2026 Recruiting: Update on Qayden Samuels - Visiting This Weekend

[6&counting]

Looks like he is visiting this weekend too:

UConn hosting top-20 overall recruit for official visit this weekend

The UConn Huskies and Dan Hurley are a hosting a top-20 overall recruit in the 2026 class this weekend for an official visit.

www.on3.com

Alt:

https://archive.is/B0WeX

 

[HooperScooper]

Interesting that they're having him and Cole Cloer in on the same weekend. I hope it helps.

 

[auror]

 

[RuffRuff]

These guys do put out a ton of Uconn content

 

[auror]

These guys do put out a ton of Uconn content

They put out a lot of content in general, but Hurley/UConn likely get a lot more views than most other teams.

 

[Stow A]

What's the status of this visit?

 

[auror]

 

[Son of Robert]

From this clip Samuels has serious game; makes tough shots look easy. Has that mid-range turnaround jumper, handles the ball well in the open floor and in traffic. Nice form on his 3's. He looks like an excellent addition for next season.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Think we are targeting Landrew more or is this a whoever wants to commit type of situation?

 

[auror]

Think we are targeting Landrew more or is this a whoever wants to commit type of situation?

First to commit, with likely some finessing once the dominos seem like they will start falling.

 

[Ricker]

The couple of times I watched games live, he was also very aggressive and disruptive on defense in the way that Whaley could really pressure at times. I'm not commenting on his straight up defense on his man which I didn't see enough of to comment, but if you are behind and trying to pressure all over the court to get the ball back, he's pretty good.

 

[superjohn]

I don't know why the board seems to talk so much about Colben Landrew and there's barely any talk about Qayden Samuels? I haven't seen enough of either of them but they are very similar in size/length with really large wingspans. They're both good athletes but not elite above the rim guys. Qayden is ranked a little higher and filled it up more on the AAU circuit.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I don't know why the board seems to talk to much about Colben Landrew and there's barely any talk about Qayden Samuels? I haven't seen enough of either of them but they are very similar in size/length with really large wingspans. They're both good athletes but not elite above the rim guys. Qayden is ranked a little higher and filled it up more on the AAU circuit.

Think it’s just because we seem to have picked up momentum with Landrew. Probably somewhat also because of the underlying fact that his sister transferred but I personally don’t think that matters much.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I don't know why the board seems to talk to much about Colben Landrew and there's barely any talk about Qayden Samuels? I haven't seen enough of either of them but they are very similar in size/length with really large wingspans. They're both good athletes but not elite above the rim guys. Qayden is ranked a little higher and filled it up more on the AAU circuit.

Wasn’t Samuels the guy that never passed?

 

[husky429]

I don't know why the board seems to talk to much about Colben Landrew and there's barely any talk about Qayden Samuels? I haven't seen enough of either of them but they are very similar in size/length with really large wingspans. They're both good athletes but not elite above the rim guys. Qayden is ranked a little higher and filled it up more on the AAU circuit.

From what I remember there wasn't much interest one way or the other so this visit surprised me TBH. I don't think we've seen him mentioned much since July.

I like both of their games a lot. Both of them are in that 6'6 200lb range. Nice wingspan, but not superior athletes by high-major standards. Both of them have a deep bag shooting it off the catch and dribble with efficiency. Nice ballhandlers for SFs. Samuels looks to be a better rebounder, and I think Landrew probably has a better feel for passing. The big criticism you've seen of Samuels is being wired to score and not looking to pass.

Either of the kids would fit our system like a glove. First to commit gets the spot.

 

[Peacefrog]

IIRC, Samuels made some comments in an interview about UConn being hard, practices are hard, Hurley is a hard coach. And then saying he wanted to be given room to make mistakes and play through them. The resulting collective vibe here seemed to be that he might not be a good cultural fit. Personally, I know nothing.

 

[superjohn]

From what I remember there wasn't much interest one way or the other so this visit surprised me TBH. I don't think we've seen him mentioned much since July.

I like both of their games a lot. Both of them are in that 6'6 200lb range. Nice wingspan, but not superior athletes by high-major standards. Both of them have a deep bag shooting it off the catch and dribble with efficiency. Nice ballhandlers for SFs. Samuels looks to be a better rebounder, and I think Landrew probably has a better feel for passing. The big criticism you've seen of Samuels is being wired to score and not looking to pass.

Either of the kids would fit our system like a glove. First to commit gets the spot.

And I'm over here still wanting Toure to be a Husky.

 

[HooperScooper]

Wasn’t Samuels the guy that never passed?

Or played defense at all. Those were the comments from the recruiting analysts on AAU games over the summer. As always though, in Hurley I trust.

 

[HooperScooper]

IIRC, Samuels made some comments in an interview about UConn being hard, practices are hard, Hurley is a hard coach. And then saying he wanted to be given room to make mistakes and play through them. The resulting collective vibe here seemed to be that he might not be a good cultural fit. Personally, I know nothing.

Yeah the guys from Sleepers pointed that out. Was an interesting comment.

 

[husky429]

And I'm over here still wanting Toure to be a Husky.

Yeah me too. The writing just seems to be on the wall that he wants out of state.

 

[Lafayette]

Landrew was a football player, right? Likely more PF than SF and would be a beast in the weight room.

 

[Jim]

Interesting that he is still considering UConn because his older sister, Qadance, just transferred out from the women's team.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yeah me too. The writing just seems to be on the wall that he wants out of state.

i don't think it's as much about being out of state as it is $$.

This is a weird year with NIL - lot's of pause from programs that need to find ways to distribute the load, so if one program decides to go all in on one player, they may just get them.

 

[HooperScooper]

Interesting that he is still considering UConn because his older sister, Qadance, just transferred out from the women's team.

This has been discussed on here a few times. The people that follow the women's team, including @HuskyNan, said the parting with Qadance was amicable, and nothing would indicate that she would influence her brother not to come to UConn.

 

[mauconnfan]

This has been discussed on here a few times. The people that follow the women's team, including @HuskyNan, said the parting with Qadance was amicable, and nothing would indicate that she would influence her brother not to come to UConn.

She had already decided to transfer yet she was there with Azzi and others at NYC draft for Paige. Guessing she made friends for life and liked it here just didn’t work out basketball wise.