UConn commit Junior County was hearing it from his Wasatch Academy teammates during a barbecue at coach Paul Peterson’s house before their high school season ended at Chipotle Nationals in March.
They were sitting around the TV, locked in on the Elite Eight game between UConn and Duke while the Blue Devils built a commanding lead and looked as though they would end the Huskies’ season just shy of a third Final Four appearance in four years.
“His teammates were kind of making fun of him – ‘It’s over for them!’ ‘They’re waiting for you, Jun!’” Peterson remembered. “And then slowly everyone kind of drifted away from the TV and he’s just in the living room watching with one other person. He runs out and he’s like, ‘Pete, they’re only down five!’ So we all go in and start watching the game, Braylon (Mullins) hits that shot and he’s running around the house.”
A 6-foot-4 combo guard and the No. 39 prospect in ESPN’s final Class of 2026 rankings, County is set to join Mullins and the Huskies this summer with an open mind, willing to accept whatever role he can earn going into his freshman season.
“The thing about Jun is he just fits anybody because he can compliment, he doesn’t have to be ‘the guy,’ he doesn’t have to have the ball. With anybody, he fits good. He can guard the best player, he can just guard if you want him to. He can spot up, he can create, he finds a good way of just fitting in with people,” Peterson said. “The first thing that stands out is his defense, he plays phenomenal defense. And then just his shot-making abilities, whether it’s a play being drawn up for him or just kind of playing, he’s able to do things without plays being called for him. I think that’s one huge thing about him, he doesn’t necessarily have to have it given to him, he can go get it out of the mud.”
County averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game as he was named Utah’s Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season at Wasatch. One of two incoming freshmen alongside Colben Landrew, also named Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia and expected to play an important role, the Huskies see County as a potential backup for Silas Demary Jr. at point guard or for Mullins at the two, but he can play anywhere one through three.
His natural position, Peterson said, is “whatever gets him on the court.”
“I think early on, being a freshman, just kind of playing hard, being that ultimate glue guy, playing defense, communicating, all of those little things. And then as time goes on, building Coach’s trust and getting more responsibilities,” Peterson said. “I don’t think Junior’s necessarily in a rush, so I think it’s important that he does everything Coach asks him to do at a young age just to build that trust.”
County’s father, Adolph Sr., was a teammate of UConn Athletic Director David Benedict on the Mesa (Ariz.) Community College football team – which Benedict’s father, Allen, coached – before Adolph Sr. went on to play at the University of Utah. His name and competitiveness were passed down when Junior was born, and Peterson picked up on it when he started training him at a young age.
“That’s how his dad’s always raised him – it doesn’t matter where you are, just stay on the court. They tell you to play center, play center. There’s really no expectation. Do whatever coach tells you to do,” Peterson said, referring to his star player as “the ultimate professional.”
“Dan Hurley is the ultimate professional, too. I guess that was our biggest thing (in the recruiting process), like, are you mature enough to have a coach like this? And he’s just as serious as Hurley about being great,” Peterson said. “So I was like, man, this is a perfect fit. I told him, ‘Hurley is gonna take you to the next level. I can only get you so far, Hurley is gonna get you to the next level where you need to be. He’s gonna get you over the top.’”
Peterson visited a UConn practice and got the lay of the land before County did.
On his way to Brooklyn to see former Wasatch star Collin Murray-Boyles (who played at South Carolina) get selected as the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, Peterson flew in to Bradley International a day early and made a pit stop in Storrs.
“They were awesome to me. They allowed me to come to practice and see everything, they’re not trying to hide anything. They were themselves and it was great. It was amazing to see, even as a coach, just to see Hurley at work was amazing,” Peterson said. “I went up just to see if it was true, like if Hurley was just this tyrant. And I was impressed how all of his players love him. It’s more like comedic relief, he’s not angry all the time like people think, it’s more comedic than anything, and his guys absolutely love him. That was telling for me, like that’s all I needed to see. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the spot, man. This is the place.’”
County visited UConn in late September and committed a week later.
The scouting report on him at the time was that he was strong and physical, versatile, unselfish and had a strong basketball IQ. He could absorb contact and play within a system, but his 3-point shot still had room to improve.
“That’s what’s grown the most, he really focused on it last summer. It wasn’t necessarily like he couldn’t shoot, but he’s always been a slasher. His athleticism has always been what he’s really good at, so it was a matter of, ‘Hey, don’t pass up on these opportunities to shoot the ball,’” Peterson said. “It was just a mentality thing, not necessarily a thing that he couldn’t do.”
By the end of the year, County turned himself into a consistent 3-point threat and one of the best two-way players in his class.
“Just the overall professionalism, he’s a really serious kid,” Peterson said. “Always in the gym, always gives max effort on the court. Never an issue with him, ever. He’s been with me for two years and I’ve known him since the sixth grade, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a bad day.”
