Your 2026 Recruiting Preferences

[Ricker]

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

 

[6&counting]

I don't see UConn as the place for Smith or Kinney honestly. Mingo and Rippey are great, but are looking to be one and done, which will be a tough sell for Hurley at the PG spot. Freshman PG's are already more inclined to be ball hogs when the games get tough, and if Danny only gets the guy for one year, it might be too much of an uphill battle for the team.

I like Swann as a potential Demary backup if he returns for a senior year. He's a big defensive-minded, athletic lead guard. Holt fits this mold too, but he doesn't seem to be in play anymore.
I know Hurley and the boys saw Prince Alexander Moody run point on Qayden Samuels & Jordan Smith's Memphis team. Not sure if we're interested, but he intrigues me more than those other two. He's a big point who plays hard and knows how to play with other stars.

Like the offers to Toure and the Karaban replacements, would be smart to nail one or more of those dudes.
I imagine some under the radar centers will start to reveal themselves over the course of the summer. Arafan Diane looks good and has a real nice "duck* you" attitude on the court, but have no idea if the coaches have seen him.

I have a feeling we will see a couple more Jayden/Jacob Ross type projects in the recruiting cycle this year than we're used to.

 

[husky429]

Based on Tom's recent interview, I think we can surmise it's probably two high school recruits, maybe 3.

Toure + a power forward.

Everyone else is coming from the portal I'm guessing.

The portal changes things, even as a fan. You don't get 18 months to salivate over a recruit through the summer and high school seasons. It's a few weeks and, bam, you have a totally new roster.

 

[navery12]

One of Kinney or Rippey, Toure, and Trey Thompson at the 4. We're definitely not bringing in more than 2-3 guys so if we miss on Toure just the other 2 positions

 

[Huskyforlife]

I really want Toure, Thompson had a great session but I’m not familiar with him outside of those stats. I’d like us to continue recruiting point guards with plus size.

 

[husky429]

I really want Toure, Thompson had a great session but I’m not familiar with him outside of those stats. I’d like us to continue recruiting point guards with plus size.

I think PG will be a spot we prioritize the portal. You just can't hide or scheme around a bad floor leader if you have a bad recruitment.

I mean really, our only good PGs that Hurley recruited have been transfers. Nowell, Diggins, Gaffney, Mahaney all busts... Hass, RJ, Tristen were great.

 

[UCTitleTown]

All things equal amongst top recruits, I want Toure because he's CT player. Nice to have a CT kid on the team to root for and he's a beast.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Based on Tom's recent interview, I think we can surmise it's probably two high school recruits, maybe 3.

Toure + a power forward.

Everyone else is coming from the portal I'm guessing.

The portal changes things, even as a fan. You don't get 18 months to salivate over a recruit through the summer and high school seasons. It's a few weeks and, bam, you have a totally new roster.

Yeah, it sucks. Hopefully the coming changes to transfer rules find a reasonable balance between the prior, overly restrictive model and the chaos we have have now. I lose a little interest in recruiting as a result.

 

[david]

Jahda Swann, Toure, Trey Thompson, Arafan Diane. I kind of agree with husky429 about 2-3 HS recruits, but I do think that if the right kids want to come here we would take as many as 4.

 

[caw]

I think PG will be a spot we prioritize the portal. You just can't hide or scheme around a bad floor leader if you have a bad recruitment.

I mean really, our only good PGs that Hurley recruited have been transfers. Nowell, Diggins, Gaffney, Mahaney all busts... Hass, RJ, Tristen were great.

Castle was a high school PG and he did play some at UConn (though 2024 really just had a bevy of playmakers).

 

[Lafayette]

Overall we're getting some great depth at each position.

Last year there was none after Hass. When he was injured for most of the season it was a committee approach. This year we have 3 starters coming in.

We are getting some really good depth at each position, and probably no. 15 will be a 3rd C but we shall see.

 

[6&counting]

Jahda Swann, Toure, Trey Thompson, Arafan Diane. I kind of agree with husky429 about 2-3 HS recruits, but I do think that if the right kids want to come here we would take as many as 4.

Does the staff view Swann as a potential PG? Hard to tell from highlights, but he plays similarly to Toure and they are similar sizes/builds. I like the idea of it, but his handle isn't there yet

 

[david]

Does the staff view Swann as a potential PG? Hard to tell from highlights, but he plays similarly to Toure and they are similar sizes/builds. I like the idea of it, but his handle isn't there yet

No clue if the staff see's him as a potential pg. I think he's more suited as a 2/3. He has better handle than Toure and he's a freak athlete (just maybe not as athletic as Toure). I think Toure is maybe more a 3/4 but I haven't watched much of him outside of the FIBA U17 games. I think there's room for both on the roster.

 

[Blue Blood]

Keep Toure home full trust in the staff elsewhere just dont want to let top players from CT leave

 

[Ricker]

Besides being a 6'5 PG & top ten ranked, Dylan Mingo made 2 statements in a short interview that impressed me.
1. I want to be a defensive stopper
2. Q: What will you do with your NIL? Answer: Save 80%
In my book, the kid plays quality, sounds quality, and thinks quality.

Based on Storrs Central we haven't offered Mingo or Rippey yet. Either would be a great get.

I suppose if Demary is working out great, it may not be the best use of our NIL budget to spend big on a great frosh PG. Buying an experienced PG in the portal to come off the bench for less $ might be smarter. Need to spread money to top talent at other positions if we already have a championship caliber PG starter. Nevertheless, I like both these kids and Mihgo has gone up in my estimation.

 

[Lafayette]

Besides being a 6'5 PG & top ten ranked, Dylan Mingo made 2 statements in a short interview that impressed me.
1. I want to be a defensive stopper
2. Q: What will you do with your NIL? Answer: Save 80%
In my book, the kid plays quality, sounds quality, and thinks quality.

Based on Storrs Central we haven't offered Mingo or Rippey yet. Either would be a great get.

I suppose if Demary is working out great, it may not be the best use of our NIL budget to spend big on a great frosh PG. Buying an experienced PG in the portal to come off the bench for less $ might be smarter. Need to spread money to top talent at other positions if we already have a championship caliber PG starter. Nevertheless, I like both these kids and Mihgo has gone up in my estimation.

Want Mingo - a lot depends on how Demary plays this year as could go pro, otherwise has 1 year with Mingo getting some minutes as Smith is a senior. And with 15, 2-3 recruits can be 3-5 really. But - his older brother is a commit at CG to Penn State so perhaps he follows his brother there.

The team next year (2026-2027) loses 3 to eligibility (Reed, Smith, AK) so minimally 3 more needed, and there are at least 4 guys with some to legitimate questions on NBA next year (Demary, Ball, Mullins, Stewart). Way too early to call 2026 needs because we may need 7+ new players.

The only definite needs at this point are PG, PF, C

 

[navery12]

Want Mingo - a lot depends on how Demary plays this year as could go pro, otherwise has 1 year with Mingo getting some minutes as Smith is a senior. And with 15, 2-3 recruits can be 3-5 really.

The team next year (2026-2027) loses 3 to eligibility (Reed, Smith, AK) so minimally 3 more needed, and there are at least 4 guys with some to legitimate questions on NBA next year (Demary, Ball, Mullins, Stewart). Way too early to call 2026 needs because we may need 7+ new players.

The only definite needs at this point are PG, PF, C

The reason why people are saying 2-3 is Tom Moore explicitly said they're not going to be bringing in big classes anymore. It'll be a few highly rated recruits and then the transfer portal in the spring when they can see what the roster needs

 

[Lafayette]

The reason why people are saying 2-3 is Tom Moore explicitly said they're not going to be bringing in big classes anymore. It'll be a few highly rated recruits and then the transfer portal in the spring when they can see what the roster needs

Yes, saw that and he also commented about not wanting Big Minute guys, which I took to mean let's not have players like AK giving 35-40 minutes each game, but keep them fresh longer. Not sure others took that differently.

Re: 2-3, yes, I think that's with a grain of salt. We got 4 in this class alone (Mullins, Furphy, Reibe, Ross the younger) hence why I think it definitely could be 3-5 depending on each year's needs and who is available in the portal vs recruiting for those needs.

 

[80shusky]

Toure, a power forward and a center. I think it makes sense to prioritize centers when recruiting high school as they usually take a few years to develop anyway. UConn has only two on the roster now and one is graduating. I really think they should start building that out with high school talent and try to hit a home run with one in the portal if they can.

 

[Mooch82]

Toure, a power forward and a center. I think it makes sense to prioritize centers when recruiting high school as they usually take a few years to develop anyway. UConn has only two on the roster now and one is graduating. I really think they should start building that out with high school talent and try to hit a home run with one in the portal if they can.

No point guard? Feel like that should be a priority as well.

 

[80shusky]

Yes I suppose you should see if you can develop some freshmen point guards as well but I figured for 2026 we are likely to need an immediate contributor with Smith out of eligibility and have to go to the portal for that.

 

[Chin Diesel]

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.

 

[imno1]

I know what Tom said but I still think we sign 4 hs recruits next year.

 

[Waquoit]

Kids ranked in the 25-75 range are slightly less entivng to high major schools thanks to the portal.

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.

 

[husky429]

I know what Tom said but I still think we sign 4 hs recruits next year.

Why do you think that? You lost me