2026 Recruiting: Colben Landrew

[6&counting]

Well if you Swap 1 of Landrew/Samuels for Mingo then that seems to be the plan so yeah

Can you elaborate on your answer here? Is there intel we're missing about UConn needing to acquire at least 3 freshman wings next year, like you're saying? We're actively recruiting the fewest number of players I can remember since Hurley has been here. We're also going after significantly fewer players than almost every other high major program. Hurley and the staff have repeatedly stated publicly that they are not looking to get big freshman classes moving forward.
And going off the numbers historically (# of official visits vs. # of commits), just because a player visits UConn does not mean we will land them - even if they get the red carpet rolled out for them. For example, last year Bundalo wanted to come here immediately after his visit (many on here declared it a done deal), but something didn't jibe with the coaches in person and we backed off.

That being said, there's always a world where a couple guys on the roster surprise us and transfer out after the season and leave more playing time for newcomers. Very hard to say with certainty what will happen right now.

To bring it back to the current thread, I quite like both Landrew and Samuels. They have similar builds and similarly high floors, with the chance to pop with enough work after a year or 2. They play pretty differently - with Landrew looking very deliberate in his movements. Surprisingly, it actually took me a couple viewings to see that he has a ton of dribble counters in his bag. I think once he understands the pace of play, he will take off.
But I'd say the same thing about the Rosses, so take all that with a grain of salt

 

[ec33]

Well if you Swap 1 of Landrew/Samuels for Mingo then that seems to be the plan so yeah

Mingo's "rotational player" spot is covered by the transfer PG, so to your line of reasoning, you could still grab both Landrew and Samuels along with Mingo.

I don't think they want to go beyond 10. But I was surprised that are not factoring in the possibility that Mullins might come back, so where their mental count on returning players begins might differ from mine.

 

[bendm]

Mingo's "rotational player" spot is covered by the transfer PG

Not necessarily. The more guys that can run point the better.

Demary / Transfer
Mingo / Furphy
Ball / Samuels or Landrew
Stew / Cloer
Reibe / Transfer

 

[navery12]

Not necessarily. The more guys that can run point the better.

Demary / Transfer
Mingo / Furphy
Ball / Samuels or Landrew
Stew / Cloer
Reibe / Transfer

I think the piece that you're missing and why you're getting pushback is that UConn is not just blindly recruiting to a goal of 3 freshmen. Could they theoretically do it and create a roster by adding 3 wings like Cloer/Samuels/Landrew? Sure. But that also makes for a pretty poorly constructed roster and one overloaded on the wing and incredibly shallow at guard, and a situation where you already know you're going to need to go to the portal to fill certain holes

 

[bendm]

I think the piece that you're missing and why you're getting pushback is that UConn is not just blindly recruiting to a goal of 3 freshmen. Could they theoretically do it and create a roster by adding 3 wings like Cloer/Samuels/Landrew? Sure. But that also makes for a pretty poorly constructed roster and one overloaded on the wing and incredibly shallow at guard, and a situation where you already know you're going to need to go to the portal to fill certain holes

Shallow at guard?? Demary Mingo the transfer PG and Furphy would all be capable of running the offense. And we’d be starting a three guard lineup with ball as the nominal SF. The guards would be the strength of this squad

Edit- I don’t want both Landrew and Samuels I was wondering if it was possible if we dont get Mingo but I don’t want it

 

[Lafayette]

Im not seeing what you guys are seeing.. Landrew has guard skills. Shoots tons of 3s. He's a Power 2g versus an undersized 4. Its a question of where does the kid like to play, where does he feel comfortable. Landrew wants to be on the perimeter. Hopkins is a mix it up on the inside, occasionally shoot from the perimeter.

He was a football player that loved the weight room and basketball more

 

[navery12]

Shallow at guard?? Demary Mingo the transfer PG and Furphy would all be capable of running the offense. And we’d be starting a three guard lineup with ball as the nominal SF. The guards would be the strength of this squad

Edit- I don’t want both Landrew and Samuels I was wondering if it was possible if we dont get Mingo but I don’t want it

Yeah I'm referring to the scenario you asked about where we'd take both Landrew and Samuels if we miss on Mingo. Especially since I don't think Furphy is getting a minute at the 2 , and we'd have no room to bring in a transfer PG either

 

[ec33]

Not necessarily. The more guys that can run point the better.

Demary / Transfer
Mingo / Furphy
Ball / Samuels or Landrew
Stew / Cloer
Reibe / Transfer

And Ross is kicked? They recruited him and convinced him to return twice. They aren't forcing him out.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

And Ross is kicked? They recruited him and convinced him to return twice. They aren't forcing him out.

I think he was just showing a projected rotation, not the roster. I don’t there was any implication that Ross would be forced out of the program.

 

[Fan1978]

And Ross is kicked? They recruited him and convinced him to return twice. They aren't forcing him out.

If ross doesn’t crack the rotation this year, he will probably go down a level. Perhaps syracuse or rutgers. I think he will carve out 6-8 minutes this year

 

[navery12]

And Ross is kicked? They recruited him and convinced him to return twice. They aren't forcing him out.

Not kicked out, just not good

 

[ec33]

I think he was just showing a projected rotation, not the roster. I don’t there was any implication that Ross would be forced out of the program.

Hurley is trying to project the actual rotation for that roster as well during the recruitment process. And unless there is something to which we are not privy, he is including Ross in his projections (so no, Dan Hurley is not looking to bring in both Landrew and Samuels -- the original discussion).

I don't think we should be projecting rosters that don't include him, because that is the equivalent of saying he is going to transfer. But apparently that is just me.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Hurley is trying to project the actual rotation for that roster as well during the recruitment process. And unless there is something to which we are not privy, he is including Ross in his projections (so no, Dan Hurley is not looking to bring in both Landrew and Samuels -- the original discussion).

I don't think we should be projecting rosters that don't include him, because that is the equivalent of saying he is going to transfer. But apparently that is just me.

You’re inferring that, no one is implying that. I hope this helps.

 

[ec33]

You’re inferring that, no one is implying that. I hope this helps.

If that works for you guys.