“This — I don’t want to say it — like… It’s a monster class,” Dan Hurley had said when asked about his 2025 recruiting group, which was ranked second in the nation by 247Sports at the time. With Braylon Mullins, Darius Adams, Jacob Furphy, and Eric Reibe joining in, UConn looked primed to bounce back after last season’s Sweet 16 exit at the hands of the eventual champs — a roadblock in their quest for a historic three-peat. These four knew the pain. They were supposed to come in and help the Huskies reclaim their throne. At least, that was the plan. But now? One five-star recruit has had a change of heart.

Manchester native Darius Adams has officially decommitted from UConn. The La Lumiere senior confirmed the news on social media, which has shocked the entire college basketball community. The 6-5 combo guard was one of the top prospects in the country and a major coup for the Huskies.

“After much thought and prayer, I’ve decided to decommit from the University of Connecticut,” Adams wrote on Instagram. “This was not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the best step for me and my future. With that being said, my recruitment is officially back open and I’m excited to see what the next chapter holds.”

Adams began his high school journey at Manasquan, where he led the Big Blue to an NJSIAA Group 2 title in 2023. Since then, his stock has only soared. He recently suited up in the McDonald’s All-American Game and is now reopening his recruitment. On top of that, he’s also asking to be released from his NIL agreement. Michigan State, Alabama, and Tennessee are all circling around to secure his services. It’s going to be interesting to see where he lands next.

Naturally, fans weren’t too happy with how things played out. Losing a five-star recruit? Yeah, that was never going to go over smoothly. Most of the frustration was aimed right at Dan Hurley. Fair or not, he took the brunt of the heat. Social media lit up with reactions. Let’s check out what the fans had to say.

Dan Hurley and UConn left red-faced as five-star recruit decommits

Fans were naturally upset and didn’t hold back on X. “Kids don’t wanna play for Dan Hurley. He su-ks lol,” one fan posted bluntly. Another piled on, saying, “Wouldn’t want Dan Hurley as my coach either.”  Yeah, Hurley was catching a lot of heat. But does any of that criticism even make sense?

Let’s not forget that Hurley pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in the country this year. Three five-star recruits. That’s no small feat. Even without Darius Adams, UConn still has two studs coming in: Braylon Mullins and Eric Reibe. No shortage of talent there. This class proves one thing–kids still do want to play for Dan Hurley. Why wouldn’t they? The 2024 NBA draft saw 4 Huskies get selected.

They’re not really saying he’s a bad coach—his two rings prove otherwise—but the sting of losing a five-star talent makes them question if UConn’s still the place to be for top recruits.

Still, that didn’t stop the frustration from rolling in. Fans weren’t letting up. “Hurley is washed,” one fan said. Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “Didn’t wanna play for a team that couldn’t even make Sweet 16.”Last season? One to forget for Dan Hurley. The back-to-back champs ended up third in the Big East with a 14-6 conference record. They went 5-5 in Quad 1 games. And in March? Their tourney run ended in the second round against the Gators—a game they actually led for most of the way. But calling Hurley “washed” after one down year? That’s a reach. It’s tough rebuilding year after year when you lose 4-5 core players to the NBA.Now, the question is–can he bounce back? Or does Adams’ exit signal deeper trouble in Storrs?

Of course, not all fans are buying into the negativity. One fan made a solid point saying “He fell to the 6th guard on the depth chart. That’s how loaded our backcourt is lol.” Another fan joined in saying,“This dude wasn’t even going to get minutes his first year.”

It all kind of adds up when you look at the moves UConn’s made this portal. Adams might’ve seen the writing on the wall. Dan Hurley brought in two proven guards in Silas Demary Jr. from Georgia and Malachi Smith from Dayton who are both expected to take on big roles this season.

These guys, plus returning players like Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, and Tarris Reed Jr., make UConn’s backcourt a logjam, especially if captain Alex Karaban decides to return for his senior year.

With all that talent, Adams’ chances for early minutes weren’t looking great. So yeah, it makes total sense for Darius Adams to look elsewhere. He needs a place where he can get consistent minutes, grow his game, and really showcase his potential. In today’s NIL-driven world, he’s also likely chasing a program that offers both playing time and a bigger financial deal to boost his brand before the NBA.