The UConn men’s basketball program added another major piece to its 2027 recruiting haul on Wednesday, landing four-star center Jack Thelen.
Thelen, a 7-foot-1 center from Osseo, Minnesota, and Maple Grove High, announced his commitment to the Huskies through Rivals. His decision gives Dan Hurley’s staff another highly regarded frontcourt prospect in a class that is already stacking up fast.
Thelen had originally committed to Wisconsin in June, but he reopened his recruitment after his profile surged over the summer. On the Adidas 3SSB circuit, he averaged 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and his rankings moved with the production.
247Sports lists him as the No. 16 center in the class, while ESPN has him at No. 15.
In the 247Sports composite, he sits at No. 111 overall.
UConn earned Thelen’s offer after he visited Storrs on Oct. 29. He then took a trip to Illinois on Nov. 7 before settling on the Huskies.
He becomes the fourth player to join UConn’s 2027 class, alongside No. 10 recruit NaVorro Bowman Jr., a 6-foot-3 guard, No. 11 recruit Jordan Page, a 6-foot-5 wing, and 6-foot-10 French center Keny Vado, who was reported by Jonathan Givony earlier this month.
That group now ranks third nationally in the 247Sports team rankings, trailing only LSU and Houston.
247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein described Thelen this way: “Thelen is a big bodied lefty with real size and a quality motor,” Finkelstein wrote. “He’s got a definite competitive streak, is vocal on the defensive end, and willing to use his body in the lane.
While he is sometimes content to trot the floor hunched over, he’s not as vulnerable when pulled to the perimeter defensively as expected. Offensively, he doesn’t appear to need a certain number of touches or shots to stay engaged.
He has good hands, soft touch in the paint, both hands around the rim (albeit with a lower release point), is physical in the post, and reliable reversing the ball on the perimeter. While he’s not looking to shoot out there yet, his 82% free-throw shooting is encouraging, even on very low volume (under 2 attempts per game).”
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