Intriguing, Hot Shooting Backcourt Options for UConn
Kayvaun Mulready has prolonged his offensive tear at Worcester Academy (MA).
UConn was one of the earliest on the 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard at Worcester Academy. Mulready, who has a build similar to Chauncey Billups and former UConn point guard Khalid El Amin, has cemented his status as a three level scorer with a vertically explosive, ferocious above the rim game and defensive tenacity.
With a game predicated on two way toughness and a deep high arching three-point shot, Class of 2024 Worcester Academy (MA) guard Mulready has been a bullish point guard whose game and imposing 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame draws parallels to legendary UConn guard El Amin.
Mulready, who had a 29-point game during the prestigious National Prep Showcase in New Haven, Conn. last month, was offered by Connecticut on Dec. 18. The 6-foot-4 high major prospect has relished his role as the spirit of WA's lockdown operation. He's ball hawking defensive presence, with an adeptness for instigating turnovers and converting them into transition leak-out buckets.
Mulready is also vertically explosive, cramming extravagant dunks in the open court and turning in those loud plays which get the momentum rolling.
Mulready adds UConn to a list that includes Texas A&M, Penn State, Marquette, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Penn State, Washington, Boston College, Providence and others.
The factors working in UConn's favor is proximity and local ties. Assistant coach Tom Moore, once the right hand man to Big East tycoon and iconic former UConn coach Jim Calhoun, is from the Worcester area originally.
Meanwhile, down in Fort Myers, Fla., Stepinac (NY) point guard Boogie Fland put his full arsenal on display during the prestigious City of Palms event at Florida Southwestern State College.
Fland has shown a newfound three-point range and consistency as a catch-and-stick threat. He's shown the ability to knock down shots from NBA range. While his forte is that of a slick, crafty point guard capable of weaving through defenders and creating space using an array of stepbacks, pull-ups, and hesitation moves, he's transformed his game as a 3-point gunner.
Fland was named to the All tournament team at City of Palms, averaging 18 points per game and shooting it at a 41 percent clip from beyond the arc.
There were some questions enveloping how well he could knock down that shot following an injury truncated sophomore year at Stepinac. Then, during the Nike EYBL Session II in Indiana during the spring circuit, he erupted for 25 points (8-for-10 FG, 5-for-7 3FG) during a 53-50 victory over BABC.
Fland's augmented range was evident during a 24-point performance during a 52-44 win over Missouri power Vashon. He was able to hit 3-pointers from the parking lot, as tape measure shots have now been incorporated into his arsenal.
UConn, of course, appears to have an advantage on 6-foot-8 3-point grenade launcher Tyler Betsey of St. Thomas More Prep. Betsey, who St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn describes as the ultimate team guy who "never plays sped up," has been recruited thoroughly by head coach Dan Hurley as well as assistant coaches Tom Moore, Luke Murray, and Kimani Young.
Young, a New Yorker who is also heavy on the aforementioned Fland and went to see him and Ian Jackson over the waters during U-18 FIBA international play, has close ties to Betsey's NY Rens AAU program.
Shooting has not been an issue for the Huskies, which moved to 13-0 following an 84-73 win over Georgetown.
While he has been mired in a shooting funk, 6-foot-4 senior guard Nahiem Alleyne hit 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, including one right before the halftime buzzer, in UConn's recent 68-46 victory at a hostile environment at Butler.
--------------------------------------------------------------
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel