2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

[Nebraskan18]

x.com

x.com

 

[Hey Adrien!]

 

[controlfade]

Didn’t he just schedule this ? Either way , it’s good news

 

[RuffRuff]

Apologies to HS in advance if this was already posted in the preceding 3 pages

 

[auror]

Well now that is interesting.

 

[awy]

like a race to commit situation? bro chill you guys can play together

 

[navery12]

Reibe drops his top 5 an hour later. Just like at guard, the race is on now

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Reibe drops his top 5 an hour later. Just like at guard, the race is on now

You think it’s definitely either/or?

 

[Ricker]

To me the either or is only if we can't stretch our nil for both

 

[TheHorde]

To me the either or is only if we can't stretch our nil for both

Agreed. They should be able to compliment each other’s skills and would be able to play together. The rumblings around the time of Adams’ commitment about the staff wanting another guard and one big might have spurred them into a greater sense of urgency.

 

[navery12]

You think it’s definitely either/or?

I hope we take both, and think there's definitely a relatively easy sell. I just remember seeing talk of 2 guards and 1 big as the target class so haven't been getting my hopes up

 

[AntG168]

If it’s either or give me reibe

 

[superjohn]

Reibe drops his top 5 an hour later. Just like at guard, the race is on now

I don't see any overlap with Bundalo and Reibe. Reibe is a 5 and Bundalo is a 4. There is plenty of time for both of them with Karaban and Samson leaving. Same with Adams and Mullins. Adams is a 2 who can play 1 and Hurley will look to mold him into Tristen. Mullins is a 2 and probably the best shooter in the class, he can play the 3 if we go smaller and want shooting everywhere.

 

[NJHoops]

Something like half of the top 100 guys haven’t committed yet. This new era of recruiting is not for the faint of heart. Things are less predictable than ever, but people still have to write their little articles.

 

[awy]

alternatively they've decided to team up. membership in 'they' is still open

 

[HooperScooper]

Apologies to HS in advance if this was already posted in the preceding 3 pages

Same page. 3 posts above yours this time. Lol

Unfortunately Nebraskan18 doesn't know how to embed a tweet like I showed you before so it wasn't obvious. So I'm giving you a pass this time.

 

[navery12]

I don't see any overlap with Bundalo and Reibe. Reibe is a 5 and Bundalo is a 4. There is plenty of time for both of them with Karaban and Samson leaving. Same with Adams and Mullins. Adams is a 2 who can play 1 and Hurley will look to mold him into Tristen. Mullins is a 2 and probably the best shooter in the class, he can play the 3 if we go smaller and want shooting everywhere.

I agree, there's not overlap in their skillsets. But there are a finite number of minutes and rotation spots available, that's the only reason I don't think it's a slam dunk that both would commit here

 

[UCfor3]

To me the either or is only if we can't stretch our nil for both

Wouldn't we just have to give the NIL to a transfer in the spring anyway? Those establisbed guys that are UConn level are not cheap either.

 

[Ricker]

Wouldn't we just have to give the NIL to a transfer in the spring anyway? Those establisbed guys that are UConn level are not cheap either.

Consider the possibility we have recently offered Diakite because we might have to overspend for a Mullins added to the promises to a Bundalo or Reibe and only have marginal top 100 going money left to allocate. Mullins has been offered $1.5 million according to Indiana sources and that is reportedly almost twice what we have offered. $750k here there and everywhere tends to add up.

 

[awy]

well winning as part of a historic dynasty will certainly increase a player's profile and NIL value. they seem to be more of a grounded program when it comes to promising NIL though so this kind of upside promise may not be the main idea, but it's still true.

 

[UCfor3]

Consider the possibility we have recently offered Diakite because we might have to overspend for a Mullins added to the promises to a Bundalo or Reibe and only have marginal top 100 going money left to allocate. Mullins has been offered $1.5 million according to Indiana sources and that is reportedly almost twice what we have offered. $750k here there and everywhere tends to add up.

Then if Stewart goes pro we have Abraham and Diakite(who does not have 4 man skills for our system and is unplayable as a developmental freshman) as our 4 man options. We will need to spend for a transfer in the spring anyway. Maybe we need time to raise money and replenish but again, established transfers that are UConn level may be as expensive as highly rated freshman.

 

[ted920]

Then if Stewart goes pro we have Abraham and Diakite(who does not have 4 man skills for our system and is unplayable as a developmental freshman) as our 4 man options. We will need to spend for a transfer in the spring anyway. Maybe we need time to raise money and replenish but again, established transfers that are UConn level may be as expensive as highly rated freshman.

Have we offered Diakite?
Who is he?
Is this a good sign or a sign that we are missing out on one of our focus recruits?

 

[awy]

he's a local 6 9 power forward. may not be related to any ongoing high priority recruitment just a practice/project player.

 

[Drame]

Hes a raw player who was previously ranked top 10 in his class. His brother or cousin was Mamadou Diakite who won a natty at UVA.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Then if Stewart goes pro we have Abraham and Diakite(who does not have 4 man skills for our system and is unplayable as a developmental freshman) as our 4 man options. We will need to spend for a transfer in the spring anyway. Maybe we need time to raise money and replenish but again, established transfers that are UConn level may be as expensive as highly rated freshman.

UConn Men's Basketball brought in $10.6 Million from 2023 (source: CT Insider), and while it's grey area how donations are made (e.g., made out to the athletic dept or specific for NIL or just m's basketball or w's basketball program) that it makes guessing our NIL pool laughable. I mean it would be nice to know what Adams is getting for NIL as a 19th/20th best player as it were. Use that as a benchmark.