UConn thought their heartbreak from the failed three-peat was over after they picked up Georgia star Silas Demary Jr. and Dayton point guard Malachi Smith in the transfer portal. With an elite high school recruiting class, UConn seemed destined to return to national contention. However, the Huskies received bad news when Darius Adams decommitted from UConn. So, who is in contention to add Adams to their class? Will UConn be able to fill that void in the portal? Let’s dive in.
BREAKING: Top-20 recruit Darius Adams, a McDonalds All-American, has requested his release from UConn and will reopen his recruitment, he tells @On3Recruits.
The 6-5 Shooting Guard originally chose the Huskies over Michigan State and Tennessee but says his recruitment is now… pic.twitter.com/0heWYX937m
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 19, 2025
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High School All-American Darius Adams Decommits from UConn
Where Can Darius Adams Go After Decommitting from UConn?
Assuming Adams doesn’t recommit to the Huskies, there are three programs that he took an official visit to during his recruiting cycle. His first visit was to NC State. Despite an upgrade in coaching, it seems unlikely that he would go to NC State with a new coach. His next visit was to Tennessee. Since that visit, Tennessee has received commitments from three guards, including Maryland star transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie. If Darius Adams decommitted from UConn because of playing time (only a theory, but highly plausible because of the recent commitments for the Huskies), then it seems unlikely that he would choose another school that has similar competition in the backcourt.
That leaves his final visit: Michigan State. While Rick Barnes is a great coach, Tom Izzo is the best coach among these remaining schools. Izzo recently received a commitment from Samford guard Trey Fort, but the Spartan backcourt isn’t deep. Jaden Akins graduated, Jase Richardson declared for the draft, and Tre Holloman transferred to NC State. Those three all played excessive minutes, so Adams could step right in and play meaningful minutes immediately for the Spartans. Ultimately, MSU is likely the favorite to land Adams.
Who’s Left For UConn in the Transfer Portal?
There are a few elite high school recruits left, but it is too late to rely on one of those players. When Adams decommitted from UConn, the Huskies immediately had an open spot for a transfer guard. Fortunately for them, this class still has elite guards available. Memphis star PJ Haggerty just entered the transfer portal. With Smith and Haggerty’s demand to play primary point guard, I’m not sure the Huskies will be actively seeking him. However, Ian Jackson, the standout from North Carolina, is still available. While many people think the NYC native is bound for St. John’s, he hasn’t made an announcement yet. Jackson would be a great addition to the elite guards in the backcourt.
If they were looking for more of a wing, there are still several wings in the transfer portal to choose from. RJ Luis, Jamir Watkins, and Chad Baker-Mazara all would be immediate impact transfers next season for the Huskies. There are more elite wings in this class than in any other position, so UConn will have a chance to pick up another great transfer.
For now, UConn will have to recover after Adams decommitted. The Huskies have a great reputation with an elite coach and great funding. Losing a high school All-American is painful to any program, but few programs recover like UConn. They will be fine and may find an even better replacement for Adams.
Photo credit: © David Butler II-Imagn Images
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