A busy offseason has already gotten underway in Storrs.
Dan Hurley said he expected more than half of his UConn men’s basketball roster to consider entering the portal, and that seems to have been a fairly accurate prediction with two members of the 2025 freshman class already announcing their intentions.
Outside of Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson, whose eligibility expired, the Huskies could’ve potentially returned 10 players from the 2024-25 roster, which produced a 24-11 overall record, a third-place finish in the Big East regular season and a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. With Isaiah Abraham and Ahmad Nowell entering the portal at the end of the week, and Jaylin Stewart announcing on Saturday he’s returning, the returning player pool is down to seven.
Most expect Liam McNeeley to join his classmates in departing from the program as he is widely projected to be a one-and-done first-round pick in the NBA Draft, and others could announce their next move in the near future.
Dan Hurley knows there’s no time to waste in building UConn back into a championship contender
UConn has reportedly been in contact with Quinnipiac’s 6-foot-7 forward Amarri Monroe, the MAAC Player of the Year who averaged 18.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season. Silas DeMary Jr., a 6-5 guard who averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Georgia this season, James Madison guard Bryce Lindsay and Virginia Tech guard Jaydon Young have also reportedly received interest from the Huskies, among several others.
Maybe R.J. Luis Jr., the Big East Player of the Year at St. John’s, could fit the mold of a veteran, two-way point guard if he decides against the NBA Draft. Luis isn’t a great 3-point shooter, but the Huskies should be alright in that department if they can return a few players and the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class set to come in.
That class – headlined by the Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year, 6-5 guard Braylon Mullins – includes three McDonald’s All-Americans with great offensive upside. Darius Adams, another 6-5 guard, and Eric Reibe, a 7-foot stretch center, will join Mullins at the Barclays Center for the All-America game April 1. Australian wing Jacob Furphy, touted as a facilitator with a quality 3-point shot, rounds out the class.
In another offseason where players need to announce whether they’re returning for anyone to be sure – though, even then it may not be set in stone – there are a number of dominos yet to fall.
Will Alex Karaban return for his senior season or depart for the NBA? Will Solo Ball test pro waters? And who else could go “portalling”?
A look at where the roster stands:
Forward Alex Karaban
2024-25 role: Captain, played a career-high 35.8 minutes per game as the Huskies’ top offensive option but didn’t quite reach his goal of All-American level production.
Upside/Downside: Karaban came through in big moments, including his clutch plays to beat Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but hit a slump midway through the year and didn’t raise his NBA Draft stock as he’d hoped.
The future: 50/50, stay at UConn or go pro.
Guard Aidan Mahaney
2024-25 role: The St. Mary’s transfer began the season as UConn’s starting point guard but was relegated to an off-ball role off the bench. He played valuable minutes to relieve Diarra at point guard down the stretch and in the postseason.
Upside/Downside: Mahaney was able to make an impact late in the season but was slow to adjust to UConn and the physicality of the Big East, unable to reach his full potential.
The future: Either enter the portal and find a better fit, or stay to bet on himself and compete against a group of guards that will likely get deeper.
Center Tarris Reed Jr.
2024-25 role: The Big East Sixth Man of the Year, Reed had fans clamoring for him to be in the starting lineup toward the end of the season as his development was on display in a series of strong performances.
Upside/Downside: Struggling with consistency in the way he approached games, Reed seemed to find a zone late in the season and showed glimpses that he could be UConn’s next dominant big man. He’d seem to complement incoming freshman Reibe, a taller center with shooting versatility.
The future: Reed’s upside opens the door for big offers to lure him elsewhere, but the Huskies will likely do the best they can to keep him out of the portal.
Guard Solo Ball
2024-25 role: One of the most improved players in the Big East, Ball finished his sophomore year as UConn’s second-leading scorer and was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country at 41.4% on the season.
Upside/Downside: Often described as a perfect culture fit for the Huskies, Ball could be leaned on as a leader of the 2025-26 roster should he return. The development of his perimeter on-ball defense could turn him into a first round pick after another year in the Huskies’ system.
The future: The portal seems unlikely for Ball, though he could test his potential in the NBA Draft.
Forward Jaylin Stewart
2024-25 role: Averaged 17.8 minutes per game as the first wing off the bench and had seven games in double-figure scoring. Stewart looked like the Huskies’ best player at times throughout the year and seemed to be in line for a breakout season.
Upside/Downside: A long, three-level scorer at 6-7, Stewart shot 36.4% from beyond the arc on limited attempts and showed improvement in his individual defense as the season went on.
The future: Stewart announced he will remain at UConn for his junior season on Saturday.
Forward Jayden Ross
2024-25 role: Saw limited time as the second wing off the bench, was used in situational spots as one of UConn’s better defenders but couldn’t find a consistent spot in the rotation.
Upside/Downside: Ross came into his sophomore year touted as a surprising potential NBA Draft prospect, but didn’t always look comfortable on the court and made only 22.2% of his 3-point attempts. Seemingly a great culture fit, Ross still has room to improve as a two-way option.
The future: Either enters the portal to find a better opportunity for playing time, or stays for another year of development, likely off of the bench.
Center Youssouf Singare
2024-25 role: Little-used third option at center, provided some positive minutes as a lengthy defender and rebounder with Johnson and Reed in foul trouble but averaged less than three points per game for the second year in a row.
Upside/Downside: Singare is still raw, but has the size and athleticism at 6-foot-10 to be a capable rim defender and finisher. He could provide a different style from what the Huskies would seemingly have in place with Reed and Reibe.
The future: Either enters the portal looking for consistent opportunity on the court, or remains a valuable locker room personality with upside for the Huskies.
Forward Liam McNeeley
2024-25 role: McNeeley had a lot on his shoulders as the Huskies’ prized freshman, also counted on as their leading scorer. The Big East Freshman of the Year averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game.
Upside/Downside: With a lottery pick ceiling, McNeeley showed his ability to take over games but missed eight with a high ankle sprain and struggled to hit shots down the final stretch of the season.
The future: Projected as a first-round pick, the NBA Draft seems to be an easy choice.
Originally Published: March 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM EDT
