2025 Recruiting: Meleek Thomas Electic Boogaloo

[Hunt for 7]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

I echo this sentiment. Although, clearly the staff know what they’re looking for. They’ve proved that a million times over.

 

[superjohn]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

We probably have the most talent in the country coming off of the most dominant tournament team of the modern era and one of the other most dominant teams of the modern tournament era. I love our recruiting.

 

[knicksin7]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

I hear you completely, yet the results are just incredible. But it feels weird to go up against Kansas State and other random places, when we are absolutely the king of the castle.

 

[Hunt for 7]

We probably have the most talent in the country coming off of the most dominant tournament team of the modern era and one of the other most dominant teams of the modern tournament era. I love our recruiting.

Yeah I get it …good point….I guess to be more specific….the results I love and @RuffRuff outlined there seems to be a consistent process/blueprint. I had written a longer more detailed post but decided to just sum it up with a brief post.

It’s just and maybe it is petty, but it makes me feel like we don’t get the respect we should. I think I caught that disease from Calhoun, he used the chip on the shoulder motivation process at a whole other level.

Also just being a fan since the early 70’s and knowing how long the road to being the best has been for this fan.

 

[uconngb]

Yeah I get it …good point….I guess to be more specific….the results I love and @RuffRuff outlined there seems to be a consistent process/blueprint. I had written a longer more detailed post but decided to just sum it up with a brief post.

It’s just and maybe it is petty, but it makes me feel like we don’t get the respect we should. I think I caught that disease from Calhoun, he used the chip on the shoulder motivation process at a whole other level.

Also just being a fan since the early 70’s and knowing how long the road to being the best has been for this fan.

Very well said…..exactly how I feel. But it’s what makes every championship that much sweeter when the guys that DO get all the blue chips do nothing with them.

At this point, it’s clear we have a proven strategy it just makes the offseason suck a little bit

 

[TheHorde]

Very well said…..exactly how I feel. But it’s what makes every championship that much sweeter when the guys that DO get all the blue chips do nothing with them.

At this point, it’s clear we have a proven strategy it just makes the offseason suck a little bit

Those teams win the equivalent of the NFL draft. They get very excited in the off season and the pundits talk them up then. I’m more than okay winning the first weekend in April.

 

[Slick]

Flagg’s gonna end up being Dukes version of Felipe Lopez.

No way . Kid is an amazing player. Both offensive and defensive

 

[husky429]

We probably have the most talent in the country coming off of the most dominant tournament team of the modern era and one of the other most dominant teams of the modern tournament era. I love our recruiting.

We just reeled in McNeeley because of this championship and people are still complaining. We're a top-5 location for recruits and it is reflected in our recruiting

 

[HooperScooper]

The mid-west and many other parts of the US don't have any or many good private schools. the public schools are the main universities that students go to. As a result, they have a much larger pool of alumni who succeed.

I'd agree with that. But then shouldn't schools like Kansas St. have much larger endowments than the Northeast small private schools?

 

[HooperScooper]

x.com

x.com

Updated ESPN rankings for anyone interested

 

[nomar]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

I just don't understand this. I mean, we just got McNeeley.

 

[TheHorde]

I just don't understand this. I mean, we just got McNeeley.

We did but it was very late in the process and after Liam decommitted. Our staff worked their tails off on Liam and kept a relationship there. We also probably benefitted from the late decommitted status and schools like Duke already stacking a full class of five stars to that point. I think OP rightly wonders why our success hasn’t led to us stacking recruits of that caliber earlier in the process. With that said, I’m less concerned about that than I once was. I have faith that this staff will get the right kids, use the portal really well, and that over time it will get easier and easier to draw that caliber of player. It’s a matter of recruits seeing the blueprint of development and winning here, that they can have both winning and the chance to be lottery picks. I think in terms of NIL being up front dollars rather than the long term dollars associated with raising your draft stock and getting a second contract. I’m bullish on this staff’s ability to show the vision to the right kids where they understand and appreciate the long term dollars rather than only the up front dollars.

 

[nomar]

We did but it was very late in the process and after Liam decommitted. Our staff worked their tails off on Liam and kept a relationship there. We also probably benefitted from the late decommitted status and schools like Duke already stacking a full class of five stars to that point. I think OP rightly wonders why our success hasn’t led to us stacking recruits of that caliber earlier in the process. With that said, I’m less concerned about that than I once was. I have faith that this staff will get the right kids, use the portal really well, and that over time it will get easier and easier to draw that caliber of player. It’s a matter of recruits seeing the blueprint of development and winning here, that they can have both winning and the chance to be lottery picks. I think in terms of NIL being up front dollars rather than the long term dollars associated with raising your draft stock and getting a second contract. I’m bullish on this staff’s ability to see the vision to the right kids about seeing the long term dollars rather than only the up front dollars.

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.

 

[navery12]

We did but it was very late in the process and after Liam decommitted. Our staff worked their tails off on Liam and kept a relationship there. We also probably benefitted from the late decommitted status and schools like Duke already stacking a full class of five stars to that point. I think OP rightly wonders why our success hasn’t led to us stacking recruits of that caliber earlier in the process. With that said, I’m less concerned about that than I once was. I have faith that this staff will get the right kids, use the portal really well, and that over time it will get easier and easier to draw that caliber of player. It’s a matter of recruits seeing the blueprint of development and winning here, that they can have both winning and the chance to be lottery picks. I think in terms of NIL being up front dollars rather than the long term dollars associated with raising your draft stock and getting a second contract. I’m bullish on this staff’s ability to show the vision to the right kids where they understand and appreciate the long term dollars rather than only the up front dollars.

But McNeeley wasn't a case of the staff keeping a relationship with him after he committed. The first time we were ever connected to him and reached out was after his decommittment. I'd say that's a good example of the back to back championships paying off in recruiting.

I agree with the rest though, and there's no reason to worry about recruiting ever with this staff. Especially when it's September and we're still recruiting and in a decent to good spot with at least 10 of the top 50 recruits. We're going to end up with a really good class

 

[TheHorde]

But McNeeley wasn't a case of the staff keeping a relationship with him after he committed. The first time we were ever connected to him and reached out was after his decommittment. I'd say that's a good example of the back to back championships paying off in recruiting.

I agree with the rest though, and there's no reason to worry about recruiting ever with this staff. Especially when it's September and we're still recruiting and in a decent to good spot with at least 10 of the top 50 recruits. We're going to end up with a really good class

I liken this NIL world to hiring a great salesperson. There will be some people that value the comfort of a guaranteed draw more and feel more “respected” and taken care of by guarantees. Give me the hungry aggressive candidate that wants the higher commission percentage at the expense of the guaranteed draw every time. If it means fewer top 10 kids and more kids in the 20-50 range, so be it. And I’ll take every Alex Karaban type I can get my hands on.

 

[HuskyInfinity]

I’ve seen a lot of people posit that we can’t get both Lewis and Thomas and that it must be one or the other. I see two different types of players that can coexist in theory. What’s people’s thinking on this ? Is it merely just a numbers game based on how many guards we can have or do people think they are too duplicative ?

 

[husky429]

I liken this NIL world to hiring a great salesperson. There will be some people that value the comfort of a guaranteed draw more and feel more “respected” and taken care of by guarantees. Give me the hungry aggressive candidate that wants the higher commission percentage at the expense of the guaranteed draw every time. If it means fewer top 10 kids and more kids in the 20-50 range, so be it. And I’ll take every Alex Karaban type I can get my hands on.

You are still living in the land where recruiting happened a year ahead of time. 50% of our recruiting is the transfer portal these days. The recruiting for next season is probably only 30% done at this point. 2, even 3 starters being transfers is the norm.

 

[awy]

transfer portal has the additional advantage of having more college level games to evaluate players, especially on attributes that UConn value on the mental side of things. if your program has the advantage of 1. scouting acumen 2. getting value out of good decisionmakers then the portal is a target rich environment, and the targets also desire to play with you because it's the place where their value and growth can be maximized.

take the example of cam spencer. no other program would have waited months to get him and give him that role, and he would not be drafted had he played anywhere else. it's a win-win situation but also probably limited to a certain type of player. for the rest of the attributes needed, athleticism/scoring ability etc, still need to get high level recruits. but the ability to more or less source the best glue/connector type of players from the transfer portal is a significant strategic advantage.

 

[TheHorde]

transfer portal has the additional advantage of having more college level games to evaluate players, especially on attributes that UConn value on the mental side of things. if your program has the advantage of 1. scouting acumen 2. getting value out of good decisionmakers then the portal is a target rich environment, and the targets also desire to play with you because it's the place where their value and growth can be maximized.

take the example of cam spencer. no other program would have waited months to get him and give him that role, and he would not be drafted had he played anywhere else. it's a win-win situation but also probably limited to a certain type of player. for the rest of the attributes needed, athleticism/scoring ability etc, still need to get high level recruits. but the ability to more or less source the best glue/connector type of players from the transfer portal is a significant strategic advantage.

I expect the portal to still be a very important piece in the future, though in the past couple of years it was even more critical. With the extra year of Covid eligibility you had 23 year old grown men like Cam competing against 18 and 19 year old talented freshmen. But talent sometimes doesn’t overcome experience and more physical maturity, size, strength, and guile.

 

[CL82]

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.

 

[UCLJ0211]

View attachment 103294
This happens and the NIL era has truly taken effect.

Kid looks like he is 35

 

[awy]

I expect the portal to still be a very important piece in the future, though in the past couple of years it was even more critical. With the extra year of Covid eligibility you had 23 year old grown men like Cam competing against 18 and 19 year old talented freshmen. But talent sometimes doesn’t overcome experience and more physical maturity, size, strength, and guile.

during this latest portal cycle there were a lot of high profile players that got a couple million and created sticker shock, leading to the impression that portal is more expensive than finding talent in recruiting. but seems like the recruits are asking for and getting the same range of money, but with less reliable information and production to back it up, and attitude wise a lot of families are fearful of missing out on the bubble phase and doing their best to position for bidding wars. value wise it's probably tilting back into portal favor especially if the extra eligibility year is given.

ideally they should take advantage of both, particularly the culture building/continuity aspect of recruiting. it's a very valuable dynamic that also is in Dan Hurley's wheelhouse. ideal scenario is three peat and recruiting a group of DMV players in Ament, Lewis etc off of this historic wave and creating a regional affinity that can last and build a narrative going forward.

 

[HooperScooper]

What would I be without you HS???

Replacing "twitter" for "x" still doesn't work? Clicking on the "x" links doesn't work for me so I have to go a round about way to find the tweet. So I figured embedding it saves anyone else the same trouble. Strange that Tom's directions pinned above don't work for everyone. I know superjohn said it doesn't work for him either.

XenForo needs to rewrite the code so that you can embed the tweets without changing the "x" to "twitter". Or maybe they just think Musk is a weirdo and refuse to capitulate to his strange fascination with the letter X.

 

[boog204]

Following our recruiting status is what I like least about being a UConn fan.

We are the best program in America but every year this time period makes me feel like nothing has changed.

We have to scratch and claw ourselves into getting one top recruit. While other programs stack them. Maybe some of it is self induced since we more than likely don’t just recruit talent for the sake of talent, if the player does not appear to fit culture we pass more than other schools…..maybe but it all still stinks.

I think it's because we are a little different.

#1 - The Big East is not viewed in the same light as the P5.
#2 - Rural CT is not exactly a destination the same way a huge football school is. My bro-in-law went to Penn State and a Saturday there was one of the most electric things I've ever experienced. UConn has nothing to offer that even compares. Sure we've got DP Dough and some decent cookies, but...
#3 - You get to play for Dan Hurley. Which is obviously a blessing but for some recruits a curse. I truly believe, like JC, that he is extremely straight with a recruit and tells them that they will have to earn every second of time. He's telling them they will work harder than they've ever worked. As opposed to a team like say KState that is probably promising a statue (and $2 million) to a prospective recruit.
#4 - Even if you're a stud top 10 player, there's no guarantee you are going to be the #1 guy here. Therefore it takes the right mindset to play in our system. McNeeley and Castle most definitely fit that mold. I don't know if Thomas does. The irony is that I think we've been so successful because we DON'T bring in an army of 5 star guys. We get good players who play here for three years and are better than the 5 star uber potential guy that Kentucky brings.
#5 - None of us are truly privy to the NIL thing. Dan Hurley is not going to give in on that. I'd wager that's where things have supposedly "soured" with MT.
#6 - Dan Hurley is not going to kiss any recruits (or parents) butts. I can imagine conversations with AJ D's dad being comical when any "demands" were presented.
#7 - Perhaps most importantly, for whatever reason, we have completely changed the way we recruit. We cast an extremely small net to a very specific type of player and the nature of the beast is you just cannot get every one or in some cases, any.

 

[navery12]

I have no idea what you mean by replace. I have an X app on my phone. There is no replacing it with Twitter. There is no Twitter app, and no way in my phone X app to flip to Twitter.

When you paste the link you can edit it on The Boneyard like this. When you copy the link it shows up like this:

"https://x.com/scnext/status/1831724536317792635?s=46&t=82WcfbV1IYnQ25-Bj03npg"

You can just delete and type twitter.com instead of x.com where the bold and underlined part is and it will embed the tweet correctly so everyone can see what's being posted

 

[Deleted at users request]

I think it's because we are a little different.

#1 - The Big East is not viewed in the same light as the P5.
#2 - Rural CT is not exactly a destination the same way a huge football school is. My bro-in-law went to Penn State and a Saturday there was one of the most electric things I've ever experienced. UConn has nothing to offer that even compares. Sure we've got DP Dough and some decent cookies, but...
#3 - You get to play for Dan Hurley. Which is obviously a blessing but for some recruits a curse. I truly believe, like JC, that he is extremely straight with a recruit and tells them that they will have to earn every second of time. He's telling them they will work harder than they've ever worked. As opposed to a team like say KState that is probably promising a statue (and $2 million) to a prospective recruit.
#4 - Even if you're a stud top 10 player, there's no guarantee you are going to be the #1 guy here. Therefore it takes the right mindset to play in our system. McNeeley and Castle most definitely fit that mold. I don't know if Thomas does. The irony is that I think we've been so successful because we DON'T bring in an army of 5 star guys. We get good players who play here for three years and are better than the 5 star uber potential guy that Kentucky brings.
#5 - None of us are truly privy to the NIL thing. Dan Hurley is not going to give in on that. I'd wager that's where things have supposedly "soured" with MT.
#6 - Dan Hurley is not going to kiss any recruits (or parents) butts. I can imagine conversations with AJ D's dad being comical when any "demands" were presented.
#7 - Perhaps most importantly, for whatever reason, we have completely changed the way we recruit. We cast an extremely small net to a very specific type of player and the nature of the beast is you just cannot get every one or in some cases, any.

Only pushback I have is with JC having the same earn your time mentally. He was pretty liberal with seeing who can do what and was more of a baptism by fire coach than an earn your time in practice guy.

 

[boog204]

Only pushback I have is with JC having the same earn your time mentally. He was pretty liberal with seeing who can do what and was more of a baptism by fire coach than an earn your time in practice guy.

Agreed... I guess I meant that there was not going to be anything promised to you PT wise and then you were going to have to prove you could play or not.

 

[HooperScooper]

I have no idea what you mean by replace. I have an X app on my phone. There is no replacing it with Twitter. There is no Twitter app, and no way in my phone X app to flip to Twitter.

Tom posted directions in a post above that is pinned to the top. It's as simple as that and what navery12 said.

Posting tweets so they actually show up, instead of x.com.

Change x.com to twitter.com and the tweet will show as a tweet rather than a link.

www.the-boneyard.com

 

[HooperScooper]

When you paste the link you can edit it on The Boneyard like this. When you copy the link it shows up like this:

"https://x.com/scnext/status/1831724536317792635?s=46&t=82WcfbV1IYnQ25-Bj03npg"

You can just delete and type twitter.com instead of x.com where the bold and underlined part is and it will embed the tweet correctly so everyone can see what's being posted

And to be more explicit even though navery12 did a good job explaining it:

The tweet you posted above about the rankings. When you copied the url of the tweet and pasted it in your post it looked like this (I had to put a space before "sidwellmbb" so it didn't actually post the tweet):

https://x.com/ sidwellmbb/status/1831730289036685596?s=46&t=ZmRox7-IWVB7w8zPzR3q1Q

Edit that to replace the "x" with "twitter" before finishing your post. Like this:

https://twitter.com/ sidwellmbb/status/1831730289036685596?s=46&t=ZmRox7-IWVB7w8zPzR3q1Q

Try it and see if it works.