UConn has committed from No. 19 basketball recruit Darius Adams

Darius Adams, ranked No. 19 in the 2025 ESPN 100, announced his commitment to UConn on Monday, giving the two-time reigning national champions their first recruit in the class.

Adams chose the Huskies over Michigan State and Tennessee. He took official visits to each of those three schools before canceling a scheduled visit to Alabama.

“It felt right. It felt like family,” Adams told ESPN. “After watching them practice, I wanted to go to practice. When the tour was over, I didn’t want to go.”

Adams developed a strong relationship with coach Dan Hurley, whose trademark sideline passion was a plus in the Huskies’ column.

“Love his intensity,” Adams said. “He gets his shooters open. He gets you ready for the next level. He’s relentless on the court. Tough on his players in a good way. Funny guy off the court in a little sarcastic way.”

A 6-foot-5 combo guard from New Jersey who attended La Lumiere School (Indiana), Adams is ranked as the fourth-best shooting guard in the nation. He averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 12 EYBL scholastic games as a junior, shooting better than 40% from 3-point range. He averaged 15.0 points on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and 14.4 points in five games at the Nike Pitch Jam this past summer.

Adams is one of the best shooters in the class of 2025, possesses great positional size and is someone who scores with shotmaking, driving and finishing skills. He also has the awareness and ability to be a playmaker for others. A strength at this point is being a movement shooter behind the arc or the ability to spot.

He also demonstrated the handle and court vision necessary to navigate breaks in the open floor.

“Darius is a high-level guard who impacts the game in multiple ways,” La Lumiere coach Pat Holmes said. “A true three-level scorer, Darius has the ability to score off the bounce and off the catch. His scoring ability and shot creation do a great job of creating opportunities for teammates. Defensively, Darius will compete with the best. His game is among them. There’s an edge and tenacity that translates to every level of basketball and I think that’s why teammates love playing with him.”

For many high-level high school seniors to add to their class, the Huskies blend in perfectly. Adams noted that he wants Braylon Mullins (No. 24), Eric Reibe (No. 23), Akaden Lewis (No. 28) and Nico Bundalo (No. 25) to join him in Storrs, while UConn is also pursuing Nate Ament (No. 4). ).