Two-time defending champion UConn will have one starter returning after forward Alex Karaban announced Wednesday afternoon that he is withdrawing from the NBA draft and staying with the Huskies.
Karaban, a rising junior, made the announcement on social media before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday for draft prospects to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to school.
“While I’ve enjoyed the draft process, Storrs is home. Let’s run it back,” Karaban announced on his X account.
Karaban started 77 of 78 games in his two seasons at UConn and averaged 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds. Last season, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range.
In the 2024 Final Four, Karaban posted 14 points and eight rebounds against Alabama to help UConn reach the national championship game against Purdue. He had five points, six boards and four assists as the Huskies topped the Boilermakers for the national title.
Selected to the 2022-23 Big East All-Freshman team, the 6-foot-9 Karaban returns to a roster without four starters from last season: senior guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, who exhausted their eligibility; and Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, who left early for the NBA draft and are projected to be lottery picks.
