Jordan Page just committed to UConn on Sunday, picking the Huskies over his hometown North Carolina, and that move alone shot UConn’s 2027 recruiting class all the way up to No. 2 in the nation, according to 247Sports.com. Only Houston, with four four-star commits, sits higher right now, but get this: UConn is the *only* program in the entire country holding commitments from two five-star recruits. Page himself is ranked 12th on 247Sports’ composite rankings, right behind No. 11 NaVorro Bowman Jr., who also committed to the Huskies a few weeks earlier.
Old School, New Dominance: Hurley’s High School Philosophy
You might think with the transfer portal going absolutely wild and the international market booming, coaches would just ditch high school recruiting. Not Dan Hurley. He’s a bit old-school, and it’s clearly working. On Monday, at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Hurley laid it out straight: “We want to continue to recruit high school players.” He gets it, you know? It’s about the brand, the fans, and for coaches, the pure joy of developing young players. He wants to grab an 18-year-old kid and help him get to where he needs to be. That’s a vision, man.
And honestly, it’s better for us, the fans. Hurley knows we live for this stuff. He said it himself: not doing high school recruiting “cheats your fans a little bit out of the fall, which is exciting to follow recruitments and have a kid pick your school.” He’s totally right! Who doesn’t love watching those commitment announcements, seeing a future star choose your team? UConn’s been crushing it for years, developing top 30-75 recruits into champions under both Jim Calhoun and now Hurley. But lately, they’re hunting for even bigger game, and the results are crystal clear.
“Hats and Rings”: The UConn Blueprint for Success
Hurley’s got a new catchphrase that tells you everything you need to know: “hats and rings.” The “rings” part is easy to figure out. We’re talking back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, plus a national runner-up finish this past April, where they got a watch instead of a ring. And “hats”? That’s what first-round draftees wear on NBA Draft night, standing next to Commissioner Adam Silver. He’s building a pipeline.
“Obviously, if you don’t recruit talented, blue-chip guys, you’re probably not going to be there on draft night in New York, when your fans want something to follow in the summer with their favorite team,” Hurley explained. It makes total sense. We want to see our guys make it big, represent the program. UConn is proving they can develop young players and get them to play at a championship level, and then take that next step to the pros. Getting two five-star recruits in one class is rare for them, too. The only other time was back in 2012 with DeAndre Daniels and Andre Drummond. Hurley’s been at the helm for 10 years, and it’s wild to see how he’s brought the Huskies up in weight class, with his recruiting classes following right along. With Page and Bowman Jr. locked in, the future looks absolutely stacked.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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