UConn General Team Recruiting Thread

[BobbyJ]

According to Shane Laflin's latest ESPN article published on November 21, UConn ranks eighth in recruiting for the class of 2026. I think it could well end up in the top three, or even higher, if we manage to convince Jerzy Robinson or Sara Okeke.

When we look at the article, we can see that Shane Laflin considers Jovana Popovic a 4-star player, but he refrains from giving her a ranking. Tennessee is ranked immediately behind UConn, with Oliviyah Edwards ranked second and #62 Gabrieal Minus, a 4-star player, with a score of 93. So that means he sees Jovana with at least a score of 94, since Edwards is one rank ahead of Vukosa. The 4-star players start at 18th place and end at last place, but with a score of 94, the last one is ranked #54. I conclude that she would be between 18th and 54th place, Shane Laflin doesn't want to get too involved with Jovana.

As she is playing in the US this year, he will have to do so with Sara Okeke. In the next update, her name will have to appear in the rankings, but at what position(?) Jerzy Robinson is ranked 5th, with 5 stars and a score of 97, while the top 4 have a score of 98. Prep Girls Hoop already ranks Okeke as the #1 player in Florida, just ahead of Kelsi Andrews, who is ranked 18th by ESPN and is the first 4-star player. We can therefore conclude that UConn is pursuing two 5-star players and that if they manage to sign one of them, UConn will most likely be propelled into the top three.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

2026 girls' recruiting class rankings: Texas up to No. 2 after early signing window

With a slew of pickups, Texas skyrockets up right behind USC as 15 teams join the expanded top 25 rankings.

www.espn.com

2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

Where Popovic gets ranked is irrelevant as are the team rankings. They have nothing to do with how Popovic will play at UConn or how those teams will perform with those freshmen.

 

[Stronga12]

Popovic more than held her own in the Nike Hoop Summit that only featured 5 stars on Team USA. So we know she can compete at a very high level.

 

[oldhusky]

According to Shane Laflin's latest ESPN article published on November 21, UConn ranks eighth in recruiting for the class of 2026. I think it could well end up in the top three, or even higher, if we manage to convince Jerzy Robinson or Sara Okeke.

When we look at the article, we can see that Shane Laflin considers Jovana Popovic a 4-star player, but he refrains from giving her a ranking. Tennessee is ranked immediately behind UConn, with Oliviyah Edwards ranked second and #62 Gabrieal Minus, a 4-star player, with a score of 93. So that means he sees Jovana with at least a score of 94, since Edwards is one rank ahead of Vukosa. The 4-star players start at 18th place and end at last place, but with a score of 94, the last one is ranked #54. I conclude that she would be between 18th and 54th place, Shane Laflin doesn't want to get too involved with Jovana.

As she is playing in the US this year, he will have to do so with Sara Okeke. In the next update, her name will have to appear in the rankings, but at what position(?) Jerzy Robinson is ranked 5th, with 5 stars and a score of 97, while the top 4 have a score of 98. Prep Girls Hoop already ranks Okeke as the #1 player in Florida, just ahead of Kelsi Andrews, who is ranked 18th by ESPN and is the first 4-star player. We can therefore conclude that UConn is pursuing two 5-star players and that if they manage to sign one of them, UConn will most likely be propelled into the top three.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

2026 girls' recruiting class rankings: Texas up to No. 2 after early signing window

With a slew of pickups, Texas skyrockets up right behind USC as 15 teams join the expanded top 25 rankings.

www.espn.com

2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

One other item of significance is Laflin's article seems to confirm the position that Jerzy is down to two, South Carolina and LSU, which had previously been reported as indirectly from a reliable source. I believed it then, and am even more convinced now after our recent signing of Popovic and Shane's comments.

On the other hand maybe the chances with Okeke are better. I saw South Carolina hosted the other big from France that many were interested in. Which of the two is better has been debated on this board before, but if South Carolina did get her, I doubt they also get Okeke so maybe our odds are looking better there.

 

[ec33]

ESPN is largely seen as the one that puts few resources into prospect rankings over on the men's side. Somehow I doubt they are putting more resources into the women's side of things. And that is for American prospects.

 

[Lafayette]

ESPN is largely seen as the one that puts few resources into prospect rankings over on the men's side. Somehow I doubt they are putting more resources into the women's side of things. And that is for American prospects.

True - they dropped all player news and other stuff and just care about a list being generated and updated once.

ESPN treats recruiting as a check the box exercise and doubtful whoever works there does this as their only job.

Contrast to 247 or other ratings sites that are 100% ratings based and that's where we find the good information!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

True - they dropped all player news and other stuff and just care about a list being generated and updated once.

ESPN treats recruiting as a check the box exercise and doubtful whoever works there does this as their only job.

Contrast to 247 or other ratings sites that are 100% ratings based and that's where we find the good information!

Shane Laflin pretty routinely puts out lots of recruiting info for ESPN.

 

[Lafayette]

Shane Laflin pretty routinely puts out lots of recruiting info for ESPN.

Yes, but the rankings change once after the initial rankings. Over on the men's side we got Colben Landrew who is 40+ higher on the pro review sites but ESPN still lazilt has him in the 60s. I don't think it's any different for the women's.

 

[visitingcock]

Yes, but the rankings change once after the initial rankings. Over on the men's side we got Colben Landrew who is 40+ higher on the pro review sites but ESPN still lazilt has him in the 60s. I don't think it's any different for the women's.

They change more than once after the initial rankings. The 2026 rankings will change one more time in the Spring