NCAA Basketball: Predicting best player from top 2021 recruiting classes
By Ian Mumm
15. Connecticut Huskies
Recruiting Class: Jordan Hawkins, Rahsool Diggins, Corey Floyd Jr., and Samson Johnson
It was a solid season for head coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies. A birth in the NCAA Tournament, despite injury issues throughout the year, was a strong result for UConn all considering. The presence or absence of star guard James Bouknight in the lineup was a major determinant for the Huskies’ performance throughout their schedule. Now that Bouknight has moved onto the NBA, Hurley will be looking to find his next star to lean on.
UConn maintained good depth last season to develop ahead of this year, while also managing to bolster their ranks solely through high school recruitments. The Huskies pieced together a solid group of Jordan Hawkins, Rahsool Diggins, Samson Johnson, and recently reclassified guard Corey Floyd Jr. Johnson is a high-motor forward who will be a big and reliable asset for Connecticut in due time. He is a rebounding magnet and plays above the rim, however is unlikely to bring stardom in the way Bouknight did.
That honus falls on one of the talented guards joining the program this Fall. Diggins is a true point guard who sees the court exceptionally well and makes others around him better. Due to Cole’s presence on the team, he is unlikely to have the minutes allocated in his favor to create the desired production level to be a top freshman. Scoring guards Hawkins and Floyd Jr. provide the best chance to top the list, but also fit immediately into the vacant role left by Bouknight.
Floyd’s recent reclassification is a positive sign for the team’s depth, but he is still very young and there is a possibility he may redshirt if the team proves to be too deep. Hawkins on the other hand did not previously reclassify and has provided consistent production during last season with nearly 18 points and 11 rebounds. He is the kind of player UConn can count on later in the year to produce consistent results and cement his status as the next star of the program.
Prediction: Jordan Hawkins