NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Will Illinois or UConn Land 2025 Guard Jacob Furphy?
In the modern basketball landscape, international talent has been crucial to both the NBA and NCAA. Australia, in particular, has emerged as a powerhouse in FIBA play, producing stars like Jock Landale (St. Mary’s), Josh Green (Arizona), and Johnny Furphy, who started at Kansas before declaring for the NBA Draft.
One of the next rising stars from Australia is Jacob Furphy, a 6’4” shooting guard. Though not related to Johnny, Jacob has made a name for himself through standout performances in FIBA competitions. Now ranked as a top-100 recruit in the class of 2025, he is being courted by two major programs: UConn and Illinois. But which school is the better fit?
Illinois Fighting Illini
Under coach Brad Underwood, Illinois has increasingly tapped into international talent, recently signing freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic. They’ve also secured two 2025 commitments in Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler, both guard/wing players. However, the Illini don’t have any seniors on the perimeter, which could lead to a crowded backcourt unless players like Kylan Boswell, Tre White, or Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn decide to leave. Still, after the breakout seasons of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Markus Domask, Furphy might find it appealing to join a system that has proven success for wings.
Jacob Furphy
UConn Huskies
It’s no surprise that international players would be drawn to UConn, the reigning two-time national champions under Coach Danny Hurley. The development of stars like Cam Spencer and Jordan Hawkins could be a major selling point for Furphy, especially since he likely won’t plan to stay all four years. Yet, as with Illinois, immediate playing time isn’t guaranteed. While 5-star guard commit Darius Adams may play more at the point, Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney and Solomon Ball are expected to return next season. With both schools offering strong cases, UConn’s championship pedigree might give the Huskies an edge.
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