UConn approaches the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season with an almost intact lineup and a ton of recruits who'll likely help the Huskies' in their three-peat bid.
Gone were last season's major contributors Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton who've left for the NBA. However, they'll still have forward Alex Karaban, who decided to return to UConn after enlisting himself in the 2024 NBA draft.
Aside from Karaban, Hassan Diarra, Andrew Hurley, Solomon Ball, Andre Johnson, Apostolos Roumoglou, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, Samson Johnson and Youssouf Singare are expected to return for the Huskies' bid at immortality.
The offseason was also eventful for coach Dan Hurley as the Los Angeles Lakers interviewed him to call the shots for the 2024-25 season. However, the Jersey City native decided to stick with UConn in a bid to win the three-peat.
Recruitment was also friendly for the Huskies this offseason, as they secured the commitments of quality players that will likely fit the team's needs.
Here are the five players who committed to UConn for the 2024-25 season.
List of all players who’ve committed to the UConn Huskies ahead of 2024-25 season
#1. Liam McNeeley
UConn beat six other schools to acquire Liam McNeeley, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Richardson, Texas. McNeeley is a five-star recruit and a McDonald's All-American at Montverde Academy in Florida. In his senior year, he averaged 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
McNeeley is expected to form a formidable partnership with Karaban in the forward spot as both players are likely to show their talents to boost their stocks in the 2025 NBA draft.
#2. Ahmad Nowell
Ahmad Nowell heard offers from Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee before joining UConn. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound combo guard has shown glimpses of his abilities in the Jordan Brand Classic, as he competed against McNeeley in the annual high school all-star spectacle.
The Philadelphia native tallied all-around numbers of nine points, six rebounds and five assists to help Team Flight secure a 119-113 win. Nowell is a national top-35 recruit who is expected to get immediate playing time in Storrs following the departures of Castle and Newton to the NBA.
#3. Isaiah Abraham
Isaiah Abraham played high school ball at Paul VI in Virginia and Team Takeover on the AAU circuit. The six-foot-seven forward helped Paul VI to a 31-4 record and took home the Division I VISAA Basketball Championship.
The Top-75 prospect heard offers from Marquette, Providence, Arizona State, Georgetown, Howard, Kansas State and Virginia Tech before announcing his commitment to UConn. Abraham is expected to boost the Huskies' forward line with Karaban and McNeeley on its roster.
#4. Aidan Mahaney
Aidan Mahaney played combo guard for St. Mary's for two years before transferring to UConn for the 2024-25 season. In his two seasons with the Gaels, Mahaney posted 13.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.3 apg and 0.8 spg. He also shot 40.7% from the field, including 37.5% from the 3-point line.
The guard is expected to bring his 3-point shooting prowess to UConn as he has averaged 2.3 makes per game.
#5. Tarris Reed Jr.
Tarris Reed Jr. played for two seasons with Michigan and had a good sophomore season with the Wolverines. Reed posted 9.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg and 1.4 bpg in 26.5 minutes of playing time with Michigan. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 51.9% from the field and 58.6% from the free-throw line.
Reed could boost UConn's frontline that already had 6-foot-10 big man Samson Johnson manning the post. The St. Louis, Missouri native is expected to split minutes with Johnson in the center spot for the Huskies.
Do you think the five recruits will provide immediate contributions to UConn's bid to win their third-straight title next season? Let us know your views in the comments section below.
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