By ADAM ZAGORIA
Dan Hurley and defending NCAA champion UConn signed two key recruits on Wednesday in Paul VI (VA) forward Isaiah Abraham and Imhotep Charter (PA) guard Ahmad Nowell.
With UConn freshman point guard Steph Castle and big man Donovan Clingan projected as NBA lottery picks after this season, it should open up playing time going forward.
“The staff did a tremendous job putting this class together and we are excited to add two terrific young men to our program. Isaiah and Ahmad embody the attributes we preach every day and will be a tremendous fit to our championship culture here in Storrs,” Hurley said in a statement.
Abraham is a consensus top-75 prospect who plays his high school ball at Paul VI in Chantilly, Va. and for Team Takeover on the AAU circuit. His father Faisal Abraham played at Marquette. Abraham helped Team Takeover to the 2023 17U Nike Peach Jam title over the summer. In his junior season at Paul VI, the Panthers went 31-4 and won the Division I VISAA Basketball Championship.
“We’re really excited about Isaiah, he’s a great kid from an awesome family,” Hurley said. “Zay has played for some terrific coaches both at the grassroots and the high school level. He brings big-time athleticism and versatility on the perimeter. He has the potential to be a positionless, two-way player thanks to his immense upside. We cannot wait to bring Isaiah and his championship pedigree to Storrs.”
The 6–1 Nowell is a consensus top-40 prospect out of Philadelphia and a top-five combo guard in his class. He preps at Imhotep Institute, where he led the Panthers to a 30-3 record and the Class 5A state title last season. On the AAU circuit he runs with Team Final, where he averaged 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 17 games last grassroots season. “Ahmad brings the kind of hard-nosed Philly toughness that will fit perfectly with the culture we have established here at UConn,” Hurley said. “He is a powerful guard who can shoot, drive and score through contact, as well as be an aggressive on-ball defender. He’s a winning player that we expect to be an important part of our program as we go after future championships.” Nowell and Abraham signed the same day that Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024, signed with Duke after selecting them over UConn. Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookThe group that signed today out of @PVIHoops is as good as any in the nation@NgongbaPatrick – @DukeMBB @darrenwh11 – @DukeMBB @GarrettSundra – @NDmbb @iamzzayy – @UConnMBB @theb3nhammond – @RhodyMBB pic.twitter.com/9cMCGNkKlZ
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) November 8, 2023
