2025 Recruiting: Meleek Thomas Electic Boogaloo

[TheHorde]

IF AJ goes to BYU he still will be top 3 in draft the year after when he goes pro. Or K state. I don't think the obvious one and dones necessarily fit your argument, despite the hard coaching advantage that is becoming Hurley's NBA m.o.. As for non-5 stars, I agree with you, but with these top tier kids, not so much

For AJ or Flagg types, you’re right. But even other lower 5 stars, that’s still likely true. Look at Justin Edwards as another example.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

For AJ or Flagg types, you’re right. But even other lower 5 stars, that’s still likely true. Look at Justin Edwards as another example.

good example. Cam Whitmore is another.

But whats important, is how THEY see THEMSELVES. I'd hazard to guess the vast majority of 5 stars see a future paved in gold, and see themselves as one and dones ala Flagg. How many kids really are factoring in the value added bonus of coaching in their one year? From a Uconn fan perspective they all should be, but to a 17 yr old shiny things can shine and ones person logic is another persons rationalization.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It’s not assumed, but Hurley’s (somewhat short) track record shows that he’s putting guys in the lottery and drafted well ahead of their incoming recruiting rankings would have predicted they’d go. Does K State have a track record that’s comparable under their current staff?

Mitch Richmond, Michael Beasley. It won't matter for AJ. K-State is certainly good enough not to hurt his draft stock. It's not like he'd be at CCSU or something.

Is UConn still in on Thomas? Seems we went to see him, but if Mullins picks UConn Thomas is likely going elsewhere, right?

 

[TheHorde]

Mitch Richmond, Michael Beasley. It won't matter for AJ. K-State is certainly good enough not to hurt his draft stock. It's not like he'd be at CCSU or something.

Is UConn still in on Thomas? Seems we went to see him, but if Mullins picks UConn Thomas is likely going elsewhere, right?

Their CURRENT staff. Not staffs from 20-30 years ago. Those guys are not relevant to the discussion since they were not developed by THIS staff.

 

[TheHorde]

good example. Cam Whitmore is another.

But whats important, is how THEY see THEMSELVES. I'd hazard to guess the vast majority of 5 stars see a future paved in gold, and see themselves as one and dones ala Flagg. How many kids really are factoring in the value added bonus of coaching in their one year? From a Uconn fan perspective they all should be, but to a 17 yr old shiny things can shine and ones person logic is another persons rationalization.

Once enough examples are out there of guys like Castle and hopefully Liam next, the blueprint will be out there and appreciated. Guys like AJ and Flagg that are considered to be generational talents can succeed anywhere. But each class doesn’t have one or two of those. Some have none. But guys that might be the 8th-12th best guys in their class can see the blueprint and see the chance to win, develop, and move from being ranked 10th in their class to being drafted 4th overall even with foreign players in the pool.

 

[TheHorde]

Kansas State having any track record of doing that? Please, not even in the slightest. But what they do have is mega bucks to provide instantly and I am sure these high level recruits are human, like the rest of us, and have the mindset of one bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

Ask Justin Edwards or DJ Wagner how much those mega bucks helped them and if they’d like a do over.

 

[ctchamps]

good example. Cam Whitmore is another.

But whats important, is how THEY see THEMSELVES. I'd hazard to guess the vast majority of 5 stars see a future paved in gold, and see themselves as one and dones ala Flagg. How many kids really are factoring in the value added bonus of coaching in their one year? From a Uconn fan perspective they all should be, but to a 17 yr old shiny things can shine and ones person logic is another persons rationalization.

Very true. But some of them have may have a realistic assessment of their abilities. Sheppard is interesting case. It was head scratching to me why Calipari did not play him more. He obviously had the talent. There is a possibility that Reed preferred a "lesser" role to avoid risk of injury and found a coach with a philosophy that allowed him to have a reduced role. Win win for the Squid and Reed.

 

[boog204]

Kansas State having any track record of doing that? Please, not even in the slightest. But what they do have is mega bucks to provide instantly and I am sure these high level recruits are human, like the rest of us, and have the mindset of one bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

But that's not the point. If you are a top 10 guy I honestly don't think it matters anymore. An NBA team is drafting for talent/performance not if a player was a coached up. If we're talking lower ranked guys then that's a different animal. But the top, top guys could go pretty much anywhere, play to their capability, and be drafted accordingly. Castle wasn't drafted higher because he played for us. Hell, there would some saying he was overrated (here even) early/mid season because he wasn't putting up huge numbers.

 

[TheHorde]

Very true. But some of them have may have a realistic assessment of their abilities. Sheppard is interesting case. It was head scratching to me why Calipari did not play him more. He obviously had the talent. There is a possibility that Reed preferred a "lesser" role to avoid risk of injury and found a coach with a philosophy that allowed him to have a reduced role. Win win for the Squid and Reed.

You can’t knock him for talent evaluation. That kid was grossly underrated coming out of high school. Cal of course had a built in advantage with Reed’s dad having played at UK and winning a title. Nonetheless he clearly saw the potential in the kid.

 

[boog204]

It’s not assumed, but Hurley’s (somewhat short) track record shows that he’s putting guys in the lottery and drafted well ahead of their incoming recruiting rankings would have predicted they’d go. Does K State have a track record that’s comparable under their current staff?

Again not the point... Hurley has had one "huge" recruit since being here, Castle. The question was if he would regret going after 200k elsewhere but then not being a lottery pick. You're assuming that if he chased the $$ his stock/talent would somehow drop.

If Thomas or AJ or other top 10 guy goes to KState or Fresno St or... and play to their card, they're still going to be a lottery pick. If the argument is that Dan Hurley our excellent coaching staff takes 2-3 year players and makes them better than KState then I agree. But that wasn't the original point.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I think it's smart for UConn to not throw around the highest level of NIL dollars. Being competitive but not the highest is a solid way to ferret out the guys who aren't willing to bet on themselves and their own work ethic.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

And if you’re a parent, you want your kid going somewhere that is going to instill the discipline and work ethic to take advantage of the talent. The real jackpot is the second NBA contract. So super short sited to make one year college choices based on dollar amounts that will be a night out on Crystale if it all works out.

Lucky Uconn is the only school teaching discipline and work ethic ( Izzo is soft lol) Too bad these 5 stars dont think more like middle age Uconn fans on the keyboard at work. Soon some of these kids will commit to Kansas, and people will start talking nil is the only reason lol.

 

[superjohn]

Again not the point... Hurley has had one "huge" recruit since being here, Castle. The question was if he would regret going after 200k elsewhere but then not being a lottery pick. You're assuming that if he chased the $$ his stock/talent would somehow drop.

If Thomas or AJ or other top 10 guy goes to KState or Fresno St or... and play to their card, they're still going to be a lottery pick. If the argument is that Dan Hurley our excellent coaching staff takes 2-3 year players and makes them better than KState then I agree. But that wasn't the original point.

We can't say for certain Castle would've been drafted #4 or if he would've dropped if he went elsewhere because he didn't go elsewhere. We do know top kids in his class Isaiah Collier, Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, Ja'Kobe Walter, DJ Wagner, Aday Mara, Elmarko Jackson went elsewhere and dropped. I think Castle's game and his draft stock benefitted by playing for this coaching staff and starting for the best college basketball team of the modern era.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I wish I could stay away from this thread. I just can’t :/

 

[gsmooth]

But that's not the point. If you are a top 10 guy I honestly don't think it matters anymore. An NBA team is drafting for talent/performance not if a player was a coached up. If we're talking lower ranked guys then that's a different animal. But the top, top guys could go pretty much anywhere, play to their capability, and be drafted accordingly. Castle wasn't drafted higher because he played for us. Hell, there would some saying he was overrated (here even) early/mid season because he wasn't putting up huge numbers.

I was simply responding to the prior post about why players would choose K-State even though they don't have a track record of putting players in the NBA lottery. For many 5-stars their opinion of themselves, correctly or incorrectly, is that they will be future NBA stars, so what is the determining factor for them to choose a school? It's the money, because most of them think they need minimal training and coaching or that higher money offer more than offsets whatever benefit they would get for better coaching. For guys like Flagg and Dybansta, it doesn't really matter where they go, they will be top 5 picks next year in the NBA draft-something would have to go horribly wrong for them this season for them not to be top 5 picks next year.

 

[Deleted at users request]

We can't say for certain Castle would've been drafted #4 or if he would've dropped if he went elsewhere because he didn't go elsewhere. We do know top kids in his class Isaiah Collier, Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, Ja'Kobe Walter, DJ Wagner, Aday Mara, Elmarko Jackson went elsewhere and dropped. I think Castle's game and his draft stock benefitted by playing for this coaching staff and starting for the best college basketball team of the modern era.

Fwiw, it was an incredibly weak class. Feel like anyone with eyes could see guys like Wagner and Edwards were grossly overrated coming out.

Feel like we already knew going into the season Castle was the best guard in the class.

 

[TheHorde]

Fwiw, it was an incredibly weak class. Feel like anyone with eyes could see guys like Wagner and Edwards were grossly overrated coming out.

Feel like we already knew going into the season Castle was the best guard in the class.

Did Hurley want Edwards? Do you think Hurley has a good eye for talent?

 

[husky429]

Did Hurley want Edwards? Do you think Hurley has a good eye for talent?

We were all over Edwards.

We've had plenty of misses at UConn, and he may have been one. tgere's no shame in that. But Hurley and the staff hit more often than not. It's about and development, not getting every single kid right

 

[Jbirdp5]

Ask Justin Edwards or DJ Wagner how much those mega bucks helped them and if they’d like a do over.

Wagner obviously didn't want a do over without Cal. He followed him to Arkansas

 

[TheHorde]

Wagner obviously didn't want a do over without Cal. He followed him to Arkansas

For year 2, yup. Well I guess if you can’t make bank in the draft, NIL is a good gig.

 

[superjohn]

Fwiw, it was an incredibly weak class. Feel like anyone with eyes could see guys like Wagner and Edwards were grossly overrated coming out.

Feel like we already knew going into the season Castle was the best guard in the class.

All their draft stocks dropped like a rock.

 

[navery12]

I feel like some of you people think we're recruiting in 1980 still. NIL is here to stay and a kid wanting to make money in college doesn't make them the devil. It turns out kids who prioritize NIL sometimes get drafted and sometimes are busts, and kids who prioritize development sometimes get drafted and sometimes bust. It's almost like recruiting HS kids is a crapshoot

 

[Waquoit]

I feel like some of you people think we're recruiting in 1980 still. NIL is here to stay and a kid wanting to make money in college doesn't make them the devil.

Every year there are more 5-star recruits than lottery picks. For many (most?), this is their prime earning years.

 

[uconnbill]

why does almost every thread go off-topic?

I would like once to see it stay on topic, I know I am asking too much. I don't care what any player not connected with UConn does. Just don't care

 

[EBonz30]

Ask Justin Edwards or DJ Wagner how much those mega bucks helped them and if they’d like a do over.

DJ Wagner had a do over & still made the same decision- lol. Justin Edwards decided to go to the NBA so not sure if he regrets playing for Coach Cal.

 

[Deleted at users request]

All their draft stocks dropped like a rock.

Yes because it was overflated in the first place. I personally don’t know what made Wagner a top 5 player as a non elite athlete 6’3 combo guard. Nothing about his measurable screamed lottery.

Edwards was the opposite as a pure athlete with absolutely no skills.

Castle on the other hand was a 6’6 do it all PG. He was clearly always the better player. Rob was always the better player too whenever watching him play.

 

[TheHorde]

DJ Wagner had a do over & still made the same decision- lol. Justin Edwards decided to go to the NBA so not sure if he regrets playing for Coach Cal.

Where did Edwards get drafted? How much money might he have made with better development? And both were ranked higher than Castle was yet Castle is in the league, made a fortune, and is playing with Wemby hmmm. But yes enjoy sophomore year in Fayetteville, Arkansas, DJ.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Did Hurley want Edwards? Do you think Hurley has a good eye for talent?

I’m not sure tbh and he definitely does. He’s a great prospect, I just never believed he was looked like a top 5 guy. Or if he did he was pretty much Derick Jones Jr. or Stanley Johnson if anybody remembers those names.

Of course you want to coach them but they aren’t ready made instant impact guys. If he came here there’s honestly a chance he doesn’t play with how Hurley does things and with the talent we had.

 

[navery12]

Where did Edwards get drafted? How much money might he have made with better development? And both were ranked higher than Castle was yet Castle is in the league, made a fortune, and is playing with Wemby hmmm. But yes enjoy sophomore year in Fayetteville, Arkansas, DJ.

Why does Calipari get the blame for every top recruit who doesn't pan out, and get no credit for all the top guys in the NBA who he did nothing to develop and were just high ranked talented players? Don't you see the contradiction there?

 

[Deleted at users request]

Why does Calipari get the blame for every top recruit who doesn't pan out, and get no credit for all the top guys in the NBA who he did nothing to develop and were just high ranked talented players? Don't you see the contradiction there?

It’s hilarious seeing where Reed and Rob ended up in comparison to their rankings too.

For those wondering why they didn’t start, it’s for the same reason Hurley wouldn’t have started them. They didn’t play defense lol