New 2025 Uconn MBB visitor
- Thread starter the Blades
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2025 signee Jacob Ross asks for release from Gophers, reopening recruitment
Ross's departure leaves 6-foot-10 forward Parker Jefferon and Philadelphia-area wing Kai Shinholster as the two remaining signees in Minnesota's 2025 class.
Realistically, all the guys UConn is recruiting for roster spots 11-15 are developmental/project players, except the kid they will bring on as the #3 center, who can reasonably be expected to potentially see meaningful minutes like Singare did last year. I am in favor of getting someone who is very big (6'11" at least, and 230 pounds at least). You can't teach size and its a position where you want someone who can give 5 honest, hard fouls in the maximum 8-10 minutes of action he will likely see. We have seen foul outs occur in 8 minutes or less, even with experienced players (ask Chuck Okwandu and Kenton Facey). Getting serviceable minutes like what Singare provided is the goal here. Anything more is gravy.
It's not really clear how reliable Eric Reibe will be as a freshman and whether he will be able to provide 12-15 serviceable minutes per game. We hope so. Some of that depends on his defensive ability and whether he maintains proper positions on defense so he doesn't get quick foul trouble a la Brimah as a freshman.
It's not really clear how reliable Eric Reibe will be as a freshman and whether he will be able to provide 12-15 serviceable minutes per game. We hope so. Some of that depends on his defensive ability and whether he maintains proper positions on defense so he doesn't get quick foul trouble a la Brimah as a freshman.
Tom Moore went into full detail regarding all of this in the full youtube version of quotes I posted in the rankings thread.
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Also Moore said in his presser Sunday, don't look for the back end roster guys to be normal level Uconn recruits, especially with the house settlement talk of the MBB teams moving up from 13 to 15 schollies, (like WBB already is at) He mentioned injuries and only having 12 players last year making it tougher in practice.
I could also see a situation were a red shirt year could make a comeback in CBB, while being on scholly plus getting some Rev share amount ( if not NIL), for first year guys so they could develop and then make more $ later on with a 5th year. Even if it's in the portal later on, with more and more 22-23 years olds, staying in college for the $$$, while keeping FR other than very high end recruits from getting serious PT. ( like Abraham/Nowell last year)
Being especially true for young players like Jacob Ross (6-6/170lbs), who looks like a Darius Adams clone physically. And could certainly benefit from a year in a college weight & conditioning program while helping a team in practice as he develops overall.
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What will happen is that mid majors will have more and more access to recruituing some of the second tier high school recruits, say the recruits who are rated #40-#100 in the country. They will be forced to develop at mid majors, and if they do develop, they can then portal out and up to higher D-1 after 1 or 2 years at the mid major level.
We could even see a situation where a guy who has portalled out to a mid major, like Nowell, comes back to UConn after a couple of years. There have already been examples of guys portalling back to their old schools.
Maybe not....Looking at it now Nowell ( and Abraham) would have both benefited with red shirt FR years, especially financially in the new system. If they aren't one and done guys or later on can test the waters say as a JR or SR and then comeback, like AK did the last 2 years.
Doing the RS year at a high major with more REV sharing now, could be better than starting the CBB time clock playing at mid major for less. Since alot mids aren't gonna have REV/NIL and I've already read some ( whole Ivy league, etc.) are opting out of the new system.
Looks like the new move for these college agents could be extending that earning period from 4 to 5 years in the right situation money wise for their "pro clients in CBB ". Still alot to unpack in this pro world of college sports with unlimited free agency, but we shall see.
It was posted elsewhere that VCU, where Nowell is headed, has more money than most mid majors, in fact I believe their AD is the best funded of any mid major or technical mid major in the country. So I wouldn't assume that Nowell isn't getting anything there. He is likely getting something $ wise plus playing time he would not have received at UConn.
But that was my point regarding a RS year, he's now down to 3 years of earning power. So it's not all gonna be the same....and in theory most of these guys will make the most in year 5.
PS.....I've always thought VCU as a hoops only state school in a new east coast market and over 30,000 students would be a great add for the Big East's #12. At least #12 before Uconn leaves for the ACC/Big 12....
Hamed "Larry" Olayinka - Men's Basketball - Samford University Athletics
Hamed "Larry" Olayinka (11) Forward - Previous College: Spent one season at Garden City Community College and one at Utah Tech … At Utah Tech in 2023-24, played
samfordsports.com
That's a high blocked shot total for 10 minutes a game. This could be the 3rd string 5 we are looking for. With Koromo backing up the 4.
That was my thought and I'm sure the staff's too. Might have 2 years left (?) so either way a good bench piece with the new 15 scholly limit that seems like it will pass with the house settlement. So we'll see, but seems like a sample size or limited version of AKA "Samson light".
Highlights from 2 years ago in the WAC.
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He is only going to be asked to be the #3 center when Reed and Reibe get into foul trouble. Unlike the other #11-15 guys this is the one 3rd string guy who has a chance to see meaningful, non mop up minutes. For this reason "Samson Lite" might be acceptable if he has to play 5 minutes at the end of a first half, due to foul trouble of other bigs. He looks like he might be up for the job. I should note that Singare didn't let UConn down in this role last season. From the tape I see on him, this Olayinka has some athleticism. Dunking and blocking shots, even if it's all he can do, would be fine in this role.
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