower, but if we see the writing on the wall and don't feel good about Keita or Diane, I'd like to go after Tarris' little bro, Tristan. We've definitely shown interest in him but don't think we've offered yet. Seems like a good fit to backup Reibe for a year or two and then maybe start as a Junior.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Toure down to 37 in 247's rankings (Landrew up to 21).

That's the kind of player we need. A disrespected, under-the-radar level recruit with a chip on his shoulder.

 

[husky429]

That's the kind of player we need. A disrespected, under-the-radar level recruit with a chip on his shoulder.

I'm not sure he's being disrespected. Ranking seems fair. His ranking was higher but his 3-ball and playmaking hasn't developed the way people were hoping.

 

[superjohn]

I still want guys with athleticism and guys who can create their own shot/finish in the lane. Toure would immediately be the best athlete on the team.

In my opinion it's a mistake if we're not prioritizing him.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I still want guys with athleticism and guys who can get create their own shot/finish in the lane. Toure would immediately be the best athlete on the team.

In my opinion it's a mistake if we're not prioritizing him.

This. It’s also easier to turn guys with Toure type physical tools into elite defenders.

 

[ec33]

Seriously - I don't get the umbrage on Zanetto - he is out there and is trying and FWIW if no one is hating, you are not doing anything!

The only thing I take "umbrage" at is people who take him seriously. He is a clown who knows nothing about UConn or it's history.

He just got assigned the UConn coverage for Locked On and faked it from there.

 

[HooperScooper]

Big is the biggest ? I have. Doesn't look like we are in the mix for too many guys. Keita visited but we have heavy competition there. Diane seems like a Houston lean. He's ranked a bit lower, but if we see the writing on the wall and don't feel good about Keita or Diane, I'd like to go after Tarris' little bro, Tristan. We've definitely shown interest in him but don't think we've offered yet. Seems like a good fit to backup Reibe for a year or two and then maybe start as a Junior.

My guess, and this is just a guess, is that if they can't get Keita or Diane then they go into the portal in the spring for an experienced 5. We'll be losing an experienced big in Reed and I doubt Hurley wants to go into next year with a sophomore big in Reibe and a much less talented freshman 5 than Keita and Diane.

 

[Huskyforlife]

My guess, and this is just a guess, is that if they can't get Keita or Diane then they go into the portal in the spring for an experienced 5. We'll be losing an experienced big in Reed and I doubt Hurley wants to go into next year with a sophomore big in Reibe and a much less talented freshman 5 than Keita and Diane.

It’s also convenient to wait cause Reibe will show us whether he’s ready to step into that spot by year’s end. I’m not even sure how they sold Keita or Diane with the uncertainty surrounding Reibes role next year?

 

[CL82]

Seriously - I don't get the umbrage on Zanetto - he is out there and is trying and FWIW if no one is hating, you are not doing anything!

I mean other than single handedly tanking our move to the Big 12, I'm sure he's a prince.

 

[Mooch82]

I mean other than single handedly tanking our move to the Big 12, I'm sure he's a prince.

Zero chance he single handedly tanked our move to the Big 12.

 

[CL82]

Zero chance he single handedly tanked our move to the Big 12.

Mmm, disagree. Everything seemed to be moving well until he broke the story prematurely, and then the bottom dropped out.

I suppose you can speculate that that would've happened anyway, but who knows? If it makes you feel comfortable, you can ignore the "single-handedly" hyperbole when you read my post, but it's fairly indisputable that his breaking the story began a chain of events that changed the inertia on that deal which was positive until the story prematurely broke.

 

[JMick]

Mmm, disagree. Everything seemed to be moving well until he broke the story prematurely, and then the bottom dropped out.

I suppose you can speculate that that would've happened anyway, but who knows? If it makes you feel comfortable, you can ignore the "single-handedly" hyperbole when you read my post, but it's fairly indisputable that his breaking the story began a chain of events that changed the inertia on that deal which was positive until the story prematurely broke.

Without the story we are probably in the Big XII or at the very least avoid the embarrassment of publicly being told No again

 

[ec33]

Mmm, disagree. Everything seemed to be moving well until he broke the story prematurely, and then the bottom dropped out.

I suppose you can speculate that that would've happened anyway, but who knows? If it makes you feel comfortable, you can ignore the "single-handedly" hyperbole when you read my post, but it's fairly indisputable that his breaking the story began a chain of events that changed the inertia on that deal which was positive until the story prematurely broke.

Someone who wanted to kill the move recognized a tool when he saw one. And Zanetto stands out as a tool.

 

[Huskyforlife]

There’s no way people actually think decisions like this get canceled because a D list podcaster broke the news early? These are multi million dollar decisions we’re talking about…

 

[caw]

The only thing I take "umbrage" at is people who take him seriously. He is a clown who knows nothing about UConn or it's history.

He just got assigned the UConn coverage for Locked On and faked it from there.

That's not exactly true at all. He's from Meriden and is more, or less a lifelong fan.

Does he know as much as some people, no. Is he as smart as some people, also no. Does he have a questionable memory, def. Does he sometimes spout random rumors as fact, def. Does he use clickbait, def.

All of that is an issue but he is a fan.

 

[ec33]

That's not exactly true at all. He's from Meriden and is more, or less a lifelong fan.

Does he know as much as some people, no. Is he as smart as some people, also no. Does he have a questionable memory, def. Does he sometimes spout random rumors as fact, def. Does he use clickbait, def.

All of that is an issue but he is a fan.

He messes up far too much with players' names and recent basketball history to be someone that follows UConn in any more than a casual basis.

I will give with "less" in the "more or less" lifelong fan.

 

[caw]

He messes up far too much with players' names and recent basketball history to be someone that follows UConn in any more than a casual basis.

I will give with "less" in the "more or less" lifelong fan.

I've known him since he was a kid, and while not family friends at all, he is a fan. So just stop with that line.

Just FYI, I said more or less in regards to "lifelong fan" because I only knew him since he was like 10. So I don't know if he was a fan before then.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Yep.

It's hilarious anyone thinks Mark Zanetto kept UConn from joining the Big 12.

Brett Yormark was gonna put many more millions of dollars in every B12 schools pockets until a podcast with 5000 subscribers leaked his plans and his ego couldn't take it.

 

[temery]

STOP dragging politics into these posts. This isn't a warning, it's a promise.

 

[superjohn]

 

[Jbirdp5]

I've known him since he was a kid, and while not family friends at all, he is a fan. So just stop with that line.

Just FYI, I said more or less in regards to "lifelong fan" because I only knew him since he was like 10. So I don't know if he was a fan before then.

I hate to steal a chief line but the guy was clearly a casual fan as many CT residents are. If he wasn’t so arrogant he’d be a little more tolerable but the way he trolls for engagement on twitter is pathetic for someone who is all over UConn twitter

 

[epkerrigan]

Stop piling on Zanetto. The guy is a fan putting out the Uconn name. In my book he's a big plus for Uconn Fandom. If you're not doing the same then just stfu. Noone wants to here you criticize a guy who obviously bleeds blue. Keep it up Mark. Vast majority love your work.

 

[husky429]

Stop piling on Zanetto. The guy is a fan putting out the Uconn name. In my book he's a big plus for Uconn Fandom. If you're not doing the same then just stfu. Noone wants to here you criticize a guy who obviously bleeds blue. Keep it up Mark. Vast majority love your work.

New account, first comment. Hi Mrs. Zanetto! We still appreciate the engagement from your son, don't worry.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Stop piling on Zanetto. The guy is a fan putting out the Uconn name. In my book he's a big plus for Uconn Fandom. If you're not doing the same then just stfu. Noone wants to here you criticize a guy who obviously bleeds blue. Keep it up Mark. Vast majority love your work.

lol he’s an embarrassment to UConn fandom in my opinion. I disagreed with him once on twitter and brought up a point to him about why , he cursed at me in several tweets and then blocked me. Guys a terrible representative for husky fans.