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UConn General Team Recruiting Thread

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Still a relationship

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I think that this year is just the beginning of players holding off on committing to a school. With NIL on the table it's now a question of how deep the schools are willing to go into their pockets and many of the recruits are going to be examining the numbers before making their choice. Example - A player is offered fifty thousand in May and seventy five thousand in June. Why not wait another month to see if the hundred thousand mark is given.
 
oldhusky said:
I would be happy with Vukosa and Bjorn. The trouble is we don't know if we can get either, much less both. They both have lots of names left on their relatively long short list. The need for exploring far more options than our desired top three or so is pretty obvious.

This year I see quite a few big guards or wing like prospects i n the 2026 class that we appear to be in the hunt for. If we miss on one we can still likely get a decent prospect by Uconn standards. At PG or C, however, it seems more like all or nothing. In terms of top C's that could be difference makers to the best programs, Vukosa is it. There is no great plan B except the portal. Same thing at the point, Harpring or nothing, and I'm not sure if she should even be considered a PG anyway, and I think we are a longshot there.

With a large current roster and high standards, Uconn doesn't have to pursue next best available if Geno doesn't think they would be rotation level. The portal gives teams a second chance to fill a need if they miss out on the recruiting class, but since you don't know if the right type of player will enter, or if you can get them, bird in hand is much better.

Waiting on the Big O is wearing on me a bit. I thought we were in great shape a couple of years ago, but a very long first list, a still long second list, and many upcoming visits is sinking my confidence level quite a bit. It's still early but I could really use a Uconn commit during the summer doldrums.
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Ummm, you seem to be arguing out of both sides of your mouth. "The need for exploring far more options than our desired top three or so is pretty obvious". "With a large current roster and high standards, Uconn doesn't have to pursue next best available if Geno doesn't think they would be rotation level". Fwiw, I think that the second side is correct. ;). Re the Big O, I have two more words. Nika Muhl.
 
Stagnant said:
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.
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There are more good teams, and more good players. If you land the right 3 players every year that is 12 and you are ok. Geno targets the players he likes regardless of rank (yes we and everyone else like many of the top ranked kids because they are supposed to be the best players) or location. Europe and Canada have increased the pool of talent so we look there as well.
 
Crossover said:
Ummm, you seem to be arguing out of both sides of your mouth. "The need for exploring far more options than our desired top three or so is pretty obvious". "With a large current roster and high standards, Uconn doesn't have to pursue next best available if Geno doesn't think they would be rotation level". Fwiw, I think that the second side is correct. ;). Re the Big O, I have two more words. Nika Muhl.
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Re the Big O, I was very confident about our chances a couple of years ago. She obviously liked Uconn, a Croatian connection with Nika, and she was in the northeast. In fact I thought she was a likely early commit.

It is possible our odds have not diminished, but if someone is a heavy lean towards one school, it seems odd to me they would have such a large initial "short" list and then a second finalist list, and be taking so many visits. Could just be due diligence, but I used to feel she was close to a lock, and now it feels more like we are just one of several top contenders. Who knows, time will tell.
 
oldhusky said:
Re the Big O, I was very confident about our chances a couple of years ago. She obviously liked Uconn, a Croatian connection with Nika, and she was in the northeast. In fact I thought she was a likely early commit.

It is possible our odds have not diminished, but if someone is a heavy lean towards one school, it seems odd to me they would have such a large initial "short" list and then a second finalist list, and be taking so many visits. Could just be due diligence, but I used to feel she was close to a lock, and now it feels more like we are just one of several top contenders. Who knows, time will tell.
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I completely agree. That said, we've often seen kids arrive at UConn after following a similar process and say "I've dreamed of going to UConn since I was a little kid. Once I took my visit here I knew it was the place for me". The fact that it now feels like we are just one of several top contenders for Olivia is why I'm looking to the Croatian connection to close the deal.
 
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With Harpring choosing North Carolina our goal to recruit a PG from high school now lies in the Class of 2027. The top player in this Class is Kaleena Smith who every school wants on their team. Also in the Top 5 is Jezelle Banks. Either of these ladies would be a score for any team. Kayleigh will be a Senior and Kelis a Junior by then. However, with the portal door swinging both ways there is always an option. For me I prefer to recruit and add players. Use the portal only as a necessity, which Geno has done well over the past few years.

But first we need for Olivia, Jerzy and Addison to say I commit to UCONN.
 
ConnMotors said:
With Harpring choosing North Carolina our goal to recruit a PG from high school now lies in the Class of 2027. The top player in this Class is Kaleena Smith who every school wants on their team. Also in the Top 5 is Jezelle Banks. Either of these ladies would be a score for any team. Kayleigh will be a Senior and Kelis a Junior by then. However, with the portal door swinging both ways there is always an option. For me I prefer to recruit and add players. Use the portal only as a necessity, which Geno has done well over the past few years.

But first we need for Olivia, Jerzy and Addison to say I commit to UCONN.
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As long as top players at other positions keep choosing UConn everything will be fine.

Experienced, quality lead guards see the game at a high level and are natural leaders so I don't worry too much about integrating them.
 
Question for all the recruiting gurus. At this point for 2026 US high schoolers, are we just waiting on Vukosa and Robinson to make decisions?

We will only have a few spots so between US kids, international, and transfers is it plausible it could be just those 2 that are in the mix?
 
DEpup said:
Question for all the recruiting gurus. At this point for 2026 US high schoolers, are we just waiting on Vukosa and Robinson to make decisions?

We will only have a few spots so between US kids, international, and transfers is it plausible it could be just those 2 that are in the mix?
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There will be 3 openings after this season barring any transfers. Williams, Ducharme, and Fudd will leave. The 3 main US recruits with offers are Robinson, Vukosa, and Bjorn to fill those spots. If they only get 1 or 2, they may leave one or two spots open to use in the 2027 class.
 
darrell said:
New article from Shane Laflin of ESPN here.

Some tidbits about UConn and the state of its 2026 class:

View attachment 112025
View attachment 112026
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UConn in on Sara Okeke? Wow, that's news to me.


From the same article:


Spanish post player Sara Okeke is long, aggressive and active, and at 6-3 is reminiscent of the Ogwumike sisters. She will make a massive immediate defensive impact in college. She led Spain to a gold medal and won MVP at the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket after averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds -- including 23 points and 7 rebounds in the final. She will play her final high school season at DME Academy (Florida), and is considering UConn, Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina -- though there's also some speculation she could jump straight to the pros overseas.
 
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We have three openings with Azzi, Caroline and Serah moving on after this season comes to and end.

The following year KK and Ashlynn graduate. That’s two openings. However it is possible that both Ice and Ayanna could also leave.

This is possibly a good move for them especially if UConn wins its 13th National Championship.
 
ConnMotors said:
We have three openings with Azzi, Caroline and Serah moving on after this season comes to and end.

The following year KK and Ashlynn graduate. That’s two openings. However it is possible that both Ice and Ayanna could also leave.

This is possibly a good move for them especially if UConn wins its 13th National Championship.
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Ice is definitely gone after the following year. Patterson's the one with two extra years of eligibility.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Ice is definitely gone after the following year. Patterson's the one with two extra years of eligibility.
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Yes that I know. But, she will be able to go pro if she chooses to do so. And, she would have been on college for five years. Who knows maybe three championships for her
 
I have to say. 2027 looks like one of the weakest classes in a long time to me. Who should the fans view as the top target? Probably Kaleena Smith. Point guard looks like a weakness; really dependent on Heckel to come good.
 
Stagnant said:
I have to say. 2027 looks like one of the weakest classes in a long time to me. Who should the fans view as the top target? Probably Kaleena Smith. Point guard looks like a weakness; really dependent on Heckel to come good.
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If by 2027, you mean Sarah's senior season, won’t the core look like this:
Sarah
Jana
Kayleigh
Morgan
Allie
Blanca
Kelis

Unless we get Olivia, the frontcourt looks thin. But with her and Jerzy the entire lineup could be formidable even without Kaleena.

And personally, I’m not confident Kaleena is really a fit for Geno’s system. And I’m very confident Kayleigh is.
 
Bone Dog said:
If by 2027, you mean Sarah's senior season, won’t the core look like this:
Sarah
Jana
Kayleigh
Morgan
Allie
Blanca
Kelis

Unless we get Olivia, the frontcourt looks thin. But with her and Jerzy the entire lineup could be formidable even without Kaleena.

And personally, I’m not confident Kaleena is really a fit for Geno’s system. And I’m very confident Kayleigh is.
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I mean if we had done this two years ago, someone would have projected qadence Samuels or Amari deberry in a future roster too when speculating about recruiting.

Who in that year has actually nailed down a roster spot?

Sarah Strong.

So, I don’t think there is any position we should be avoiding recruiting wise.
 
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Stagnant said:
I mean if we had done this two years ago, someone would have projected qadence Samuels or Amari deberry in a future roster too when speculating about recruiting.

Who in that year has actually nailed down a roster spot?

Sarah Strong.

So, I don’t think there is any position we should be avoiding recruiting wise.
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I don’t disagree, at least not exactly. Without some serious recruiting success, the roster looks thin.

But I disagree about who has “nailed down a roster spot.” What you seem to mean is, who is a potential AA in that group? Only Sarah, so far. Blanca could be another but it’s too soon to tell. If she doesn’t develop as we all hope, it isn’t clear Sarah will have a real shot at an NC that season.

If we take a pessimistic view about next season — we don’t have to wait for 2027 to worry — then with the departure of Azzi and Serah an awful lot relies on KK and Ash. We already know how good they can be. But they aren’t obvious AA candidates right now. And that leaves us again relying on Blanca Morgan and Allie realizing potential.
 
ScottCT said:
Is everyone forgetting about the portal? Any deficiencies we have in recruiting we can make up for it there.
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You still want to get the very best recruits, but when you are close to the roster max the strategies change a bit, and that is where we are at now. If we got all three of our targets this year we might not have a portal option.

I want two of the 3 for sure, but is having Jerzy or Addison worth more than having a portal card to play later, when a potential glaring need because of injury or how players do or don't develop could happen. portal players can come in and fix a roster issue right away, so I think at least a good argument could be made for trying to fill 13-14 roster spots with recruits, and having 1-2 portal options per year as a good goal. Recognizing of course that predicting who may leave is pretty difficult.
 
ScottCT said:
Is everyone forgetting about the portal? Any deficiencies we have in recruiting we can make up for it there.
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I have a feeling these great recruiting classes at UCLA and USC will yield a number of transfers over the next couple years. Cori and Lindsey have a knack for recruiting that exceeds their ability to hang on to them.
 
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ConnMotors said:
Well Olivia is onboard. Now we need at least one more recruit for next season. If I recall Geno stated a while back that he didn’t like one player classes. Kelly Faris
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I think you are right. I think we will look overseas if we miss on Bjorn and Jerzy.
 
ConnMotors said:
Well Olivia is onboard. Now we need at least one more recruit for next season. If I recall Geno stated a while back that he didn’t like one player classes. Kelly Faris
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I’ll never forget not getting Aliyah Boston and/or Haley Jones, leading Aubrey to come in alone.

Sara Okeke still in play as of now for next year’s class as well.
 
Bone Dog said:
I have a feeling these great recruiting classes at UCLA and USC will yield a number of transfers over the next couple years. Cori and Lindsey have a knack for recruiting that exceeds their ability to hang on to them.
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Interesting thought. I'm going to bookmark this one and see what happens in 6 months.
 
Bone Dog said:
I have a feeling these great recruiting classes at UCLA and USC will yield a number of transfers over the next couple years. Cori and Lindsey have a knack for recruiting that exceeds their ability to hang on to them.
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We already saw Howell and Heckel leave after one year.

I think Jazzy, Juju, and Kennedy Smith all play the same position. So, I am not sure how that will work.
 
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