While the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is going for its three-peat, Dan Hurley is recruiting players to build a team for the future. The same was clear when he landed the top 25 recruits, namely Braylon Mullins, Darius Adams, and Eric Reibe, for the class of 2025. And now, with his latest move, the 2x NCAA winning coach looks to be building a team that can cover up for the losses Hurley has faced as his players graduate.

On Wednesday’s episode of The Field Of 68: After Dark, Rob Dauster took notice of the latest Huskies signee Jacob Furphy and divulged how he could fill in the role left by Tristen Newton. This had fans applauding Hurley’s masterstroke.

“Another decision maker… another passer, another creator, another like basketball savvy guy that you could put into some of these ball screen actions. That you could put in some of these DHOS, that you could allow to, to play with the ball in his hands and make a decision,” Dauster stated.

On Wednesday, Furphy announced his decision to commit to the Huskies over Illinois. Hurley recruited the Australian guard, who developed from the NBA Global Academy and came with international experience in the FIBA U18 team. He averaged a decent 16.8 points with 4.2 assists per game during that time which is a testament to his calibre. All this makes him a perfect candidate to fill in the place of Tristen Newton.

“While letting your lead guards be scores and kind of be who they were naturally right like, Tristen Newton was UConn’s point guard, but he was a go-to scorer more than he was a guy that you wanted to kind of be out there, and make the decisions and make the plays and run your offense through to create for others,” Dauster added, via The Field Of 68: After Dark.

Newton was drafted in the second round by the Indiana Pacers this season. He was a part of both the NCAA winning squads in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Thus, he occupied a main position with the Huskies, and following his drafting to the Pacers, Hurley would need someone to play the role he did.

“He was out there to kind of create for himself at the end of a clock. Where guys like Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban, and Steph Castle were the guys that were kind of out there, maybe to create for others a little bit more, if that makes sense. So I think Furphy is, is kind of that guy… the… the name that I got from him or got, got him compared to was kind of like what Joe Ingles brought to the Jazz when Joe Ingles was playing his best,” Dauster concluded.

Transferring from East Carolina in 2021-22, Newton averaged 10.1 points per game during his first season with the Huskies. That year, he played a supporting role as Hurley cut the nets. Then, in the next season, he played the central offensive star, averaging 15.1 points with 6.2 assists per game. Therefore, if the Huskies want to give a tough time to their opponents, then someone will have to cover up for Newton’s role and Furphy does just that. Meanwhile, the Storrs-based team looks to be building a super team.

Dan Hurley’s recruitment is top-notch

Before Furphy committed to the Huskies, they already had pooled in five-star recruits in Mullins, Adams, and Reibe. Adams brings shooting power and positional strength to the Huskies and admires Hurley’s tough coaching. “He gets you ready for the next level,” Adams has stated of the New Jersey-born.

To complement him, the Huskies have Reibe, who is a 7-footer. He brings his charm of rebounds and offensive sprees. Plus, Reibe has represented Germany’s U18 team, so he knows how to make the most of the big stage, something the Huskies would need since they have won back-to-back championship titles.

Meanwhile, Mullins knows how to get the ball and create open spaces for himself. And after Hurley has added Furphy, it is clear that the Huskies will be the top contenders for the title next year. As of now, Hurley will want to concentrate on the current season and take his team to the three-peat.