Portal - UConn Interest ONLY!

[Fishy]

Thank you to those who managed to follow directions in the last thread, but it's gotten away from us. We'll try again from scratch.

In this thread...post only information about prospects with reported UConn interest. Nothing else. Post your opinions and idle thoughts elsewhere. If you cannot follow that directive, your post will get deleted, you'll get a nasty gram from us regarding your inability to follow kindergarten level instruction and your spirit will feel crushed, so don't do it.

Now...GO!

 

[Huskyforlife]

According to Trilly Donovan the short list for Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman is UConn/Alabama/Kentucky. He’s arguably the most talented PF in the portal. Only question is health and effort defensively.

 

[UC1995]

 

[husky429]

Correct me if I am wrong. We have actually been connected with:

Guards:
A'lahn Sumler
Alex Wilkins

Wings:
Devin Royal
Donnie Freeman
Paulius Mauraskis

Cs:
Najai Hines
Drew McKeever

Obviously a call to a kid is very preliminary. Hurley even said recently that until a kid is on campus they won't really know if they're a culture fit or not. Luckily the portal tends to move pretty quick.

 

[UConn Dan]

The Huskies aren't likely to mine for any more 2026 high schoolers. They've already been busy in the portal, reportedly contacting, among others, Ohio State's Devin Royal, Furman's Alex Wilkins, St. Mary's Drew McKeever, and Seton Hall's Najai Hines.

Royal is a 6-6 wing who was 2023 Mr. Basketball in Ohio. He doesn't shoot very well but has averaged exactly 13.7 points per game the past two seasons for the Buckeyes. He has picked up a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction to choose UConn, for what that's worth.

UConn got familiar with Wilkins, a 6-5 guard with NBA-like skills, in its first-round NCAA tourney win over Furman. The Boston native gave the Huskies all they could handle, hitting four 3-pointers and going for 21 points as the Paladins put a scare in UConn before falling 82-71.

UConn's miss with former Saint Mary's guard Aidan Mahaney hasn't kept them from interest in another Gaels player. McKeever is a 7-2, 285-pound center who averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds this season.

Hines is particularly intriguing for a couple of reasons. The 6-10, 265-pound big was a late signee to Seton Hall out of nearby Plainfield, N.J. and showed great promise as a frosh, averaging 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and swatting away 69 shots in 31 games

From this article. Worth a read.

 

[Rich]

The Athletic on Hines:

Ranking the 30 best players in the men’s college basketball transfer portal

The transfer portal has never been more important for team building in today's game. Here are the best available players in 2026.

www.nytimes.com

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 265
Hines is a big-bodied defensive player who profiles well towards winning basketball. He came off the bench to play 18 minutes per game for the Pirates, but quickly established himself as one of the best rim deterrents in the Eastern part of the country. Hines blocked 2.2 shots per game in those 18 minutes and was a constant presence at the basket. Opponents shot just 55 percent at the rim when he was on the court versus 61 percent when he was off of it, per CBB Analytics. But even beyond that, he’s balanced in his movements away from the rim and has no issues with his coordination. He’s not necessarily a switch defender, but he can scramble well. He was Seton Hall’s second-most impactful player in terms of impact when he was on the court behind Budd Clark.

Offensively, Hines is definitely a bit limited but knows his role and sticks to it. He rolls hard to the rim, crashes the offensive glass and is a good finisher when he gets his chances. He can’t really create his own shot, but he does have solid touch as a finisher on his layups. Hines just plays hard all the time and is the kind of big that every team should want. He should move into the starting lineup somewhere next season and provide a positive impact for whoever gets him.

 

[jleves]

I know I'm not supposed to comment here, but you are going to spend a big part of your day deleting stuff

Folks - read the original post and follow the obvious rules of the thread.

 

[superjohn]

Is Freeman considered a wing?

No, power forward. He's around 6'10.

If he has the right attitude and will work for a coach like Hurley he is a no brainer. Freeman and Hines would solve our lack of physicality and lack of athleticism.

 

[husky429]

Is Freeman considered a wing?

You can either think of it as PG/SG/SF/PF/C or guards/wings/bigs. He's a big wing because he plays on the wing.

Defensively is where the SF/PF distinction matters more.

 

[Marat]

So I dont watch Syracuse at all (no reason to) and haven't seen Freeman much. What is his deal ? He doesn't like to play defense or motivation issues? Why is injury a concern ? Just something I read ..... But if Dan wants him, ok.

 

[3rdbass]

 

[alexd]

 

[Huskyforlife]

Latest Trilly update for Freeman says he’s probably picking between Alabama and Kentucky.

 

[3rdbass]

Not really surprised. He needs to step down a level if he is expecting to start. He was over matched at this level and probably his family is higher on him than others. No way he should of played more with Reed there if we were serious about winning. Seemed like a good kid but it allows us to get two Athletic bigs in the portal or at least one athletic and one could bang and shoot from the outside.

 

[asteinindc]

most likely situation is we told Reibe we were recruiting over him. He didn't want to back up again. ergo, portal. Unfortunate of course, but the signal isn't all too bad: we're hunting for a better big. Now we will have to find a back up too

 

[superjohn]

I thought this was probably coming but not allowed to say anything here.

He didn't act like the "I'm a f^^^^ing Husky" guy from when we signed him. He was the most disconnected kid on the team down in Indianapolis whenever I saw him and Hurley was annoyed this season at him being so concerned with his playing time.

I like his offensive skill and hands but he was soft on D, not much of an athlete and he's really only 6'10.5 with a 7'1 wingspan. Get me some big athletes with some dog in them.

 

[EBonz30]

Not a huge Hines fan- think offensively he’s somewhat what we are looking for- think defensively he will not be a major impact- think overall they need to stay away from him- would be okay if he’s the big coming off the bench.

 

[Fishy]

Forget this thread. It’s not worth the effort to maintain it.

You people are too freaking stupid to even be allowed to use the internet.

 

[KingAG]

Not a huge Hines fan- think offensively he’s somewhat what we are looking for- think defensively he will not be a major impact- think overall they need to stay away from him- would be okay if he’s the big coming off the bench.

Way off. Hines has elite defensive numbers

 

[3rdbass]

Not a huge Hines fan- think offensively he’s somewhat what we are looking for- think defensively he will not be a major impact- think overall they need to stay away from him- would be okay if he’s the big coming off the bench.

Hines is a really good post defender and shot blocker. There is a reason why Pitino is also trying to get him there.

 

[3rdbass]

most likely situation is we told Reibe we were recruiting over him. He didn't want to back up again. ergo, portal. Unfortunate of course, but the signal isn't all too bad: we're hunting for a better big. Now we will have to find a back up too

Maybe not recruiting over him but definitely bring in highly touted Center who he would have to compete for starter minutes with.

 

[navery12]

Not a huge Hines fan- think offensively he’s somewhat what we are looking for- think defensively he will not be a major impact- think overall they need to stay away from him- would be okay if he’s the big coming off the bench.

Hines had the #2 block rate in the entire country. He is an incredibly good rim protector

 

[Fishy]

Way off. Hines has elite defensive numbers

Hines had the #2 block rate in the entire country. He is an incredibly good rim protector

Maybe not recruiting over him but definitely bring in highly touted Center who he would have to compete for starter minutes with.

He's awesome defensively and his motor is non-stop. Really hope we get him and another legit center to pair with him.

These people are dumb like you read about.

Think the way to go is to just start banning people who can’t follow simple instructions.