Australian hooping machine Jacob Furphy set to take his talents to Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies

UConn coach Dan Hurley has brought in Jacob Furphy, a 6-foot-6 Australian guard out of NBA Global Academy, as the latest addition to his 2025 recruiting pool. Furphy chose UConn over Illinois, which was the only team other than Huskies that was heavily pursuing him. He had visited Illinois in September and the Huskies earlier this month.

“I believe I have the style of play and work ethic to fit in seamlessly with the Huskies and their championship culture," Furphy said after declaring his commitment on Tuesday. "I’ve already built great relationships with the coaching staff, which I think will serve as a great foundation to my continued growth as a player.”

Alex Karaban will max out his college eligibility after this season. With Dan Hurley's recent track record, there is a possibility that Liam McNeeley and Jaylin Stewart can also find their way to the NBA. With that, Jacob Furphy’s inclusion comes right at the time when UConn will be missing at least one of its shooting guards in the lineup.

Apart from playing against international players on the Global Academy team, Furphy also brings age-restricted international experience through FIBA U18. He posted 16.8 points, 4.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds throughout the contest while going 13-28 from the 3-point line for the Australian team which won the Asian Cup.

Dan Hurley believes players like Jacob Furphy will help UConn fill "high-end talent" loss

UConn Huskies have won the last two NCAA titles. However, for the dominating program that it is, it lacks certainty around its star players. In the last two years, UConn has lost seven of its biggest names to the NBA.

So, with players like Jacob Furphy in the 2025 recruiting lineup, Hurley plans to replenish the lost talent.

“We’ve lost a lot of high-end talent,” Hurley said at the Big East Media Day. “I think that this recruiting class for us in ‘25 is to bring in high-end talent, players that potentially will be early-entry level players that we can bring in to this class that we identify that way in ‘25 and ‘26.”

According to analysts, Furphy’s craftiness, court vision, IQ and feel for the game could compliment a lot of players on Dan Hurley’s roster. He is known to make correct reads, initiate the right plays, with his ability to get to the basket and elite touch from the 3-point line rated highly by experts.