Alex Karaban returning to UConn for senior season

One of the winningest players in program history is back for one last run.

The wait is over. Alex Karaban is back.

After having the state of Connecticut in a stranglehold after the deadline to declare for the NBA Draft passed late last week, Karaban announced he will return to UConn for his final collegiate season. The two-time national champion, who averaged a career-best 14.3 points per game last season, rounds the Huskies’ starting five and immediately makes the Huskies a legitimate title contender for the upcoming season.

The decision to return to UConn is a little surprising given what Karaban has accomplished during his time in Storrs. The Southborough, Massachusetts native was a key contributor on both of the Huskies’ national title teams in 2023 and 2024 but his junior season didn’t necessarily go as planned.

As the focal point of UConn’s offense last season, Karaban did set career highs in points, rebounds, blocks and assists per game but his efficiency took a hit. A major slump from three during Big East play cratered his 3-point percentage this season, finishing at 34.7 percent. He shot 43.8 percent from the field last year and 82.8 percent from the line, both career lows, but still earned All-Big East Second Team honors.

Karaban projected as a very late first round to second round pick in last year’s NBA Draft, and despite the down year this season, that projection largely remained the same. With Karaban likely unable to get a commitment from a team that they would take him the first round — which offers much more money and a guaranteed NBA contract — he opted to bet on himself and run it back one last time with Dan Hurley.

With Karaban back in the fold, the rising senior will slot into a new-look starting lineup that will likely feature Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Tarris Reed Jr. and one of UConn’s impact transfer guards in Silas Demary Jr. or Malachi Smith. Elite freshmen Braylon Mullins and Eric Reibe are waiting in the wings while Jacob Furphy should compete for minutes as well.

Karaban’s return also gives Hurley free rein to continue to work the transfer portal. The senior shores up depth at the wing/stretch four slot so the Huskies can now focus on bolstering the frontcourt following the loss of Youssouf Singare, who left UConn and transferred to High Point. With Karaban back and the recent release of Darius Adams from his commitment, UConn has five open scholarships for the 2025-26 season. Given that the scholarship limit is expected to be expanded to 15 this season and revenue sharing will soon be in effect, it’s not a definite UConn fills all them all this season.