UConn freshman center Eric Reibe enters transfer portal

The UConn men’s basketball program will be in the big man market this spring.

It was announced Friday afternoon that 7-foot-1 freshman center Eric Reibe, a former McDonald’s High School All-American, has entered the transfer portal. News came out earlier on Friday that Rrezon Elezaj, the 7-2 practice player from Kosovo, also entered the portal. With starter Tarris Reed Jr. and Dwayne Koroma’s eligibility expiring, the Huskies do not have any centers in place for the 2026-27 season.

Reibe started a handful of games early in his freshman campaign as Reed dealt with injuries and played well, helping the Huskies to wins over Illinois at Madison Square Garden and at Kansas, among others.

Why Hurley says UConn men are ‘at a crossroads’ deciding how to construct future rosters

He averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game over the course of the season and struggled behind Reed in the NCAA Tournament, where he accumulated just six points, three rebounds and 10 fouls in six games, averaging just 6.7 minutes per contest.

“To Coach Hurley and the entire UConn staff, thank you for holding me to a high standard every single day. You didn’t just develop me as a basketball player, but as a man. To my teammates, thank you for competing with me, pushing me, and building relationships that will last far beyond basketball. And to the UConn fans, thank you for welcoming me and supporting me throughout my time in Storrs. It truly meant a lot,” Reibe wrote, in part, in an Instagram post.

Elezaj only appeared in four games in garbage time, finishing the season with three rebounds and a block on 0-for-2 shooting.

UConn has reportedly been in contact with multiple centers in the transfer portal, including Seton Hall’s 6-10, 265-pound freshman Najai Hines. Hines had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the first matchup with the Huskies this past season and followed that up with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in Storrs. He averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in only 18 minutes per game for the Pirates.

Andrew McKeever, a 7-2 big from Saint Mary’s, has also been reported as a target. He averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game as a sophomore for the Gaels this season.