NEW YORK – UConn men’s basketball‘s incoming recruits are ready for the challenge that will come as Dan Hurley and the Huskies restart their climb after the program’s historic NCAA Tournament winning streak came to an end in the Round of 32 last week.
“It’s just something that Coach Hurley is going to harp on every single day, that they didn’t win that third (NCAA Championship) in a row and he wants to prove something,” said Braylon Mullins, the five-star headliner of the Huskies’ highly-touted 2025 class. “He wants us to win three out of four.”
Mullins was seated next to one of future teammates, 7-footer Eric Reibe, as they took part in Media Day ahead of the McDonald’s All American Game in Brooklyn Tuesday night. Darius Adams, the third All American in the class, sat in the same spot once their time was finished.
The trio – the most McDonald’s All American recruits UConn’s ever had in a single class – makes up a quarter of the 12-man East roster that will take to the Barclays Center court in the annual high school all-star game (9 p.m. ESPN).
The last few days practicing and scrimmaging together have given them a head start on the bonding that will pick up over the summer.
“It’s fun playing when me, Eric and Darius are on the same team,” Mullins said. “It shows a little preview for what’s gonna happen at UConn. It’s exciting, really, just to be able to build a little bit of a bond before we go play.”
Top 25 recruit Eric Reibe on joining UConn: ‘I’m happy to be a (bleeping) Husky’
“Being able to talk to them actually in person and not just on Instagram,” has been the highlight of the week so far for Adams, the 26th-ranked player in the class. “They’re easy to play with already just because they’re such good players. It’s gonna make it easier, for sure, for next year.”
When Stephon Castle played in the same event in 2023, and Liam McNeeley in 2024, UConn was still preparing for the Final Four and, ultimately, winning back-to-back national titles. Now starting the climb over again, these incoming freshmen are prepared to be challenged.
“I just see it as extra motivation just to work harder,” said Reibe, the 7-footer ranked by ESPN as the second-best center in the 2025 class.
Reibe is a more versatile offensive option at center than the Huskies have had in recent years. The Germany native started developing his shooting ability when he was eight years old and can score at all three levels, opening a number of doors in UConn’s complex, screen-heavy offense.
“How UConn and Coach Hurley used Donovan Clingan on the offensive side, giving ...
