2026 Recruiting: Junior County

[HooperScooper]

4-star PG Junior County visiting UConn​

Junior County jumped to No. 60 in the Rivals150 after his play this summer on Nike’s EYBL Circuit. The 6-foot-4 lead guard took early official visits to Purdue and the old staff at Texas A&M. He has taken more recent officials to Maryland (a second visit to Buzz Williams), Arizona, and Indiana. This weekend he will go see UConn.

While it is interesting that County on official visit to see Buzz Williams at his new and old school, the program I have consistently heard the most about here is UConn. One source has remained steadfast with me that this coming weekend’s visit is the one they are watching. Track the intel coming out of this visit and continue to pay attention to a commitment timeline as it emerges.

Recruiting Intel: Kentucky, UConn & Kansas headline blue blood weekend of top visitors

Rivals’ Jamie Shaw lays out and discusses the latest recruiting intel with big official visits happening this weekend.

www.on3.com

The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:

Recruiting Intel: Kentucky, UConn & Kansas headline blue blood weekend of top visitors​

Some stuff on Mingo in there also. But all the Mingo threads are locked so I'll put it here.

5-star PG Dylan Mingo visiting Penn State​

Dylan Mingo’s recruitment has been kept somewhat close to the vest, letting his visits be known only a day or two before he takes the trips. So far, Rivals No. 3 overall player in 2026 has taken official visits to Washington, Miami, UConn, and Alabama. This weekend he is scheduled to go to Penn State.

Why is the Penn State visit noteworthy? Mingo’s brother, Kayden Mingo is a freshman guard for the Nittany Lions. This recruitment has been one that is somewhat difficult to pin down. However, the two schools that I continue to hear the most when talking with sources are UConn and Alabama. One source had a lot to say to me after Mingo’s UConn visit. Continue to watch what other visits he sets, other programs like Oklahoma, UNC, and Baylor have been mentioned at various times throughout his recruitment.

As with most recruitments, anytime a player can step on a campus it is noteworthy. But as things are starting to heat up in this recruitment continue to follow the intel.

 

[bendm]

They're definitley being recruited for the same spot.

If County isn’t projected as a frosh starter why couldn’t we take both? Isn’t there a big drop off between Mingo and County? Plus Mingo is practically guaranteed to be a OAD which clears a path for County to maybe start as a soph.

To put a finer point on it, even If we got County I’d hope we also either got Mingo or someone in the transfer portal to replace Mullins and start alongside Demary and Ball.

 

[navery12]

If County isn’t projected as a frosh starter why couldn’t we take both? Isn’t there a big drop off between Mingo and County like there was between Castle and Ball? Plus Mingo is practically guaranteed to be a OAD like castle which clears a path for County as a soph.

If we got County but missed on Mingo I’d hope we would go after someone else in the transfer portal to start alongside Demary and Ball.

I think the disconnect is that the staff has publicly said they've changed their philosophy and aren't recruiting top HS recruits for a down the road role anymore. County is a top 30 recruit, if there's not a path to playing time as a freshman he's going to be unhappy

 

[bendm]

I think the disconnect is that the staff has publicly said they've changed their philosophy and aren't recruiting top HS recruits for a down the road role anymore. County is a top 30 recruit, if there's not a path to playing time as a freshman he's going to be unhappy

But I see a path in 2026 and it’s wide open in 2027. It wouldn’t be like what Adams was walking into this year. Adding smith made Adams the fifth G and extinguished any hope of PT at all for him.

2026
Demary* / County
Mingo* / Furphy
Ball* / Landrew
Stew* / Cloer
Reibe / Transfer

2027
County / ???
Furphy / ???
Landrew / ???
Cloer / ???
Reibe / Transfer

 

[navery12]

But I see a path in 2026 and it’s wide open in 2027. It wouldn’t be like what Adams was walking into this year. Adding smith made Adams the fifth G and extinguished any hope of PT at all for him.

2026
Demary* / County
Mingo* / Furphy
Ball* / Landrew
Stew* / Cloer
Reibe / Transfer

2027
County / ???
Furphy / ???
Landrew / ???
Cloer / ???
Reibe / Transfer

Sure if you move Ball onto to the wing at 6'3 and pencil in Junior County as the backup PG you can twist your way into a scenario where both get rotation spots.

But we just came off a season with a super disappointing result to most fans due in large part to a top 30 freshman PG who wasn't ready. So I don't see that scenario you laid out playing out that way. I'd expect a veteran PG from the portal pushing County out of the rotation, just like Adams.

All I'm saying is when the head coach making these decisions says not to expect large freshman classes and not more than 2-3 commits a year anymore, it's probably not a useful exercise to twist ourselves in knots of how we can fit a 4th HS recruit

 

[bendm]

Sure if you move Ball onto to the wing at 6'3 and pencil in Junior County as the backup PG you can twist your way into a scenario where both get rotation spots.

But we just came off a season with a super disappointing result to most fans due in large part to a top 30 freshman PG who wasn't ready. So I don't see that scenario you laid out playing out that way. I'd expect a veteran PG from the portal pushing County out of the rotation, just like Adams.

How am I twisting anything? Thats the only way for Demary Mingo and Ball to start together and County is a CG…

And that wouldn’t be anything like last year. either Demary or Mingo would be on the floor at all times as the lead guard with county off the bench. No comparison to the threesome of Diarra Mahaney and Nowell.

Idk what your point about Nowell not being ready is. On the one hand you’re arguing County might also not be ready but on the other you’re arguing that he needs a clear path to PT.

 

[RuffRuff]

Sure if you move Ball onto to the wing at 6'3 and pencil in Junior County as the backup PG you can twist your way into a scenario where both get rotation spots.

But we just came off a season with a super disappointing result to most fans due in large part to a top 30 freshman PG who wasn't ready. So I don't see that scenario you laid out playing out that way. I'd expect a veteran PG from the portal pushing County out of the rotation, just like Adams.

All I'm saying is when the head coach making these decisions says not to expect large freshman classes and not more than 2-3 commits a year anymore, it's probably not a useful exercise to twist ourselves in knots of how we can fit a 4th HS recruit

Tend to think that unless Hurley sees an instant contributor as a top, top frosh or if he finds a lower ranked kid that he knows is 100% in it for the right reasons/development that can carry the culture, he’s going to save his spots for the portal.

Amongst the disappointment of last season is the fact that all 3 frosh are gone and we have no one in that class carrying the torch. That had to burn Hurley, and probably why he brought a kid like Ross back (and brought his brother in). That kid bleeds the program culture. Having culture carriers is big for Dan Hurley.

AK and the Fab 5 are the last remnants of those B2B teams - need to win another one this year to brand a couple new carriers.

 

[djct1999]

If the staff is courting County and looking for a commitment, it should tell people on here the staff’s confidence level in landing Mingo.

 

[HooperScooper]

I'm not trying to be right here, I'm wrong all the time. My only original point was that when Dan Hurley says 2–3 recruits,the question of will we take 4 seems pretty straightforward

Agreed.

I'm just saying you're kind of smug a lot. I do it too. Sometimes it's hard to tell tone on here so that could be the issue too. Just being honest.

 

[navery12]

Fair and fine. But You also said County would need a clear path to PT but then compared him to Nowell and said you’d expect staff to also recruit a veteran PG that would push him out of the rotation. So I didn’t follow that logic.

Im still left wondering what happens if we get County and not Mingo. How do we fill out the roster in 2026 assuming Demary and ball are back? Do we get a transfer to fill Mullins starting spot? Doesn’t that leave County as backup PG again? It’s either that or County is starting which I doubt.

The County PT comment was really just in reference to the point about him having an opportunity in 2027. In an ideal world that makes sense but I don't think kids work that way anymore, they want to play immediately.

Not sure what we'd do in that scenario of County and no Mingo. County seems fine as a backup CG off the bench and maybe bring in a veteran PG to play behind Demary. But it's a tough call to make now. If we only get Landrew or Samuels then maybe that opens up more minutes for Furphy at the 3, lots of moving pieces

 

[98Uconn]

Supposedly Mingo and family meeting with PSU athletic director this weekend and the talk there is they are willing to throw super big bucks his way in hopes of turning the program around.
I’ll be there for the Whiteout this weekend and when he spots me in full on UConn gear and my UConn flag amongst 110k tailgaters it’s sure to sway him to the good guys!

 

[HooperScooper]

Supposedly Mingo and family meeting with PSU athletic director this weekend and the talk there is they are willing to throw super big bucks his way in hopes of turning the program around.
I’ll be there for the Whiteout this weekend and when he spots me in full on UConn gear and my UConn flag amongst 110k tailgaters it’s sure to sway him to the good guys!

It's going to be interesting with B1G and SEC teams. Supposedly those schools are going to put much more of their money to football, leaving less for men's basketball than Big East teams. At least that's the theory people have put out there. But if you're a basketball coach in one of those 2 conferences and think you can get a program changing recruit can you convince the AD to throw more money your way? Those teams all have huge resources to tie into. Or does the coach just cheat to get the recruit? 😀

 

[98Uconn]

It's going to be interesting with B1G and SEC teams. Supposedly those schools are going to put much more of their money to football, leaving less for men's basketball than Big East teams. At least that's the theory people have put out there. But if you're a basketball coach in one of those 2 conferences and think you can get a program changing recruit can you convince the AD to throw more money your way? Those teams all have huge resources to tie into. Or does the coach just cheat to get the recruit? 😀

Pat Kraft has been really willing to spend so far at PSU and is really big on elevating all sports there. It’s amazing that with all the resources of that school, that their MBB has been so bad. I believe he’s going to do whatever he can to get him… but it’s also kind of a tough sell.

 

[auror]

Fair and fine. But You also said County would need a clear path to PT but then compared him to Nowell and said you’d expect staff to also recruit a veteran PG that would push him out of the rotation. So I didn’t follow that logic but whatever

Im still left wondering what happens if we get County and not Mingo. How do we fill out the roster in 2026 assuming Demary and ball are back? Do we get a transfer to fill Mullins starting spot? Doesn’t that leave County as backup PG again? It’s either that or County is starting which I doubt.

I think it's unlikely we bring in more than 1 of the top ~25 6'5"+ guys we are recruiting (Mingo, Landrew, Samuels), but we'll very likely get at least one of them. They have different skillsets, but there's only one obvious spot to start, and it's been a recent trend of having that 5* guy starting or at least 6th man (depending on how it shakes out with Braylon). And we don't know if any other guys (Solo, Braylon, Demary, etc.) will be going pro, so hard to take and commit to pay a 2nd 5* guard/wing who wants starter level minutes when it's conceivable we need to pay to retain 2 starting guards.

County isn't a 5*. ESPN and On3 have him outside the top 40. He's in the Solo Ball range. I think first year backup, 2nd year starter at the 1 or 2 is perfectly reasonable for his caliber of recruit. He can play off ball, which lets him have an easier time earning minutes in year 1.

 

[bendm]

I think it's unlikely we bring in more than 1 of the top ~25 6'5"+ guys we are recruiting (Mingo, Landrew, Samuels), but we'll very likely get at least one of them. They have different skillsets, but there's only one obvious spot to start, and it's been a recent trend of having that 5* guy starting or at least 6th man (depending on how it shakes out with Braylon). And we don't know if any other guys (Solo, Braylon, Demary, etc.) will be going pro, so hard to take and commit to pay a 2nd 5* guard/wing who wants starter level minutes when it's conceivable we need to pay to retain 2 starting guards.

County isn't a 5*. ESPN and On3 have him outside the top 40. He's in the Solo Ball range. I think first year backup, 2nd year starter at the 1 or 2 is perfectly reasonable for his caliber of recruit. He can play off ball, which lets him have an easier time earning minutes in year 1.

Totally on board with this, I just really hope we get Mingo then cause I think there’s a big drop off between him and Landrew/Samuels and I also don’t think there’s enough ball handling or passing in a starting lineup of

Demary
Ball
Landrew or Samuels
Stew
Reibe

But I do like a second unit of County / Furphy / Ross / Cloer / Transfer

 

[navery12]

But I do like a second unit of County / Furphy / Ross / Cloer / Transfer

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but...

2026 Recruiting: Post in thread 'Cole Cloer visiting this weekend'

Sep 25, 2025

Trilly just put in the prediction for NCST…

• Huskyforlife

• 
• 

 

[navery12]

I would take everything with a grain of salt. You think Furphy is in line to play more than County might as a freshman? Jayden Ross has barely played in 2 years. Jacob Ross won’t play this year. I think it’s about creating balance and as long as you are honest with the kids and they have the right mindset, it’s fine to bring guys in who won’t play year 1.

Not at all. Jacob Furphy was unranked when he committed here, Jayden Ross was ranked 179, Jacob Ross was unranked when he committed. Junior County is ranked 29 right now, the playing time expectations are not in the same stratosphere

 

[Lafayette]

Not at all. Jacob Furphy was unranked when he committed here, Jayden Ross was ranked 179, Jacob Ross was unranked when he committed. Junior County is ranked 29 right now, the playing time expectations are not in the same stratosphere

Furphy was unranked because he was far International. He passes the eye test for top 20.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but...

2026 Recruiting: Post in thread 'Cole Cloer visiting this weekend'

Sep 25, 2025

Trilly just put in the prediction for NCST…

• Huskyforlife

• 
• 

Looks like the tea leaves are forming. Oh well. I'm sure if Hurley really wanted the kid, they'd have put some full court press on him like they did with Mullins last year. I don't know much about NC St's roster this year other than Derrion Williams is a senior and the 4 is wide open for CC next year.

So was I, but then you started ignoring everything I wrote and just creating your own narrative that I was saying. That's annoying

Junior County is a fit at UConn, Dylan Mingo is a fit at UConn. I do not see any world where we have enough playing time to offer both, especially when Dan Hurley has repeatedly said he's going to be waiting for the transfer portal and take small recruiting classes

There is a strong chance the starting lineup next year is already on the roster, even if Mullins leaves. I don't see any freshmen in this class, which has been called really weak high end talent (but depth), that are going to jump Demary/Solo/Ross/Stewart/Furphy/Reibe. We have potentially a very old team next year. If you're going to upgrade over those guys, you'd do it in the portal.

You also can't sell a recruit today on Solo and Demary going into the draft. A kid like Mingo could probably grab a bigger NIL deal and be assured big minutes at a program like Miami.

Any freshman joining for next year needs to feel content waiting a year to get meaningful minutes. A PG & C would come out of the portal. Ross/Furphy would back up whoever wins a role. We could commit minutes to a backup 4

 

[navery12]

Furphy was unranked because he was far International. He passes the eye test for top 20.

Definitely, not taking anything away from him. I think he's going to be a very good player, just saying the expectations are very different for a highly ranked, coveted prospect

 

[Lafayette]

Definitely, not taking anything away from him. I think he's going to be a very good player, just saying the expectations are very different for a highly ranked, coveted prospect

True that. It’s for sure a lot more pressure when you are “the chosen one” than if you slide in and low key are really freakin good.

 

[Mooch82]

Not at all. Jacob Furphy was unranked when he committed here, Jayden Ross was ranked 179, Jacob Ross was unranked when he committed. Junior County is ranked 29 right now, the playing time expectations are not in the same stratosphere

Ok - so what point are you trying to make? I don’t think every top 50 kid comes in expecting to start. Reibe was ranked higher than County is (County is 29 by 247 but lower by other services and is 39 in the composite). I don’t think County coming off the bench as a freshman and having a great chance to win a starting job as a sophomore is a bad pitch for him.

 

[navery12]

Ok - so what point are you trying to make? I don’t think every top 50 kid comes in expecting to start. Reibe was ranked higher than County is (County is 29 by 247 but lower by other services and is 39 in the composite). I don’t think County coming off the bench as a freshman and having a great chance to win a starting job as a sophomore is a bad pitch for him.

Just that every top recruit is going to be looking for playing time, not necessarily to start, as a freshman. And I don't think that's a scenario UConn can offer if we get Mingo.

Not even saying it's what I would do, I agree with your pitch. Just that Dan Hurley said it's not really a scenario he's looking to repeat with the current portal rules after what happened with Nowell, Abraham, Floyd, etc

 

[auror]

Just that every top recruit is going to be looking for playing time, not necessarily to start, as a freshman. And I don't think that's a scenario UConn can offer if we get Mingo.

Not even saying it's what I would do, I agree with your pitch. Just that Dan Hurley said it's not really a scenario he's looking to repeat with the current portal rules after what happened with Nowell, Abraham, Floyd, etc

Assuming Braylon goes pro. If there's 1 more pro defection, it's even easier.

Demary / County
Ball / Furphy
Mingo (Or Landrew, Samuels) / Ross
Stewart
Reibe / Backup C

There's your 9-man rotation. That's minutes for County. Ross might need to beef up a bit to play backup 3/4.

 

[navery12]

Assuming Braylon goes pro. If there's 1 more pro defection, it's even easier.

Demary / County
Ball / Furphy
Mingo (Or Landrew, Samuels) / Ross
Stewart
Reibe / Backup C

There's your 9-man rotation. That's minutes for County. Ross might need to beef up a bit to play backup 3/4.

If Mingo is being recruited as a wing then I agree. My assumption was we were talking in addition to Landrew or Samuels which is why I was saying I don't see room

 

[auror]

If Mingo is being recruited as a wing then I agree. My assumption was we were talking in addition to Landrew or Samuels which is why I was saying I don't see room

Was Castle recruited as a wing? If Mingo comes, he's not backing up Demary, so his only real slot in the starting lineup would be that jumbo playmaker role. Which he fits really well and is an easy sell to say "we just had a tall PG play this role get picked top 5".

I only think we can recruit Mingo+(Samuels or Landrew) if we think both Braylon and Ball are going pro.

 

[RuffRuff]

Assuming Braylon goes pro. If there's 1 more pro defection, it's even easier.

Demary / County
Ball / Furphy
Mingo (Or Landrew, Samuels) / Ross
Stewart
Reibe / Backup C

There's your 9-man rotation. That's minutes for County. Ross might need to beef up a bit to play backup 3/4.

I don't see Hurley going into another season (like last) relying on non lottery type freshman. I see this differently.

Demary/Portal 1
Ball/Mingo (or Landrew, Samuels)
Furphy/Ross/Mingo
Stewart/?
Reibe/Portal 5

I could see bringing in either Landrew or Samuels to work into the rotation for year 2 and then going portal for a backup 4. Cloer was likely targeted to take that ?, not sure what they do with it now since there is really no other 4 targeted in this class.

2026/27 is a full cupboard. 2027/28 is where it starts getting really thin because last years class was a donut, so lot's of opportunity to play if you're willing to be patient for a year and develop. 2027 as of now is starting with just Furphy & Reibe.

It's going to be interesting to watch Hurley's trends on HS recruits vs Portal, as I know he likes building culture with a core group of incoming freshmen, the issue these days is just that you don't know if they'll stick.

I feel pretty good about Ball/Demary sticking through senior year based on strength of this years class vs next.

 

[auror]

I don't see Hurley going into another season (like last) relying on non lottery type freshman. I see this differently.

Demary/Portal 1
Ball/Mingo (or Landrew, Samuels)
Furphy/Ross/Mingo
Stewart/?
Reibe/Portal 5

I could see bringing in either Landrew or Samuels to work into the rotation for year 2 and then going portal for a backup 4. Cloer was likely targeted to take that ?, not sure what they do with it now since there is really no other 4 targeted in this class.

2026/27 is a full cupboard. 2027/28 is where it starts getting really thin because last years class was a donut, so lot's of opportunity to play if you're willing to be patient for a year and develop. 2027 as of now is starting with just Furphy & Reibe.

Well where does County fit in then. We're clearly recruiting him, so there's a plan for him. What is the possible sell of 0 minutes for a top 50 recruit?

 

[bendm]

Demary/Portal 1
Ball/Mingo (or Landrew, Samuels)
Furphy/Ross/Mingo
Stewart/?
Reibe/Portal 5

Furphy has more guard skills than Landrew / Samuels, otherwise sure. Ross needs to bulk up by his senior year so he can be a 3/4

Demary/Portal 1
Ball/Furphy
Mingo or Landrew or Samuels
Stewart/Ross
Reibe/Portal 5

 

[RuffRuff]

Well where does County fit in then. We're clearly recruiting him, so there's a plan for him. What is the possible sell of 0 minutes for a top 50 recruit?

Perhaps a backup to Mingo or maybe he's willing to work into the very back end of the 2/3 rotation to pull a starters role in Year 2. That type of recruit is really about the kid, character, willingness to develop and be part of a winning program. Alternative is to do what Darius Adams did, get the cheap minutes at a second rate program to get PT. This is the the trickery of HS recruiting.

Bendm - we are not starting 4 stars out of this class. Ross moving to the 4 would be a stretch. The 2 and 3 are fairly interchangeable - we had Castle at the 3 two years ago.