2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

[superjohn]

well he's sent that many per year so far and the incoming talent is better. as long as they can keep the moat on the coaching edge, no reason why this can't continue.

He had two first round underclassmen drafted this past draft and one underclsssman drafted the year before.

Sanogo and Jackson were second round pick juniors and Newton and Cam were second round pick 5th year seniors.

We haven't exactly been an NBA factory. We should have more first round pick underclasssmen going forward as Hurley and staff are basically getting whoever they want now and we'll have more 5 stars coming in.

 

[dogpause]

He had two first round underclassmen drafted this past draft and one underclsssman drafted the year before.

Sanogo and Jackson were second round pick juniors and Newton and Cam were second round pick 5th year seniors.

We haven't exactly been an NBA factory. We should have more first round pick underclasssmen going forward as Hurley and staff are basically getting whoever they want now and we'll have more 5 stars coming in.

But we are now. And with talent in getting better, so will the talent out.

 

[Lambeau]

Reibe is a 5, high post and low post, who can step out for a 3.
Bundalo is a 4, who says he wants to be a 3.

 

[Mr. French]

I don’t worry at all about this kid’s size at whatever position he plays, if that’s still up for debate.

He’s long and a certified stud, he’ll fit in well regardless of calling him a 3,4,5.

 

[Ricker]

This is an outstanding interview with Bundalo. I know it was posted here someplace but I couldn't easily find it so I'm posting it again. At the 4 minute mark he is absolutely clear he plays as a 4. If this interview doesn't sell you on this kid as a fit for our program I'll be shocked. Invest the 12 min to understand this is a guy we should covet.

 

[Umami Zen]

Bundalo has the body for a 4 but has the skills and interest to play the 3/SF. Is a great roster fit for a team/coach who likes positionless flexibility in their players.. Time will tell if Dan wants a bigger freshmen class or wants to sprinkle in some portal adds.

 

[huskyharry]

In this world of NIL can’t a player use the NIL money to pay for his one years tuition and then be a walk on?

yes, I believe St. Johns did that with two players last year

 

[DogMania]

Just relaying what I heard... maybe they had it backward but that was the message I received.

As has been posted, you must have got it backwards. He's been playing predominantly a stretch 4 wing type position. Similar to Karaban, though he's bigger, he could play some 5 when needed, but he fits as 4 who could play some wing. He has a very handle and I noticed he drove it to the basket often in the clips I've watched.

He'd be a great fit. It's just a matter either him or Hurley seeing too many players per minutes at the 4, or Hurley telling Reibe that ship was either his or Bundalo's. I think he's too talented to pass up if none of that is the case.

 

[BlueMAB]

Stew would be the lightest PF I've seen at UConn in some time: Adrien, Boone, Freeman, Oriakhi, Donyell, all 235-255 lbs. Guess times are a changing.

He’s not a PF. Yes, times have changed. He can play the 3/4.

 

[Son of Robert]

At times we are going to run big lineups with a PG and a center, and then a three man combination of Karaban, Stewart, McNeeley, and Ross just like Hurley did a couple of different times against Rhode Island. Four players on the floor 6'7 and up. Ross is playing really well and with lots of confidence coming into the season and I think we will see plenty of him this year.

 

[HuskyFich]

I don’t worry at all about this kid’s size at whatever position he plays, if that’s still up for debate.

He’s long and a certified stud, he’ll fit in well regardless of calling him a 3,4,5.

We want 3 guys like Bundalo, 1 guy like Reibe, 1 guy like Adams.

THAT is an NBA roster.

 

[HuskyFich]

To me, he looks like a prototypical late bloomer. Props to the staff for spotting a low ranked (#113 per 247) diamond in the rough and getting him to come here.

He reminded me a little bit of frosh Ajax vs. URI…trying to do everything, going too fast, but his activity and athleticism is OBVIOUS. Hell be force as a senior under Hurley.

 

[HungryHu5ky]

Word is that Mullins already signed and next week is just the announcement...

They still want Bundalo but it's up in the air still because they want him as a 4 but he wants to be a 5.

He didn’t say he wants to play the 5 … where’d you get this from

 

[HungryHu5ky]

This is an outstanding interview with Bundalo. I know it was posted here someplace but I couldn't easily find it so I'm posting it again. At the 4 minute mark he is absolutely clear he plays as a 4. If this interview doesn't sell you on this kid as a fit for our program I'll be shocked. Invest the 12 min to understand this is a guy we should covet.

I dont get why ppl are saying he plays anything but a 4 it’s very common bball sense

 

[uconn_jack]

Bundalo has the body for a 4 but has the skills and interest to play the 3/SF. Is a great roster fit for a team/coach who likes positionless flexibility in their players.. Time will tell if Dan wants a bigger freshmen class or wants to sprinkle in some portal adds.

Unless both Stew and Ball go to the draft, I'm not sure I would see any reason to go to the portal over taking a stellar class of Adams, Riebe, Mullins, and Bundalo (and maybe Furphy). I understand, although don't necessarily agree with, the athleticism concern, but that class just oozes BBIQ, intensity, and work ethic.

And we would still have maturity and experience with seniors Mahaney and Reed, juniors Ross and Singare, and sophs Nowell and Abraham, a core to keep the culture alive.

If Stew does go, then maybe an athletic, defensive, high bench 4 transfer, but not sure what else we'd need.

 

[navery12]

Unless both Stew and Ball go to the draft, I'm not sure I would see any reason to go to the portal over taking a stellar class of Adams, Riebe, Mullins, and Bundalo (and maybe Furphy). I understand, although don't necessarily agree with, the athleticism concern, but that class just oozes BBIQ, intensity, and work ethic.

And we would still have maturity and experience with seniors Mahaney and Reed, juniors Ross and Singare, and sophs Nowell and Abraham, a core to keep the culture alive.

If Stew does go, then maybe an athletic, defensive, high bench 4 transfer, but not sure what else we'd need.

The issue is we'll find out about Ball and Stewart going to the NBA in mid April, and Bundalo is making his college choice within a few weeks. So we won't have that luxury of knowing

 

[uconn_jack]

The issue is we'll find out about Ball and Stewart going to the NBA in mid April, and Bundalo is making his college choice within a few weeks. So we won't have that luxury of knowing

True enough, but I was more responding to the speculation that maybe Hurley would rather leave spots open for the portal rather than take Bundalo if he wanted to come.

 

[Umami Zen]

Unless both Stew and Ball go to the draft, I'm not sure I would see any reason to go to the portal over taking a stellar class of Adams, Riebe, Mullins, and Bundalo (and maybe Furphy). I understand, although don't necessarily agree with, the athleticism concern, but that class just oozes BBIQ, intensity, and work ethic.

And we would still have maturity and experience with seniors Mahaney and Reed, juniors Ross and Singare, and sophs Nowell and Abraham, a core to keep the culture alive.

If Stew does go, then maybe an athletic, defensive, high bench 4 transfer, but not sure what else we'd need.

Can't disagree with anything you said. I'm with you. BTW-I'in the "take Bundalo if he wants to come" camp. So far I haven't seen any indication from Dan and the staff that they're taking the foot off the accelerator on his recruitment.

 

[dennismenace]

I don't see any issue at all in comparison to this year unless the staff only expects the nba to be interested in Alex.
Diarra replaced by Adams
Johnson replaced by Reibe
Alex replaced by Bundalo
Liam/or Ball/ or Stewart to draft replaced by Mullins
Nearly 90 minutes a game become up for grabs

I like this. A good chunk of that 90 going to Nowell (Dog) and Abraham (Dog). The rest to the best.

 

[RuffRuff]

Can't disagree with anything you said. I'm with you. BTW-I'in the "take Bundalo if he wants to come" camp. So far I haven't seen any indication from Dan and the staff that they're taking the foot off the accelerator on his recruitment.

Have you gotten any indication they are still actively recruiting him? I haven’t seen much. With most of these kids once they finish their visits you see their announcement date set. If he wants to go early signing he’d have to do that soon.

Only thing I could find:

Decision Coming Soon for Niko Bundalo

More on the Tar Heel target's Chapel Hill trip and his forthcoming college decision.

247sports.com

 

[Umami Zen]

Have you gotten any indication they are still actively recruiting him? I haven’t seen much. With most of these kids once they finish their visits you see their announcement date set. If he wants to go early signing he’d have to do that soon.

IMO- Most of the Top 25 players still uncommitted are either waiting to see how their priority schools are filling out their rosters first (to assess PT opportunities) and/ or they're working through the business negotiation side of their choices. (ie. Thomas-Lewis-Ament)

If we are lucky enough to secure Braylon's commitment on Wed. We will have secured an elite Top 3 2025 recruiting class with those 3 commitments. An excellent core group. After Wed. I think we'll have more clarity on any future 2025 adds through Danny assessment of any future 2025 activity. Adams has said two distinctly different things (not sure he's the guy that knows). We need two guards and a big. And- Would love to play with Lewis-Reibe-Bundalo-Mullins at UConn.

Danny and Bundalo are pretty good at keeping it close to the vest.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

True enough, but I was more responding to the speculation that maybe Hurley would rather leave spots open for the portal rather than take Bundalo if he wanted to come.

Technically the bump to 15 scholarships means it doesn't have to be either or (but I can't imagine hurley ever using more than 12 or 13)

Hurley had said that because of insane transfer portal bidding, the recruiting focus would shift more towards bringing in quality HS kids and maybe only grabbing 1 transfer to fill a gap. So that may indicate that taking a guy like bundalo would be the preference to waiting on the portal.

 

[Umami Zen]

Have you gotten any indication they are still actively recruiting him? I haven’t seen much. With most of these kids once they finish their visits you see their announcement date set. If he wants to go early signing he’d have to do that soon.

Only thing I could find:

Decision Coming Soon for Niko Bundalo

More on the Tar Heel target's Chapel Hill trip and his forthcoming college decision.

247sports.com

TBH. Been focused on Mullins announcement and Bundalo has been pretty chill. In code- There are some pro- UConn folks who think we lead on Bundalo and Furphy.Can things change? Absolutely. Mullins announcement is the next domino.

 

[RuffRuff]

TBH. Been focused on Mullins announcement and Bundalo has been pretty chill. In code- There are some pro- UConn folks who think we lead on Bundalo and Furphy.Can things change? Absolutely. Mullins announcement is the next domino.

Makes sense. Don’t want to steal the Mullins thunder. That said, feels like that one is all but done and dusted, so curious to see how all plays out in the aftermath because that’s where the mystery remains and would be an interesting indicator into how the staffs recruiting model is evolving, and their perception of current players future.

 

[Lambeau]

Furphy may be Plan B if we lose Mullins, but Bundalo is a unicorn born to play for Danny.