Hurley vouches for UConn’s Karaban, Reed, ahead of NBA Draft

STORRS – A lot can be learned about UConn’s NBA Draft hopefuls by just watching the Elite Eight game against Duke.

After an NBA Finals that was largely decided by the plays made – or flubbed – in crunch time, UConn head coach Dan Hurley couldn’t help but point out the decisions Alex Karaban made down the stretch – including his pass to Braylon Mullins for the game-winner – that helped secure a spot in his third Final Four.

“AK had to make a big shot, Silas (Demary Jr.) had to make a big play on defense, AK had to make a smart situational basketball play, which is why guys like Alex should probably be drafted higher,” Hurley said, less than a week out from the NBA Draft, which will begin with the first round on Tuesday and conclude with the second round on Wednesday.

“You see how important situational basketball is when you watch the Finals, getting a guy like Alex on your team who plays great situational basketball is so critical.”

The San Antonio Spurs, responsible for most of those late-game errors, have been one of several teams who’ve shown interest in adding the Huskies’ captain to their young roster, headlined by Victor Wembanyama and former UConn star Stephon Castle. Karaban has also been in to visit with the champion New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings, among a handful of others.

“Obviously a lot of teams value just the pedigree, the skillset. I think such a big thing in the NBA is your ability to have role guys that can play off of two really ball-dominant players, and Alex has shown an expertise to be an all-NBA role player. An ability to space the court, make shots, get on the glass, good cutter, underrated defensive player,” Hurley said. “I mean, if I’m a team in the 20s and I’ve got a choice between maybe a moderately more talented player that has questionable makeup in terms of building a championship or a winning organization, just how do you pass on Karaban in the 20s.

“You have a chance to bring a grown-up, professional, championship-level player, a Cam Spencer-type of guy who’s 6-foot-8, into your organization. If you’re picking in the late first round, how do you not pick him?”

The latest mock drafts have Karaban projected anywhere from the first pick in the second round to the seventh.

ESPN has him off the board at No. 31 to the Knicks, while The Athletic and Yahoo! Sports both have him at No. 34 overall to the Kings. USA Today sees a potential reunion with Castle in San Antonio with the 35th pick, while the consensus on NBADraft.net places Karaban at No. 37 overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder. There is also a chance he could return close to home with the Celtics’ 27th overall pick.

For Tarris Reed Jr., whose stock took off in coordination with his dominant run through the NCAA Tournament, the Duke game is even more telling. While UConn struggled to make shots, it was Reed’s inside effort at both ends of the floor that spurred the 19-point comeback. He had 26 points (10-for-16 from the field), nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals in that game.

“Just put on the Duke game and watch the man’s athleticism, his size, you see what he did. The thing about the Duke game – and again, I couldn’t have more respect for (Cameron) Boozer than I have, just a winner, as a talent, top three pick – you could get a guy, again in the 20s, that played a top three pick head-to-head on a lot of possessions in that game and won some and lost some. Played a top three pick in a lot of one-on-one situations in a pretty even manner. So if you could pick that in the 20s, who also has great character, a winner, and you’re looking for a front court player, how do you pass on him in the 20s?”

Reed’s ceiling in the draft seems to be a bit higher, with some of the latest mocks placing him in the first round.

He was slotted as high as No. 24 overall to the Knicks in The Athletic’s latest projection. ESPN has him joining the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front court at No. 29 overall and USA Today sees a world where he could close the first round as the No. 30 overall pick of the Dallas Mavericks. Should Reed fall back to Round Two, Yahoo! Sports has him joining Spencer in Memphis with the No. 32 pick and the consensus on NBA Draft.net fits him in at No. 33 to Brooklyn.

“Reed has built momentum on the workout circuit and is trending toward the late first round,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote. “His mix of length, physical heft, rebounding instincts and offensive skill make him an appealing plug-and-play role player, and he should appeal to contending teams.”