By ADAM ZAGORIA
Having squared away his current roster, new UConn coach Dan Hurley is focusing on 2019 and beyond.
In about a week’s span, UConn will host key 2019 targets Akok Akok, Precious Achiuwa, Jalen Gaffney and Kofi Cockburn
Akok, the 6-foot-9 power forward from Putnam Science Academy (CT), visited UConn last Friday. He’s also being targeted by Providence, Syracuse and Texas Tech, among others.
“He really liked it,” Putnam assistant Josh Scraba said of UConn. “He loves the new staff and hinks they will turn the program around quick.”
The 6-9 Achiuwa out of St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) is also visiting UConn on Monday.
Achiuwa, who averaged 20.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season at St. Benedict’s Prep, holds offers from UCLA, Oregon, St. John’s, UConn, Kansas, UMass, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Syracuse, and VCU.
Class of 2019 @StBenedictsNJ and @NewHeightsNYC wing @PreciousAchiuwa is visiting UConn today. pic.twitter.com/HHpriOPUTd
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 25, 2018
Hurley, who coached at St. Benedict’s from 2001-10, visited Achiuwa this spring.
“Going back to St. Benedict’s, there’s just a ton of memories,” Hurley said recently. “It’s cool to have people that I’ve taught in the classroom next to or coached with come by and talk about those days there, building a program. The great players, the great teams, the memories in that gym. The practices and the games with J.R. [Smith], Tristan Thompson and Lance Thomas was pretty cool there.”
Gaffney, the 6-3 point guard from the Westtown (PA) School, plans to visit UConn this week, likely Thursday, his father told ZAGSBLOG. He’s also recently visited Virginia Tech, Louisville, Xavier and Pitt.
“I’m a player that’s willing to do everything on the court, play defense, assist, score, whatever they want me to do,” he said this spring, “I’m there.”
Meantime, Hurley and assistant Kimani Young also spent a day this spring at Christ the King High School to watch 6-10 Cockburn, ranked No. 23 by ESPN. Hurley knows Cockburn’s mentors through his connection with fellow Jamaican Samardo Samuels, who played for Hurley at St. Benedict’s. Syracuse, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Cincinnati and South Carolina are also involved for Cockburn, while Kansas and Tennessee recently offered.
Cockburn visits St. John’s Tuesday, one day after fellow big man Aidan Igiehon of Lawrence Woodmere Academy visits the Queens school Monday, and UConn on Friday. St. John’s also hosts 6-6 small forward Chris Ledlum of Saint Peter’s (N.Y.) on Monday.
St. John’s is hosting 2019 @teamrionational big man @Big_harris22 today and 2019 @NYRhoops big man @kxng_alpha tomorrow pic.twitter.com/j8U6Hjb6nl
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 25, 2018
The UConn staff has also checked in on Igiehon, although they are battling Louisville, Stanford, Oregon and USC, among others for the big man.
Cockburn also plans to trim his list soon.
“We’re looking to try to narrow his list down,” said Cockburn’s mentor, Karriem Memminger.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
