2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

[GampelGladiator]

You mean Mullins

No...I meant Bundalo.

Just saying that whenever Bundalo announces his commitment, I hope his choice is UConn and Reibe announces his excitement to that news using his trademark line.

 

[awy]

it's fine if he goes to OSU for a year or something. can always circle back in the transfer portal if a need/spot pops up. the staff seem to have good relationship with him.

 

[Husky68]

The one thing I do wonder about is whether Hurley and staff, now that the brand is almighty and attracting top tier recruits, is if they’re willing to start pushing players out of the program that they’ve seen they can upgrade (ala Duke last season). It’s hasn’t happened much, given the player development model but if you’re attracting 5 stars year over year and you can see a glaring opportunity to upgrade talent, you move on it:

Is that really the one thing you wonder? There will be 15 scholarships next year. Why push anyone out, you want to compete you stay, you see better opportunities elsewhere you leave. Great players will be mostly one and done, maybe some two years. That's a lot of bodies to replace each year (when include graduation and leaving for better fit or non NBA pro opportunities), and given the pay for play how many big upgrade guys can you afford to attract if your guys are already mostly real good.

 

[Fan1978]

With Eric & Darius off the board- how many scholarships do we have left to offer for next season? I know we’re eyeing Bundalo,Mullins, and Furphy. I think it’s safe to assume Meleek & Acaden off to Arkansas and Kentucky

Its very safe

 

[RuffRuff]

I

Is that really the one thing you wonder? There will be 15 scholarships next year. Why push anyone out, you want to compete you stay, you see better opportunities elsewhere you leave. Great players will be mostly one and done, maybe some two years. That's a lot of bodies to replace each year (when include graduation and leaving for better fit or non NBA pro opportunities), and given the pay for play how many big upgrade guys can you afford to attract if your guys are already mostly real good.

I wonder many things, but in that split second of wonderment twas my wonder. Thanks for asking.

I’d have to think Hurley would be fair enough to upperclassmen he doesn’t feel fit after 2-3 years, to encourage to find PT elsewhere. If he does in fact choose that method. While loyal he wants to win.

It’s a bit silly to think Hurley is going to turn into an NBA farm and send 3-4 guys to the draft year over year.

 

[awy]

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.

 

[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.

 

[awy]

second rounders with a contract are still pretty decent outcomes for guys that were low to not ranked as high school recruits.

i'm not really entirely sure of the point of the discussion anyway. is it about 'nba factory' or the level of turnover in the roster that would justify recruiting more high schoolers into the program?

 

[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.

 

[Khal Drogo]

The missing piece here is the guys on this year's team who are not getting minutes and will need/have earned minutes next year. At least 1 and maybe 2 of Nowell, Ross, Abraham are not going to be in the rotation this season and take a decent portion of those 90 minutes next year

Ross looked really good with a lot of potential. I don’t think they’ll find the minutes for him and he’ll leave.

 

[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.

 

[Fan1978]

Ross looked really good with a lot of potential. I don’t think they’ll find the minutes for him and he’ll leave.

Recruit the best players, the cream will rise to the top and everyone gets better due to skilled practice opposition. Ross barely played last year and looks good. Obviously a year of playing against better competition in practice has benefited him. ross will be fine

 

[awy]

Ross will play if he keeps up the energy

 

[DogMania]

Ross looked really good with a lot of potential. I don’t think they’ll find the minutes for him and he’ll leave.

We don't speculate about players leaving.

I don't agree. I think he's going to get minutes this season. Might not be every game, but it sounds like he's already earning PT based on how early he came in during the exhibition game and how well he played. He'll be here for the duration of his college career and will surprise a lot of folks, such as you, as to how talented he is.

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.

 

[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.