UConn battles Kansas and Creighton for 7-foot sensation Eric Reibe as Dan Hurley showcases NBA-level growth

A feel of UConn's jersey, conversations with the championship coach and a touch of Huskies' six NCAA trophies were a part of Dan Hurley's welcome for 2025 prospect Eric Reibe. The seven-foot Maryland native is one of the top 40 players in his class (247Sports Composite) who saw more than 35 offers coming his way.

Declining invites from some of the top basketball programs, Reibe announced his top-11 schools on July 18. However, being among the top landing spots for the German center, a battle is brewing between Hurley's UConn Huskies, Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks and Greg McDermott's Creighton Bluejays.

Eric Reibe visited the Huskies on September 6 and posted a mixtape of his visit on Instagram, alongside a few snippets with the NCAA trophies, Dan Hurley and the coaching staff.

While Eric Reibe has visited Creighton (May) and Kansas (August), he's expected to travel to the remaining eight programs on his list. He will meet with Indiana Hoosier's staff next, on Sept. 20.

Nevertheless, Dan Hurley's acumen to produce NBA-caliber players can set the Huskies apart, especially when John Calipari's Arkansas is not in Reibe's consideration.

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Dan Hurley's resume could make UConn stand out for Eric Reibe

This year, UConn saw four players transition to the NBA. Stephon Castle to the San Antonio Spurs, Donovan Clingan Portland Trail Blazers, Tristen Newton to the Indiana Pacers and Cam Spencer to the Memphis Grizzlies. Two of them were top-seven picks, amounting to nine NBA players generated since 2021.

Nevertheless, for Eric Reibe, the most impressive story comes through Donovan Clingan, Hurley’s star center. Additionally, as the Huskies don't show signs of producing one-and-done players, Reibe’s tenure with them guarantees significant growth each year.

In his first year, Clingan averaged less than 14 minutes per game along with 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. However, UConn’s developmental programs turned him into a star center next season, where he doubled his production and played a huge role in Dan Hurley’s back-to-back NCAA championship run.

Reibe is expected to join one of UConn, Harvard, Kansas, Kentucky Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, Creighton, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State Buckeyes, Stanford and West Virginia.