Bouknight Brings Scorer’s Mentality
New York City Guard Considered Top-100 Prospect By Many
James Bouknight, a 6-foot-4 guard from Brooklyn and the MacDuffie School in Massachusetts, announced his decision to join the UConn men's basketball program on Tuesday.
He is the first from the Class of 2019 to commit to UConn, which will have five open scholarships after this season.
Fun fact: Bouknight committed to UConn on his 18th birthday.
What Does He Bring To Huskies?
Bouknight is considered an athletic player who can score at “all three levels,” meaning he can drive to the rim, hit the mid-range jumper or the 3-pointer.
Whatthey say: “Here is a guy who has superior athleticism and he can shoot it, which in essence makes him pretty difficult to guard. If I had to sum him up in one word, I would say ‘dynamic.'” — MacDuffie School coach Jacque Rivera
So, He Has A New York Connection?
Bouknight grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, then began his high school career at Manhattan's LaSalle Academy and played AAU basketball for the city's
PSA Cardinals. UConn assistant coach Kimani Young has deep ties to New York City basketball, as does director of player development Taliek Brown. A number of New York players have come to UConn, the most famous being Kemba Walker. Whatthey say: “Every time I would talk to coach Hurley, he’d say, ‘Come and be the next great UConn guard from New York.’ So I definitely felt that New York-Connecticut vibe.” — James Bouknight.
How Did UConn Win Him Over?
By coincidence, Young, as an assistant with Minnesota, had been recruiting Bouknight, and so had Hurley, as head coach at URI. After Bouknight injured his knee last January, both coaches stayed in touch, and that meant a lot to him.
Whatthey say: “When I was hurt, a lot of schools stopped calling me, and maybe gave up on me. But not UConn. They just stuck with me, called me every day, they even came to visit me while I was on crutches. I was just sitting around the bench, they just really showed love.” — James Bouknight
Where Does Bouknight Rank As A Prospect?
Bouknight is considered a four-star, top-100 recruit by most analysts, including No. 87 by ESPN. His stock rose this summer when, after recovering from a knee injury, he stood out on the AAU circuit, especially at the Peach Jam event. Whatthey say: “Very good first signee for Dan Hurley. It may take a few years, but, if [Bouknight] continues to develop his skill-set and stays focused/healthy, I like his NBA upside over others currently ranked above him.” — Recruiting analyst Andrew Slater, via Twitter.
Where Will UConn Look Next For Recruits?
UConn is looking to reload at the guard position, with Isaiah Wong, who visited Sept. 8, and/or Jalen Gaffney, who is coming for a visit this week. The Huskies also need big men and are working hard for Putnam Science’s Akok Akok, visiting him Tuesday.
Whatthey say: “It’s like a different season. Each recruit is like a different game, and it’s a zero-sum game, you don’t get anything for coming in second. We have needs we’ve got to address and we think we’re involved with the right type of kids who can move the needle.” — Dan Hurley (speaking generally about recruiting).