Analyzing the 2021 recruiting class

The Early National Signing Period is almost here. Wednesday is officially the first day that Class of 2021 prospects can ink a letter of intent with the college of their choice.

Currently, UConn has three commitments for next season — all from four- or five-star prospects. Collectively, the class is on track to rank Top 5 nationally.

And that, mind you, is without consensus No. 1 prospect Azzi Fudd. The 5-foot-11 guard out of St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., has narrowed her list to four — UConn, UCLA,

Maryland and Louisville — as her recruitment winds down.

Caroline Ducharme, a 6-2 guard from Noble & Greenough School (Mass.), and Amari DeBerry, a 6-5 forward from Williamsville South (N.Y.), are both Top 10 recruits. The Huskies also have a commitment from a Top 25 prospect in Saylor Poffenbarger, a 6-2 guard from Middletown, Md.

So, with that, we know the class is loaded with potential. But what, specifically, will Ducharme, DeBerry and Poffenbarger bring to Storrs? We talked to a Kevin Lynch, a national talent evaluator with BlueStar

Media, to learn more about them.

Ducharme, to start, is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the class. Ranked No. 7 nationally by BlueStar, she’s coming off a season that saw her average 24.8 points, 14 rebounds, 5.2 assists and win Gatorade State Player of the Year.

“She’s one of the best scorers in the 2021 class,” Lynch said. “She has an array of different moves to get by you, has a shot that can score from deep. She’s very aggressive offensively, (has) a great handle, good IQ, and is a tremendous scorer.”

Ducharme has a similar skill set to Poffenbarger. The Maryland product is billed as another knockdown shooter who can space the floor and create mismatches with her length.

Poffenbarger, the No. 17 prospect, averaged 21.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists this past season despite a nagging hip injury that eventually required surgery. She’s working her way back now after being medically cleared in October.

“They basically are the same size. They basically play the same position, too,” Lynch said.

DeBerry, meanwhile, is touted as one of the better post prospects in the country. There seems

to be some dissenting opinions on DeBerry — BlueStar ranks her No. 4 overall while espnW has her down at 15 — but her upside is unquestioned.

“She’s a defensive presence with her length,” Lynch said. “She runs the floor well, and she can actually extend the floor. She’s got a really nice stroke extending out to the 3-point range, which is rare for a girl with 6-foot-5 size. She’s really comfortable facing the basket, facing up to people. She has an array of really nice inside moves — left hand, right hand.”

Fudd would be a blockbuster addition, but she’s yet to announce when she’ll make a decision. The early signing period runs from Wednesday to Nov. 18. If she doesn’t sign then, she’ll need to wait until the regular period begins on April 21, 2021.

“There’s not one thing she doesn’t do at a high level,” Lynch said of Fudd, the former Gatorade National Player of the Year. “She’s got a high IQ. Her midrange game is one of the best you’ll ever see from a high school kid. She’s a winner. She’s one of those kids that’ll do whatever her team needs her to do.

“If you do end up with that, you’re basically checking off all the boxes. You’ve got a superior guard that can play either one or two — I don’t like putting a number on her. She can play at a top level at a couple different positions. Then you have DeBerry who’s a Top 5 post player in the class, and Ducharme is right up there with the best scorers. And Poffenbarger is a Top 20, 25 player in the country.”

NO FANS AT MOHEGAN

The stands will be empty when UConn tips off its season against Quinnipiac in the Hall of Fame Challenge at Mohegan Sun on Nov. 28. The casino isn’t planning on permitting fans to attend games to start the 2020-21 campaign due to the pandemic, according to Dave Martinelli, the chief marketing officer at the casino.

Friends and family of players and coaches won’t be allowed in either.

Mohegan is set to host more than 40 teams from across the country for nonconference tournaments from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 as part of “Bubbleville.”

MORE POLLS

Where will UConn be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll? We’ll find out Tuesday at noon. The Huskies haven’t started a season outside the Top 5 since 2006-07 (No. 8), and it’s unlikely that’ll change.