2025 Recruiting: Meleek Thomas Electic Boogaloo

[Mister P]

Hmm.
Well, you gotta like his answer.

 

[KemBuckets21]

Hmm.
Well, you gotta like his answer.

He could have said Michael Beasley or joe Johnson

 

[Hunt for 7]

The answer is that we're recruiting fine, getting guys we want, and not "stacking" because we don't load up on 1-and-dones that leave without winning anything.

I just don't get the griping. In addition to McNeeley (you mention Duke wasn't interested, but UK and KU wanted him), Castle and a bunch of other great recruits, we've also had pick of the litter with transfers since the portal changed.

It's just incredible. We win back to back titles and people are complaining that we're not competing with Duke and Kentucky and "stacking" McDonald's AAs and flaming out in the second round? ?

You get it. No need to defend that silliness.

I was not complaining about what WE are doing and the results of our recruiting.

My issue is I still feel on a national level we do not get the respect we should. And we did have to scratch and claw to get McNeeley all the tumblers on where he originally committed fell and then we got him.

We have always been that nice little school in farmland little CT. And perhaps being upset that 18 yr old kids are not giving us respect is petty (which I also wrote could be the case) it is how I feel and it gnaws at me a little.

 

[superjohn]

I was not complaining about what WE are doing and the results of our recruiting.

My issue is I still feel on a national level we do not get the respect we should. And we did have to scratch and claw to get McNeeley all the tumblers on where he originally committed fell and then we got him.

We have always been that nice little school in farmland little CT. And perhaps being upset that 18 yr old kids are not giving us respect is petty (which I also wrote could be the case) it is how I feel and it gnaws at me a little.

We didn't recruit McNeeley until his decommitment, it's amazing you're using his recruitment as an example. We swooped in and got a top 10 recruit, that shows our juice as a program and in recruiting.

 

[TheHorde]

I was not complaining about what WE are doing and the results of our recruiting.

My issue is I still feel on a national level we do not get the respect we should. And we did have to scratch and claw to get McNeeley all the tumblers on where he originally committed fell and then we got him.

We have always been that nice little school in farmland little CT. And perhaps being upset that 18 yr old kids are not giving us respect is petty (which I also wrote could be the case) it is how I feel and it gnaws at me a little.

It is a bit surprising to me when I see offers made to kids that are four stars and well outside the top 10 rankings that those offers aren’t fairly rapidly accepted even these days and the offers are shopped around. It is what it is I guess. It’s of course a far easier decision in our minds as fans and seeing likely or potential fits for certain recruits and wondering why they don’t necessarily “see it” the way we do. But we have the bias as fans I guess. Sometimes too it takes a certain type of recruit to value the long term total package of what this program offers compared to the perhaps higher or slightly higher up front dollars another program might offer. But I’m still convinced the right players will end up here. I’m not worried about it. My bigger concern is this potentially frustrating Danny over time to go to the NBA because of the year in year our grind of recruiting and still having to grind the way he and the staff does even after back to back titles and several lottery picks in a short amount of time to get who he wants.

 

[Hunt for 7]

We didn't recruit McNeeley until he decommitment, it's amazing you're using his recruitment as an example. We swooped in and got a top 10 recruit, that shows our juice as a program and in recruiting.

Exactly why were we not recruiting him at first…..perhaps we were focused on another person playing on his team….and lost out on the main prize. Look I get it no matter how I phrase this, the point I am making is still not going to be what some will focus on….the point is I don’t feel 18yr old high school stars are giving us as much respect as they should.

But I am not an academic like most of the posters on the board. Street cred and respect have always been important to me. Where I grew up in CT if you did not get or more importantly earn respect early you got dissed at every turn.

We have earned that respect with our track record.

 

[TheHorde]

Exactly why were we not recruiting him at first…..perhaps we were focused on another person playing on his team….and lost out on the main prize. Look I get it no matter how I phrase this, the point I am making is still not going to be what some will focus on….the point is I don’t feel 18yr old high school stars are giving us as much respect as they should.

But I am not an academic like most of the posters on the board. Street cred and respect have always been important to me. Where I grew up in CT if you did not get or more importantly earn respect early you got dissed at every turn.

We have earned that respect with our track record.

People make decisions that in hindsight are against their true best interests all the time in life. While I totally get that we as Husky fans are biased and partial, it’s an undeniable fact that this program wins at a very high level, and develops kids at a very high level for the league. But people are people and they won’t always make the “right” decision, I guess. And people are also prone to wanting the bird in the hand versus two in the bush when it comes to getting a moderately better NIL package. But there will be kids like Castle that will get the value this program brings and want to be here. And we should of course celebrate them more than wallow in why school can pay a recruit $250,000 or $500,000 more up front. And we should also not take the approach of thinking “every school is the same” and “this kid would make the league” wherever he goes. While that might be true, we as fans should absolutely believe in the value and development this staff brings. If another coach is thought to be a mediocre in game coach, can that coach really be considered a great developer of talent?

 

[Hunt for 7]

It is a bit surprising to me when I see offers made to kids that are four stars and well outside the top 10 rankings that those offers aren’t fairly rapidly accepted even these days and the offers are shopped around. It is what it is I guess. It’s of course a far easier decision in our minds as fans and seeing likely or potential fits for certain recruits and wondering why they don’t necessarily “see it” the way we do. But we have the bias as fans I guess. Sometimes too it takes a certain type of recruit to value the long term total package of what this program offers compared to the perhaps higher or slightly higher up front dollars another program might offer. But I’m still convinced the right players will end up here. I’m not worried about it. My bigger concern is this potentially frustrating Danny over time to go to the NBA because of the year in year our grind of recruiting and still having to grind the way he and the staff does even after back to back titles and several lottery picks in a short amount of time to get who he wants.

I like your point about the grind on Danny long term. A coach like Pope probably can put his feet up on his desk and just hang out and Kentucky will have a top ten recruiting class. They will still stink because he is not even half the coach Danny and hopefully we have it wrong and Danny is alright fighting for every bread crumb because that’s how the DNA he inherited from his father wires him.

I remember when Corny Thompson chose UConn…I was so happy that we finally got the best player in CT to come here.

Then Smith followed and there were a few others. I forget the name of the guy that went to Villanova and won a chip. But that one hurt because I thought we had a chance. He was a wing.

So these feelings go back almost 50 years…….

 

[husky429]

Street cred and respect have always been important to me. Where I grew up in CT if you did not get or more importantly earn respect early you got dissed at every turn.

I've always pictured you as a Simsbury type

 

[Magic32]

I forget the name of the guy that went to Villanova and won a chip. But that one hurt because I thought we had a chance. He was a wing.

Was that Harold Pressley?

 

[sirjames]

I like your point about the grind on Danny long term. A coach like Pope probably can put his feet up on his desk and just hang out and Kentucky will have a top ten recruiting class. They will still stink because he is not even half the coach Danny and hopefully we have it wrong and Danny is alright fighting for every bread crumb because that’s how the DNA he inherited from his father wires him.

I remember when Corny Thompson chose UConn…I was so happy that we finally got the best player in CT to come here.

Then Smith followed and there were a few others. I forget the name of the guy that went to Villanova and won a chip. But that one hurt because I thought we had a chance. He was a wing.

So these feelings go back almost 50 years…….

Guy that went to Villanova John Pinone

 

[mcs333]

Harold Jensen from Trumbull Ct. scored the winning basket against GT in 1985 Championship. 5 for 5 in the game. Was 6th man on that team.

 

[TheHorde]

Harold Jensen from Trumbull Ct. scored the winning basket against GT in 1985 Championship. 5 for 5 in the game. Was 6th man on that team.

Harold Pressley was from Mystic

 

[Hunt for 7]

I've always pictured you as a Simsbury type

Nope far from that. But that may have been sarcasm in your post……


There are other on the board who just know they are smarter than everyone else. That is a complete Simsbury tell.

I did not grow up in Simsbury or Avon, but I was lucky enough to get some good breaks get out of the hood and ended up with a fairly respectable career that is starting to wind down.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Guy that went to Villanova John Pinone

I was thinking Pressley but Pinone is another. He played for South Catholic. A little undersized listed at 6’7” but probably closer to 6’5”. Jensen is another. Forgot about him. Was Pressley after the chip or did he play on the title team. I just remember we were in that recruiting battle with Pressley and then he chose Villanova.

Not sure if Pinone or Jensen even considered UConn.

 

[Umami Zen]

I've always pictured you as a Simsbury type

Always pictured @Hunt for 7 as a Glastonbury or Granby type. LOL

 

[Hunt for 7]

Always pictured @Hunt for 7 as a Glastonbury or Granby type. LOL

This is Simsbury…..

 

[Rocktheworld]

Hmm.
Well, you gotta like his answer.

Did he just give us a ?

 

[husky429]

Nope far from that. But that may have been sarcasm in your post……


There are other on the board who just know they are smarter than everyone else. That is a complete Simsbury tell.

I did not grow up in Simsbury or Avon, but I was lucky enough to get some good breaks get out of the hood and ended up with a fairly respectable career that is starting to wind down.

I'm just messing with you. Have you ever met anyone from this board? 0 of us deserve Simsbury, including myself.

 

[REB1094]

Exactly why were we not recruiting him at first…..perhaps we were focused on another person playing on his team….and lost out on the main prize. Look I get it no matter how I phrase this, the point I am making is still not going to be what some will focus on….the point is I don’t feel 18yr old high school stars are giving us as much respect as they should.

But I am not an academic like most of the posters on the board. Street cred and respect have always been important to me. Where I grew up in CT if you did not get or more importantly earn respect early you got dissed at every turn.

We have earned that respect with our track record.

You’re right, but a lot of top prospects’ #1 priority is to get to the NBA ASAP. Guys like Castle and McNeeley are uncommon in the sense that they’re 5* recruits who want to be coached hard and buy into Hurley’s system and culture

I think Meleek has that drive that Castle and Liam do, which is why we are/were so close to landing him. But it’s a pretty uncommon mindset, especially in an era where you can (legally) make a lot of money in your 1 year in college too

 

[Hunt for 7]

I'm just messing with you. Have you ever met anyone from this board? 0 of us deserve Simsbury, including myself.

 

[awy]

hurley is flexible enough to use an accelerated OAD player, but the return on investment has to make sense and of course the attitude and culture stuff.

 

[HooperScooper]

Exactly why were we not recruiting him at first…..perhaps we were focused on another person playing on his team….and lost out on the main prize. Look I get it no matter how I phrase this, the point I am making is still not going to be what some will focus on….the point is I don’t feel 18yr old high school stars are giving us as much respect as they should.

“We saw him, really, the last two summers,” Hurley said. “We should have recruited him earlier. We were just being stupid. We should have just recruited him straightaway. Then our recruiting would have been done and he would have been in the mix. But, I don’t know, we thought because he was from Texas it would be hard to get him to come to UConn. But then, I guess because we went back to back, we said to ourselves we’ve proven ourselves as having, currently, the best college program in the country. We should be able to recruit anyone from anywhere. He ended up visiting and committed. So, dummy.”

“I heard from a lot of schools pretty soon after,” McNeeley said. “I actually shut my phone off for a couple days. So that was the smart move. But UConn reached out very early. … During my first recruitment, it probably wasn’t the best fit, just with the guys they were recruiting and how the rosters were shaping out with the other colleges. But definitely no hard feelings. I love it here.

“Just because they were back-to-back national champions and all their guys were doing great and they entered the draft. Who wouldn’t want to play for the back-to-back national champions?”

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Alternate access:

Why Dan Hurley loves the 'edge' freshman Liam McNeeley brings to the UConn men's basketball team​

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My issue is I still feel on a national level we do not get the respect we should.

We have always been that nice little school in farmland little CT.

To be fair, once you get south or west of Pennsylvania, very few people are aware that there is farmland in Connecticut.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Was that Harold Pressley?

Guy that went to Villanova John Pinone

Also Jensen.

Jensen and Pressley won a ring. Pinone was the guy who put them in position to be able to recruit guys like Pinkney, McClain, McLain and Pressley.