UConn General Team Recruiting Thread

[ConnMotors]

I asked if I could start a UConn General Team Recruiting Thread so we can discuss team needs along various players not just an individual. Plus, anything else that is associated with UConn Women's Basketball Recruiting. A reply said sure so I want to say thank you to HuskyNan.

Today was a good day for UConn Recruiting as Blanca Quinonez, a 6-2 forward from Ecuador officially committed to play for the Huskies. We all knew that this was going to happen. But it's always a special moment when commitments are confirmed. After the announcement was made the UConn Player Grid was immediately updated. I really enjoy looking at this chart as it shows the players that we have, the players who are coming in and the players that are leaving.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season we now have a loaded roster of 15 players. In the spread sheet Paige Bueckers is included because she still has a medical red-shirt year if she chooses to use it. However, she has noted that she would head pro after this college season. If Paige does leave then that opens up a spot for Agot Makeer the #4 recruit in this year's graduating class. She has confirmed that UConn has made her final three. Azzi Fudd has already graduated but has a medical red-redshirt year also. If she wants to she can move on and play professionally or return. Sadly, Caroline Ducharme has been injured as well. She as well can come back as a medical red-shirt. And, if I'm correct she can petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibilty because of injury.

Assuming that both players return where does this leave UConn with the upcoming loaded 2026 High School Class? There are multi-players that have received UConn offers such as: Saniyah Hall; Kate Harping; Olivia Vukosa and Addison Bjorn. Each one of these young ladies are needed and would help the team tremendously. However, we cannot add players without subtraction. On this board we can't speculate on player movement. If my math is correct with Caroline returning Geno would only have one spot available for the 2026-27 season. Of the four mentioned players which one would you want on the team and why? Are any of these four ladies generational players?

For me, I would take Olivia. As we have known for years now having enough post players is never a bad thing. Keep in mind that the following year four seats open up on the UConn bench.

 

[oldhusky]

My view is that Uconn will go hard after Harping and Vukosa assuming that when everything settles they will have at least two open spots. That would be a great combo for many reasons, but it is also a bit scary, because there doesn't appear to be a good plan B option for a PG behind Harping or a C behind Vukosa. Both of those players will be chased by the top programs and the gap to the next tier at those positions appears to be high, so if you strike out on those two, it could be very frustrating.

Mid-sized wing types are completely different. I believe Hall had a short list that did not include us, but for that type of player, there are plenty of options including players we seem to have a decent chance at. You might wind up getting your third choice and still get a valuable addition, but maybe not at the position of greatest need.

With all the movement in the portal and the impact of NIL, I believe teams should shoot for a roster of 14, and try in most years to have one card to play in the portal, for whatever need may develop due to injury, transfer, or a player that didn't develop as anticipated.

 

[ConnMotors]

My view is that Uconn will go hard after Harping and Vukosa assuming that when everything settles they will have at least two open spots. That would be a great combo for many reasons, but it is also a bit scary, because there doesn't appear to be a good plan B option for a PG behind Harping or a C behind Vukosa. Both of those players will be chased by the top programs and the gap to the next tier at those positions appears to be high, so if you strike out on those two, it could be very frustrating.

I agree on this. Last season in one of the threads I mentioned that we needed a point guard. Don’t remember who followed but they said that Kelis was a PG. Watching her in videos she appeared to be a very quick shooting guard.

I’m not a portal fan. But that is where college sports has gone. You have players for hire. UConn uses it and it has worked out well. There was a thread on portal transfers last year. A ton of teams and four and five player change over. That’s totally insane. But I guess it’s needed. The down side is that every player even with over 320 D1 teams can’t fine a new home.

Geno tried so hard to get us another post player. The good all said no. Can’t remember all of the players but Iriafin and Baers (spelling) went to USC and Oklahoma. With Ice Brady out at the wrong time of the year we could have used any post that was available for one season.

 

[NW-MW]

My only priority besides the Big "O" is getting Jordyn Palmer. She is TOUGH and can score on all levels.

 

[Stagnant]

My thoughts on UConn recruiting:

I think the big O is definitely the top target for 2026. We got the top target in 2024 (Strong) and missed on the top target in 2025 (Somfai). That’s my opinion. So, I think that Geno lands this one and shows a position of strength when it comes to recruiting.

What do I want? Athleticism. I want Jerzy Robinson. Hall or Abii.

I think we miss on targets more than we used to. And if that continues, we should consider scaling back on our national recruiting strategy and should focus more on New England, New York, and Canada.

 

[BobbyJ]

My thoughts on UConn recruiting:

I think the big O is definitely the top target for 2026. We got the top target in 2024 (Strong) and missed on the top target in 2025 (Somfai). That’s my opinion. So, I think that Geno lands this one and shows a position of strength when it comes to recruiting.

What do I want? Athleticism. I want Jerzy Robinson. Hall or Abii.

I think we miss on targets more than we used to. And if that continues, we should consider scaling back on our national recruiting strategy and should focus more on New England, New York, and Canada.

Thanks for the chuckle. It’s a brilliant concept. To assemble the strongest team possible, just recruit less of the best players available. Auriemma should have thought of this by now.

 

[Stagnant]

I understand your skepticism. I think we have limited resources. And we need to be careful with how we utilize them. So expending them on a long shot is something we need to avoid.

That’s where I am coming from.

 

[ConnMotors]

Currently, there are only two players that are sure to leave the team after the season ends. They are Kaitlin Chen and Aubrey Griffen.

Even though Paige has been quoted as saying that turning pro was the plan after UConn’s basketball year is over. However, there is still an opening that she can return to the team for another year.

By chance that she does come back to the Huskies they will then have a full compliment of 15 players.

1) Metallica’s Turn the Paige Bueckers
2) Alphabet A-ZZI Swish Fudd
3) Princess Caroline Ducharme of Storrs
4) Rapper Ice “T”, Ice Cube, Ice Spice Brady
5) Boxer Ayanna Floyd Patterson
6) Kellogg’s Special KK Arnold
7) Ashlynn 40 Shade’s of Grey
8) Paul Rudd’s Qadence Samuels Sweet Shop
9) The Moon Goddess Jana El Alfy
10) Pillar of Strength Sarah Strong
11) Actress Morgan Freeman Chili
12) Attorney at Law Allie Ziebell
13) Chess Grandmaster Kelis Bobby Fischer
14) Gandy Manufacturing Malou-Mamel
15) Casa Blanca Oscar Winner Quinonez

If Paige Bueckers does turn pro and Geno continues to recruit UConn has made the final three cut for #4 ranked:

A-Got lot of versatility and athleticism Makeer

 

[HuskyNan]

I understand your skepticism. I think we have limited resources. And we need to be careful with how we utilize them. So expending them on a long shot is something we need to avoid.

That’s where I am coming from.

What resources? UConn has a generous recruiting budget and an active and effective NIL team.

I don’t know what you’re talking about

 

[BobbyJ]

I understand your skepticism. I think we have limited resources. And we need to be careful with how we utilize them. So expending them on a long shot is something we need to avoid.

That’s where I am coming from.

So you're saying that after consistently getting top rated recruits and classes over the last 25 years with no budget restrictions, Auriemma should now limit the scope of his recruiting and concentrate on an area of the US that produces less of the national level recruits he needs to compete for NCs? Please explain that logic.

 

[BRS24]

I think we miss on targets more than we used to. And if that continues, we should consider scaling back on our national recruiting strategy and should focus more on New England, New York, and Canada.

More good teams = more places that players want to play. Years ago, it was UConn, TN, Stanford, and a few others. Now, there are 10+ contenders for a natty. And focusing only on New England, NY, and Canada pretty much eliminates a vast swarth of the top players. Geno recruits those that he believes will fit in. Let's take a look at who we'd miss on if the recruiting area was limited. The following list is not exhaustive, I only selected the players I've seen play, bolded the ones that I wanted, and please excuse any copy/paste errors as this is pre-coffee.

Maybe still close enough:
MARYLAND - Kim Better, Courtney Gaine, Qadence Samuels
PENNSYLVANIA - Ashley Battle, Swin Cash, Caroline Doty, Amy Duran, Meghan Gardler, Kyla Irwin, Meghan Pattyson
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jamelle Elliott

A bit farther away:
NORTH CAROLINA - Shea Ralph, Azurá Stevens, Sarah Strong
VIRGINIA - Azzi Fudd
WEST VIRGINIA - Renee Montgomery

Maybe the midwest:
ILLINOIS - Morgan Tuck
INDIANA - Kelly Faris, Ashlynn Shade
IOWA - Kiah Stokes
MINNESOTA - Paige Bueckers
MISSOURI - Napheesa Collier
OHIO - Mel Thomas, Tamika Williams
WISCONSIN - KK Arnold

SEC hotbed:
ARKANSAS - Christyn Williams
FLORIDA - Tiffany Hayes
GEORGIA - Maya Moore, Olivia Nelson-Ododa
SOUTH CAROLINA - Kalana Greene
TENNESSEE - Crystal Dangerfield

A bit too far away:
ALASKA - Jessica Moore
CALIFORNIA - Willnett Crockett, Charde Houston, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Katie Lou Samuelson, Diana Taurasi
COLORADO - Ann Strother
NEVADA - Gabby Williams
OKLAHOMA - Stacy Hansmeyer, Paige Sauer
OREGON - Evina Westbrook
TEXAS - Moriah Jefferson

Really really really far away:
CROATIA - Nika Mühl
EGYPT - Jana El Alfy
FRANCE - Lou Lopez Sénéchal
HUNGARY - Dorka Juhász
POLAND - Anna Makurat
PORTUGAL - Inês Bettencourt
RUSSIA - Svetlana Abrosimova

 

[Zarathustra]

At least one of the bloggers ( see above ) has stagnant ideas IMHO.
I plan to ignore any further attempts of "attention seeking".

 

[Stagnant]

I see difficulties ahead. I think we need to spend heavily on football. Including a new stadium. I think the end goal has to be an invitation to the big 12 or the ACC. I don’t see how that focus doesn’t impact the basketball programs.

If I am on my own and those difficulties don’t come to pass, then that’s great.

 

[BobbyJ]

I see difficulties ahead. I think we need to spend heavily on football. Including a new stadium. I think the end goal has to be an invitation to the big 12 or the ACC. I don’t see how that focus doesn’t impact the basketball programs.

If I am on my own and those difficulties don’t come to pass, then that’s great.

Nice emergency detour. You went from wanting athleticism and kids like Robinson, Abii, and Hall from all over the country to limited recruiting in NY and NE and worrying about budgets and football. What’s next?

 

[Stagnant]

Two separate points in that post.

I shared with you my dream scenario. And then I pivoted to what I thought was a more realistic approach. I think we need to find regional diamonds in the rough. I thought there have been a lot of moments during the last couple of recruiting cycles that we heard from players that UConn was their dream school; then they chose Stanford or USC instead.

Edit: Sorry to derail the thread.

 

[HuskyNan]

I see difficulties ahead. I think we need to spend heavily on football. Including a new stadium. I think the end goal has to be an invitation to the big 12 or the ACC. I don’t see how that focus doesn’t impact the basketball programs.

If I am on my own and those difficulties don’t come to pass, then that’s great.

So you want to throw recruiting for the men’s team in the ditch along with the women’s so that football has a chance to maybe, possibly get invited to a different conference ? lol

 

[BobbyJ]

Two separate points in that post.

I shared with you my dream scenario. And then I pivoted to what I thought was a more realistic approach. I think we need to find regional diamonds in the rough. I thought there have been a lot of moments during the last couple of recruiting cycles that we heard from players that UConn was their dream school; then they chose Stanford or USC instead.

Edit: Sorry to derail the thread.

1) UConn already is using a realistic approach. How would restricting their recruiting area be more realistic? They thoroughly recruit the whole country and that already includes NY and NE. That's where he got Sales, Lobo, Rizzotti, Bird, Dolson, Bascom, Wolters, Berube, Chong, Griffin etc. And now he has a good shot at Vukosa from L.I.
2) For every dream school kid they don't get, they get another like Bueckers, Arnold, Ziebell, and Strong. I hope you don't think it's realistic to believe they are going to get all of them and reducing your recruiting to regional isn't going to help with that. The possibility of not getting immediate PT can change some kids' idea of a dream school rather quickly.

 

[Stagnant]

So you want to throw recruiting for the men’s team in the ditch along with the women’s so that football has a chance to maybe, possibly get invited to a different conference ? lol

I don’t want to damage the basketball programs at all. I just think we are going to need money to compete. That’s what all of the college athletics realignment has been all about. If all of these big schools are struggling financially; I’m not willing to take it for granted that UConn is financially healthy.

 

[Basingstoke]

It was mentioned in the post game thread that today's game was a great example of beautiful basketball (on national tv).
Here's hoping that young players like Ms Vukosa, Smith, Harpring, Makeer, etc were watching and were impressed.

 

[Steelerone]

To say Uconn is limited in recruiting is like saying that Alabama doesn't recruit outside of Alabama. If anything recruiting has expanded both nationally and geographically. What has changed is the number of teams involved in attempting to recruit these young ladies.

 

[ConnMotors]

Sunday is Senior Day for the UConn women. We say thank you to Aubrey, Paige and Kaitlyn. For the Huskies to add Agot then another player has to say good bye. If that happens then we have added four players to next years class.

 

[Zonepress]

What resources? UConn has a generous recruiting budget and an active and effective NIL team.

I don’t know what you’re talking about

GA approach to NIL does not include guarantee, direct payments but rather providing lots of opportunities to earn nil money
there are numerous schools committing to guarantee payment
South Carolina currently commits to $25,000 per player
Fair to say that there are numerous schools offering direct payments in their recruiting of players
How much is influences the recruiting of the very top players remains to be seen but safe to say
It’s a real factor