Aidan Mahaney came from across the country to UConn heralded as one of the best mid-major players in college basketball last season. After a disappointing year in Storrs, he’s headed back to California, this time to a different mid-major school.
Mahaney is transferring to UC-Santa Barbara, according to multiple reports. The 6-3 guard, who will be a senior next season, played his first two seasons at Saint Mary’s before transferring to UConn last offseason.
Mahaney was expected to become a key member of the backcourt for the Huskies and began the year as a starter, but he struggled in that role, eventually coming off the bench and averaging 12.3 minutes per game. He finished the year averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists while shooting a career-low 37.7 percent from the field.
At Saint Mary’s, Mahaney averaged 13.9 points over his first two seasons, shooting 42.8 percent and 40 percent from 3-point range as a freshman. He was a two-time All- West Coast Conference selection.
UC-Santa Barbara finished 21-13 last season, good for fifth place in the Big West.
