Ahmad Nowell: Three thoughts on UConn's latest commitment

Danny Hurley and the UConn Huskies landed another four-star in their 2024 high school class on Sunday when Ahmad Nowell, the No. 40 player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, committed. This is their second commitment of the month, with four-star small forward Isaiah Abraham committed less than ten days ago. 

UConn is coming off a 2022-23 national championship campaign. Last year’s team saw two players drafted, two players on the All-Big East First Team, and two players on the All-Big East Freshman Team.

Let’s go through what UConn is getting in their latest commitment.

Who is Ahmad Nowell?

Ahmad Nowell is a 6-foot-0, 185-pound guard and the No. 4 combo guard in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. Nowell chose UConn over a final group that also included Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Kentucky.

The four-star guard played his high school ball at Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter. Nowell averaged 13.3 points while shooting 39.1 percent from three en route to a second consecutive state championship.

In 23 games with the Team Final program on Nike’s EYBL Circuit this summer, Nowell averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.4 steals and shot 40.6 percent from three. Team Final finished with the No. 1 ranking heading into Peach Jam and was 20-3 overall.

What does he bring to UConn?

Ahmad Nowell is an ultimate connector piece, someone who can take on multiple duties on both ends of the floor while also enhancing the play of others. Immediately, you look at his defense to translate, and that might be the tool that gets him on the court the earliest. He plays with tenacity on that end of the floor, which allows his long arms and strong frame to be disruptive both on and off the ball.

Offensively, Nowell is a capable shotmaker off the catch, and he is a ball mover with it in his hands. Nowell plays very well beside other talented players and can handle some on-the-ball duties in a secondary or back-up type role. 

UConn already has a commitment from four-star small forward Isaiah Abraham in the 2024 class. That is built on a 2023 class that brought in five-star guard Stephon Castle and a haul of four-star perimeter players with scoring guard Solomon Ball and wings Jayden Ross and Jaylin Stewart. Nowell’s ability to play on the ball or off the ball, on both ends, allows for some versatility within these lineups as Hurley might look to stagger some of the minutes.

How does Nowell fit into the lineup?

In the previous two classes, 2023 and 2024, UConn has brought in length and athleticism but has really seemed to focus on shot makers. While Stephon Castle is at his best with the ball in his hands and touching the paint, the other perimeter players added, Ball, Abraham, Stewart, and Ross, can all create and make shots. 

Nowell looks to be a seemless fit with that group as a defensive stopper, especially on the ball, and a guy where the ball does not stick on the offensive end. He can also knock down a three off the catch. While he may not offer as much flash, or as much pop as the rest of the group, there is a steady nature to his game that comes with a pedigree of winning. 

Nowell on UConn

“Honestly, the fact that they’re national champions stands out. Over the last couple of years, they have had a couple of lottery picks who were guards, so them being able to get their players in the NBA is a big thing for me.”