2025 Recruiting: Braylon Mullins discusses his recruitment, timeline

[FearThePups]

Wow, Hunter Dickinson keeps growing!

Maybe but he’s not getting any better.

 

[Son of Robert]

Look at the bright side Braylon, you'll be 900 miles from mom but you'll pick up a new mom.

Andrea Hurley sat down with her husband in a conference room in Los Angeles in June, and Jeanie Buss, owner of the Lakers, sat down across from her to discuss the head coaching position.

“I’m telling you, it was surreal,” Andrea told an audience at the Mark Twain House on Friday night. “There are so many different emotions. She came in, sat down and I’m a crier, everybody knows, and I started crying. Because all I saw was Hass on Jeanie Buss’ head. That is the only person I saw. I mean, the blonde hair and I kept seeing (UConn guard Hassan Diarra). So she kept asking, ‘Why are you so upset,’ and all I could get out was, ‘They’re my kids … they’re my kids.'”

“It was like, ‘I couldn’t get my kids, my UConn kids, out of my mind the entire time I was out there,” she said. “It was the guilt, it was a guilt thing. It was like, ‘You wouldn’t get this opportunity if it wasn’t for the kids.’ I don’t think the timing was right, you don’t get blessed for doing something at the wrong time.”

Very powerful stuff here, it says a lot about how tight this program is.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Even if he commits to IU there's a 50/50 chance Woodson is fired. See you in May like McNeeley.

 

[navery12]

Even if he commits to IU there's a 50/50 chance Woodson is fired. See you in May like McNeeley.

But that's not a good scenario, because the next coach would be far more appealing than Woodson

 

[UConnTrumbull]

But that's not a good scenario, because the next coach would be far more appealing than Woodson

Fair. But if he commits to IU now it means he, somewhat, believes in Woodson. Otherwise why commit? I still don’t know why McNeeley committed to IU then dropped out the day after Woodson was announced to return lol

 

[TheHorde]

Fair. But if he commits to IU now it means he, somewhat, believes in Woodson. Otherwise why commit? I still don’t know why McNeeley committed to IU then dropped out the day after Woodson was announced to return lol

Plus unless he commits here soon, presumably UConn will have brought in another guard in this recruiting class by then, and the competition for minutes would likely make this a less attractive destination in the spring.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My Daughter is great!!! She wears UCONN basketball shirts on campus.
My wife owns a bunch of Duke Field Hockey gear and I support her decision but I cannot put Duke on me and she’s good with it.

If my kid went to Duke and played a varsity sport I'd attend every game, fully decked out in UConn gear.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Fwiw Diarra is from New York City.

I puzzled on that, and decided that either his time at Texas A&M was considered, though not his transferring back near home. OR a brain glitch thinking that he was from TX, but that was Newton.

Not this year's roster, but Newton could otherwise have been mentioned for starting in El Paso, choosing East Carolina, and transferring even further from home to Storrs. And Sanogi and Castle certainly played far from home.

NOTED AFTERWARD that the Texas A&M matter already discussed

 

[Goldenflash]

If Mullins is truly a OAD player, then he’s talking about leaving home roughly 8-9 months earlier than if he stayed in Indiana and attended IU. He’d be expected in Storrs sometime in the summer of 2025 for summer workouts and would play through the end of UCONN’s NCAA Tournament run, which is March or April 2026. If he really is going to be drafted he’ll be leaving school before the semester ends and start training wherever his agent sets him up before the draft which will occur in June 2026. If I’m his father I’d tell him to make the best decision for your career, I hope a mature 18-19 kid could be able to figure out what his best career option might be for a few months of “home cooking” being sacrificed before he’s offered the opportunity at riches far beyond what most of us could ever imagine.

 

[SwampYankee]

Fair. But if he commits to IU now it means he, somewhat, believes in Woodson. Otherwise why commit? I still don’t know why McNeeley committed to IU then dropped out the day after Woodson was announced to return lol

I’ve always wondered if his camp had the inside track that Woodson wasn’t coming back and they approved of whoever was next in line (a certain assistant?) and things went sideways for whatever reason. Hard to make sense of the timing otherwise.

 

[SwampYankee]

If Mullins is truly a OAD player, then he’s talking about leaving home roughly 8-9 months earlier than if he stayed in Indiana and attended IU. He’d be expected in Storrs sometime in the summer of 2025 for summer workouts and would play through the end of UCONN’s NCAA Tournament run, which is March or April 2026. If he really is going to be drafted he’ll be leaving school before the semester ends and start training wherever his agent sets him up before the draft which will occur in June 2026. If I’m his father I’d tell him to make the best decision for your career, I hope a mature 18-19 kid could be able to figure out what his best career option might be for a few months of “home cooking” being sacrificed before he’s offered the opportunity at riches far beyond what most of us could ever imagine.

I can’t argue with this reasoning but I’ve never been a five-star stud in a basketball crazy state like Indiana. His parents - heck, his third cousins - probably hear about how he needs to stay home every time they go to the grocery store, post office, etc. That said, I choose to believe if it takes you this long to pick the home state school, you’re going elsewhere.

 

[superjohn]

I’ve always wondered if his camp had the inside track that Woodson wasn’t coming back and they approved of whoever was next in line (a certain assistant?) and things went sideways for whatever reason. Hard to make sense of the timing otherwise.

He committed before last season started and then he got to watch Woodson and Indiana suck all season. My guess is that's why he decommitted.

 

[SwampYankee]

He committed before last season started and then he got to watch Woodson and Indiana suck all season. My guess is that's why he decommitted.

But why specifically the day after the Woodson announcement? He saw UConn hang a twenty piece on them in December. You could tell they sucked way earlier than that.

 

[bendm]

But that's not a good scenario, because the next coach would be far more appealing than Woodson

would be super unlucky to lose back to back top targets to a "school" rather than to another coach. recruits primarily pick a school based on the coach not the other way around. Duke being the glaring exception currently.

 

[aceboon]

I’ve always wondered if his camp had the inside track that Woodson wasn’t coming back and they approved of whoever was next in line (a certain assistant?) and things went sideways for whatever reason. Hard to make sense of the timing otherwise.

Only way ann assistant coach is getting the IU job is if it's an emergency situation like Mike Davis

 

[JerseyAlum]

It all factors in. Adams, from New Jersey, goes to school in Indiana. After traveling to Vegas for a weekend to go to an all-star camp (as kids do), he flies home to make his commitment to UConn before heading back to Indiana. Lots of travel.

But don't think UConn being close to Jersey didn't help.

Sure if Mullins was from Connecticut and UConn had easy access to PT the choice would be easy. If he chooses Indiana it isn't just about being close to home, it is also not having to beat out Nowell, Ball, Mahaney, Adams, Stewart, Ross, and Abraham for PT. Oh and another reported $750k.

Coach Hurley is from NJ

 

[AllHusky]

Coach Hurley is from NJ

Rumor has it he has a house in Manasquan also. Squan is Jersey Shore town bigtime

 

[ddent68]

If Mullins is truly a OAD player, then he’s talking about leaving home roughly 8-9 months earlier than if he stayed in Indiana and attended IU. He’d be expected in Storrs sometime in the summer of 2025 for summer workouts and would play through the end of UCONN’s NCAA Tournament run, which is March or April 2026. If he really is going to be drafted he’ll be leaving school before the semester ends and start training wherever his agent sets him up before the draft which will occur in June 2026. If I’m his father I’d tell him to make the best decision for your career, I hope a mature 18-19 kid could be able to figure out what his best career option might be for a few months of “home cooking” being sacrificed before he’s offered the opportunity at riches far beyond what most of us could ever imagine.

I think if he goes to IU he won’t be a one and done. His parents won’t have to travel very much maybe for years.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Fwiw Diarra is from New York City.

Singare and Johnson also went to HS in NY/NJ

 

[Lambeau]

Woodson is under pressure to modernize his offense with more 3 pt shooting(Indiana shot 538 3's vs 788 Purdue and 815 UConn)--he says he only needs the personnel; I'm not sure it would be wise for Mullins to walk into an experiment, instead of a highly developed movement scheme at UConn designed for screens for shooters. This year Woodson's main recruits are two bigs, Ballo and Reneau.

 

[awy]

woodson is the same dumpster fire with a pr paint job. no idea why Indiana decided to paint the dumpster instead of just getting rid of it but here we are.

 

[twdaylor104]

Even if he commits to IU there's a 50/50 chance Woodson is fired. See you in May like McNeeley.

I'll be honest - IU fan here. Wanted to join and see the chatter about BM and the landscape of UCONN. Woodson, if he underperforms with this year's team (supposedly his most talented team on paper since he took the HC at IU) most certainly is he on the hot seat. Is he fired? Idk, allot of big-name boosters LOVE Mike Woodson.

 

[superjohn]

Who commits first? Braylon or Eric?

https://twitter.com/jakeweingarten/status/1843099291377922447?t=UlP2XN7QUVw3K6FwsY0V4A&s=19

 

[husky429]

Woodson is under pressure to modernize his offense with more 3 pt shooting(Indiana shot 538 3's vs 788 Purdue and 815 UConn)--he says he only needs the personnel; I'm not sure it would be wise for Mullins to walk into an experiment, instead of a highly developed movement scheme at UConn designed for screens for shooters. This year Woodson's main recruits are two bigs, Ballo and Reneau.

Most guys can't really just modernize the offense on a whim like Hurley did with Luke's influence, and it's not just about personnel. It was actually surprising JUST how fast Hurley turned a 180 on offense. When a coach is making real-time decision, they have to know the offense inside and out. It's why you can't just steal someone's playbook and be a successful coach.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Taking this small excerpt from a really long piece I thought was interesting.

Two of the hurdles IU has to overcome are film and metrics. IU has been primarily a post-oriented team Mike Woodson’s first three years. IU in 2023-24 was dead last among high-major teams in points per game from 3-point range. UConn has made sure Mullins is very aware of that.

UConn also has hit Mullins — and other recruiting prospects — with film of how many times it has four 3-point shooters on the floor, the number of times guards are used per game in dribble handoffs, in pick and rolls, etc.

Now, Indiana plans to change its offense, and has been working on that since the summer. That’s all good for IU. That’s a positive for IU.

Mullins has been to IU and observed those workouts.

But when it comes to recruiting, if you really haven’t done it, you can say it. You can mean it. But if a player hasn’t seen it in games — especially if it’s over a prospect’s entire high school career — it can be tough to make verbal promises have more impact than film and metrics, especially when that film and those metrics are from a team that has won consecutive national titles winning all 12 NCAA Tournament games by double figures.

 

[REB1094]

Taking this small excerpt from a really long piece I thought was interesting.

Two of the hurdles IU has to overcome are film and metrics. IU has been primarily a post-oriented team Mike Woodson’s first three years. IU in 2023-24 was dead last among high-major teams in points per game from 3-point range. UConn has made sure Mullins is very aware of that.

UConn also has hit Mullins — and other recruiting prospects — with film of how many times it has four 3-point shooters on the floor, the number of times guards are used per game in dribble handoffs, in pick and rolls, etc.

Now, Indiana plans to change its offense, and has been working on that since the summer. That’s all good for IU. That’s a positive for IU.

Mullins has been to IU and observed those workouts.

But when it comes to recruiting, if you really haven’t done it, you can say it. You can mean it. But if a player hasn’t seen it in games — especially if it’s over a prospect’s entire high school career — it can be tough to make verbal promises have more impact than film and metrics, especially when that film and those metrics are from a team that has won consecutive national titles winning all 12 NCAA Tournament games by double figures.

It shouldn’t take too much advanced analytics or film to see it

UConn designed a good chunk of its entire offense 2 years ago to get a young sniper (Jordan Hawkins) good looks. He became one of the best shooters in the country and an NBA lottery pick

Then UConn took in a 23 year old, 5th year, small, unathletic guy, designed a good chunk of its entire offense to get him good looks, and he became an NBA draft pick (Cam Spencer)

Now UConn is taking a guy who originally wanted to go to Indiana, realized that UConn would design a good chunk of its entire offense to get him good looks, and now he’s a projected lottery pick (Liam McNeeley)

If he wants to stay near home, I have absolutely no issue with that. Family is important. He should know, and does know, that going to UConn is the better long term decision. But if he bets on himself to stay home, we have to respect that decision

 

[Iluvsuebird]

What about Ball, Ross and Singare?

Singare is a devepment piece that I'm not sure when and how much he'll contribute.

Ross seems to be developing into a player which might begin to carve out some minutes this season.

There's been a lot of talk about Ball being a major contributor this upcoming season.

We know that Diarra and Samson are in their last season of eligibility.

We can assume Alex will enter the draft as a likely first round pick.

All indications are that McNeeley will likely enter the draft as a lottery pick hopeful.

UConn has just 12 scholarship players, which means they have 2 more open slots next season with rosters being expanded to 14.

We don't know who else might elevate their game this season enough to enter the draft and who might decide to enter the portal...no speculations please, nor do I have any.

Ship wise, UConn had enough to take Adams (CG) , Mullins (CG), Bundalo (4/5 Combo), Reibe (Stretch-5) and Lewis (1 with combo skills).

Now that would create a ton of competition next season. All of those recruits each add unique skills and styles of play that would certainly help UConn continue to stay on top. Adams is an excellent off the ball motion mover/scorer (Rip type player). Mullins adds similar skills as Adams but is bigger and stronger (Cam type player). Lewis has more 1-skills than those two, who can distribute and keep his dribble active to create his own scoring opportunities especially when the clock is running down (sort of a Newton/Castle-light skill set.). Bundalo is an Alex type 4 who has the size to defend the 4 or even 5 if needed plus has some wing skills. Lastly Reibe would give us some Clingan skills but with more advanced jumpshot skill out to 3 though needs to develop his post skills.

What's scary about this collection of recruits is they can all knock down 3s, which is crazy to think that we have a shot at landing some or most of these players.

My guess is we land 2 of the 3 guards, though I would like to land all of them since each one gives us something a little different than the other that all fit Hurley's culture and system. As for the two bigs, they clearly fill two spots that will open up due to players that will be moving on.

Whatever need the staff doesn't fill with one of these or some other heralded recruits, will be filled via the portal. I'm excited to see who we end up with by the early signing period.

I agree mostly with what you wrote. My only observation is that with Aidan, Ball, Nowell and Adams we already are set at the guard spot. Even more so if we can get Mullins. I am not sure Lewis is needed with our current roster. Adding Bundalo and Reibe would be phenomenal.

 

[nomar]

Taking this small excerpt from a really long piece I thought was interesting.

Two of the hurdles IU has to overcome are film and metrics. IU has been primarily a post-oriented team Mike Woodson’s first three years. IU in 2023-24 was dead last among high-major teams in points per game from 3-point range. UConn has made sure Mullins is very aware of that.

UConn also has hit Mullins — and other recruiting prospects — with film of how many times it has four 3-point shooters on the floor, the number of times guards are used per game in dribble handoffs, in pick and rolls, etc.

Now, Indiana plans to change its offense, and has been working on that since the summer. That’s all good for IU. That’s a positive for IU.

Mullins has been to IU and observed those workouts.

But when it comes to recruiting, if you really haven’t done it, you can say it. You can mean it. But if a player hasn’t seen it in games — especially if it’s over a prospect’s entire high school career — it can be tough to make verbal promises have more impact than film and metrics, especially when that film and those metrics are from a team that has won consecutive national titles winning all 12 NCAA Tournament games by double figures.

 

[aceboon]

Taking this small excerpt from a really long piece I thought was interesting.

Two of the hurdles IU has to overcome are film and metrics. IU has been primarily a post-oriented team Mike Woodson’s first three years. IU in 2023-24 was dead last among high-major teams in points per game from 3-point range. UConn has made sure Mullins is very aware of that.

UConn also has hit Mullins — and other recruiting prospects — with film of how many times it has four 3-point shooters on the floor, the number of times guards are used per game in dribble handoffs, in pick and rolls, etc.

Now, Indiana plans to change its offense, and has been working on that since the summer. That’s all good for IU. That’s a positive for IU.

Mullins has been to IU and observed those workouts.

But when it comes to recruiting, if you really haven’t done it, you can say it. You can mean it. But if a player hasn’t seen it in games — especially if it’s over a prospect’s entire high school career — it can be tough to make verbal promises have more impact than film and metrics, especially when that film and those metrics are from a team that has won consecutive national titles winning all 12 NCAA Tournament games by double figures.

what article is this from?

 

[Deleted at users request]

what article is this from?

From a message board.