UConn is about to turn official visit season into a six-week sprint.
Starting this weekend and running almost continuously from there, the Huskies will bring in 12 recruits from across the country, with Dan Hurley and his staff working to sell the same pitch over and over: championship pedigree, player development and a clear path to “The League.” The group is loaded with high-end talent - nearly all of them are top-20 prospects in the 247Sports rankings, and all but two sit inside the top 50.
That makes the timing interesting. UConn’s roster could be mostly intact next season, which means there may not be a ton of room waiting in Storrs.
Braylon Mullins is likely headed toward lottery-pick territory, Silas Demary Jr. could also be NBA-bound with a strong senior year, and there’s always the possibility of a surprise or two with names like Colben Landrew and Na'jai Hines. Even so, the Huskies are still drawing the kind of recruits who are expected to help right away at whichever school lands them.
The class UConn is chasing has a lot in common. These are versatile players.
They’re tough. They play with edge.
Several come with NFL bloodlines. And, as Hurley’s staff knows well, they want to win.
If the first question on a visit is about NIL money, they probably won’t be in UConn’s mix for long.
Here’s the slate of official visits on tap:
DeMarcus Henry, a 6-7 small forward from Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz., is set for Sept. 9-11.
He’s ranked No. 3 overall and No. 1 at small forward by 247 composite, and he’s the younger brother of Ohio State receiver Chris Henry Jr. and the son of former NBL player Chris Henry. He brings a versatile slashing game, can operate on the perimeter and around the rim, and plays with a great motor.
Asa Montgomery, a 6-7 small forward from Hillgrove in Powder Springs, Ga., visits Sept. 11-13.
He’s No. 12 overall and No. 4 at his position, and his calendar is packed: LSU on Aug. 28, Florida on Sept.
4, Providence on Sept. 18 and Duke on Oct. 2.
He’s an explosive athlete who doesn’t turn 18 until next July.
Kamsi Awaka, a 6-10 center from Blair Academy in New Jersey, will be on campus Sept. 12-14. Ranked No. 49 overall and No. 6 among centers, he previously starred at Cheshire Academy and is the younger brother of Tobe Awaka, who played at Tennessee and Arizona and is now with the Chicago Bulls.
King Gibson, a 6-4 combo guard from SPIRE Academy in Ohio, is scheduled for Sept. 13-15.
He checks in at No. 10 overall and No. 2 among combo guards. His other visits include Louisville, Arkansas, LSU and Baylor.
Recruiting guru Adam Finkelstein has said Gibson has played better in the structure of high school ball than during grassroots season.
Jordan Page, a 6-5 small forward from IMG Academy, visits Sept. 18-20.
He’s ranked No. 11 overall and No. 3 at small forward, and his profile is built around versatility. He’s a left-handed wing with a 6-11 wingspan.
Cayden Daughtry, a 6-0 point guard from Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, will be in Storrs Sept. 19-21.
He’s No. 3 overall and No. 2 at point guard after blowing up this summer with a historic showing at Peach Jam. His size is listed at 150 pounds, but his skill set more than makes up for it.
His other visits include Florida State, Tennessee, Iowa and Miami.
Micah Gordon, a 5-10 point guard from SPIRE Academy, is set for Sept. 25-27.
He’s ranked No. 31 overall and No. 6 among point guards, with other trips scheduled to Auburn, Tennessee, Creighton, West Virginia, UCLA and Providence. He’ll be on the visit with his SPIRE teammate, Moussa Kamissoko.
Kamissoko, a 6-7 small forward from SPIRE, also visits Sept. 25-27.
He’s No. 15 overall and No. 5 at small forward, and his travel log is even busier, with stops already lined up at Florida State, Syracuse, Virginia, Oklahoma State, BYU, Louisville and Baylor. He and Gordon will make the trip together.
Malachi Jordan, a 6-7 small forward from Prolific Prep, comes to campus Oct. 6-8.
He’s No. 20 overall and No. 6 at small forward, and he drew a big crowd at Shelton High a few weeks ago during the Elite 20 Invitational. Silas Demary Jr., Solo Ball, Jayden Ross, Colben Landrew and others were in the front row for his game, though that shouldn’t be read as anything more than players who knew some of the guys involved and liked watching basketball.
Jayon Connor, a 6-6 power forward from Forsyth Country Day in North Carolina, will visit Oct. 9-11. He’s ranked No. 84 overall and No. 15 among power forwards, and he would appear to be at least a two-year player in Storrs.
Eli Paez, a 6-4 small forward from Iowa United Prep, rounds out the list with an Oct. 15-17 visit. He’s No. 92 overall and No. 25 at small forward, with other trips to Xavier, California and DePaul. Like Connor, he seems like the type who would need multiple years if he ends up at UConn.
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