UConn’s freshmen class may be small, but it doesn’t look like a group that plans to wait around.
Colben Landrew, Junior County and Egor Amosov arrive in Storrs with different paths and different timelines, yet all three already appear capable of helping a UConn team that’s loaded in other spots. The class may be overshadowed by the additions of transfers like Nik Khamenia and Na’jai Hines and the return of Braylon Mullins, but these first-year players are giving the Huskies more than just depth. They’re pushing for real minutes.
Landrew is the headliner, and the way he’s looked so far explains why. The Marietta, Georgia native was the No. 26 overall recruit in the Class of 2026 and the top piece of a class ranked No. 20 overall.
At 6-foot-6 and 236 pounds, he already has the kind of frame that translates, and he plays with the force to match it. He welcomes contact at the rim, and he brings the same edge on defense.
That physical profile showed up quickly in the exhibition win over Purdue, where Landrew scored 15 points and took over a stretch in the second half. He looks comfortable on both ends, which is a big reason the buzz around him has built this fast. Former assistant coach and general manager Tom Moore went as far as drawing a Caron Butler comparison, which carries weight given Butler’s success at UConn and in the NBA.
For now, Landrew is coming off the bench as the sixth man with plenty of minutes still on the table. Jayden Ross technically held onto the last starting spot, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two share the floor because of how well their games fit together.
Both bring defensive versatility, and both can help on the offensive end in different ways. Landrew is also the Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year, so the bar is already set high.
If he keeps playing the way he did in the exhibition games, that award looks within reach - and the Big East Sixth Man of the Year race might be his too.
County has taken a different route, but he’s making a strong case in his own right. He was UConn’s first commitment in the 2026 class and came in as the No. 46 recruit.
The 6-foot-5 Utah product turned heads all summer and even drew high praise from Jon Rothstein, and his first run through UConn’s system suggests why. Across three exhibition games, County had six assists to just turnovers and finished with 24 points.
He doesn’t need to carry the offense with Silas Demary Jr. on what looks like an All-American path, but he does need to steady things when Demary Jr. gets a breather. If County can handle 10-12 minutes a night, that gives UConn more room to manage Demary Jr.’s workload and opens the door for him to spend more time off the ball, where he proved last season he can be a knockdown catch-and-shoot threat.
County’s value goes beyond ball handling. His perimeter defense and ability to knock down open shots - he hit 50 percent from three in the preseason - make him a good fit for a rotation that needs another dependable organizer. Ross and Solo Ball can fill in as handlers when needed, but both are better used coming off screens in the offense.
Amosov may be the last to arrive in the class, but he brings perhaps the most accomplished résumé. The Russian wing played last season for Real Madrid’s Liga U U22 team and was named league MVP after averaging 14.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-7, he has the size to work on the wing, and his quick-trigger shooting fits cleanly into an offense that uses a lot of action off screens.
Still, Amosov seems more likely to be the long-term project of the three. He’ll probably see more of his minutes against lesser competition early, though there’s a chance he’s called on against high-major opponents if UConn needs a scoring jolt off the bench. Adjusting to life in American and to high-major college basketball may take time, but the talent and experience are there for him to become a contributor as the season goes on.
In Other News...
UConn Faces A Brutal Test Against One Of College Footballs Toughest Ground Games
UConn is staring at one of the toughest stylistic challenges on its schedule this week, with Air Force bringing a ground game that has frustrated defenses all season. The Huskies have been solid against the run, but this matchup is different, because the Falcons do not rely on a conventional attack and instead lean on a triple-option system that can force even disciplined defenses into a long day of tackling and assignment football.
Jason Candle said the priority is simple: slow down Air Force on the ground and keep UConns own offense steady enough to help control the tempo. That is easier said than done against a team built to wear opponents down, especially when the Falcons can keep the rushing threat coming from multiple directions and multiple quarterbacks. For UConn, the test is not just stopping one runner - it is staying sharp snap after snap against an offense that rarely gives a defense the same look twice. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Got Exposed In One Area Before A Huge Home Test
UConns trip to Colorado Springs offered a clear reminder of how quickly a game can tilt when an opponent controls the line of scrimmage. Air Force leaned on its ground game, kept the ball for more than 41 minutes and turned that edge into a 35-26 win, leaving the Huskies to chase the game for much of the afternoon. Even without committing a turnover, UConn could not make up for the mismatch in possession, and the loss put an uncomfortable spotlight on a defense that could not get off the field.
Kalieb Osborne gave UConn a chance by throwing for 263 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense spent too much time waiting on the sideline while Air Force dictated the pace. For a team heading into a huge home test, the concern is obvious: if the Huskies cannot slow a run-heavy attack and reclaim control of the game flow, they will keep putting pressure on their own margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Portnoy Put Connecticut Pizza In The Spotlight During UConn Weekend
Dave Portnoys latest trip to Connecticut turned into more than just a stop for a live Barstool College Football Show at Rentschler Field. The Barstool Sports founder, whose One Bite pizza reviews have become a traveling side project of their own, spent time checking out local spots in Middletown and Manchester, giving Connecticut pizza another burst of national attention during UConn weekend.
Among the places he visited, Mulberry Street Pizza and Apizza Heaven came away with favorable early buzz from Portnoys ratings, adding to the growing conversation around the states pizza scene. He also made additional stops at other Connecticut pizzerias, though those reviews have not been published yet, leaving a few local owners and fans waiting to see how the rest of the trip shakes out. [Read more 🡒]