2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

[Lambeau]

What about:

1-Mahaney/ Nowell
2-Adams/Mullins
3-Stewart/Ross
4-Bundalo/Abraham
5-Reibe/Reed

Yes, crowded, but injuries do happen.

 

[Scrutineer]

Hyperbole aside, if Ross can’t get a sniff of the floor in his first two years, with guys in front of him and high recruits coming in, how in the world will he have a major role? One of the more surprising and incredible things to me, is how this staff convinced everyone to come back without losing anyone in the portal. With this current momentum and the talent that wants to play at UConn, I think that trend will be hardest to maintain. I am not suggesting it’s Ross(I agree he has upside) but there are kids on this roster who will most likely at some point get recruited over. Why? Because Hurley and this staff are in a sweet spot where they can get almost anyone they want.

DH is becoming the Nick Saban equivalent in men's basketball.

 

[Scrutineer]

Kid has serious game.

That video shows there's no need to worry about who he replaces.
He's a player.

 

[Lambeau]

Bundalo looks awesome--and he plays D.
Weingarten of Stockrisers told Zanetto yesterday he certainly can play with Reibe.
First OSU talk, then we seemed favored, now UNC chatter--should announce in two weeks.

 

[GampelGladiator]

What about:

1-Mahaney/ Nowell
2-Adams/Mullins
3-Stewart/Ross
4-Bundalo/Abraham
5-Reibe/Reed

Yes, crowded, but injuries do happen.

Feels like Niko commitment hinges on timing. Seems reasonable that Niko would commit in the near feature for that roster. However, it's going to be a while before knowing that AK, LM, and SB/JS are headed to NBA. There is an element of risk for Niko to commit this early.

 

[AntG168]

His “formula” includes getting talented kids. This idea that Hurley goes bargain shopping on the recruiting trail is hilarious. He’s getting some of the most talented kids in the country .

 

[Lambeau]

Niko cut down to four finalists ten days ago, cancelling Kentucky visit and excluding Kansas--UConn is still alive for a reason.
MSU seems pessimistic, and the most chatter is UConn and UNC. We're not on his list if Danny lost interest.

 

[navery12]

Niko cut down to four finalists ten days ago, cancelling Kentucky visit and excluding Kansas--UConn is still alive for a reason.
MSU seems pessimistic, and the most chatter is UConn and UNC. We're not on his list if Danny lost interest.

Well the supposed loss of interest would be post Reibe commitment, which happened after the list was cut. So still TBD what happens. And Ohio State is definitely still involved, they were right there with UConn at the top for the past 2 months

 

[ec33]

That hasn’t come from Hurley.

If we’re going by recruits words Darius Adams insinuated they all were in play.

I’ll just wait and see.

If Hurley want Niko. We should all want Niko.

Who are you going to believe: Adams or a Kentucky Wildcat too afraid of competing at UConn? Exactly, Lewis said two and one so that is that (even if Furphy will make three guards that still doesn't take away from the truth of the one frontline player assertion).

 

[Ricker]

I see Bundalo/a unicorn as a necessary piece to be a top 5 team in the chase for championships vs being one of 15-20 teams with a chance. I prefer taking him

 

[Huskyforlife]

I think you have to take, figure out the roster later. Only exception is if he demands a starting spot.

 

[auror]

4 freshmen in your top 8 rotation makes you awfully young for a championship contender in the transfer portal era. The last 2 years, none of the Final Four had more than 2 freshmen in their end of season rotation. Even without COVID seniors next year, teams will still grab veterans from midmajors and the resource-lacking high majors.

You can take 4 freshman, but taking top 50 guys means they expect to be in the rotation. If they're not, they'll leave anyways, so you don't gain much benefit from having them. So taking a 4th top 50 guy has a big opportunity cost. 3 and a development guy is much better than 4 top 50 guys IMO.

 

[Son of Robert]

I see Bundalo/a unicorn as a necessary piece to be a top 5 team in the chase for championships vs being one of 15-20 teams with a chance. I prefer taking him

Nico Bundalo would give us real height at the 4, and a legit skillset inside and outside the lane. A tandem of Bundalo and either Reed or Reibe at the 5 has the potential to be pretty dominating on both sides of the floor. It's a game changer.

 

[Stasher599]

So put me in the corner of trusting Hurley and not worrying about the number of scholarships available or if someone is going to get their feelings hurt because we have too many shootings guards.
If these highschool kids want to bleed blue and experience the best culture and college basketball coaches available to them I will be more than happy to welcome them with open arms.

I absolutely loved Cam and Joey C and every other transfer that thrived in our system but I really love watching freshman on their journey to become legends at UConn. Seeing someone develop and buy into Hurley’s philosophy is just so amazing to follow from a far like us fans is a real pleasure.

 

[BGesus4]

4 freshmen in your top 8 rotation makes you awfully young for a championship contender in the transfer portal era. The last 2 years, none of the Final Four had more than 2 freshmen in their end of season rotation. Even without COVID seniors next year, teams will still grab veterans from midmajors and the resource-lacking high majors.

You can take 4 freshman, but taking top 50 guys means they expect to be in the rotation. If they're not, they'll leave anyways, so you don't gain much benefit from having them. So taking a 4th top 50 guy has a big opportunity cost. 3 and a development guy is much better than 4 top 50 guys IMO.

This was my thought initially and then I realized one of the few victory laps left for Hurley to take is to win a freshman-based championship in this era, essentially telling squid and scheyer to suck it

 

[Iluvsuebird]

4 freshmen in your top 8 rotation makes you awfully young for a championship contender in the transfer portal era. The last 2 years, none of the Final Four had more than 2 freshmen in their end of season rotation. Even without COVID seniors next year, teams will still grab veterans from midmajors and the resource-lacking high majors.

You can take 4 freshman, but taking top 50 guys means they expect to be in the rotation. If they're not, they'll leave anyways, so you don't gain much benefit from having them. So taking a 4th top 50 guy has a big opportunity cost. 3 and a development guy is much better than 4 top 50 guys IMO.

I see the point, but even under that scenario (assuming Liam, Solo, and Stewart all go to the league) we would be returning two point guards (aidan and Ahmad), plus Ross and Abraham. That is a solid nucleus by which to anchor a young team

 

[navery12]

I'm beginning to think some of you people aren't happy without something to complain about. We could have the #1 class in the country and some of you would still complain about the guys we didn't get

 

[Mooch82]

He was never recruiting Bundalo as a 5.

He’s always been recruited as a 4.

Unless he’s seriously gonna use Reibe at the 4

Nothing has changed

How do we know this? I understand they’re different players, but it doesn’t make sense that Hurley would only be recruiting 2 guys for 2 spots if he was adamant about bringing in two guys at the 4/5. He still may - but from my perspective he wanted to make sure he landed one of them, and if we get two, that’s just gravy.

 

[youseethat]

I'm beginning to think some of you people aren't happy without something to complain about. We could have the #1 class in the country and some of you would still complain about the guys we didn't get

 

[ctchamps]

4 freshmen in your top 8 rotation makes you awfully young for a championship contender in the transfer portal era. The last 2 years, none of the Final Four had more than 2 freshmen in their end of season rotation. Even without COVID seniors next year, teams will still grab veterans from midmajors and the resource-lacking high majors.

You can take 4 freshman, but taking top 50 guys means they expect to be in the rotation. If they're not, they'll leave anyways, so you don't gain much benefit from having them. So taking a 4th top 50 guy has a big opportunity cost. 3 and a development guy is much better than 4 top 50 guys IMO.

This reasoning suggests that getting Mullins would create a Final Four problem.

It’s not an easy decision to pass on a player that fits the character and skill set Hurley values. He has to weigh that against the maturity and experience that can be gained through the portal.

He also puts value in keeping his current players happy. Recruiting over them can be perceived negatively depending on what they were told and could impact team chemistry this year.

It’s fascinating that the coaches might be in a position that forces them to turn away incredible talent who would prefer coming here.

 

[ucp990411]

Exactly why I am not buying the Duke hype. Their freshmen might be really good but tough to to rely on several freshmen and win a championship. And while we may have a terrific freshmen class coming in next year we all need relax with expectations

 

[444JR]

 

[Fan1978]

I covet him but I trust the staff on roster construction because they’ve earned it 100%.

I think if he does not take Bundalo it will be to leave space for a veteran or 2 in transfer portal to compliment the outstanding youth and maximize chance to win number 8

 

[dennismenace]

This was my thought initially and then I realized one of the few victory laps left for Hurley to take is to win a freshman-based championship in this era, essentially telling squid and scheyer to suck it

Interesting thoughts but doesn't seem like the kind of motivation DH has consistently stressed in his culture formation.