Entering the portal - 2026

[FfldCntyFan]

He's a 7' 1" tall freshman (he's grown since my last reply) that takes time. Clingan is the only exception that I've ever seen.

Tom,

Please keep reposting until he gets to 7'4".

 

[JVN]

 

[HW611]

They highly prefer it - you don't have to spend 3 years courting a player to get him to come. It's more transactional, and it's said that in many cases the player recruits the school.

How do coaches prefer a system that we’ve seen literally retire some of the best coaches the game have seen?

Coaches have no off time now. Usually it would come after the tournament as they ease into AAU scouting for the summer and preparing for summer workouts. Now they’re working the portal all April, jump to AAU HS season, then summer workouts.

There’s no sense of offseason for these guys at all.

 

[HW611]

Hines returning to Seton Hall otw. Haven’t seen this guy be right once yet.

 

[k-walk]

Yes please

 

[husky429]

Reibe was roll playing, not the focus of our offense as he might be going forward.

Not particularly concerned about the offense. He can't rebound at the level needed for a Final Four starting-caliber big.

 

[ctbro1999]

Not particularly concerned about the offense. He can't rebound at the level needed for a Final Four starting-caliber big.

After what he showed early in the season when Reed was out with injury, I thought Reibe would be on the fast track to developing into our starting C next year, but he sorta stalled out. I especially thought he would have more of an impact on the defensive side, but he never stood out to me as a rim protector. Hoping after a summer of offseason training and preseason workouts, he'll show why he was a McD's all american.

 

[HCCForever]

How do coaches prefer a system that we’ve seen literally retire some of the best coaches the game have seen?

Coaches have no off time now. Usually it would come after the tournament as they ease into AAU scouting for the summer and preparing for summer workouts. Now they’re working the portal all April, jump to AAU HS season, then summer workouts.

There’s no sense of offseason for these guys at all.

The time commitment is crazy. Dusty May was on The Dan Patrick show talking about his staff getting on a zoom call at 12:01 this morning once the portal opened. They ultimately decided to continue their celebration and made the calls later this morning.

 

[husky429]

After what he showed early in the season when Reed was out with injury, I thought Reibe would be on the fast track to developing into our starting C next year, but he sorta stalled out. I especially thought he would have more of an impact on the defensive side, but he never stood out to me as a rim protector. Hoping after a summer of offseason training and preseason workouts, he'll show why he was a McD's all american.

He had an underwhelming senior year of high school. November/December showed that he is capable. But he can't be a guy where a little bit of physicality takes him out of the game completely. This summer needs to be a BIG one for him or he's on the outside looking in.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

He would hardly be the first guy to leave early and go in the back half of the second round. I would certainly take a flyer on a first team all-Big East guy coming off a natty appearance.

He wont get drafted. He falls down and loses the ball quite a bit and can be turnover prone. He also has shown he is not a good finisher at the rim. Hes had games where he was great, quite a few of them, but we are talking NBA.

 

[KingAG]

I like it.

 

[Kowalski]

When thinking about Wilkins, people probably need to temper expectations. The starting backcourt next year is highly likely going to be Silas and Solo. Not sure this kid is taking a bench role with us.

I think it’s an ideal situation for Wilkins. He comes in as a sophomore to be Silas’s backup at the point & get minutes as a shooter off the bench at the 2 or at wing. If he has a good year, he sets himself up as the starting PG for UConn as a junior.

 

[HW611]

I think it’s an ideal situation for Wilkins. He comes in as a sophomore to be Silas’s backup at the point & get minutes as a shooter off the bench at the 2 or at wing. If he has a good year, he sets himself up as the starting PG for UConn as a junior.

So are we recruiting County for no reason?

 

[RuffRuff]

How do coaches prefer a system that we’ve seen literally retire some of the best coaches the game have seen?

Coaches have no off time now. Usually it would come after the tournament as they ease into AAU scouting for the summer and preparing for summer workouts. Now they’re working the portal all April, jump to AAU HS season, then summer workouts.

There’s no sense of offseason for these guys at all.

Those coaches don't like this new system - they don't want to adapt. Simple as that. These coaches also have deep staffs, GM's. Did you see what Luke was paid? The sport is professionalizing. Have you listened to Cal in recent interviews - he hates it, wants to keep winning with freshman OADs.

Dusty just won the NC in fairly dominant fashion with a bunch of transfers. If ever a sign that times have changed. It's a bit gross, but it is what it is.

 

[HW611]

I don’t think a top 50 player is coming here to not play. That should also go into the equation of bringing in a backup PG I feel like.

Hes suppose to be the backup PG.

 

[RuffRuff]

So are we recruiting County for no reason?

Totally new deck of cards once your season is over and the portal opens. Look what happened to Adams and Lewis last year. Not saying it's going to happen, but if the staff thinks they need a transfer over County, Country can do the same thing.

 

[Hurlees4hed]

So are we recruiting County for no reason?

By all means, let him compete. I don't think as a freshman County is the back up PG on a title contending team. JMO

Front court is definitely a much bigger need and where we should be spending IMO.

 

[HW611]

Those coaches don't like this new system - they don't want to adapt. Simple as that. These coaches also have deep staffs, GM's. Did you see what Luke was paid? It's simply professionalizing.

Dusty just won the NC in fairly dominant fashion with a bunch of transfers. If ever a sign that times have changed. It's a bit gross, but it is what it is.

I wonder if Dusty will continue to bring in these waves of transfers once his recruiting classes are set.

It makes sense for a first and second year coach to bring in a new batch of transfers to a team that was previously 8-24. But will he continue doing it after bringing in a few top 5 recruiting classes?

 

[KingAG]

Why can’t Wilkins start again?

 

[husky429]

I don’t think a top 50 player is coming here to not play. That should also go into the equation of bringing in a backup PG I feel like.

Hes suppose to be the backup PG.

If County is afraid of competition he wasn't right for UConn anyways.

 

[Slim Marlo]

Tho has been my top guy to replace Alex

 

[HW611]

By all means, let him compete. I don't think as a freshman County is the back up PG on a title contending team. JMO

Front court is definitely a much bigger need and where we should be spending IMO.

I think if we bring in a transfer he may take the Adams route.

Kids who believe in themselves and their futures as top 50 players don’t want to ride the pine for a year I assume. If we want to hit the portal I’m not saying that’s the wrong choice. I just don’t get the purpose of wasting our time to ask a top 50 player to come here if we don’t plan/trust him to have an impact on the team.

 

[Slim Marlo]

I think it’s an ideal situation for Wilkins. He comes in as a sophomore to be Silas’s backup at the point & get minutes as a shooter off the bench at the 2 or at wing. If he has a good year, he sets himself up as the starting PG for UConn as a junior.

Wilkins is not coming to back up.

 

[HW611]

If County is afraid of competition he wasn't right for UConn anyways.

This isn’t football. And that wouldn’t be the case or a negative to his character or fit here.

He’d have every right to go to a team that would believe in him and invest in him instead of hedging his talent. Acaden Lewis made a great decision to go to Villanova for his future.

 

[husky429]

This isn’t football. And that wouldn’t be the case or a negative to his character or fit here.

He’d have every right to go to a team that would believe in him and invest in him instead of hedging his talent. Acaden Lewis made a great decision to go to Villanova for his future.

Sure. And why would we not stock up on the best talent we can even if it hurts someone's feelings?

 

[Mets1432]

Wilkins showed he has the goods to play at a high level. If that means losing an unknown quantity like Junior County then so be it.

 

[RuffRuff]

I wonder if Dusty will continue to bring in these waves of transfers once his recruiting classes are set.

It makes sense for a first and second year coach to bring in a new batch of transfers to a team that was previously 8-24. But will he continue doing it after bringing in a few top 5 recruiting classes?

Doubt it - he's already got his younger foundation developing. He'll likely start with a backcourt of McKinney and Cadeau next year, soph and senior, rebuild the frontcourt. Cadeau may be the type of player top programs really want to grab as the undersized PG that sticks 4 years is probably the best way to build continuity, in a leadership position. I'd be all over that profile if it was out there.

McKinney & EC gone next year, then he'll have this years class to build on. He has the 14th, 31st and 36th recruit in the country coming in next year. He's going after size, as it's a 6'5" SG, a 6"8" SF and a 6'10" PF. Dusty is definitely going after functional size across the board other than PG. Likely get his next PG & C in the portal is my guess - two most important positions and those you'd rather have minted.

 

[upstater]

Totally new deck of cards once your season is over and the portal opens. Look what happened to Adams and Lewis last year. Not saying it's going to happen, but if the staff thinks they need a transfer over County, Country can do the same thing.

Of course Adams was not at the level required. Not sure why we're mentioning Lewis since he wasn't committed to us. It very well could be that you lose out on a PG out of HS who can actually play. This is why so many of the freshman stars this year were unheralded like Wagner.

 

[upstater]

Wilkins showed he has the goods to play at a high level. If that means losing an unknown quantity like Junior County then so be it.

You could say that about every position on the roster then.

Always recruit overt the HS guys. And yet we've seen freshman all over the country have success, including some guys who were not highly recruited.

 

[RuffRuff]

Of course Adams was not at the level required. Not sure why we're mentioning Lewis since he wasn't committed to us. It very well could be that you lose out on a PG out of HS who can actually play. This is why so many of the freshman stars this year were unheralded like Wagner.

He was committed to UK then pulled out once they went over him in the Portal.