2026 Recruiting: - Colben Landrew Official Visit (10/3) | Page 8 | The Boneyard
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2026 Recruiting: Colben Landrew Official Visit (10/3)

I think the formula is pretty clear

2023: 3/5 starters are returners. 1 is a high impact freshman. 1 is a high impact transfer. 3/4 key bench players are transfers and 1 freshman

2024: 3/5 starters are returners. 1 is a high impact freshman. 1 is a high impact transfer. All key bench players were returners. But this year was a unique one

2025: 3/5 starters are returners. 1 high impact freshman. 1 was planned to be high impact transfer but was a miss. 2/3 key bench pieces were returners, 1 transfer

2026: 3/5 starters are returners. 1 high impact freshman. 1 high impact transfer. Key bench pieces are 1 transfer, 1 freshman, 1-2 returners

3 returning starters for continuity, 1 crown jewel recruit, 1 high impact transfer. 2ish returners for depth, fill the rest with transfers or recruits
 
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kansashusky said:
Four-star SG Colben Landrew: UConn hosted the talented guard over the weekend and there’s growing buzz in Storrs surrounding Landrew. Don’t count out Louisville yet, who was once viewed as the frontrunner.
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I feel pretty confident we'll land him, but Louisville striking out on Stokes worries me that they're going to pull an Arkansas bag drop move and we'll end up in Providence's position lol
 
ec33 said:
I think you are correct that Landrew could be part of a package to backup Stewart, but if they miss on Landrew they will have to more directly look for an appropriate 4, likely overseas. That player would be intended to replace Stewart in the starting line-up for 27/28.

Plus there will be a backup center brought in this spring and I would hope that guy would still be around as well.
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Landrew isn’t a 4 he’s a big G. Even if we get Landrew we still need a backup 4 and 5 in 2026. If Ross can bulk up maybe he can be the backup small ball 4 since It’s probably the least important position in the rotation. 100% need a legit backup 5 tho.
 
RuffRuff said:
I heard that. But if he wiffs on Landrew do you think opening up recruitment now on some other top 30 kid when they’re already 90% into their process is going to work?

Coaches adjust. He’s clearly not scraping the NIL bag to get these kids and next year may not need much freshman PT. This class is also unique. Right now he needs some carryovers for 27-28.

They’ve already suddenly popped up with the Ratliff twins, which are 50+. Listen to the Hurley swame and stop being so rigid. It’s a fluid process.
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Yeah we have to start stacking up some pieces to build around move forward this year.

As it stands, after the Fab 5 the nucleus is Mullins (could leave), Reibe, Furphy, and now County.
RuffRuff said:
The portal recruitment system is a year to year fluid process, and we see some wide variations in how top coaches are using it, even in our league. You have a Shaka, who is all HS recruit/retain/develop and then Pitino who doesn't waste his time at all in HS recruiting.

My point has been that Hurley has buttered his bread with a core of retain and roll over. This year it's been stated over and over, with data (EMaya) to support, the importance of having X minutes of returning talent. Next year, if it holds as expected, we look really good and should be preseason top 5. The following (27-28), the cupboards look pretty bare as it would be Reibe/Furphy/County as of now. This HS recruitment cycle would be the one where you build the nucleus for that 27-28 season as incoming sophomores, so if it's only 2 recruits, it's not a lot. They of course, also have to stick, which is no guarantee.

If it's only 1, or 2, then this is going to be an interesting upcoming portal season because to have roll overs, Hurley would then likely be having to hit the portal for underclassmen willing to come off the bench next year, which is a weird type of recruitment. You'd think better to do that with HS kids this cycle. A lot of those gaps are because he had no retention at all in last years freshmen class, a first for him.

Shaka BTW, is going to have a year to watch. He's going to be a preseason bubble team and ranked around 40th. He will be starting 5 home grown kids, 4 of which are upperclassmen. Not a lot of star talent, but a lot of continuity. It'll be a true test of his system.
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In regards to Shaka, it really be an interesting year for him. He’s been recruiting well (by Marquette standards) and I’m curious to see how these guys step up. It seems like a new guy steps up every year for him.

Really a test to see how good the old system works of developing home grown talent consistently and retaining it. Even without being able to recruit at a high level.
 
KembaStepback said:
Must be a weak class if top 20 is only 4 star...hope he makes the right choice
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On3 #17
247 #21

Composite is around 27.
bendm said:
I don’t see where he mentions stew but Landrew isn’t a 4 he’s a big G. Even if we get Landrew we still need a backup 4 and 5 in 2026
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Not so sure - wingspan is there, body type is there, for a 4. Same wingspan as a Cloer, but stronger build. I don't really know if Hurley looks for a real traditional PF at the 4. They list this kid at 6'6" 210. He's got a strong frame, will probably end up being 225ish. Think Darrion Williams.

Landrew is a big-bodied wing with developing guard skills. Measuring in at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has a powerful frame from head-to-toe rooted in his years spent on the football field. He brings that same physicality and toughness to the hardwood, but now that he’s focusing exclusively on basketball, his game is starting to blossom at a rapid rate.

He’s an ascending shooter with very soft natural touch. He made just under 34% of his attempts from three in 3SSB play, but knocked down 46% of his open catch-and-shoot threes, giving him extreme gravity as a floor-spacer. He still twists into a lower release, which may be why he’s not yet as consistent on the move and especially off the dribble (1-15 on dribble jumpers in 3SSB play). There’s clear confidence though and if he becomes a truly knockdown type shot-maker, it unlocks a lot of higher upside outcomes.

He's already a great blend player with a high floor because he’s smart, multi-positional, physical, can grab and go, and offer some secondary creation. He also has a very good left hand, is a terrific offensive rebounder (2.4 per game), starting to flash some off-ball cutting, and an efficient rim finisher (65%), despite not being a dynamic vertical athlete. Defensively, he has good hands (1.3 steals), great strength and balance in his lower body, but lacks ideal foot speed, so more switchable up the line-up than down.


Are we going to find a great backup 4 in the portal willing to play 10 minutes? To me, if this kid is getting strong minutes next year, would be a blend between the 3 & 4.
 
HW611 said:
Wish we’d stop trying to take perimeter guys and make them play the 4 rather than just recruiting a 4.

Get a legit 4 that gives you a competitive advantage. Come on Ratliffs!!
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Ratliffs are 6'11", they're centers.

We were in on PF WAZZU LeJuan Watts in the portal (ended up going to TT), who is a 6'6" 225 beast, and mentioned with Darrion Williams before AK came back. I wouldn't draw on absolutes here.

If he comes in next year, could easily see him playing some backup 4 as part of his minutes package.
 
auror said:
He's not a 4. But also, he could be a 4 in 2 years probably. He has the wingspan and is an attainable distance from the weight. I don't think he wants to be that, though.
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Big question will be what he can defend. Love a nice strong 3 so much as he's not getting toasted, and can switch up and down. Stew played plenty of backup 4 his freshman year, and you could argue was less physically ready for it. Not sure the 1 inch he has on Landrew is a material difference, especially with Landrew's WS.

Read his summary and does that sound like a 3? Power frame, football player, strong lower half, physical/tough, great offensive rebounder, slow footed defensively?

And again, my argument will be who the h#ll are we getting in the portal to play 10 minutes of backup 4 next year, that is any good? Riddle me that.
 
bendm said:
Landrew isn’t a 4 he’s a big G. Even if we get Landrew we still need a backup 4 and 5 in 2026. If Ross can bulk up maybe he can be the backup small ball 4 since It’s probably the least important position in the rotation. 100% need a legit backup 5 tho.
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Landrew is bigger than Stewart was as a freshman. Between him, Ross, and perhaps using twin bigs that enable Reibe to play some 4, they can cover the minutes that Stewart is resting -- and saves on money.

Not that I understand the international market, but I would suspect that finding a backup 4 will be complicated. They need to be good enough to play, but also willing to accept limited minutes behind Stewart and also limited money, as they are a backup. But then capable of assuming a starting role the following year.

It would be simpler to fake it with Landrew (and company) next season and then bring in the starter.

Now if they miss on Landrew, then they go that route.
 
RuffRuff said:
And again, my argument will be who the h#ll are we getting in the portal to play 10 minutes of backup 4 next year, that is any good? Riddle me that.
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Exactly and someone to take that role on what will still be less play and a 10 minute backup role. It also limits rotational minutes for the other guys on the roster.
 
RuffRuff said:
Ratliffs are 6'11", they're centers.

We were in on PF WAZZU LeJuan Watts in the portal (ended up going to TT), who is a 6'6" 225 beast, and mentioned with Darrion Williams before AK came back. I wouldn't draw on absolutes here.

If he comes in next year, could easily see him playing some backup 4 as part of his minutes package.
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247 has one of them listed as a PF and the kid shows the skills to be one. I’d rather play really big and put them there. Would cause crazy mismatches.

Plus the NBA is starting to go back to really big PFs which he’d be in line to be.
 
DD311 said:
Yes, multiple analysts have said there is not a lot of one and done players.
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Weak draft, NBA drafts on potential and is limited to what's available. This class isn't good, but it's relative to what will be available. The forecast of that weak draft can drive some interesting behaviors worth watching. Seen some mocks on 2027 and it's a lot of "who". It's a super opportunistic window.

First, with this current class of HS recruits - how many heavily lean on PT to showcase versus put themselves in better winning/development scenarios? A kid that is fringe draftable might take guaranteed PT over anything else.

Second, how many fringe college players potentially stick around an additional year to take advantage of that draft? This upcoming draft is loaded. Take a Mullins for instance - he's probably going, but let's stay his stock falls into the 20's for whatever reason, is there a chance he sticks another year to develop/mature & go lottery? Solo, Demary?
 
auror said:
He's not a 4. But also, he could be a 4 in 2 years probably. He has the wingspan and is an attainable distance from the weight. I don't think he wants to be that, though.
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I like thatnwe can throw him outnthere to defend the 4 in a pinch. He'll probanly be 225+ if he makes it to be an upperclassmab
 
RuffRuff said:
Ratliffs are 6'11", they're centers.

We were in on PF WAZZU LeJuan Watts in the portal (ended up going to TT), who is a 6'6" 225 beast, and mentioned with Darrion Williams before AK came back. I wouldn't draw on absolutes here.

If he comes in next year, could easily see him playing some backup 4 as part of his minutes package.
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Im not losing sleep over who the backup PF is next year. We’ll have Ross and hopefully Landrew at the least, but we do need a legit backup C next year. so why not get someone that can backup the 4 and 5 in 2026 and then start in 2027 eg Keita or a soph/jr Transfer. Idk why you’re making this seem like an impossible task. If we get Landrew and Mullins returns we’re missing 1 piece which we can fill anytime in the next 12 months.

2026
Demary* / County
Ball* / Furphy
Mullins or Mingo* / Landrew
Stew* / Ross*
Reibe / Keita or Transfer

2027
County
Furphy
Landrew
Keita or Transfer
Reibe
 
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