2026 Recruiting: Update on Qayden Samuels

[6&counting]

Update on Samuels. His general thoughts on recruiting/what he wants out of it:

“Just the coaching staff and the trust and the loyalty in me. You know, I need them to trust me, play through mistakes and all that. So, really just the trust. That’s it. And the coaching. Having trust in me.

His thoughts on UConn:

“It’s a really hard program. I’ve been to the school because my sister went to UConn. But really, I haven’t been on the boys’ side. But I like the facility and how the coach is. The coach is pretty hard, you know. It’s college level, ready, you know, just playing for him. And you’ve got to be ready to play for him. And, you know, it’s hard. But I love the team. I’ve seen the team once in practice, but it’s pretty good.”

Based on the interview, it sounds more like a Georgetown/NC State lean, but his quote about UConn was the longest in the article, so maybe we're right in the mix as well.

Top-15 recruit Qayden Samuels updates recruitment

Qayden Samuels updates his recruitment, discussing schools like Kentucky, UConn, NC State, North Carolina, Georgetown, and Texas.

www.on3.com

Alt Access:

https://archive.ph/oAoWO

 

[HooperScooper]

I get the sense UConn isn't really recruiting him. I could be wrong but that's what I get out of all the articles that have been written about him recently in this thread that is now locked.

2026 Recruiting: - Qayden Samuels

Specifically, Georgetown, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and Villanova are heavily involved and were out to see Samuels during the high school season. The five-star said Arkansas, Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee were some of the schools out to see him during the live session in...

www.the-boneyard.com

 

[6&counting]

Not to split hairs, but we're recruiting Samuels quite a bit more than this board (myself included) would like. He seems a bit selfish, lazy and uninterested in winning to me, but Hurley is looking for a big/athletic wing that can make plays out of structure with the tools to defend. The ones we've honed in on are:

Howard
Toure
Samuels

Very likely in that order.

*Note that while Cloer is viewed as a wing, he is projected by the staff to be more of a Karaban-type wing - as his measurables/abilities line up incredibly similarly to Alex's at the same age (shorter wingspan though): height/weight, shooting range, attacks closeouts, limited at breaking down defenders, etc.

 

[Mister P]

I’m all for staying on his recruitment until one or both of the parties move on from each other.
I understand why some of you are soured on what you read, see or hear, but the kid has talent and can score at a high rate which is what we will need if there is a mass exodus next year because of graduation and pro career’s….possibly 70-80 % of this years scoring. As @6&counting stated, the tools are there for the staff to work with both offensively and defensively and he should be in college for 2-3 years.

Could he be a bigger version of Solo when it’s all said and done ? If so, I’d be more than happy to have him on the team.

 

[navery12]

Update on Samuels. His general thoughts on recruiting/what he wants out of it:

“Just the coaching staff and the trust and the loyalty in me. You know, I need them to trust me, play through mistakes and all that. So, really just the trust. That’s it. And the coaching. Having trust in me.

His thoughts on UConn:

“It’s a really hard program. I’ve been to the school because my sister went to UConn. But really, I haven’t been on the boys’ side. But I like the facility and how the coach is. The coach is pretty hard, you know. It’s college level, ready, you know, just playing for him. And you’ve got to be ready to play for him. And, you know, it’s hard. But I love the team. I’ve seen the team once in practice, but it’s pretty good.”

Based on the interview, it sounds more like a Georgetown/NC State lean, but his quote about UConn was the longest in the article, so maybe we're right in the mix as well.

Top-15 recruit Qayden Samuels updates recruitment

Qayden Samuels updates his recruitment, discussing schools like Kentucky, UConn, NC State, North Carolina, Georgetown, and Texas.

www.on3.com

Alt Access:

https://archive.ph/oAoWO

Pretty sure that quote being used is still really old. Unless he's just saying the same thing again, because I remember most of that being posted a year ago in threads about him. We barely even watched him at Peach Jam, including in games he was playing in. It seems like there's not much interest from either side recently

 

[HooperScooper]

I can't wait to see in the next couple of weeks who UConn is bringing in for visits. The recruiting picture is kind of muddled to me right now. Besides Cloer and Toure I don't know who the staff is prioritizing and who likes UConn a lot.

 

[Stasher599]

Definitely a strange cycle so far. I hope we lead for Toure, keep the top players in state and he oozes potential and we are obviously making Cloer a priority but he is from NC which does make me nervous. Hope we get some visits on the board soon.

 

[RuffRuff]

We get two of these 3, we’re in nice shape.

 

[dennismenace]

Update on Samuels. His general thoughts on recruiting/what he wants out of it:

“Just the coaching staff and the trust and the loyalty in me. You know, I need them to trust me, play through mistakes and all that. So, really just the trust. That’s it. And the coaching. Having trust in me.

His thoughts on UConn:

“It’s a really hard program. I’ve been to the school because my sister went to UConn. But really, I haven’t been on the boys’ side. But I like the facility and how the coach is. The coach is pretty hard, you know. It’s college level, ready, you know, just playing for him. And you’ve got to be ready to play for him. And, you know, it’s hard. But I love the team. I’ve seen the team once in practice, but it’s pretty good.”

Sounds like he was intimidated by the practice he attended. This program is not for the faint of heart. Minutes are won in practice is certainly something he heard from the staff as well. Our staff doesn't pull punches and tells it like it is. It's not for everyone and that's ok. If he doesn't come here wish him the best of luck.

 

[Drame]

Arafan Diane is a difference maker and we wont find a guy like him in the portal.

 

[CL82]

Sounds like he was intimidated by the practice he attended. This program is not for the faint of heart. Minutes are won in practice is certainly something he heard from the staff as well. Our staff doesn't pull punches and tells it like it is. It's not for everyone and that's ok. If he doesn't come here wish him the best of luck.

I actually think his sister's experience may be tainting his viewpoint. She was a talented player, but ended up only getting minutes during the end of games. Seems like a likable kid though. She transferred this year, I don't remember where. Hopefully, she catches on and gets some significant burn.

 

[ec33]

Arafan Diane is a difference maker and we wont find a guy like him in the portal.

There was a pic somewhere of Diane practicing by himself away from the Peach Jam and Kimani was there watching. The staff is putting in the work.

And I agree, the portal/Europe will be able to readily replenish the other positions as need be, but a guy like Diane will be far harder to find and quite expensive.

 

[Lafayette]

Our Samuels transferred to NC State. Women's team even losing Paige is an embarrassment of riches.

+ Diane - we need a beast and Reed, Jr. has no more eligibility for next year.
- Samuels - do we need another wing?

 

[HooperScooper]

I actually think his sister's experience may be tainting his viewpoint. She was a talented player, but ended up only getting minutes during the end of games. Seems like a likable kid though. She transferred this year, I don't remember where. Hopefully, she catches on and gets some significant burn.

That's all been refuted by @HuskyNan and some other posters in this thread.

2026 Recruiting: - Qayden Samuels

Specifically, Georgetown, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and Villanova are heavily involved and were out to see Samuels during the high school season. The five-star said Arkansas, Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee were some of the schools out to see him during the live session in...

the-boneyard.com

 

[CL82]

That's all been refuted by @HuskyNan and some other posters in this thread.

2026 Recruiting: - Qayden Samuels

Specifically, Georgetown, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and Villanova are heavily involved and were out to see Samuels during the high school season. The five-star said Arkansas, Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee were some of the schools out to see him during the live session in...

the-boneyard.com

I think you're confusing my comment with your comment in that thread. I don't think that there is any "bad blood" with Qadence, rather I think he may have a sense that starting or playing time isn't guaranteed at Connecticut. If so, he's not wrong, though it has nothing to do with his sister's experience.

 

[HuskyNan]

That's all been refuted by @HuskyNan and some other posters in this thread.

2026 Recruiting: - Qayden Samuels

Specifically, Georgetown, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and Villanova are heavily involved and were out to see Samuels during the high school season. The five-star said Arkansas, Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee were some of the schools out to see him during the live session in...

the-boneyard.com

@CL82 Yep. Check Q’s instagram page. She still chats with the team online.

 

[CL82]

@CL82 Yep. Check Q’s instagram page. She still chats with the team online.

Yeah, imagining that Q has some grudge with the coaches, the program or the team was another poster's issue, not mine.

My comment was simply that Q's brother might believe, correctly by the way, that playing time might be harder to come by at Connecticut than some of the other schools he's looking at given Q's experience here. Players can do great things at Connecticut, but nothing here is guaranteed. That holds true for both of the men and the women.

That's just my speculation.

 

[gsmooth]

We get two of these 3, we’re in nice shape.

3 of 3 is my preference .

But if it's 2 of 3, I would like Toure to be one of the 2.

 

[Lafayette]

3 of 3 is my preference .

But if it's 2 of 3, I would like Toure to be one of the 2.

And Mingo the other.

 

[Eleven]

Q never earned her minutes. She was often lost on D, and didn’t handle the ball well. Her primary contribution was adequate, but not great, catch and shoot from three. She did hustle impressively for loose balls but overall didn’t seem to be able to display enough skills to earn more PT. Probably will do very well at a school that better fits her level. Seems like a nice young lady and hope she does well.
From a hoops perspective, if her brother’s game is anywhere near the same, look elsewhere to fill the roster.

 

[Mike Honcho]

And Mingo the other.

Mingo ate my baby.

 

[husky99]

Mingo ate my baby.

Goonies?

 

[uconngb]

We get two of these 3, we’re in nice shape.

Really hoping that Toure is not an Arkansas kinda guy

 

[Minicoop69]

Goonies?

Seinfeld. Elaine said it.

 

[Ricker]

Q never earned her minutes. She was often lost on D, and didn’t handle the ball well. Her primary contribution was adequate, but not great, catch and shoot from three. She did hustle impressively for loose balls but overall didn’t seem to be able to display enough skills to earn more PT. Probably will do very well at a school that better fits her level. Seems like a nice young lady and hope she does well.
From a hoops perspective, if her brother’s game is anywhere near the same, look elsewhere to fill the roster.

Excellent analysis. Rather than spend any time watching Samuels play, get a quick read by watching his sister play. I could have saved some time. Clearly it follows Cooper Flagg's brothers must be as good as him, if their games are anywhere near the same. I very seldom belittle a poster's comment but geez. Lets ignore his high rating, the rave reviews from the previous camp performances where he scored, defended, and was all over the court. Put the focus where it belongs, that his sister couldn't break into a championship lineup for meaningful minutes.