UConn still has four open scholarships for next season but likely won’t fill all of them.

[tcf15]

Buried in this article here is a hint at who Hurley and the staff are targeting next. Let the speculation begin:

As for now, the Huskies will continue to utilize HDI for portal help. UConn still has four open scholarships for next season but likely won’t fill all of them. The staff will continue to mine the portal for backcourt players. With Newton and Alleyne in tow along with returnees Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson, the most ideal fit might be a ballhandler with multiple years of eligibility who might come off the bench next season but compete for a starting job in the future. The staff appears close to getting such a player or two on campus for a visit. UConn is also considering Class of 2022 high school recruits and/or international players. Junior college players aren’t a focus right now, but not entirely out of the question.

 

[mauconnfan]

Some have mentioned some international players may be being assessed so could this be the next move?

 

[JonnyRI]

Doesn’t Scheffer still have a year of eligibility left? International Point guard with experience…..

 

[HuskyFich]

Well that sure as hell doesn't sound like Lofton lol.

 

[mauconnfan]

Doesn’t Scheffer still have a year of eligibility left? International Point guard with experience…..

Just the thought of that type of kid is exciting.....please!!

 

[BGesus4]

How much cap room do we have left?

 

[Kenny11]

How much cap room do we have left?

Running low on that but still a lot of ice cream vouchers remaining

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

the most ideal fit might be a ballhandler with multiple years of eligibility who might come off the bench next season but compete for a starting job in the future.

Fine I'll do it. As long as I have a legitimate chance to compete for a starting role in the future.

 

[navery12]

First name that comes to mind is Hassan Diarra. Maybe Femi Okudale as well, but not sure how his ball handling is

 

[HuskyHawk]

the most ideal fit might be a ballhandler with multiple years of eligibility who might come off the bench next season but compete for a starting job in the future. The staff appears close to getting such a player or two on campus for a visit. UConn is also considering Class of 2022 high school recruits and/or international players. Junior college players aren’t a focus right now, but not entirely out of the question.

This aligns to what I expect, whoever is still coming is bench depth. Could be someone who doesn't play any meaningful minutes like Diggins, but we'd also need someone who can give us 10-15 at guard at least. I keep asking whether there are any 2022 kids who haven't signed and might be fits for a developmental role. International would be really intriguing.

 

[8893]

Hmmm, sounds a bit like Corey Floyd, Jr.

 

[navery12]

This aligns to what I expect, whoever is still coming is bench depth. Could be someone who doesn't play any meaningful minutes like Diggins, but we'd also need someone who can give us 10-15 at guard at least. I keep asking whether there are any 2022 kids who haven't signed and might be fits for a developmental role. International would be really intriguing.

There's not much, Yann Farell is the only uncommitted guy we were connected to at any point for 2022. Haven't seen much on him lately but he'd be a really good target if he's still interested

 

[bendm]

First name that comes to mind is Hassan Diarra. Maybe Femi Okudale as well, but not sure how his ball handling is

This aligns to what I expect, whoever is still coming is bench depth. Could be someone who doesn't play any meaningful minutes like Diggins, but we'd also need someone who can give us 10-15 at guard at least. I keep asking whether there are any 2022 kids who haven't signed and might be fits for a developmental role. International would be really intriguing.

there's still a whole lot of room left for interpretation here as evidenced by the big gap between guys like diarra and femi.

diarra would fit huskyhawks description of a depth piece, but femi would also come off the bench, has multiple years of eligibility, and could be a starter in the future. so he also fits the description in the article, but he's not just a depth piece. he's in the rotation getting at least 20 mpg.

i'd argue a rotation piece like femi fits the description in the article better since he has a better shot at competing for a starting spot in the future than a depth piece like hassan.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Running low on that but still a lot of ice cream vouchers remaining

Ice cream AND CT pizza for the win!!!

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Their 2023 targets include:
Isaiah Coleman, a 6-5 wing from Maryland;
Taison Chatman, a 6-4 shooting guard from Minnesota;
Solomon Ball, a 6-3 combo guard from Maryland;
Andrej Sojakavic, a 6-6 small forward from California;
Darius Carr, a 6-2 combo guard from California;
Elmarko Jackson, a 6-3 point guard from New Jersey;
JP Estrella, a 6-9 center from Maine;
Kaden Cooper, a 6-5 small forward from Georgia;
Ugonna Kingsley, a 6-11 center from Putnam Science Academy.

Their 2024 targets include:
Ian Jackson, a 6-4 shooting guard from the Bronx,
Kur Teng, a 6-4 shooting guard from Massachusetts,
Tahaad Pettiford, a 5-11 point guard from New Jersey.

 

[Umami Zen]

Fine I'll do it. As long as I have a legitimate chance to compete for a starting role in the future.

Gonna have to "ern" PT in practice

 

[bendm]

Their 2023 targets include:
Isaiah Coleman, a 6-5 wing from Maryland;
Taison Chatman, a 6-4 shooting guard from Minnesota;
Solomon Ball, a 6-3 combo guard from Maryland;
Andrej Sojakavic, a 6-6 small forward from California;
Darius Carr, a 6-2 combo guard from California;
Elmarko Jackson, a 6-3 point guard from New Jersey;
JP Estrella, a 6-9 center from Maine;
Kaden Cooper, a 6-5 small forward from Georgia;
Ugonna Kingsley, a 6-11 center from Putnam Science Academy.

Their 2024 targets include:
Ian Jackson, a 6-4 shooting guard from the Bronx,
Kur Teng, a 6-4 shooting guard from Massachusetts,
Tahaad Pettiford, a 5-11 point guard from New Jersey.

the article said class of '22 not '23 or '24

 

[huskyfan224]

Their 2023 targets include:
Isaiah Coleman, a 6-5 wing from Maryland;
Taison Chatman, a 6-4 shooting guard from Minnesota;
Solomon Ball, a 6-3 combo guard from Maryland;
Andrej Sojakavic, a 6-6 small forward from California;
Darius Carr, a 6-2 combo guard from California;
Elmarko Jackson, a 6-3 point guard from New Jersey;
JP Estrella, a 6-9 center from Maine;
Kaden Cooper, a 6-5 small forward from Georgia;
Ugonna Kingsley, a 6-11 center from Putnam Science Academy.

Their 2024 targets include:
Ian Jackson, a 6-4 shooting guard from the Bronx,
Kur Teng, a 6-4 shooting guard from Massachusetts,
Tahaad Pettiford, a 5-11 point guard from New Jersey.

2023 is missing Griffiths, Bowen, Miranda unless they’ve stopped. I certainly hope they did not

 

[HuskyHawk]

there's still a whole lot of room left for interpretation here as evidenced by the big gap between guys like diarra and femi.

diarra would fit huskyhawks description of a depth piece, but femi would also come off the bench, has multiple years of eligibility, and could be a starter in the future. so he also fits the description in the article, but he's not just a depth piece. he's in the rotation getting at least 20 mpg.

i'd argue a rotation piece like femi fits the description in the article better since he has a better shot at competing for a starting spot in the future than a depth piece like hassan.

To be clear, I think we need one of each. A 15-20 minute guy, and a 5 minute guy (who still could someday start, like Vital, in theory). And a third 0-5 minute guy. Then leave one ship open for Castle to reclass or come early like Karaban did. Unless they are really confident Castle is coming early, that 15-20 mpg guy needs to be a combo or scoring point. And yes, @8893 CFJ would be ideal.

 

[bigknight3]

the article said class of '22 not '23 or '24

Two separate thoughts in two separate paragraphs. He listed the right year and targets that were included in the article.

 

[Mooch82]

Their 2023 targets include:
Isaiah Coleman, a 6-5 wing from Maryland;
Taison Chatman, a 6-4 shooting guard from Minnesota;
Solomon Ball, a 6-3 combo guard from Maryland;
Andrej Sojakavic, a 6-6 small forward from California;
Darius Carr, a 6-2 combo guard from California;
Elmarko Jackson, a 6-3 point guard from New Jersey;
JP Estrella, a 6-9 center from Maine;
Kaden Cooper, a 6-5 small forward from Georgia;
Ugonna Kingsley, a 6-11 center from Putnam Science Academy.

Their 2024 targets include:
Ian Jackson, a 6-4 shooting guard from the Bronx,
Kur Teng, a 6-4 shooting guard from Massachusetts,
Tahaad Pettiford, a 5-11 point guard from New Jersey.

Is this just a list of names we've been hearing more recently? If trying to include all, you need to include Gavin Griffiths, Taylor Bol Bowen (though not sure how hard we are on him anymore), Scotty Middleton, Isaiah Miranda...

 

[coachn]

Get G Griffths.

 

[superjohn]

Nobody is a must get but Gavin Griffiths is about as close to it is you can get. Fans and the coaching staff talk all the time about how we need shooters and we have one of the best shooters in the country who lives down the street from UConn. He comes from a CT. basketball family and his buddy happens to be a 7'2 excellent passing big who will get him open perimeter shots.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Is this just a list of names we've been hearing more recently? If trying to include all, you need to include Gavin Griffiths, Taylor Bol Bowen (though not sure how hard we are on him anymore), Scotty Middleton, Isaiah Miranda...

This was just the list of names from the article. Not an exhaustive list.

 

[ucp990411]

Must be so difficult to recruit these days. We are looking for someone to back up Newton at the point and possibly a serviceable frontcourt player to back up the 4 and 5. So lets say you are recruiting a player who may have been an honorable mention player in a P5 program or perhaps a- second team all league level player in a mid major conference. Do you think they are interested in playing 8-12 minutes a game at a major program? Most guys the answer is probably not. Players want to play.

 

[Tenspro2002]

It's getting increasingly difficult to find kids willing to come in for that "10-15 mpg bench role with consideration for a starting spot in the future".

I think it has to be a Castle re-class or someone not even on our radar.

 

[bendm]

It's getting increasingly difficult to find kids willing to come in for that "10-15 mpg bench role with consideration for a starting spot in the future".

I think it has to be a Castle re-class or someone not even on our radar.

I love the idea of going after guys that have already transferred for this role so they can’t just up and leave so easily for more PT after a season

 

[Mooch82]

It's getting increasingly difficult to find kids willing to come in for that "10-15 mpg bench role with consideration for a starting spot in the future".

I think it has to be a Castle re-class or someone not even on our radar.

They used to have a name for this type of player. Think they were called "freshmen".

 

[JT55]

Femi Odukale really fits the bill. 6'5 185 averaged 10/4/4 with 3 years of eligibility left. Haven't watched any full games but from clips seems like he has decent handle can attack the rim and has a respectable shot. Played 30+ minutes for Pitt last year so not sure if he would accept a sixth man role here but imo he would be the perfect fit.

 

[Glastonhusky]

First name that comes to mind is Hassan Diarra. Maybe Femi Okudale as well, but not sure how his ball handling is

They appear to be focused on Diarra.