Thankfully for fans who can’t get into the gym to peek at their favorite team, we have experts with access to give us the rundown.

In this case, it’s Jon Rothstein, college basketball insider for CBS Sports, who posted a short video and a series of messages on X after his visit a UConn practice at Storrs, Conn., on Tuesday.

Before the visit, he had UConn ranked as the nation’s No. 4 team in his preseason analysis, trailing Florida, Duke and Illinois. It will be interesting to see if his next list has UConn up or down the list, or if the Huskies will remain in their spot.

This was his instant reaction to what he saw in the Huskies banner-filled gym.

“If the Huskies are going to wind up in the Final Four for the fourth time in five seasons, Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines will be a major, major reason why,” he said. “Hines is down about 10 pounds since the end of last season and had several rim-rocking dunks in Tuesday’s practice.

“Another standout on Tuesday? Freshman lead guard Junior County shot the ball with confidence and also ran the Huskies offense with the poise of a veteran. UConn once again entering next season as the Big East favorite in 26-27.”

We certainly agree with his take on Hines, 19. The 6-foot-11, 278-pound center will be counted on to replace Tarris Reed Jr., who evolved last season into a first-team All-Big East selection and a first-round NBA draft pick.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley credited Reed’s development in his senior season as a key reason for the Huskies’ march to the NCAA championship game, which they dropped to Michigan 69-63.

Hines, a sophomore, showed potential in a reserve role in his first college season at Seton Hall. He averaged 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and led the Big East with 2.2 blocks in an average of 18.0 minutes per game. The New Jersey native hit 60.2% of his shots from the field.

He has the attributes Hurley covets in the big men on his roster.

"Na’jai is a physically imposing presence at the center position," Hurley said when Hines’ signing was announced in April. "He has the potential to make a huge impact offensively, defensively and on the backboard. There is a great legacy of All-America and NBA level dominant big men at UConn and Na’jai has the chance to become the next to uphold that tradition." 

County, one of the nation’s top shooting guards, committed to UConn in October, the first player in the 2026 high school class to do so. And they will need his skill.

The 247Sports composite lists County, who played his senior season at Wasatch Academy in Utah, as a four-star prospect and ranks him No. 7 at the position, No. 41overall in the Class of 2026.

He was a hot prospect, with offers from Power 4 schools across the country. He chose the Huskies over his other four finalists: Arizona, Indiana, Maryland and Purdue.

Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins are entrenched as the starters in the backcourt, but they need a solid reserve corps behind them, which includes County.

Hurley and his staff also need to prepare personnel for the 2027-28 season. Demary is a senior, and the sophomore Mullins is expected to opt for the 2027 NBA Draft, leaving the starting roles wide open.

The 19-year-old County, who is 6-5, 205, comes with the credentials to step in to a big role. He was the Utah Gatorade Player of the Year as he averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior. Wasatch finished with a 24-6 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Nike EYBL scholastic conference tournament.

UConn also brought in transfers Jaye Nash (Jacksonville State) and Nils Machowski (Wofford) at the guard position.

Solo Ball was set to return for his senior season but instead required wrist surgery that will keep him out the entire campaign. He has said he intends to return for the 2027-28 season after taking a redshirt.

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