Who will UConn target in recruiting this summer?

[HooperScooper]

Some real news out of Storrs. Nice to read an article like this during the middle of the offseason.

“For us,” Murray told CT Insider on Tuesday, “we’re trying to target guys that we feel can come in and make a major impact right away.”

“If there’s guys that you really like, that you feel like can make an impact, then you’re probably open to the idea of taking a couple of more,” Murray noted. “If you feel like that group is really small, then maybe you operate with the assumption that you’ll fill in some roster spots in the portal and that sort of thing.”

https://www.nhregister.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/dan-hurley-recruiting-junior-county-uconn-huskies-20762578.php

Alternate access:

Who will Dan Hurley and the UConn men's basketball staff target in recruiting this summer?​

 

[Jaydumo20]

I would've said a big to eat up some fouls but i doubt if the staff plans on having another foul prone season at the 5. I think they go with 2 and limit fouls.

I also wonder if the late season Cam's are a thing of the past. Actually, a thing of that one particular summer tbh

 

[Lafayette]

Given the exits after this season:

AK, Tarris, Alec, Dwayne, Malachi are all out of eligibility. That is 5 right there without wondering about Mullins, Solo, Stewart and Silas as 4 possible NBA draftees.

• County
• Diane
• Mingo
• Cloer
• Toure

Good list of 5 to get while evaluating who is leaving while having the portal to grab extras.

 

[Ricker]

I have to say that County showed me nothing in the 1 half I watched him play. So little I can't even venture a comment on any strength, weakness, or anything. He drifted offensively away from the ball, watched rebounding, and showed no energy. Articles keep mentioning his size but he is slight like Darius Adams. I was so surprised about what I wasn't seeing that I looked up the jersey number he was wearing like 4 times to make sure I was looking at the right prospect. (Obviously he must show more, and I do recognize first impressions in these games can be very wrong. My first look at Solo Ball was an awful game and I said so here on the Boneyard. I loved him at Brewster, meeting him personally, and agree with the great opinions of him.) I hope I get a future better image of County.

 

[6&counting]

Given the exits after this season:

AK, Tarris, Alec, Dwayne, Malachi are all out of eligibility. That is 5 right there without wondering about Mullins, Solo, Stewart and Silas as 4 possible NBA draftees.

• County
• Diane
• Mingo
• Cloer
• Toure

Good list of 5 to get while evaluating who is leaving while having the portal to grab extras.

This is tough to read. Let's say you're right, and that Tom Moore and Luke and Danny have been lying to the media and to the prospective players they talk to about only wanting 2-3 high school recruits per cycle, and instead they sign those 5 top-30 kids. And let's say you're right, and someone like a Junior County signs and the staff plan to use him like Alec Millender. How quickly do you think he decommits after the end of our season? This Darius Adams/Acaden Lewis-style of backing out of your NLI is the norm now. If you think you're hot and there's no PT available, you leave. To intentionally ask another (probable) McDonald's kid to ride pine for a year while lying about it in every possible interview you put out seems so far out of character for the staff that it is not a realistic projection. It would hurt the culture and burn bridges with future recruits. Reading this post feels just as fantastical as saying "I think LeBron technically hasn't used up his college eligibility, so we should try to get him to UConn for a year."

That being said, I do not think the 4 of Mullins, Solo, Stewart, and Silas will all return. At least one will bounce after this year. Solo has the best shot I believe and he seems to be in line to be captain this year, which speaks a lot to what they are expecting of him.

Out of the 5 recruits you mentioned above, Mingo is being prioritized the least from the staff, but that may change in the next week or 2 with Peach Jam. I personally have a fondness for Jahda Swann, but I think they view him as a Ross-type project, which may hurt his chances of wanting to be here as a freshman. Toure and Diane may line up to be a package deal, as they're good friends and play internationally together

 

[Ricker]

@6&counting mentions Toure and Diane may line up to be a package deal, as they're good friends and play internationally together. That package with Mingo would be WOW. I'm happy to fill the Karaban role from the portal.

 

[alexd]

@6&counting mentions Toure and Diane may line up to be a package deal, as they're good friends and play internationally together. That package with Mingo would be WOW. I'm happy to fill the Karaban role from the portal.

Have we ever really had a package deal work out?? I mean besides discovering Jake V while recruiting Leblanc. And Leblanc transfered to Vandy, so....

 

[Ricker]

I didn't mean a package in the sense that both guys will negotiate to go the same place. Only that they both are targets and getting one would be a positive attraction to the other. I wasn't taking the comment from @6&counting literally. Maybe some twin brothers have been a package but I really couldn't name a package to any school off the top of my head. Harper and Bailey at Rutgers?

 

[6&counting]

Have we ever really had a package deal work out?? I mean besides discovering Jake V while recruiting Leblanc. And Leblanc transfered to Vandy, so....

Jayden Ross and Solo

 

[HooperScooper]

Have we ever really had a package deal work out?? I mean besides discovering Jake V while recruiting Leblanc. And Leblanc transfered to Vandy, so....

Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. That package deal worked out just fine.

 

[Scrutineer]

I have to say that County showed me nothing in the 1 half I watched him play. So little I can't even venture a comment on any strength, weakness, or anything. He drifted offensively away from the ball, watched rebounding, and showed no energy. Articles keep mentioning his size but he is slight like Darius Adams. I was so surprised about what I wasn't seeing that I looked up the jersey number he was wearing like 4 times to make sure I was looking at the right prospect. (Obviously he must show more, and I do recognize first impressions in these games can be very wrong. My first look at Solo Ball was an awful game and I said so here on the Boneyard. I loved him at Brewster, meeting him personally, and agree with the great opinions of him.) I hope I get a future better image of County.

Our staff must see something of note and have seen him more than once.

Many years ago, while I was sitting in the row below him at a HS playoff game featuring Rashamel Jones, I asked JC how he evaluates recruits. Specifically, how can you tell who is legit and who may have had a good or bad game. His reply, "that's why we go to see all the kids were recruiting many times".

 

[HuskyHawk]

I trust the staff to focus on the right guys. Guys who aren't just talented but will work hard, play defense, play selfless basketball when needed. That's the culture.

I hope that changes in the portal and transfer rules will reduce the number of transfers and make it important to find kids who don't start as freshmen and who stay with the team 2-3-4 years. We've been lucky to have guys like Samson, Alex, Stewart, Ross and Ball stick with the program and show patience (well AK started day one). The program is better for it. I don't really want a mix of transfer seniors and one and dones, with an entirely new roster every year.

 

[Ricker]

Hurley at Adidas today watching Holt, Rippey, Diane at least

 

[HooperScooper]

Hurley at Adidas today watching Holt, Rippey, Diane at least

Five-Star SG Caleb Holt (No. 4 NATL): Arkansas’ John Calipari, Kentucky’s Mark Pope, Alabama’s Nate Oats, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Auburn’s Steven Pearl

Four-Star PG Deron Rippey (No. 17 NATL): Indiana’s Darian DeVries, Miami’s Jai Lucas, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Virginia’s Ryan Odom, NC State’s Will Wade

Four-Star C Arafan Diane (No. 24 NATL): Arkansas’ John Calipari, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Indiana’s Darian DeVries, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Illinois’ Brad Underwood

College basketball coaches watch top recruits during July Live Period

Joe Tipton is out on the road this weekend tracking which college coaches are watching top high school talent.

www.on3.com

No mention of watching Diane but you can't take these articles literally so I believe you are right.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. That package deal worked out just fine.

Yeah, for a while. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was a real disappointment.

 

[husky99]

Five-Star SG Caleb Holt (No. 4 NATL): Arkansas’ John Calipari, Kentucky’s Mark Pope, Alabama’s Nate Oats, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Auburn’s Steven Pearl

Four-Star PG Deron Rippey (No. 17 NATL): Indiana’s Darian DeVries, Miami’s Jai Lucas, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Virginia’s Ryan Odom, NC State’s Will Wade

Four-Star C Arafan Diane (No. 24 NATL): Arkansas’ John Calipari, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Indiana’s Darian DeVries, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Illinois’ Brad Underwood

College basketball coaches watch top recruits during July Live Period

Joe Tipton is out on the road this weekend tracking which college coaches are watching top high school talent.

www.on3.com

No mention of watching Diane but you can't take these articles literally so I believe you are right.

Calll me old fashioned but i Hate Calipari

 

[HooperScooper]

Yeah, for a while. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was a real disappointment.

Won a championship with those 2. That’s enough for me to call it a success.

 

[Peacefrog]

Yeah, for a while. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was a real disappointment.

No Coombs-McDaniel, no Kemba step back if I’m recalling correctly.

 

[auror]

Hurley at Adidas today watching Holt, Rippey, Diane at least

Toure and Egbuonu as well.

 

[navery12]

I don't really have any specific high school guys I want. I hope we land 2 or 3 top 25ish guys, beyond that I don't really care. The reality is whether we're a championship caliber team or not is coming from the transfer portal in the spring

 

[ec33]

I don't really have any specific high school guys I want. I hope we land 2 or 3 top 25ish guys, beyond that I don't really care. The reality is whether we're a championship caliber team or not is coming from the transfer portal in the spring

It doesn't matter all that much, but I am fond of the idea of Toure and Diane just to have a rooting interest.

 

[Lafayette]

Well, we stand a shot of having Silas Demary Jr be a Senior PG for us. Worked well for Tristen.

So I'd be less worried about Rippey or Mingo and more concerned about a Power Forward #1 priority and Shooting Guard #2 priority.

 

[Ricker]

For me
#1 Priority = Impact scorer = Toure/Samuels
#2 Priority = Dominant Post Player = Diane/______
#3 Mingo/Rippey (I agree they are less of a priority with Demary but they are winning impact players)
#4 Karaban replacement - so far I'd prefer portal in terms of 2026-2027 impact,

 

[Umami Zen]

Will be interesting to see if the staff shows any interest in Tristan Reed- younger brother of Tarris. PF-2026 prospect that currently has a great deal of interest from Big10 MBB programs. Rated top 60ish. Has mentioned how much his older brother is enjoying the UConn experience.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Two studs and backfill from the portal. Does Danny Wolf have a brother?