NEW YORK — UConn got in earlier than most on Wenyen Gabriel, but the list of schools recruiting him is growing.
“It’s exciting,” said Gabriel, a 6-foot-9 forward from New Hampshire. “I can go to pretty much any school I want. But in the end, I can only go to one school.”
Gabriel was at the Gauchos Gym, Kemba Walker’s gym, in the Bronx, practicing for the Big Strick Classic, which draws top recruits from across the country to play Saturday night. Gabriel, who plays at Wilbraham and Monson Academy, has flourished this summer, becoming one of the most talked-about recruits in the Class of 2016, and his performances on the Adidas circuit have landed him offers from Duke, Kentucky and a host of other big-name programs in recent weeks. He has made two visits to UConn with the Mass Rivals team, and the Huskies offered him a scholarship last spring.
“My relationship with [UConn coaches] is very good,” he said.
The schools that have come hardest at him, he said, are Duke, Kentucky, Maryland, UConn, Notre Dame, Texas and Miami.
Gabriel was in California earlier this week for the Adidas Nations camp, where he spent some time with UConn junior Amida Brimah, who was one of the counselors there.
“I saw him every day and we talked a little bit,” Gabriel said. “Just talking about the recruiting process, schools, finding the right fit. He was telling me I should take my time. And he obviously told me he liked UConn, too.”
Gabriel is 185 pounds, very spindly, so in evaluating destinations, he is trying to figure out what style would suit him best.
“I’m kind of thin right now, kind of position-less right now,” he said. “So I need to figure out where I would translate for the NBA.”
UConn likes the “position-less” player, and has a history of success — DeAndre Daniels and Daniel Hamilton — with players moving between small and power forward for matchup advantages. The Huskies, given the schools now in the mix, will have their work cut out.
The things Gabriel is looking for:
“First, good relationship with head coach and success in the past,” he said. “I want to know if I can make it to where I want to go from that school. … I want to go to a school where the interest is [mutual], where they’re recruiting me hard.”
Adams Misses Adidas Nations
Gabriel was to also spend some time with his former AAU teammate, Jalen Adams, the Huskies’ highly touted freshman. But Adams has been limited by an ankle injury recently and did not go to California for the Adidas Nations camp. … Mustapha Heron, the 6-5 shooting guard from Sacred Heart-Waterbury, said his list is down to “five schools I’m most comfortable with.” They include Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Marquette and SMU. Heron, Class of ’16, originally committed to Pitt, but decommitted last spring. “I wanted to explore my options,” he said, “see what else is out there.” He said UConn was in the picture a couple of years ago, “but I don’t want to stay home. Location isn’t a big factor, but I don’t want to stay home.” Heron’s next visit is Mississippi State, Aug. 27. … UConn commit Alterique Gilbert, a high-level point guard from Lithonia, Ga., was to appear in the Big Strick Classic, but he couldn’t make it to New York on Friday and may not be able to make it for the game. … This is the weekend for Jim Calhoun’s Celebrity Golf Classic, which has raised over $8 million for cardiac research at UConn Health. A host of former Huskies are expected at the Golf Club of Avon on Monday morning.
