Maple Grove’s Jack Thelen to sign with the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team

Maple Grove’s Jack Thelen to sign with the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team The Crimson four-star senior center switched his commitment from Wisconsin and will sign with UConn during the NCAA’s early signing period that began on Wednesday. Comment Gift Share By Marcus Fuller The Minnesota Star Tribune November 11, 2026 at 11:20 AM Maple Grove boys basketball standout Jack Thelen committed to UConn Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period, and plans to sign with the Huskies. Thelen, a 7-foot center and four-star prospect, committed to Wisconsin in June, but decided on Oct. 15 to reopen his recruitment. “I love their track record with developing big men who I see myself in [that mold] a little bit,” Thelen told Strib Varsity. “They also coach their guys with 100% effort, just like they expect their players to play with 100% effort.” After his phone buzzed with calls from Power Four conference college basketball coaches, Thelen visited UConn and Illinois. Both programs offered him scholarships. “I saw a pretty hard-coached practice, and that made me excited about being able to be a part of that,” Thelen said about UConn. The Badgers were his only offer from a major conference when Thelen committed on June 13, but he had offers from Miami (Ohio), Murray State and Montana. The Gophers also showed interest. As a junior, Thelen averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Crimson, who finished 24-8 and fourth at the Class 4A state tournament last season. Thelen’s Maple Grove teammate and senior guard Baboucarr Ann signed with Wisconsin on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT advertisement Prep Hoops ranks Ann No. 1 and Thelen No. 3 in Minnesota’s 2027 class, but the 247Sports composite lists Thelen as Minnesota’s top senior prospect and No. 111 nationally. Other boys basketball seniors in Minnesota to sign to D-I programs Wednesday included: Cretin-Derham Hall’s Ty Schlagel (Nebraska), Edina’s Vincent Cronin (Miami-Ohio), Totino-Grace’s Malachi Hill (Tennessee Tech), DeLaSalle’s Deon Wallace-Johnson and Chaska’s Tyler Forrest (both South Dakota State) and Anoka’s Bryce Gaustad (North Dakota). Related Coverage The Big List: Where more than 300 Minnesotans will compete in college next year Strib Varsity Watch: Meet 15 Minnesotans set to make their Division I commitments official Strib Varsity Share Comment About the Author Marcus Fuller Reporter Marcus Fuller is Strib Varsity's Insider reporter, providing high school beat coverage, features, analysis and recruiting updates. He's a former longtime Gophers and college sports writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune. See More advertisement More From Boys Basketball The List: Here are Minnesotans making commitments official during the early signing period Strib Varsity Where 15 of Minnesota’s top recruits are headed as the NCAA early signing period opens Strib Varsity advertisement advertisement