On July 26, Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies had zero commitments in the 2021 class. Today, a mere 15 days and three top-100 commitments later, Samson Johnson (#86 in 247 Composite) took Hurley’s last open scholarship (for now), Johnson announced on Twitter.
It can’t be overstated how impressive it is to put together a class of three top-100 recruits before mid-August. Johnson’s commitment has UConn’s class currently ranked #4 in the country for 2021. Dan Hurley is on a recruiting run so hot, it could make six figures on OnlyFans.
Johnson, a 6’10” forward out of The Patrick School (yes, the same school as Adama Sanogo, who played alongside Johnson last year), is a long and athletic shotblocker who can also step away from the basket and hit a jumper. He would be an ideal Akok Akok replacement should the forward leave early for the NBA.
This is another notch in the belt of Kimani Young, who is quickly establishing himself as an elite recruiter. With commitments as lead recruiter on James Bouknight, Jalen Gaffney, Sanogo, and now Johnson, Young could find himself getting talked up as a potential head coach for a northeastern school if he continues to show off like this.
While this represents the last scholarship that UConn officially has available for 2021, most expect that James Bouknight will probably head to the NBA at the end of the season, and the staff is operating accordingly. Whether they hold that spot for a late decommit or grad transfer, or they try to add another player currently available in the 2021 class remains to be seen. Hurley and his staff are already heavily invested in the 2022 recruiting class, with local big man Donovan Clingan (#40 in 2022) appearing to be the Huskies’ top target.
