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In April, UConn mens’ basketball made history by becoming just the eighth program to win the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons and the first to do so since the Florida Gators in 2007.
While that Florida team consisted of the same starting lineup of Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey, Dan Hurley and his esteemed staff navigated both championship runs under the Wild West landscape of the transfer portal and also the onset of the NIL era, which has caused a nationwide blitzkrieg of roster volatility.
Noting this, Hurley and his staff are no stranger to fostering a championship culture with new groups of players. Case in point, UConn’s 2023 Championship roster entered the season with just 33.2% of minutes continuity from the previous season. The 2024 roster returned 42.5%.
Even though four of last year’s starters – Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton – were drafted in June, UConn returns 44.5% of their minutes from last year and fortified by an impressive three-man freshman class and a pair of transfers that fit immediate needs, UConn has the talent and leadership to earn the honor of becoming the first three-peat champions since the tailend of the John Wooden era at the UCLA during the 1970s.
No matter the roster construction, cornerstones of Dan Hurley coached teams prioritize offensive rebounding and an aggressive half-court defense that smothers the flow of opponents’ offenses, forces isolation play and prevents three-point attempts. Hurley coached teams have always grinded down the opponent, but over the last two seasons there has been an added sophistication to the offensive philosophy that thrives on multidimensional weapons that share the ball freely and distribute both the scoring and distributing load. Case in point, the Huskies finished the last two seasons with a 63% A/FGM ratio, which was good for fifth in the nation last year and eighth in the year prior. There are still many variables in play, but this year’s roster looks to continue the program’s championship blend of defensive intensity and offensive sophistication.
UConn's most important returnee is junior forward Alex Karaban, who, despite being ranked 36th in ESPN’s 2024 NBA draft rankings, withdrew his name in late May and will reprise his role as the starting power forward.
Always a strong perimeter shooter, Karaban finished last season with the 23rd highest offensive efficiency rating in the nation, according to KenPom. The main driver in his efficiency increase was thanks to Karaban nearly cutting his turnover rate in half – Karaban’s 8.8% turnover rate was the second lowest in Big East conference play. Karaban also improved his 2P% from a strong 59% his freshman season to an exceptional 64% last season.
Entering his redshirt sophomore season with an extra ten pounds of muscle – Karaban also continued to make strides in his rim protection and ability to play more physically under the hoop, which was especially evident in the handful of games Donovan Clingan missed due to a foot injury, forcing Karaban to play some minutes at the 5.
The 6’8 220 Karaban brings so many dimensions to his game, so expect him to continue to round out his NBA potential by growing in his ability to create off the dribble and also by improving his defense by getting more comfortable switching more seamlessly in the half-court. With a roster full of talent, there will be many battles for playing time, but Karaban’s role as the starting power forward is the most cemented role on the roster.
Whether it was Isaiah Whaley in 2022 or Tristen Newton in 2024, UConn’s recent teams featured a returning player who opted in for their extra year of eligibility and took a major leap in their progression. There is plenty of hope that Hassan Diarra will follow that lead.
In and out of the rotation in his first year at UConn after transferring from Texas A&M, Diarra took major strides in the 2023-24 season, blending his dogged defensive intensity with a massive improvement in shooting and ball-movement efficiency.
The 6’2 190 Diarra entered last season with woeful career shooting splits – 40 2P%, 29 3P%, 65 FT% – but showed signs of improved ball control throughout his first season at Storrs after finishing his time at Texas A&M with more turnovers than assists. Last year was clearly the best in Diarra’s career: he became one of the most dangerous perimeter defenders in the Big East and also achieved career highs with a 57 2P%, 36 3P%, 78 FT% and a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, making him the 16th most efficient offensive player in the Big East, per KenPom.
Starting just one game last season, Diarra’s impact off the bench earned him a selection as the Big East Six Man Award and he is certainly in the mix to start this upcoming season at one of the backcourt positions, but two other guards, Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney and freshman point guard Ahmad Nowell, will also be in the mix.
Listed at 6’3 180, Aidan Mahaney is a creative combo guard who should mesh nicely with Dan Hurley’s system after playing for two seasons under Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett. A like-minded defensive coach, Bennett and Hurley share many similarities: a pension for rebounding on both ends of the floor, an emphasis of sharing the ball in carefully paced half-court sets and an emphasis on a defense that, rather than hunting for the turnover, puts a priority on fracturing the flow in the half-court, forcing teams to take bad shots.
With career averages of fourteen points, two three-pointers made (37.5 career 3P%) and two assists per game, Mahaney is already an impressive perimeter scorer, but his career 43.7 2P% leaves much to be desired. His slight frame is one factor, but also more impactful is the role he played at Saint Mary’s, in which he led the team in field goal attempts after the graduation of the previous year’s leading scorer, Logan Johnson, which put more pressure on Mahaney to do more on offense. However, at UConn, Mahaney will consistently be on the floor with multiple offensive weapons, so expect his shot selection to improve with a likely decrease in volume.
Similar to Shabazz Napier’s role on the 2011 Championship team, Imhotep Institute product and consensus four-star recruit Ahmad Nowell will have every opportunity to make an immediate impact at the point guard position.
Listed at 6’0 190, Nowell plays much bigger than his size thanks to his muscular frame.
247Sports’ Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein writes: “Nowell is a power guard with a bulldog mentality. He’s strong and physical with a college-ready body, and also highly competitive on both ends of the floor.
He’s described as a gym rat who has worked his way into being a reliable outside shooter. He knocked down 41% of his attempts from behind the arc (43-106) during the EYBL season, along with 78% of his free-throws (40-51). He can also get downhill, absorb contact off the dribble, and play off two feet in the lane.
While Nowell came up the ranks with an aggressive scoring mentality, he’s shown a lot of growth in his ability to make plays for other people. He averaged more than 5 assists per game in the EYBL, against just two turnovers, and has shown an ability to attack with his head up and make solid reads off ball-screens. He now projects as a true combo-guard who can be effective both on and off the ball.
Nowell is also a standout on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a very good on-ball defender with a physical and aggressive style. He communicates well, has a high steal rate, and is a good rebounding guard.”
While a starting role is certainly a possibility, it is more realistic to expect Nowell to play a role akin to Shabazz Napier’s first season at UConn, where he was the first guard off the bench. Hurley’s offense requires multiple dual-threat ball handlers, so Nowell’s combo guard mentality will keep defenses honest in half-court sets.
Each recent championship team has featured a sophomore that made an incredible leap from the year prior. In 2023, it was Jordan Hawkins. In 2024, it was Alex Karaban. Amongst UConn’s returning quartet of sophomores, forward Jaylin Stewart has the best opportunity to work his way into an impact role alongside Karaban in the frontcourt.
The 6’7 205 forward from Seattle was the eighth man in Hurley’s rotations during the team’s Big East Conference and NCAA Tournament runs, earning minutes mostly backing up Stephon Castle at the 3 and also sparingly spelling Alex Karaban.
Despite his low usage rate, Stewart has shown potential as a versatile, two-way big wing who is blessed with a broad frame, large hands and smooth transition athleticism. A three-level scorer in high school, in his freshman season, Stewart converted on 66% of his two-point attempts, but will need to improve on his 27.0 three-point percentage in order to help provide the proper spacing for the offense to flow.
Similar to Karaban, Stewart has gained the attention of NBA scouts. Improving his handle off-the-dribble will go a long way in his on-court impact, as well as his pro aspirations. Stewart’s ceiling will also be hinged on his switchability on defense, especially if he continues to grow more comfortable defending guards and smaller wings. It remains to be seen exactly what role Stewart will have next season, but he’s got the tools to become a key contributor.
Last offseason, Stephon Castle, now with the San Antonio Spurs, became UConn’s first consensus five-star recruit since Kemba Walker. The addition of incoming freshman Liam McNeeley, a Montverde Academy graduate and Indiana decommit, marks UConn’s second straight offseason adding a five-star recruit and the program’s first consecutive offseasons with five-star additions since the 2003 and 2004 offseasons reeled in Charlie Villanueva and Rudy Gay, respectively.
Similar to Castle, McNeeley is a versatile weapon who will get a majority of his minutes at the 3 and he also has the size to spell Karaban at the 4.
Finklestein writes “McNeeley could follow in the footsteps of Jordan Hawkins, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan as lottery picks out of UConn. He may not have the scoring upside of other top picks in this draft class, but he’s a complete player with the size, shooting ability and defensive chops to be a valuable piece from the day he steps into the NBA. He’s perhaps the best three-point shooter in the class, is a very good perimeter defender and always seems to make the right play. His high IQ and positional versatility should be a perfect fit in UConn’s offensive scheme.”
Comparing Stewart to McNeeley, McNeeley is only nine months younger and his skill set, versatility and knowledge of the game provides the Huskies with a higher floor right now and an even higher ceiling in the future. Noting this, in similar fashion to the backcourt, expect Alex Karaban, Liam McNeeley and Jaylin Stewart to rotate and play the majority of the minutes at the 3 and the 4.
Whether it was Donovan Clingan developing under Adama Sanogo or Samson Johnson being the spark off the bench alongside Clingan, the bedrock of UConn’s most recent championship teams have been a one-two punch at the center position and this upcoming season is no exception.
While an essential bench piece in last year’s championship season, many forget that Samson Johnson started his sophomore year as the team’s starting power forward, but a foot injury suffered in the season’s opener allowed Alex Karaban to step into the starting lineup and secure his spot as one of the team’s most important players across the last two seasons.
Playing every game last season, Samson Johnson, with his electric rim-running athleticism and comfort in transition, excelled as a sharp contrast to Donovan Clingan’s classic post game. A low-usage big in half-court sets, Johnson’s above-the-rim hops inspired various sets to get him open looks on lob plays while his dexterity and soft hands helped Johnson finish last season with the second best 2P% in the Big East (69%). To take the next step in his development, Johnson will need to continue to gain strength in one-to-one low post defensive situation and also start developing the perimeter game he was able to show off at his time at the Patrick School.
Johnson will battle for a starting spot with Michigan transfer Tarris Reed. The 6’10 265 junior from St. Louis profiles as a classic big man after ranking in the top-ten in Big Ten conference in offensive and defensive rebounding rates and block rates.
Blessed with a 7’4 wingspan, Reed’s footwork, creativity and ability to finish with either hand will make him an essential weapon in Hurley’s inventive half-court sets. According to EvanMiya.com, Reed finished as Michigan’s third most efficient defender, which is a feat in itself since Michigan ranked as the Big Ten’s least efficient defense. KenPom.com also ranked Michigan as the Big Ten’s second least efficient offense, so although Tarris Reed improved throughout his time at Michigan, there is reason to hope that his game will take another big step forward playing amongst more talented and well-coached teammates.
Hailing from Bamako, Mali, the same hometown as Adama Sanogo, sophomore big Youssouf Singare will continue to develop alongside Reed and Johnson. Like Johnson, Singare is blessed with a long 6’10 frame and has exceptional footwork for his size. An energetic and active defender, Singare’s size, athleticism and motor set up his long-term potential as a strong defender both in half-court and in transition, but he is expected to continue to play sparingly as long as Reed and Johnson stay healthy.
Similar to Singare, the remainder of UConn’s roster might not have a clear role, but they possess impressive ceilings in their game. Sophomores Solomon Ball and Jayden Ross, as well as freshman Isaiah Abraham, are four-star prospects that will each need to battle for playing time in the rotation.
A starter for ten games last season, Solomon Ball’s 13 point performance against North Carolina was a snapshot of Ball’s potential. A world-class athlete, Ball’s report on the official UConn roster highlights his “vertical leap of 43 inches and a 7-foot wingspan”, which factors into Ball’s ceiling and two-way versatility. As with many freshmen with inconsistent playing time, Ball’s performance was hard to evaluate, but he will clearly grow his game as he gets more reps and better incorporates his skillset and talent with the flow of Big East basketball.
Like Singare, Jayden Ross spent his freshman season buried behind his teammates, but the late-blooming Ross is growing into the style of play that best matches his 6’7 frame after growing nearly a foot since starting his high school career as a 5’8 guard. With a gritty, dogged motor on defense and a willingness to smoothly penetrate to the hoop, Ross will only continue to blossom his versatility as he builds up his body and the game begins to slow down for him.
Heralded as one of the best defenders in the Class of 2024 and fresh off a 35-3 record, a WCAC Championship and a MaxPreps National Championship at Paul VI, the 6’7 195 Isaiah Abraham comes from a winning program and is looking to make all of the hustle plays to immediately earn a spot in the rotation.
In his interview with 247Sports following his commitment to UConn, Abraham said “I’m going to have to be aggressive at UConn next year. I have to be locked in on my defensive matchups and do whatever he needs me to do to get on the court.” On the defensive end, Abraham’s frame, motor and ferocity will be his ticket to earning immediate playing time, but the hope is Abraham will continue to grow his offensive game and become a starter down the road.
Overall, UConn’s 2024-25 roster has twelve scholarship players, but very few with concrete roles. Like the last two championship teams, this year’s roster will have plenty of competition as Hurley and his staff will need to cement an eight or nine-man rotation come March. Even amongst the uncertainty of the college basketball landscape, UConn has the talent, toughness, depth and coaching to compete for a national championship, yet again.
