Dan Hurley “thinks with what he did with (Donovan) Clingan on the defensive side, he can do with me,” says Eric Reibe. The 7-footer from Germany is the latest talent to commit to UConn for 2025 and is ready to step into Clingan’s shoes. Another 7-footer, who went to the Portland Trail Blazers this season, was an essential part of the Huskies offense the last two seasons and Reibe is ready to take on the mantle. If his words are to be believed, he may even do a better job than Clingan.

Sitting down with Locked on UConn‘s Mark Zanetto, the 2025 commit spoke on similarities and differences he finds between himself and the now-graduate. Aside from the obvious height, Reibe knows how strong each of their offense is. “Donovan – he was at the top of the key doing handoffs, like, he was one of the main guys in the offense and that’s where I see myself at,” the Bullis High School senior says.

But he also challenges Clingan’s play, “But I do more – I shoot more than Donovan. Donovan was more of a great defensive player, which is what I got to work on the most.” Later on in the podcast, he goes on to say how he’s excited about Coach Hurley’s plan for him when Zanetto points out how Reibe is already doing more than what Clingan did when he first arrived in Storrs.

“I’m excited about Coach Hurley’s plan with me and how he’s gonna use me in the offensive style. Things like me being the top of the key, looking for cutters or playing hand offs and one guy on the corner, one guy on the wing. He says a down screen and I can even throw a lob or…if we have an empty corner I can do pick and pops. So many things we can do on offense that many big men might not be able to guard,” the German details. “I can switch, or make others switch.”

The second-best center in the senior class, and already a ringer for Clingan as he told Zanetto, ESPN ranked the German No. 23 overall in the ESPN 100 for the 2025 class. What made Reibe attractive to UConn was his array of achievements on the world stage, playing for the German national team, yes. But his ability to score as well as pass with his back to the basket or while facing it, combined with his consistent midrange and 3-point shots make him deadly.

Analysts often speak of his high basketball IQ and his jump hook and baseline spin, not to mention dribbling ability, made him a catch for Dan Hurley. But why did Reibe choose UConn over Kansas, Creighton, Indiana, and Oregon?

Eric Reibe believes Dan Hurley’s Huskies are “the best place for me to develop”

UConn’s back-to-back championships would lure anyone in, and it will be historic if they complete the three-peat this year. The school will become even more touted before Eric Reibe gets a chance to join Dan Hurley and the next season will perhaps be even more exciting for the Huskies commit.

When he made the announcement, the German also listed out the main reasons for choosing the Storrs-based program, “First off, it was the special culture at UConn. And their offensive play style suits me very 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 cutters, and that fits perfectly with unselfish team play.”

Under Coach Hurley, Reibe believes, “For me, I think 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 of course very, very good.”

UConn’s 2025 recruiting class now includes Eric Reibe and four-star shooting guard Darius Adams, making it two Top 25 picks for the school. And who wouldn’t want to win championships while training to be a top NBA player? The pitch is clear – come to Storrs, become a basketball great!