According to sources who spoke with ESPN on Saturday, Darius Adams, a highly regarded high school basketball standout ranked among the top 30 seniors nationally, has requested a release from his National Letter of Intent to UConn.
The McDonald’s All-American’s decision to back out of his commitment has reopened his recruitment and stirred debate throughout the Huskies’ fanbase and the college basketball landscape. Adams had been part of a loaded 2025 UConn class featuring fellow McDonald’s All-American Braylon Mullins and top-25 big man Eric Reibe, intensifying the impact of his departure.
McDonald’s All-American Darius Adams Parts Ways With UConn
Adams, a 6-foot-5 combo guard originally from New Jersey, has reopened his recruitment just months before his expected arrival in Storrs. The McDonald’s All-American, who plays at La Lumiere School in Indiana, initially committed to the Huskies in September over offers from Michigan State and Tennessee, with Alabama also in pursuit. He signed with UConn in November as a projected cornerstone of head coach Dan Hurley’s 2025 class.
Some fans viewed the decision as unsurprising.
“He wasn’t going to be a major contributor this year,” one fan wrote.
“I didn’t expect him to decommit, but I did expect him to transfer this time next year after getting a few minutes.” Another added, “This is going to continue to happen, and if you’re UConn, you should be fine with it. Sure, it stinks.”
Ranked as a top-20 national prospect, Adams is known for his smooth shooting, positional versatility, and high basketball IQ. La Lumiere coach Pat Holmes praised his two-way game in the fall, telling ESPN’s Paul Biancardi,
“Darius is a high-level guard who impacts the game in various ways. A true three-level scorer, Darius has the ability to score off the bounce and off the catch. His scoring prowess and shot creation do a great job of setting up his opportunities to facilitate for teammates. Defensively, Darius will compete with the best of them.”
“He has an edge and toughness to his game that translates to every level of basketball, and I think it’s why teammates love playing with him.”
The timing of Adams’ decision—April 19—makes it one of the latest high-profile decommitments in recent cycles. His move comes as UConn’s backcourt picture for 2025–26 becomes increasingly crowded.
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The Huskies added Dayton transfer Malachi Smith (10.4 PPG) and brought back Jayden Ross (2.4 PPG) for additional depth, adding Australian wing Jacob Furphy. Despite Adams’ departure, UConn still has multiple top-25 recruits in the same class—a first since ESPN began tracking recruiting data in 2007.
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