Alex Karaban announced Wednesday that he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to UConn for his junior season, boosting the Huskies' chances of winning a third straight national championship.
Karaban made his announcement with a post on X: “While I've enjoyed the draft process, Storrs is home. Let's review it.”
Karaban, a 6-foot-9 forward, becomes one of the highest-ranked prospects to retire his name and return to college. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range and starting 39 of 40 games for the Huskies.
Karaban scored at least 20 points eight times, including 23 points and five 3-pointers in a key early March win at Marquette. He also had a strong performance in the Final Four, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds against Alabama to help UConn advance to the title game.
It was a step up from his first season, when he started 38 games and averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Karaban is the only returning starter for the Huskies, as projected lottery picks Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan left early for the NBA draft and senior guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer exhausted their eligibility. All five players were invited to the NBA draft combine.
Coach Dan Hurley reloaded UConn's roster in the offseason, adding transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary's) and Tarris Reed (Michigan) as well as signing top-10 prospect Liam McNeeley last month. Rotation players Samson Johnson, Hassan Diarra, Solomon Ball and Jaylin Stewart are back and expected to advance next season.
Karaban was ranked 36th in ESPN's NBA draft rankings, and his return will likely put UConn in the top five of ESPN's too-early Top 25.
