Dan Hurley went back to his blueprint for the UConn men’s basketball team this offseason, putting together a roster that closely reflects the 2022-23 national championship team.
The Huskies have one of the best returning groups in the nation with five rotation players deciding to stay in Storrs, including three likely starters and Preseason First Team All-Big East honorees in Alex Karaban, Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. Hurley and his staff addressed the team’s weaknesses in the transfer portal and brought in a freshman class that includes two McDonald’s All-Americans to create one of the deepest rosters in the nation.
The 2025-26 Huskies:
No. 0 Malachi Smith6-1, redshirt-senior guard
A gritty guard from the Bronx, N.Y., Smith will provide a Hassan Diarra-like impact for the Huskies. He came to UConn to win games, and can provide an insurgence of energy when he steps onto the court as a change-of-pace ball-handler.
No. 1 Solo Ball6-4, junior guard
Primed to make a significant jump in his third year with the program after a second team All-Big East sophomore season, Ball is one of the best returning shooters in the nation and devoted his summer to improving additional elements of his game.
No. 2 Silas Demary Jr.6-4, junior guard
UConn’s first priority this offseason was to find a bigger guard to run its offense and help fix its perimeter defensive issues, and the Huskies are confident they found the right player in Demary. The Georgia transfer shares many characteristics of two-time national champion Tristen Newton.
No. 3 Jaylin Stewart6-7, junior forward
Stewart showed flashes that he can impact games on both ends of the court as a well-rounded wing last season and will have an opportunity for an even more significant role this year after averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game last season.
No. 4 Dwayne Koroma6-8, redshirt-senior forward
A smaller center who impressed the UConn coaching staff when he played for Le Moyne last season, Koroma is an athlete with a knack for rebounding despite being a smaller big. He could see minutes as a third center this year.
No. 5 Tarris Reed Jr.6-11, senior center
Stepping up into an Adama Sanogo-like role in his senior season, Reed will be a critical inside presence as he takes on the starting center role. He struggled with consistency at times in his first year with the program, but figures to be one of the best bigs in the nation this season.
No. 7 Jacob Furphy6-6, freshman guard
Another big guard with an energy that attracted the Huskies’ coaching staff, Furphy is one of several international players who could develop into significant roles with the program. He is a versatile offensive player with a strong 3-point shot and an ability to facilitate.
No. 9 Alec Millender6-1, graduate guard
A veteran addition, Millender provides depth in the backcourt. A grad transfer from IU Indy, he shot 43.5% from beyond the arc last season and has been described as an “awesome, awesome locker room guy,” by coach Dan Hurley.
No. 10 Rrezon Elezaj7-2, freshman center
A project center, Elezaj, nicknamed “The Razor,” was one of the latest additions to the roster following his appearance in the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket competition, where he played for the Turkish national team.
No 11 Alex Karaban6-8, redshirt-senior forward
Growing accustomed to winning national championships in 2023 and 2024, UConn’s senior captain didn’t bother testing the NBA Draft waters a second time and made a clear effort over the summer to focus on improving areas of his game that held him from reaching his potential. He has a chance to become one of the most accomplished players in program history and one of the best players in the country this season.
No. 12 Eric Reibe7-1, freshman center
Drawing comparisons to Donovan Clingan already, the freshman 7-footer from Germany will serve a similar role that Clingan did as a freshman, playing second-center minutes behind Tarris Reed Jr. He has been touted for his versatile offensive ability, but improved as a rim protector leading into the season.
No. 13 Jacob Ross6-5, freshman forward
A true freshman athlete who will be an important practice player for the Huskies, the younger Ross has been talked about as a key to the team’s locker room culture.
No. 23 Jayden Ross6-7, junior forward
After having a great lead-up into last season and not seeing it work out, the elder Ross returned determined to make an impact in his third year with the program. He is a great athlete who is still working on finding consistency with his jump shot, but could be an important defensive piece.
No. 24 Braylon Mullins6-6, freshman guard
The Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year, Mullins could be an X-factor as one of the best freshmen in the nation once he returns from an ankle injury that will cause him to miss a good portion early in the season. He is known as a shooter, but the Huskies have seen much more than that since he arrived on campus.
No. 77 Uros Paunovic6-3, junior guard
Another late international addition from Serbia, Paunovic brings plenty of international experience and will be a competitive addition. Hurley compared his presence to that of Apostolos Roumoglou, the Greek player who was part of the 2023 championship team.
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