2025 Recruiting: - Niko Bundalo Update | Page 4 | The Boneyard

2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

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Umami Zen said:
Could be true. But Dan is still recruiting him and apparently we lead for him and Furphy
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Hopefully that's the case, we'll see if we keep recruiting Bundalo once Reibe commits
 
navery12 said:
Hopefully that's the case, we'll see if we keep recruiting Bundalo once Reibe commits
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Bundalo knows we're recruiting Reibe and it hasn't stopped him from expressing his interest in UConn and playing with him if it can happen.
 
Umami Zen said:
Bundalo knows we're recruiting Reibe and it hasn't stopped him from expressing his interest in UConn and playing with him if it can happen.
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Yes, the reports are that UConn doesn't want both, not that Bundalo doesn't want to on his end. And until tomorrow UConn won't know for sure if they have Reibe in the fold
 
navery12 said:
It's not that people here can't see them playing together, it's that UConn has publicly said 2 guards and 1 big for this class. And beyond that, there's a finite number of minutes
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UConn has said this publicly, or, is it that Acaden Lewis reportedly said that was told to him privately by UConn during his recruitment and you are counting that as public? And the reports we will not pursue Bundalo after a hoped Reibe commitment is really the opinion of the MD 24/7 guy correct? Is there anything else? I can't imagine not wanting a guy like Bundalo if we could get him.
 
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Ricker said:
UConn has said this publicly, or, is it that Acaden Lewis reportedly said that was told to him privately by UConn during his recruitment and you are counting that as public? And the reports we will not pursue Bundalo after a hoped Reibe commitment is really the opinion of the MD 24/7 guy correct? Is there anything else? I can't imagine not wanting a guy like Bundalo if we could get him.
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I guess I'm using public loosely but Darius Adams said it in his commitment interview, then Colby Giacubeno said it on a podcast, then Trilly said the same thing on his discord.

I hope they're all wrong and we get both, but there's enough smoke that I don't think it can really be dismissed as nonsense. Especially when it lines up with what our roster is looking like for next year. This staff is always going to weigh the impact of these decisions on returning players like we saw with Koby Brea and Aidan Mahaney
 
husky429 said:
I watched 5 of his games and this DMV live one. Other than 3s, he does pretty much exclusively play like a center. Most of his time in the paint, rebounds, putbacks, etc. This shotnwas kind of an anomaly... mayne a late shot clock thing.
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"Other than 3s" is kind of a big handwave. That by default makes him non-traditional. Watch his Germany U18 Albert Schweitzer tournament games, specifically. He's picking and popping all over the place. I don't think his high school coaches used him well (or to give them credit they just optimized to using him as huge because in high school he is). Jacob Furphy played in the same tournament and Reibe made more 3s per game than Furphy did over 6 games. And Furphy shot 44%.

He does also drive the ball a lot for a center. I don't know that I'd go so far as @superjohn that he's a face up center, but he CAN face up and drive, with good touch. The other non-traditional thing he does is he loves to grab the rebound and then start the break himself like a point center. Not sure he'll do that much at UConn, but still fun.
 
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navery12 said:
I guess I'm using public loosely but Darius Adams said it in his commitment interview, then Colby Giacubeno said it on a podcast, then Trilly said the same thing on his discord.

I hope they're all wrong and we get both, but there's enough smoke that I don't think it can really be dismissed as nonsense. Especially when it lines up with what our roster is looking like for next year. This staff is always going to weigh the impact of these decisions on returning players like we saw with Koby Brea and Aidan Mahaney
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Was quoted by Lewis in an interview that the UConn staff told him 2 guards and 1 big was their goal. I believe Adam’s was quoted as publicly recruiting all three of three after his commit. Has been pretty clear that Mullins and Reibe have been priorities based on how much travel the staff has put in to see them recently. Have heard very little of that with NB. To me says that all in on Reibe, would have pivoted to NB if Reibe went elsewhere.
 
navery12 said:
It's not that people here can't see them playing together, it's that UConn has publicly said 2 guards and 1 big for this class. And beyond that, there's a finite number of minutes
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Nobody from UConn has said that & it’s barely any reliable speculation that say UConn wouldn’t take both
 
auror said:
Reibe is not a traditional center lol.

Traditional centers don't do stuff like this as high school juniors:
Eric-Reibe-shooting.gif
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I attended a few of Marcus Camby's Hartford Public High School games and he barely missed a shot in warm-ups from anywhere on the court including threes. Then he went to UMass and Calipari turned him into a rebounder and shot blocker. He had a good NBA career, but he was much more than what Calipari reduced him to. I think the game has evolved since those days.
 
navery12 said:
I guess I'm using public loosely but Darius Adams said it in his commitment interview, then Colby Giacubeno said it on a podcast, then Trilly said the same thing on his discord.

I hope they're all wrong and we get both, but there's enough smoke that I don't think it can really be dismissed as nonsense. Especially when it lines up with what our roster is looking like for next year. This staff is always going to weigh the impact of these decisions on returning players like we saw with Koby Brea and Aidan Mahaney
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trilly & Colby Giacubeno only said they don’t suspect that UConn would add both which is only an opinion not a quote from a source…personal I don’t think we’ll get both but I can def see them fitting together
 
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3rdbass said:
The announcer in yesterday's game compared him to Westbrook. I don't really see the comparison at all. Ball is more of shooter than the slasher that Westbrook is. I guess they are both very athletic but that is were the comparisons end.
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Westbrook also had an absurd fifteen foot pull-up that Ball does not. Not sure who I would compare Ball to though.
 
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RuffRuff said:
Is McNeeley a lock to go based on what you’ve seen? A kid prized for his shooting launched some serious bricks against URI. I’m sure a lot of nerves and he’ll straighten it out, but did not see anything that resembled a lottery pick yesterday. Was a bit of a matador on defense, so if he isn’t an assassin from 3 this season as he’s figuring things out on a deep roster, does he 100% go in a loaded draft class?
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He's played one exhibition game. Maybe give it more than 25 minutes at the casino? He shot 1-4 from 3, made several nice drives to the hoop, and was a connector in the half court. Defense was not ideal. There's zero doubt in my mind that it will get significantly better.

There were people here last year who said Castle was a bust and couldn't play D1 defense, too.
 
Bringing this back to Nick Bundalo - yeah, as a '4' we are fairly deep now, but next year, if we're really looking at the '4', Abraham is our guy if (a) he stays, and (b) develops. If we get Reibe at the 5, then perhaps Singare shifts to a '4' so we would have 2 power forwards if Bundalo does not commit to UConn, pending other players committing or transferring in.

On3 has us ~ 11.8% chance, but I have not heard of his timeline on when he will commit.

I'm not too worried...let's enjoy AK's last season and see how the development of Abraham goes.
 
boog204 said:
He's played one exhibition game. Maybe give it more than 25 minutes at the casino? He shot 1-4 from 3, made several nice drives to the hoop, and was a connector in the half court. Defense was not ideal. There's zero doubt in my mind that it will get significantly better.

There were people here last year who said Castle was a bust and couldn't play D1 defense, too.
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I was generally joking on this one as I realize he has a full season of development in front of him, all I can say is that as of this minute, his draftability is more about potential/projection than actual based on seen. Net net, with other possible scenarios playing out, would think staff wants to stay flexible versus over-committed.

As for the Solo comp, Russ was an Uber athletic similarly sized combo type. His pro stock was based on quickness and athleticism, with length well beyond his height. Solo is a freak athletically, similar in stature/size. His current game isn’t 1 for 1, but it will evolve with opportunity. I can see his stock jumping fast with overall refinement, as a unique athlete.
 
UCTitleTown said:
I attended a few of Marcus Camby's Hartford Public High School games and he barely missed a shot in warm-ups from anywhere on the court including threes. Then he went to UMass and Calipari turned him into a rebounder and shot blocker. He had a good NBA career, but he was much more than what Calipari reduced him to. I think the game has evolved since those days.
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Come on man, Marcus Camby was the number 2 pick in a historically good draft. Not sure you can blame Calipari for anything here.
 
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navery12 said:
It's not that people here can't see them playing together, it's that UConn has publicly said 2 guards and 1 big for this class. And beyond that, there's a finite number of minutes
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I get it now. Kind of like forever seats. There’s only a finite number of them as well. Here’s a thought, enlarge Gampel as I have been saying.
 
3rdbass said:
Yeah but Reed is a lot better athlete with elite shooting ability. I wasn't that high on Reed but I could see why he was drafted. Mahaney seems more of a player who will be in the Euro Legues without anything to distinguish him. He is a goood player at everything but defense but not great in anything from what we have seen. I think he is a great get for our team and fully expect him to be here for 2 years. If he can get drafted and stick with an NBA player I would love it even if I don't see it currently.
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I don't disagree, but I'd also say give Mahaney time with Hurley before writing him off. You'd likely have been saying the same thing about Cam Spencer last year and Joey Calcaterra 2 years ago, and both of them got NBA chances. And Mahaney will have 2 years here to develop
 
JerseyAlum said:
Bringing this back to Nick Bundalo - yeah, as a '4' we are fairly deep now, but next year, if we're really looking at the '4', Abraham is our guy if (a) he stays, and (b) develops. If we get Reibe at the 5, then perhaps Singare shifts to a '4' so we would have 2 power forwards if Bundalo does not commit to UConn, pending other players committing or transferring in.

On3 has us ~ 11.8% chance, but I have not heard of his timeline on when he will commit.

I'm not too worried...let's enjoy AK's last season and see how the development of Abraham goes.
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Abraham is a bit undersized for the 4. Closer to 6'6" in height. Would prefer him at the 3, And have more length at the 4.
 
444JR said:
View attachment 104236ESPN’s #19 #23 #24 & #25 would be quite the haul. Best ever?
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You almost have to go for it looking at that. Potentially losing a lot. Diarra and Johnson, Karaban and McNeeley to the draft, potential of Solo and Stewie to the draft as well(if a third straight national championship looms)!
 
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