Who Are UCONN’s Incoming Freshmen?
The two-time reigning national champions will welcome three players from their 2024 recruiting class
Photo Credit: UCONN Athletics
After Dan Hurley recently announced his decision to stay at UCONN, the focus now remains on pushing for a third consecutive national title. With four of UCONN’s starters from last season leaving the program, including Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle, and Donovan Clingan, the Huskies will look to their star-studded freshman class to make up for the lost production. The Huskies are bringing in the sixth-best recruiting class, according to 247sports, composed of one five-star and two highly rated four stars expected to receive significant playing time next season.
With two NBA Draft picks from the 2023 NBA Draft and possibly two more lottery picks in the upcoming 2024 Draft, Hurley has proven he can develop and integrate young stars into his rotation, transforming them into NBA-quality talent. The development and potential ceiling for his new freshman class will be seen over time, but here are the three freshmen that have committed to UCONN for the 2024-25 season:
Liam McNeeley (5-Star)
Photo Credit: Gregory Payan
The most exciting prospect of the bunch is a McDonald’s All-American who helped lead Montverde Academy to an undefeated season and Chipotle National Championship last season. Liam McNeeley is the ninth best freshman in the 2024 class in the ESPN Top 100 and the second highest recruit in the Dan Hurley era. McNeeley initially committed to Indiana until he decommitted from the Hoosiers a day after it was announced Mike Woodson would remain with the program for the upcoming season. Many high-profile programs were after McNeeley’s signature, until he ultimately decided to play for Dan Hurley and the Huskies.
The potential one and done prospect is a consistent and reliable three-point threat that is extremely versatile and possesses excellent defensive instincts. Standing at 6-foot-7, he can defend multiple positions while possessing the agility and stamina to be an off-ball threat, coming off screens and attacking defenders downhill. He also possesses the skillset to play as an athletic wing depending on who he shares the court with, and the system Hurley chooses to play in. While he has reliable playmaking abilities, he isn’t ready to be the primary ball handler for a team looking to contend for a national championship. McNeeley is expected to fulfill a role similar Cam Spencer and Jordan Hawkins over recent years, with plenty of off ball movement as a shooting threat. McNeeley arguably has the highest ceiling of this recruiting class and will likely receive significant minutes as a starter and will be tasked to contribute on all fronts from day one.
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Ahmad Nowell (4-Star)
Photo Credit: Gregory Payan
A top-40 prospect and top-5 combo guard in the 2024 class, Ahmad Nowell has been eagerly waiting to arrive in Storrs to get his collegiate career started. The Philadelphia native played high school basketball at Imhotep Institute and while he didn’t attend a national powerhouse, Nowell still made a name for himself in his hometown. With UCONN losing their starting backcourt from least season, Nowell will certainly ease the pain and can contribute at the highest level by replacing much of their lost production.
While slightly undersized at 6-foot-1, Nowell makes up for it with his physical build, aggressiveness, and junkyard dog mentality. He is a gym rat who is highly competitive and wants to win no matter the cost. A reliable shooter, aggressive scoring mentality, reliable playmaker, and an elite defender who can impact a game both on and off the ball are all qualities that Nowell will bring to UCONN next season. Even with his size, Nowell is still an excellent rebounder and offers a skillset and mentality that makes him an excellent fit for a coach like Dan Hurley. While today’s sport prioritizes experience, Nowell will likely have to earn and compete for a starting role and will share ball handing duties with Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney. While there is a possibility for Nowell to go pro after one season, he will first have to show he can play at a championship level in Connecticut first. Nowell will likely play significant minutes throughout the duration of the season but will have to fight for a spot in the starting lineup.
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Isaiah Abraham (4-Star)
Photo Credit: Joe Arruda
The first player to have committed to the Huskies in the 2024 class is a top-75 prospect out of Gainesville, Virginia. Isaiah Abraham helped lead Paul VI High School to a second-place finish in the Chipotle Nationals, falling short to Montverde Academy and future teammate Liam McNeeley. Abraham committed to the Huskies over Virginia Tech, Providence, and Marquette, a school his father played for in the 1990’s. Now looking to build his own legacy, Abraham has continued to develop his game over the last year, eager to bring his talents to a championship level roster.
He is a 6-foot-7 guard/wing that is a three-level scorer, elite defender, and strong two-way player that can impact a game on both ends. Abraham thrives against smaller defenders and has elite athleticism, which is evident when finishing at the rim. While there are still many aspects of his offensive game that still need to be polished, playing for a coach like Hurley should see him drastically improve over time as he gets a better feel for the college game. It remains to be seen how big of a role he will play for the upcoming season, but Abraham has the mentality and work ethic that should see him, at the very least, compete for significant minutes as a rotation player.
