2025 Recruiting: Braylon Mullins update 7/13/24

[HooperScooper]

Who’s the last Midwest frosh we got? I feel like it’s been awhile. I feel like they tend to stay there.

Reed is St Louie but UM originally, case in point. Feel like it’s the region we typically have the least success, as most of our guys are NE, south or west coast. Even in Calhouns days it felt the same. Not a lot of big named rust belters/corn field kids at UConn to my immediate recollection.

Khalid was Minnesota.

Ryan Boatright was from Illinois. Caron Butler was Wisconsin (although played prep in Maine). Lyman DePriest was Michigan.

I'm sure there has to be more but you're right, we haven't had a lot of players from the midwest. There are a lot of major schools out that way so you're competing with a lot of closer options. But it's a new era now. UConn is probably on even better footing for recruits than during the prime Calhoun era.

 

[DogMania]

Who’s the last Midwest frosh we got? I feel like it’s been awhile. I feel like they tend to stay there.

Reed is St Louie but UM originally, case in point. Feel like it’s the region we typically have the least success, as most of our guys are NE, south or west coast. Even in Calhouns days it felt the same. Not a lot of big named rust belters/corn field kids at UConn to my immediate recollection.

Khalid was Minnesota.

Although he arrived in Storrs as a JC Transfer and not a HS or Prep route, Johnnie Selvie heralded from Flint MI. He was pretty good and a high effort 4. I think he was sort of a black hole where the ball went to him and rarely found its way back out. But was pretty good at finishing around the rim.

He's the only recruit that I can remember off top my head coming from the midwest. The competition is usually fierce for the very good ones, either ending up at one of the premier Big10 or Big12 programs or one of the out-of-region historical Blue Bloods. It would be nice to see some success recruiting that region.

I wonder why we haven't had much success in that region considering we've done well all the way as far as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, California and Washington State. Part of it might be due to not heavily recruiting many players from that region.

 

[navery12]

This quote is gonna drive some UConn fans crazy

 

[KemBuckets21]

This quote is gonna drive some UConn fans crazy

I can't access the article, but a little surprised that pitching him as a one and done is part of the strategy.

 

[auror]

I can't access the article, but a little surprised that pitching him as a one and done is part of the strategy.

Since he rose so quickly and so recently in the rankings, some coaches may have an anchoring bias and talk to him like a 4* recruit who nonetheless has a bright future.

Positioning ourselves as "you'll be the feature 5* one and done wing like Castle, McNeeley" could be a winning strategy in a very competitive recruitment.

 

[awy]

how many recruits understand how much better uconn offense is vs other colleges, and how it's a future NBA trend. McNeeley clearly seems to understand, maybe Reibe, but I think AJ also.

 

[KemBuckets21]

Since he rose so quickly and so recently in the rankings, some coaches may have an anchoring bias and talk to him like a 4* recruit who nonetheless has a bright future.

Positioning ourselves as "you'll be the feature 5* one and done wing like Castle, McNeeley" could be a winning strategy in a very competitive recruitment.

This is a good point and makes sense.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ryan Boatright was from Illinois. Caron Butler was Wisconsin (although played prep in Maine). Lyman DePriest was Michigan.

I'm sure there has to be more but you're right, we haven't had a lot of players from the midwest. There are a lot of major schools out that way so you're competing with a lot of closer options. But it's a new era now. UConn is probably on even better footing for recruits than during the prime Calhoun era.

That is some damn good recall. Tip of the hat.

 

[RuffRuff]

Although he arrived in Storrs as a JC Transfer and not a HS or Prep route, Johnnie Selvie heralded from Flint MI. He was pretty good and a high effort 4. I think he was sort of a black hole where the ball went to him and rarely found its way back out. But was pretty good at finishing around the rim.

He's the only recruit that I can remember off top my head coming from the midwest. The competition is usually fierce for the very good ones, either ending up at one of the premier Big10 or Big12 programs or one of the out-of-region historical Blue Bloods. It would be nice to see some success recruiting that region.

I wonder why we haven't had much success in that region considering we've done well all the way as far as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, California and Washington State. Part of it might be due to not heavily recruiting many players from that region.

Historically lots of those kids came to us from the south/west because both are really football regions. That may be changing.

As for Mullins, surprised to the one and done pitch too. On paper doesn’t seem like one, as 6’4” kid just rising up the lists. Kid would seem at least partially developmental, where if so his list should be with the best coaches (certainly not IU).

 

[husky429]

Historically lots of those kids came to us from the south/west because both are really football regions. That may be changing.

As for Mullins, surprised to the one and done pitch too. On paper doesn’t seem like one, as 6’4” kid just rising up the lists. Kid would seem at least partially developmental, where if so his list should be with the best coaches (certainly not IU).

He's really fricken' good. One-and-done good? Well, idk. We'll get a better sense during the hs season. But he is VERY, very talented and has the single most important skill for an NBA player (elite shooting).

 

[david]

Almost feels like a misquote or there’s additional context we’re missing. Outright telling a player to come to UConn to be a one and done seems antithetical to everything we know about Dan Hurley and how he recruits.

 

[awy]

it's a sign of how much he is sought after. i'm surprised by the message but it may be response to what the player wants

 

[Mooch82]

Almost feels like a misquote or there’s additional context we’re missing. Outright telling a player to come to UConn to be a one and done seems antithetical to everything we know about Dan Hurley and how he recruits.

Agreed. I don’t doubt that it came up that maybe he COULD be a one and done or that he was talented enough to potentially be one…but I doubt that is necessarily the expectation here.

 

[pj]

Almost feels like a misquote or there’s additional context we’re missing. Outright telling a player to come to UConn to be a one and done seems antithetical to everything we know about Dan Hurley and how he recruits.

If you were Dan Hurley, wouldn't you want to replicate the Stephon Castle experience as frequently as possible?

 

[donyell34]

Johnie Selvie joins the party. Every so often he comes up in a post one of our more entertaining players. I liked big john.

 

[Huskyforlife]

One and done pitch is aggressive. But that tells us how Dan feels about Mullins.

 

[SoCalCanine]

I think we may be hearing the idea Dan presented, filtered by the mind of a teenager. Perhaps Dan said something like "We envision developing your game like we developed Stephen Castle, who was just a lottery pick after one year here". The teen may have mentally translated that to "We think you're a one-and-done". A reasonable possibility?

 

[awy]

as far as one and done goes, he is more of a liam

 

[KeyWestUC]

I think we may be hearing the idea Dan presented, filtered by the mind of a teenager. Perhaps Dan said something like "We envision developing your game like we developed Stephen Castle, who was just a lottery pick after one year here". The teen may have mentally translated that to "We think you're a one-and-done". A reasonable possibility?

There ya go! Until we hear the actual words.

 

[DogMania]

Since he rose so quickly and so recently in the rankings, some coaches may have an anchoring bias and talk to him like a 4* recruit who nonetheless has a bright future.

Positioning ourselves as "you'll be the feature 5* one and done wing like Castle, McNeeley" could be a winning strategy in a very competitive recruitment.

Hum...I'm okay if we have 1 one-and-done in a class. But as much as I like landing as talented recruits as possible that fit Danny's system, I like getting to watch our players develop over 2 to 4 years. Plus, rolling over key parts of the roster with having few returning players that got solid PT, has proven not to be a formula to win a NC.

The staff is targeting a lot of top tier recruits. We'll find out this coming fall which recruits decide to come here. I hope we land Thomas and Mullins to restock our backcourt, maybe an athletic wing (not sure what targets fit that) and one or two of the 4/5 Combos such as Reibe and one of the other bigs we've been linked to. We seem to have a lot of interest with 2Gs and combo guards.

I wonder if Hurley will look to add just one big this fall and look to the Portal to add an older and more physically mature player, like Reed. I don't know if Singare will develop into a viable plug and play 5 next season. I think Samson has just one year left, though did he have a medical redshirt year? Reed is just a junior, so unless he blows up or decides to move on for whatever reason, he'll be around for another go in 2025/26 season.

We've seen over the years, many of the recruits they land are not the names we kept on hearing about in the spring and early to mid summer, but maybe that will be different this fall. I would hope back-to-back championships and a chance to Three-peat would yield big time results.

 

[Ricker]

Time to organize spotters to deploy at Bradley, Hartford Hotels, popular restaurants, and strategic campus locations. (Most flights from Indianapolis to Bradley arrive by noon time today or not until late pm which doesn't seem a likely travel time). @Dove are you working this official visit? Camouflaged cleverly ? I hope this visit is spectacularly effective.

 

[navery12]

He shared on his story that he's visiting UConn today, so at least we know it's still happening

 

[bendm]

One and done pitch is aggressive. But that tells us how Dan feels about Mullins.

super aggressive. it would require Mullins starting on the wing alongside Thomas (hopefully) which would mean Ball is either in the nba next summer or still on the bench as a junior, and i wouldnt bet on either outcome

 

[Nick2005]

I trust Murray and company. This kid is perfect but what is he looking for? Guards and wings are easy for us to get and make instant NBA players. I want the karaban and Clingan. I want a difference maker that happens to be tall. Just 6’10, not being greedy. I want to be the school tall guys go to as well as awesome wings. I want guys that go to Gonzaga.

 

[Huskyforlife]

super aggressive. it would require Mullins starting on the wing alongside Thomas (hopefully) which would mean Ball is either in the nba next summer or still on the bench as a junior, and i wouldnt bet on either outcome

I could see Thomas starting as the "point guard" since his playmaking is actually very good. Between Thomas/Mullins/Ball you'd have to assume there's enough ball handling to run our sets, or a couple of those guys probably aren't 1st round prospects to begin with.

I also think Balls future is probably that of an off ball/third option ball handler anyways, so playing with 2 other natural guards might suit his game.

 

[awy]

instead of playing time they'll probably emphasize how well the staff can use and showcase his range of skills, pitch high level of success for him in the offense so that he can be seen as an impact type of player. cam spencer but with better physical tools and defense is a lottery pick.

 

[bendm]

I could see Thomas starting as the "point guard" since his playmaking is actually very good. Between Thomas/Mullins/Ball you'd have to assume there's enough ball handling to run our sets, or a couple of those guys probably aren't 1st round prospects to begin with.

I also think Balls future is probably that of an off ball/third option ball handler anyways, so playing with 2 other natural guards might suit his game.

that could work but then that assumes Mahaney is either in the nba next summer or coming off the bench as a senior. also not betting on either outcome right now.

so basically for thomas and mullins to both be starters in 2025, then either mahaney or ball have to be drafted next summer or coming off the bench as an upperclassmen.

i love the permutations

 

[navery12]

that could work but then that assumes Mahaney is either in the nba next summer or coming off the bench as a senior. also not betting on either outcome right now.

so basically for thomas and mullins to both be starters in 2025, then either mahaney or ball have to be drafted next summer or coming off the bench as an upperclassmen.

i love the permutations

Or the far more likely scenario is Mullins is coming off the bench and is one and done

 

[Huskyforlife]

that could work but then that assumes Mahaney is either in the nba next summer or coming off the bench as a senior. also not betting on either outcome right now.

so basically for thomas and mullins to both be starters in 2025, then either mahaney or ball have to be drafted next summer or coming off the bench as an upperclassmen.

i love the permutations

I think if we get both Thomas and Mullins, some guys will have decisions to make.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Or the far more likely scenario is Mullins is coming off the bench and is one and done

You have to admit this is an unlikely scenario though?

Unless he becomes the first bench player under Hurley to touch 25ish minutes, maybe that’s possible?