2025 Recruiting: Braylon Mullins discusses his recruitment, timeline

[alexd]

Just read the 24/7 article for quotes on all three programs and my synopsis, with absolutely no other intel or information:

UConn: Loves the staff, winning program/ championship culture, team plays incredibly hard, can see exactly how he fits in here/what his role will be.

UNC: Also loves the staff, playing time will be available, they play fast which means more shots for everyone.

IU: Get to be the hometown hero, they're planning on a new play style that will be more guard-centric, Woodson says he'll develop him for the league.

Of all of those pitches, IU seems to require the biggest leap of faith - almost everything Mullins talks about from them is a complete unknown except for the fact that its down the road. Nice that he loves the UNC staff, but other than that, that praise feels super generic to me. Of the three, the UConn points read as highly specific in terms of who we are, how we play and how Mullins slots in.

Who knows what will happen, but Hurley and Co. clearly made a great impression and helped Mullins know exactly what he gets from UConn and what we can do for him.

Nice breakdown. Its so obvious with UConn. You know exactly who we are, what we do and what you're getting. No promising of future changes that will satisfy a recruit. Just need to look at the last few years. It's all there.

 

[RuffRuff]

Just read the 24/7 article for quotes on all three programs and my synopsis, with absolutely no other intel or information:

UConn: Loves the staff, winning program/ championship culture, team plays incredibly hard, can see exactly how he fits in here/what his role will be.

UNC: Also loves the staff, playing time will be available, they play fast which means more shots for everyone.

IU: Get to be the hometown hero, they're planning on a new play style that will be more guard-centric, Woodson says he'll develop him for the league.

Of all of those pitches, IU seems to require the biggest leap of faith - almost everything Mullins talks about from them is a complete unknown except for the fact that its down the road. Nice that he loves the UNC staff, but other than that, that praise feels super generic to me. Of the three, the UConn points read as highly specific in terms of who we are, how we play and how Mullins slots in.

Who knows what will happen, but Hurley and Co. clearly made a great impression and helped Mullins know exactly what he gets from UConn and what we can do for him.

I’d be shocked if he picked UNC.

The IU/Uconn decision is gonna be wild to watch as his fit and potential is so much better aligned with Uconn. Its all the other stuff that would lean him IU: parents love the University, buddy just signed there, home state, NIL. So hard to know how much those factors matter out in the heartland. Feels like a coin flip.

 

[Connecticut13]

I just cannot fathom choosing to have Mike Woodson as your coach over Danny Hurley. If it's between IU and UConn, then it's a no-brainer in my (admittedly biased) opinion.

 

[runner11]

I love that Woodson is pitching him on his new offense. They have a single good shooter in the top six of their rotation and will be starting two traditional, non shooting bigs. McNeeley part 2 even if he does commit there.

 

[awy]

on that same visit reibe and mullins talking about how inferior indiana offense is compared to uconn.

 

[Coach J]

Provided we don't get another commit first that he feels will block him, we are the best fit for his stated goals.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[upstater]

Are these the guys who were certain UConn couldn't handle Illinois and Purdue? I also think they said UConn couldn't handle a certain player on Northwestern.

 

[RuffRuff]

Are these the guys who were certain UConn couldn't handle Illinois and Purdue? I also think they said UConn couldn't handle a certain player on Northwestern.

Lol - they are Big 10 lovers/grads but do keep a fairly objective stance on the recruiting stuff. Most of it is just reading what has already been shared in the BY and talking about it in hypotheticals. More pure entertainment than new knowledge.

Greg was actually wearing UConn gear the other day on the pod.

 

[awy]

Lol - they are Big 10 lovers/grads but do keep a fairly objective stance on the recruiting stuff. Most of it is just reading what has already been shared in the BY and talking about it in hypotheticals. More pure entertainment than new knowledge.

Greg was actually wearing UConn gear the other day on the pod.

i'd buy the lack of bias angle because they could just not understand what makes uconn good. very player focused analysis, especially the new guy who is basically a lazy and chill kind of ex-player.

 

[UConnKev]

 

[Mooch82]

I may have missed this...but did he announce any sort of specific timeline for a commitment along with the top 3 announcement? Adams made his top 3 announcement and like 30 minutes later told us his commitment date.

 

[Minicoop69]

I live in Indiana and this recruitment is interesting.

Here is what I've heard regarding NIL

Mullins to IU and NIL is $1.5 million. UConn and UNC offered in neighborhood of $750k


Then IU reportedly offered Harrelson $1 million, but ND is matching, so the bid is getting higher and higher.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I live in Indiana and this recruitment is interesting.

Here is what I've heard regarding NIL

Mullins to IU and NIL is $1.5 million. UConn and UNC offered in neighborhood of $750k


Then IU reportedly offered Harrelson $1 million, but ND is matching, so the bid is getting higher and higher.

Jeez. Can’t blame the kid at all if IU is offering that. But, would really show how up we are as a program if we can get him with those numbers.

 

[TheHorde]

Jeez. Can’t blame the kid at all if IU is offering that. But, would really show how up we are as a program if we can get him with those numbers.

Just like I thought IU is getting bid up on these recruits. They might well get Mullins, but it might cost them Harrelson and Reibe.

 

[RuffRuff]

If in fact true, interesting to see they’re offering 500k more to Mullins than they are to Haralson, who is the higher rated recruit. Perhaps that’s the premium you pay to bump a UConn out of the equation. Also interesting is that our offer is identical to UNC, who was one notch behind us on that recent CBS coaches poll on perceived NIL funds.

Without a source, taking as a grain of salt, but could see that being a tough scenario for Mullins/family. Take the 750k + today, home state program or go to the program that will develop you into a value exponentially higher on your first NBA contract. He’s so far from a finished product that the decision should be the latter.

Have thought all along UConn is the perfect fit for this kid, and that NIL and “other stuff” is the only thing tilting scales towards IU. Maybe this is enough.

If staff is heading out to see him, perhaps it’s to bottom line it to push an outcome. You either lock him up or take the NIL to one of the other guys. Must be as part of a closing conversation one way or another. If you like the kid enough and think you have a real chance, do it live.

 

[Ricker]

I am crossing my fingers that we are in Mullins final 3 with full expectations by him that Adams may pick the Huskies as well. In my perfect world the staff has presold Mullins on the fact that they both can thrive here and that he has bought in to that probability already..

24/7 has a glowing description of Mullins which includes very high praise for his defense and rebounding and passing and positional size and IQ and the fact that he is a winner. Beyond pointing out these positives, they remind the reader of his 47% 3 point shooting on a prolific number of attempts since he made over 6+ per game and showed range far behind the arc.

Per 24/7
"The bottom line is that when you have an elite shooter, capable of getting hot at any point, who is also a standout defender, with positional size, solid athleticism, and a competitive mentality….you have an elite national prospect."

A future problem I wish on myself is whether to wear my Karaban Karavan, Cling Kong, or Mullins UConn gear.

Edit: I hadn't seen the $1.5 mill post before I posted. These bids are getting to the point where it pays to stay in college if you aren't a lottery pick. The nba may end up with more experienced talent in future drafts if more kids stay an extra year or 2. It is really an up hill battle for us with money, family proximity, home state hero, playing with friends... NBA will find him at Indiana. If we get him it is all the draw of Hurley.

 

[TheHorde]

If in fact true, interesting to see they’re offering 500k more to Mullins than they are to Haralson, who is the higher rated recruit. Perhaps that’s the premium you pay to bump a UConn out of the equation. Also interesting is that our offer is identical to UNC, who was one notch behind us on that recent CBS coaches poll on perceived NIL funds.

Without a source, taking as a grain of salt, but could see that being a tough scenario for Mullins/family. Take the 750k + today, home state program or go to the program that will develop you into a value exponentially higher on your first NBA contract. He’s so far from a finished product that the decision should be the latter.

Have thought all along UConn is the perfect fit for this kid, and that NIL and “other stuff” is the only thing tilting scales towards IU. Maybe this is enough.

If staff is heading out to see him, perhaps it’s to bottom line it to push an outcome. You either lock him up or take the NIL to one of the other guys. Must be as part of a closing conversation one way or another. If you like the kid enough and think you have a real chance, do it live.

They clearly don’t want the in state kid to get away. Harrelson reads stuff like we do. Does he feel slighted being offered $500,000 less? Would he want that much more to sign there? If he gets that, you’d have to think they wouldn’t be able to dig deep for Reibe. Lots of interesting dynamics are in play.

 

[awy]

if you are offering double and still haven't closed the deal, it's telling everyone that there's a substantial difference in terms of program quality.

if there's significant difference in quality of program, then for a guy with NBA aspirations 750k isn't that much. Just need to delay gratification for a couple of years.

 

[TheHorde]

if you are offering double and still haven't closed the deal, it's telling everyone that there's a substantial difference in terms of program quality.

if there's significant difference in quality of program, then for a guy with NBA aspirations 750k isn't that much. Just need to delay gratification for a couple of years.

$750,000 is just a difference of a couple or a few spots in the draft, really.

 

[AllHusky]

No data to refer to yet on these things, but I'd wager Mullins makes triple the 750k difference in his first 2 years, maybe first year in the NBA if he goes to UConn. Woodson is going to cost him money over the long haul. Alot of money if your first year contract is light 1.5 mil or something crazy like that. NBA guys chime in, I don't know the numbers very well.

 

[TheHorde]

No data to refer to yet on these things, but I'd wager Mullins makes triple the 750k difference in his first 2 years, maybe first year in the NBA if he goes to UConn. Woodson is going to cost him money over the long haul. Alot of money if your first year contract is light 1.5 mil or something crazy like that. NBA guys chime in, I don't know the numbers very well.

The difference between what Castle got being drafted 4th and what Clingan got being drafted 7th was a little over $4.6 million in guaranteed money. So in the lottery, literally one spot of draft position would make up or more than make up that difference.

 

[RuffRuff]

The Reibe situation is interesting in that he’s going to take a visit with Oregon soon. This is a Maryland kid being courted by plenty of more established hoops programs a lot more local. He’s also taken a number of visits and clearly enjoying the experience and doing some thorough due diligence. UO is interesting mainly because of the Phil Knight factor, which like a KSt, signals NIL importance. I see no other reason to consider UO and extend out your announcement when you can be the future backfill to Clingan, Dickinson and Kalk.

 

[HooperScooper]

No data to refer to yet on these things, but I'd wager Mullins makes triple the 750k difference in his first 2 years, maybe first year in the NBA if he goes to UConn. Woodson is going to cost him money over the long haul. Alot of money if your first year contract is light 1.5 mil or something crazy like that. NBA guys chime in, I don't know the numbers very well.

Here are the slot values from the 2024 NBA draft. At the top of the draft the difference between even 1 draft position is significant. The difference is less pronounced as you go further down the 1st round.

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

basketball.realgm.com

 

[RuffRuff]

IU pulling out the brinks for Haralson

Interesting NIL detail emerged hours before Jalen Haralson’s commitment

News was released Tuesday night that five-star Michigan State basketball target Jalen Haralson is receiving massive NIL offers.

spartanavenue.com

 

[TheHorde]

Here are the slot values from the 2024 NBA draft. At the top of the draft the difference between even 1 draft position is significant. The difference is less pronounced as you go further down the 1st round.

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

basketball.realgm.com

This is the real story. The BY in general frets too much about NIL and perceived NIL disparities. The real money is in the first and second NBA contracts. That’s where development pays multiples of NIL. If you buy into “all programs are about the same, and these kids would go in the same spot wherever they go”, then NIL probably means the world to you. But outside of the Flaggs and Dybantsas, development matters. Staffs aren’t all the same, and your strengths can be amplified and your weaknesses minimized depending on where you play. This fan base should be imo echoing that, since that is our strongest selling point.

 

[Mooch82]

Maybe they know they aren't getting Mullins so they can use more of their funds for Haralson.

 

[Mooch82]

This is the real story. The BY in general frets too much about NIL and perceived NIL disparities. The real money is in the first and second NBA contracts. That’s where development pays multiples of NIL. If you buy into “all programs are about the same, and these kids would go in the same spot wherever they go”, then NIL probably means the world to you. But outside of the Flaggs and Dybantsas, development matters. Staffs aren’t all the same, and your strengths can be amplified and your weaknesses minimized depending on where you play. This fan base should be imo echoing that, since that is our strongest selling point.

100%. I've been saying this for a while...guys who are taking a few hundred K more just for that reason are taking a short-sighted approach. With the right development and preparation for the NBA, you'll make up that few hundred K in spades. Not that it shouldn't be a factor, but it shouldn't be the number one factor if you're a recruit with aspirations to play at the next level.

 

[NJHusky]

If in fact true, interesting to see they’re offering 500k more to Mullins than they are to Haralson, who is the higher rated recruit. Perhaps that’s the premium you pay to bump a UConn out of the equation. Also interesting is that our offer is identical to UNC, who was one notch behind us on that recent CBS coaches poll on perceived NIL funds.

Without a source, taking as a grain of salt, but could see that being a tough scenario for Mullins/family. Take the 750k + today, home state program or go to the program that will develop you into a value exponentially higher on your first NBA contract. He’s so far from a finished product that the decision should be the latter.

Have thought all along UConn is the perfect fit for this kid, and that NIL and “other stuff” is the only thing tilting scales towards IU. Maybe this is enough.

If staff is heading out to see him, perhaps it’s to bottom line it to push an outcome. You either lock him up or take the NIL to one of the other guys. Must be as part of a closing conversation one way or another. If you like the kid enough and think you have a real chance, do it live.

If it was a closing meeting, wouldn't Dan Hurley be there too?

 

[NJHusky]

No data to refer to yet on these things, but I'd wager Mullins makes triple the 750k difference in his first 2 years, maybe first year in the NBA if he goes to UConn. Woodson is going to cost him money over the long haul. Alot of money if your first year contract is light 1.5 mil or something crazy like that. NBA guys chime in, I don't know the numbers very well.

drafted 10 v 30 is over 10M by year 4