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    Saturday, November 09, 2024

    UConn men secure commitment from highly regarded center

    For the second time in just over two weeks, UConn has secured a commitment from a highly regarded basketball recruit from the Class of 2025.

    Eric Reibe, a 7-foot, 235-pound center at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, announced on 247Sports that he plans to play for the Huskies. He also considered Indiana, Creighton, Kansas and Oregon.

    One of the top centers in his class, Reibe’s decision comes on the heels of top 25 recruit Darius Adams, a 6-5 guard, committing to UConn on Sept. 30.

    “First, it was the special culture at UConn,” Reibe told 247Sports about his choice. “Their offensive play style suits me really well and with my playmaking abilities, to be at the top of the key and to hand off, pick-and-pops, pick-and-rolls, find the open cutter and that fits perfectly with their unselfish team play.

    “… For me, it’s just the best place for me to develop as a basketball player and as a human being and training my mental aspect is very important, too. And then my relationship with the coaches is really, really good. And they also just won back-to-back nattys.”

    Reibe’s stock rose over the summer and he became a top 30 recruit. He took an official visit to Storrs in early September.

    UConn coach Dan Hurley made Reibe a high-priority target.

    Hurley, along with associate head coach Kimani Young and assistant Luke Murray, visited Reibe at the Bullis School after the Huskies were honored at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10.

    Player development has played a major role in UConn’s success. At the center position alone the last two seasons, the Huskies have sent Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan to the professional ranks. Clingan was selected seventh by Portland in the 2024 NBA Draft.

    Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting for 247Sports, called Reibe one of the most skilled big men in the country.

    Reibe described what he’ll bring to the UConn program.

    “They’re getting a kid with high effort and a great work ethic,” Reibe said. “I want to win everything. I want to be fully in the UConn culture. I want to get better every single day, no matter how I’m feeling. I just can’t wait to be on campus and play in front of the best fans in the country.

    “And I’ll bring everything I have, all my energy. I’m happy to be a (expletive) Husky.”

    Reibe’s journey began overseas. He lived in Germany until he was eight years old and then moved to Switzerland, where he started playing basketball. At 14, he went back to Germany and played for a club. Two years later, he headed to the United States.

    “It’s been a great journey,” Reibe said.

    UConn will find out next week if it will add to its impressive list of commitments. Braylon Mullins, a 6-5 guard, will announce his future basketball home on Wednesday. He’s narrowed his list to UConn, North Carolina and Indiana.

    g.keefe@theday.com

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