I really hope Mullins comes back

[Inyatkin]

I hear you, but I'm also a bit concerned about the ceiling of a team that's starting Ross and Ball.

They both played major minutes on a Final Four team

 

[Kembacity]

If he’s a projected lottery pick, he should go pro without a second thought

Beyond that, I’m not sure. He’s a much better three point shooter than 33.5% but that’s what he shot. He’s bouncy and a good rebounder. Not much in terms of defending or playmaking. Definitely high potential

Without a lottery promise, I think he’d benefit from another year here. Get stronger and prove he can be an efficient scorer. As we learned with Hawkins/Liam, the NBA leash is short. If you don’t produce right away, you might get buried. I’m not sure Braylon is ready to produce right away in the NBA

But that means he’s stuck between a really good and a really really good option. Great position to be in

He’s not though, and he hasn’t been for most of the season. Hurley gives him TONS of shots in our offense and I don’t think anyone would say his shooting was as good as we may have expected.

He shows flashes of potential, but I think he and his family (and many of you here) need to take into account how stacked this years draft is. I think at the start of the season he was mocked in the mid teens, lottery, but he’s been 18-30 in mocks most of the season.

Think about how much more Hawkins showed throughout the season before he went pro and then go look at what he’s doing in the NBA right now. Braylon will be a more complete player, but he absolutely has not shown enough for an nba team to feel confident picking him that he will be a crucial part of their team in 2-3 yrs.

I think it’s possible he returns for one more, shows a much more polished game shooting much better, stronger, and he goes top 10 in next years much weaker draft. Will he get drafted? No question, but drafted top 10 and ready to be a member of the roster vs expecting to be G league for a whole season and develop into an NBA player might matter to Braylon and his family.

 

[jibsey]

He will become an elite NBA player once he gains the muscle and strength. Can he score off the dribble and power to the rim? No. His pull up game has potential. Great quick defensive instincts. Handle needs work, he’s often loose with the ball. Can he make 3 million NIL here next year with an injury insurance policy? Then he goes higher with huge money guaranteed. And a more fun college year that he can never get back.

 

[Kemba15]

They both played major minutes on a Final Four team

I like both players. I defended Solo on here all season while others crushed him. But this is a bit misleading since Ross was a bench player this year, and our offense ran through an All-American caliber center that we likely can't/won't replace next year. So if you are starting Ross, you really really need to beef up some other positions IMO

 

[HW611]

If he’s a projected lottery pick, he should go pro without a second thought

Beyond that, I’m not sure. He’s a much better three point shooter than 33.5% but that’s what he shot. He’s bouncy and a good rebounder. Not much in terms of defending or playmaking. Definitely high potential

Without a lottery promise, I think he’d benefit from another year here. Get stronger and prove he can be an efficient scorer. As we learned with Hawkins/Liam, the NBA leash is short. If you don’t produce right away, you might get buried. I’m not sure Braylon is ready to produce right away in the NBA

But that means he’s stuck between a really good and a really really good option. Great position to be in

This is the proper evaluation here.

Also, this is a draft with a lot of players who have produced at a high level.

 

[HW611]

He’s not though, and he hasn’t been for most of the season. Hurley gives him TONS of shots in our offense and I don’t think anyone would say his shooting was as good as we may have expected.

He shows flashes of potential, but I think he and his family (and many of you here) need to take into account how stacked this years draft is. I think at the start of the season he was mocked in the mid teens, lottery, but he’s been 18-30 in mocks most of the season.

Think about how much more Hawkins showed throughout the season before he went pro and then go look at what he’s doing in the NBA right now. Braylon will be a more complete player, but he absolutely has not shown enough for an nba team to feel confident picking him that he will be a crucial part of their team in 2-3 yrs.

I think it’s possible he returns for one more, shows a much more polished game shooting much better, stronger, and he goes top 10 in next years much weaker draft. Will he get drafted? No question, but drafted top 10 and ready to be a member of the roster vs expecting to be G league for a whole season and develop into an NBA player might matter to Braylon and his family.

Yes, too many people thinking being drafted to be drafted is the goal.

For Braylon’s sake, I’d want him to actually be ready to succeed once he goes to the NBA. Not make his first contract money and then become a journeyman because he wasn’t ready to contribute.

 

[GetTheFacts]

I think he comes back. The NBA has more talent than ever before, and Mullins is extremely raw IMO (and I think he knows that too). I don't think he could make a meaningful impact on an NBA roster until 2-3 years down the road, and the leash tends to be shorter than that in the NBA. McNeeley and Hawkins were both significantly more polished than Mullins, and both are on the road to not getting a second contract in the NBA. I'd imagine he would spend his entire rookie season in the G League. I understand the financial guarantees, but I think he'd have a real shot of going top 10 in 2027 if he comes back. This draft class is absolutely loaded, and 2027 is shaping up to be extremely weak.

 

[HW611]

Post tourney mock from CBS/Fink - Mullins at 30. Would run it back in that slot obviously, but what does this guy know.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-nba-mock-draft-michigan-uconn/

No Ceilings has him in last 20's, and this draft is deep into early second with some very good players.

2026 NBA Mock Draft V.6

March Madness is over. Draft Season is Offically Rolling. The No Ceilings crew installs V.6 of their NBA Mock Draft for the 2026 NBA Draft.

www.noceilingsnba.com

It's personally where think he would go, despite a lot of early mocks having him in the lottery. There is too much quality in this draft for him to go that early. My guess is he's a 21-28 type of pick, a range that you have to think twice. If the right franchise is telling you they're taking you, perhaps you go and get the clock started.

Would be happy to see Tarris go in the first round after this performance. Surprised he’s mocked in front of Braylon.

He might’ve earned himself a lot of money this march.

 

[ctbro1999]

Would be happy to see Tarris go in the first round after this performance. Surprised he’s mocked in front of Braylon.

He might’ve earned himself a lot of money this march.

Reed had a great tourney, but don't exactly get how he's getting late 1st round love in the mocks. The more I think, the more he reminds me of Sanogo....just that he's 3" taller. Sanogo wasn't even drafted and signed a FA contract after the draft. I don't know if 3" taller Sanogo is a 1st round pick?

 

[RuffRuff]

Would be happy to see Tarris go in the first round after this performance. Surprised he’s mocked in front of Braylon.

He might’ve earned himself a lot of money this march.

Tarris going in the first would be great for him, and Uconn. Clear that big are going to be a major factor in roster building amongst the elite programs, need to attract them.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

If he get a guarantee he will go lottery, he should go right away.

If not, he and his family need to look at what happened to Hawkins and Liam. It will not be good for him to be sitting on the NBA bench or be in the G-league next year. He is much better off developing at UConn if he doesn't get a lottery pick guarantee.

 

[lateralous]

I'd love to have Mullins back but it creates a log jam at 2-3 with him Ball and Ross. I like what I have seen from Ross' development this year but I wonder if a Mullins return would stunt further growth. Ross needs more minutes. In the end, I just want what's best for the team so I would take Mullins in a heartbeat, but II would feel bad for Ross and always wonder what might have been.

Are we sure Ross is the one that gets squeezed out if Mullins comes back? I think his game compliments either one of Solo/Mullins better than they do each other.

1. Demary 2. Mullins 3. Ross would be a tall, athletic and well rounded group IMO

 

[ctbro1999]

If he get a guarantee he will go lottery, he should go right away.

If not, he and his family need to look at what happened to Hawkins and Liam. It will not be good for him to be sitting on the NBA bench or be in the G-league next year. He is much better off developing at UConn if he doesn't get a lottery pick guarantee.

I'll reserve judgment about Liam since it's still too early, but Hawkins 100% should have declared as he was projected as a lottery pick. Doesn't matter what happened since he was drafted, you are told you are going in the lottery, it's a no-brainer you enter the draft.

 

[HW611]

Reed had a great tourney, but don't exactly get how he's getting late 1st round love in the mocks. The more I think, the more he reminds me of Sanogo....just that he's 3" taller. Sanogo wasn't even drafted and signed a FA contract after the draft. I don't know if 3" taller Sanogo is a 1st round pick?

Yes that 3” matters a lot and he can defend the rim in ways Sanogo can’t in the NBA.

Sanogo was a great college center but you just can’t by in the NBA at 6’8 and playing below the rim.

Tarris isn’t going to have an offense built around him at the next level, but he’s shown he can win battles in the paint, finish, rim the floor, and protect the rim like you would want out of an NBA center.

 

[Donyell 360]

Are we sure Ross is the one that gets squeezed out if Mullins comes back? I think his game compliments either one of Solo/Mullins better than they do each other.

1. Demary 2. Mullins 3. Ross would be a tall, athletic and well rounded group IMO

I would be ok with that. Frankly when Ball went out with foul trouble, I was consoled by the fact that Ross was coming in to provide better defense. But the fact remains, with all three of those players available (even with Ball supposedly hobbled by a foot sprain) Ross came off the bench. Why should I assume it would be any different next year? Ross would have to improve considerably to force Hurley to do something he clearly does not want to do, bench Ball. And I'm not a Ball hater, I just like Ross' trajectory better, but I'm also a realist and I think that trajectory needs a steeper incline to supplant Ball. And let's face it, of all the "problems" we could have next year, this is not one I would worry about too much. It would be a good problem to have.

 

[Vuce]

I think after all is said and done, going through the process, Mullins will be back for a second and final year at UConn

 

[aceboon]

Reed had a great tourney, but don't exactly get how he's getting late 1st round love in the mocks. The more I think, the more he reminds me of Sanogo....just that he's 3" taller. Sanogo wasn't even drafted and signed a FA contract after the draft. I don't know if 3" taller Sanogo is a 1st round pick?

It's baffling that UConn fans are still making this comparison

 

[uconngb]

This one is simple and does not require the 5 pages of posts: separate your head from your heart and the answer is obvious. Would have loved to see another year from him as I think he could follow the exact trajectory as Ray from year 1 to 2, but this is a different era. Ray would have been a lottery pick after his freshman year, and Mullins will be too, or close to it.

 

[uconn_jack]

You really are insufferable. It's "fans" like you that give us a bad reputation.
Surprised you haven't already brought up your Castle vs Lendeborg comparison, which is about the dumbest thing I've ever read on here.

This is such a terrible accusation.

Calling him a fan.

 

[HW611]

I would be ok with that. Frankly when Ball went out with foul trouble, I was consoled by the fact that Ross was coming in to provide better defense. But the fact remains, with all three of those players available (even with Ball supposedly hobbled by a foot sprain) Ross came off the bench. Why should I assume it would be any different next year? Ross would have to improve considerably to force Hurley to do something he clearly does not want to do, bench Ball. And I'm not a Ball hater, I just like Ross' trajectory better, but I'm also a realist and I think that trajectory needs a steeper incline to supplant Ball. And let's face it, of all the "problems" we could have next year, this is not one I would worry about too much. It would be a good problem to have.

I think

I would be ok with that. Frankly when Ball went out with foul trouble, I was consoled by the fact that Ross was coming in to provide better defense. But the fact remains, with all three of those players available (even with Ball supposedly hobbled by a foot sprain) Ross came off the bench. Why should I assume it would be any different next year? Ross would have to improve considerably to force Hurley to do something he clearly does not want to do, bench Ball. And I'm not a Ball hater, I just like Ross' trajectory better, but I'm also a realist and I think that trajectory needs a steeper incline to supplant Ball. And let's face it, of all the "problems" we could have next year, this is not one I would worry about too much. It would be a good problem to have.

I think Ross fully reached the level of confident player during this tournament. Super proud of him getting that done.

Now that he’s done that he has to continue slowing down the game and thinking the game more. You can tell he’s focused on being confident enough to go up with shots and layups at the rim without regard to the outcome. Which is necessary. The next step is being able to think through the best way to put up those kind of shots more so he doesn’t stuffed at the rim.

But I’m happy he’s in a position to where that’s the next step his game can take.

 

[RuffRuff]

This is such a terrible accusation.

Calling him a fan.

Two of you can walk it back together for your collective, oh we were wrong, when he's back next year. I sent two of the most recent mocks that have him 29 and 26. Yet this bro think's he's a lottery pick because his heart says so.

I'd prefer listening to dudes like Honcho who can actually be realistic about a view versus homer polyana's who are wed to a blind view because it's all they know to see. Getting insulted because the assessment of one of our frosh isn't a lottery pick and that he shot 33% from three is redonkulous.

 

[JB75]

If this was three years ago, the conversation would be a no-brainer, adding NIL into the mix - changes everything: I think he stays/should stay because:
1) look what happened to Mcneeley and his body was more nba-ready than Mullins.
2) Mullins did not have a great second half of season
3) this draft is loaded, stay and be surefire top 10 next year
4) u can be an AP all American next year
5) hunt for a natty
6) he ll be a god on campus instead of wallowing on bench on a bad market team or stuck in g league
7) still can make plenty of money in NIL
8) gets to stay at UConn and play for Hurley again. Very familiar.
9) state of ct will love him for staying
10) maybe his dad /family want him to stay

 

[Inyatkin]

Two of you can walk it back together for your collective, oh we were wrong, when he's back next year. I sent two of the most recent mocks that have him 29 and 26. Yet this bro think's he's a lottery pick because his heart says so.

I'd prefer listening to dudes like Honcho who can actually be realistic about a view versus homer polyana's who are wed to a blind view because it's all they know to see. Getting insulted because the assessment of one of our frosh isn't a lottery pick and that he shot 33% from three is redonkulous.

How many individual posters are you feuding with, these days?

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Two of you can walk it back together for your collective, oh we were wrong, when he's back next year. I sent two of the most recent mocks that have him 29 and 26. Yet this bro think's he's a lottery pick because his heart says so.

I'd prefer listening to dudes like Honcho who can actually be realistic about a view versus homer polyana's who are wed to a blind view because it's all they know to see. Getting insulted because the assessment of one of our frosh isn't a lottery pick and that he shot 33% from three is redonkulous.

Bleacher Report moved him up to 9 as of today. Not sure where they are in the pecking order of draft analysis reputation.

 

[Donyell 360]

I think

I think Ross fully reached the level of confident player during this tournament. Super proud of him getting that done.

Now that he’s done that he has to continue slowing down the game and thinking the game more. You can tell he’s focused on being confident enough to go up with shots and layups at the rim without regard to the outcome. Which is necessary. The next step is being able to think through the best way to put up those kind of shots more so he doesn’t stuffed at the rim.

But I’m happy he’s in a position to where that’s the next step his game can take.

He still looks scared sometimes. Game needs to slow down for him. Remember the backcourt violation they didn't call last night? Ross had trouble just dribbling the ball up the court. Looking forward to his next evolution. I'm still buying his stock.

Not as sure about Stewart but maybe. He also struggles putting the ball on the floor. Thought he might finish that fast break layup last night but got blocked. Next year?

 

[bigknight3]

The 20th pick is guaranteed 6.2m over 2 years with 2 more team options for another 8.5m.

This is the only relevant factor in this conversation. People keep acting like being a late first rounder is worth chump change...

 

[HW611]

Bleacher Report moved him up to 9 as of today. Not sure where they are in the pecking order of draft analysis reputation.

View attachment 119433

Well for one, he’s 20 and not 19. I wonder how much that will play a factor too.

He’s actually a sophomore in age. Like a month or two younger than most of the top sophomores in this class I think.

 

[HW611]

He still looks scared sometimes. Game needs to slow down for him. Remember the backcourt violation they didn't call last night? Ross had trouble just dribbling the ball up the court. Looking forward to his next evolution. I'm still buying his stock.

Not as sure about Stewart but maybe. He also struggles putting the ball on the floor. Thought he might finish that fast break layup last night but got blocked. Next year?

He definitely does, but you can see he’s actively fighting against that feeling.

I think being named a starter and trusted Hurley guy next year can help that fully. But we’ll see.

For Stew, I don’t want to be to hard on a guy that came back from a month long injury during the most important part of the season. We’ll see how the staff views him in this transfer portal season.

 

[Mike Honcho]

It's baffling that UConn fans are still making this comparison

You've made this point before. There are a lot of fans here who only watch UConn basketball so their window of reference is pretty small.

 

[uconn_jack]

Whether he is ready, or isn't ready, is not the issue. Where he falls in the upcoming draft predictions and the GM feedback is all that matters. Lottery, first round, second round will determine if he returns. Don't foresee him testing the portal. He seems to love UConn and does not lack confidence, he will keep firing and that is important.

Neither of these are "all that matters". Maybe they trust his development (skill and maturity) at UConn with Hurley more than in the G-League. Maybe they do think its better long term to try and develop into a Top 10 pick. Some kids like being in college, even if it means waiting a year for the "generational wealth". Hurley nearly had to kick Donovan off the team and AK stayed.

It used to not be a question, you took it as soon as you could get it, but NIL has blunted that somewhat. But if there are kids and parents who might be inclined to see more than just the big money, they would be the kind of families that Hurley recruits.