Your 2026 Recruiting Preferences | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Your 2026 Recruiting Preferences

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imno1 said:
I know what Tom said but I still think we sign 4 hs recruits next year.
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Thinking the same thing. We already have 10 offers out…I’d imagine we see a handful more at least. We’re not recruiting like we only want to bring in 1-2 guys.
 
Unfortunately, as many know we are in a dead period with no in person contact (can do zooms, emails, all digital).

Dead period:
1. May 26 - Jun 2
2. Jun 21-23
3. Jul 3-5

Quiet Period: - only on-campus meetings
1. May 29th - Jul 31st

So it heats up beginning Aug 1st each year so don't be surprised if no one for 2026 signs until August. They can verbal anytime though.
 
Chin Diesel said:
At this point the strategy should be to get as many top 25 players and then hold and wait for the portal.
Kids ranked in the 25-75 range are slightly less entivng to high major schools thanks to the portal.
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This is basically the plan if you are have title aspirations.

You grab Freshmen who are starter quality, not developmental, and you supplement particularly guards and role player/specialists in the portal.
 
Waquoit said:
I hate to say this but Bruce Pearl was right. It was over a year ago, when I heard him say words to the effect of: Why should I give a scholarship to a guy, develop him, then he goes in the portal and plays for someone else? I'm going to get these guys in the portal. I was outraged at the time but like I said, time proved him correct.
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I don’t want to live in a world where Bruce Pearl is right about ANYTHING
 
Ricker said:
Now that we seem to be gathering some momentum with regard to 2026 offers, I figured we needed a thread to post your hopes.
Offers are early so your preferences can be subject to future revision.

I think the lead guards we are interested in would all be great additions. I don't get the impression Jordan Smith is really in play for us.
I like Rippey, then Mingo, then Kinney, with Smith 4th even though he is higher rated. Really want 1 of these guys. I probably should want Mingo with his size listed at 6'5.

Toure I prioritize to be the jewel of the class.

Based on the offers, we clearly want a skilled 6'8 ish forward to replace Alex. Each of the recent offers looks solid to me. We pulled Mullins from Indiana's back yard, but hard to be confident we would pull kids from the NC triangle or Tenn if the local schools go hard.

I'd love a center but the top 200 pickings aren't loaded. A top 100 kid like #68 6'11 328lbs Marcis Ponder from Orlando intrigues me but I've never seen him or his agility. I love having a space eating power big on the team and frequently these guys can get down in the 290lb area and be impactful, (see NC St run to final 4). At #68 I suspect he has something to offer. We need a power guy to replace Tarris
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After watching 2-3 hours of top 100 camp and just jumping in and out of games, I'm confident the talent in this 2026 class could keep us in the championship chase if we can reel it in with the heavy financial competition it takes to get top kids.

In May I had Rippey then Mingo. I'll flip that now, but both of these guys are top of the top shelf with the ball in their hands, and both get to the basket. Mingo has hesitation moves in his game which at 6'5 just make it happen. Castle came in when we had Newton on board and then Spencer in the mix. Mingo and Demary could easily coexist with Ball and Mullins/Furphy from deep. I'm drooling on my keyboard. Mingo also has Castle's mature unselfish disposition, but can turn on offense when needed. I like Mingo as much as I liked Castle.

In May I had Toure alone as the jewel of the class adding 6'6 offense. Now I see that Samuels has that same offensive punch. Either of these guys please.

I still haven't got a favorite for the 6'8 Karaban replacement. Based on our offers we are looking for that. Cloer & Thompson are good players but I haven't seen the difference maker type of player yet. Costello that we haven't offered is another one of those 'good' players. I did like Costello's mobility.

Diane is exactly the big big I love. Excellent power and hands. Competition for him will be tough. I loved what I saw from 7'1 Ibe and I hope we can and want to get involved with him. Either of these 2 guys are good enough to be centers on a championship chasing team. I still haven't seen Ponder and I suspect he could be a third. There were other guys at center that would be very adequate to hold their own for a top team, but not necessarily guys that will carry a team to victory on their backs. I hope we expand our offers at center to hedge not getting Diane.

I don't really have an opinion yet on Tristan Reed. I've seen him but not his game. He's powerfully built and I suspect he could have a great role for us as a third center and a second power forward when we need interior defense and rebounding against power teams. I don't know if he can play defense in space, or what he offers as a shooter. With Alex, our 4 man has been a facilitator, shooter, who opens up the paint and back cuts. My early read on Reed is that he is more Kirk King. I like having that type of player on the team, and, just going into his senior year of high school, maybe he grows another inch or two. I think Reed would offer Danny front court options.
 
Ricker said:
I still haven't got a favorite for the 6'8 Karaban replacement. Based on our offers we are looking for that. Cloer & Thompson are good players but I haven't seen the difference maker type of player yet. Costello that we haven't offered is another one of those 'good' players. I did like Costello's mobility.
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I am not too worried about the Alex replacement. Europe is loaded with potential replacements and they come with mature bodies and experience.
 
Lafayette said:
Signing - didn't we sign some Octobers last year?
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There are 2 signing periods for a National Letter of Intent (NLI). One in mid November for a week and then another one that starts in mid April and goes for about 5 weeks. Although anyone can sign an aid agreement after that. That's what Millender, Koroma and Jacob Ross signed in late May (Huskies Add Trio to 2025-26 Roster - University of Connecticut Athletics).

What's the difference between the 2 agreements? I think it's just what happens if a player pulls out after signing each of them. Although the NLI doesn't seem to have as much teeth as it used to.
 
I think I may have missed someone, but here are players that we have offered for 2026:

Offered: 7/25/24 5*Jordan Smith 6’-2” SG

8/6/24 Composite 5* Qayden Samuels 6’-5” SF

9/23/24 5* CalebHolt 6’-5” SG

1/13/25 Composite 5* Abdoue Toure 6’-6” SF

5/20/25 4* Trey Thompson 6’-8” PF

5/20/25 Composite 5* Taylen Kinney 6’-1” PG

5/20/25 4* Cole Cloer 6’-8” SF

5/22/25 4* Junior County 6’-4” SG

5/23/25 4* Arafan Diane 7-1” C 4*

6/11/25 5* Dylan Mingo 6’-5” PG

6/19/25 4* Bryson Howard 6’-5” SF
 
Mister P said:
I think I may have missed someone, but here are players that we have offered for 2026:

Offered: 7/25/24 5*Jordan Smith 6’-2” SG

8/6/24 Composite 5* Qayden Samuels 6’-5” SF

9/23/24 5* CalebHolt 6’-5” SG

1/13/25 Composite 5* Abdoue Toure 6’-6” SF

5/20/25 4* Trey Thompson 6’-8” PF

5/20/25 Composite 5* Taylen Kinney 6’-1” PG

5/20/25 4* Cole Cloer 6’-8” SF

5/22/25 4* Junior County 6’-4” SG

5/23/25 4* Arafan Diane 7-1” C 4*

6/11/25 5* Dylan Mingo 6’-5” PG

6/19/25 4* Bryson Howard 6’-5” SF
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Nice roundup, thanks!
 
Mister P said:
Offered: 7/25/24 5*Jordan Smith 6’-2” SG
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Not sure what is going on with him and UConn. He mentioned them over the winter but nothing lately. Although things could always change.

From late December/early January:
www.the-boneyard.com

2026 Recruiting: - Jordan Smith

From the same high school as Abraham. There was some talk of UConn looking at him a while ago and then UConn wasn't mentioned in articles on him during the fall. Hurley is at the Jordan Holiday Classic watching him play and UConn is mentioned here. Says he'd like to visit UConn. UConn: “I like...
www.the-boneyard.com www.the-boneyard.com

New article:
www.on3.com

5-Star G Jordan Smith recaps officials to Duke, Syracuse & Louisville; updates his recruitment opening up on what is next

On3's Jamie Shaw caught up with five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith to discuss the latest with his recruitment, visits, and timeline.
www.on3.com www.on3.com

Alternate access:

5-Star G Jordan Smith recaps officials to Duke, Syracuse & Louisville; updates his recruitment opening up on what is next​

 
Last edited:
6&counting said:
Not sure if there was an official offer here, but 4* PG Jahda Swann seems like someone we're looking at.
After the NBPA Camp, it seems like he would be more of a developmental piece as he can't really handle physicality now, but his athleticism is super high level
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Based on what Tom said in his recently interview,
HooperScooper said:
Not sure what is going on with him and UConn. He mentioned them over the winter but nothing lately. Although things could always change.

From late December/early January:
www.the-boneyard.com

2026 Recruiting: - Jordan Smith

From the same high school as Abraham. There was some talk of UConn looking at him a while ago and then UConn wasn't mentioned in articles on him during the fall. Hurley is at the Jordan Holiday Classic watching him play and UConn is mentioned here. Says he'd like to visit UConn. UConn: “I like...
www.the-boneyard.com www.the-boneyard.com

New article:
www.on3.com

5-Star G Jordan Smith recaps officials to Duke, Syracuse & Louisville; updates his recruitment opening up on what is next

On3's Jamie Shaw caught up with five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith to discuss the latest with his recruitment, visits, and timeline.
www.on3.com www.on3.com

Alternate access:

5-Star G Jordan Smith recaps officials to Duke, Syracuse & Louisville; updates his recruitment opening up on what is next​

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Paul VI kid. Wonder if we burned a bridge with Abraham leaving.
 
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