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UConn adds two international players

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By ADAM ZAGORIA

UConn coach Dan Hurley continues to bolster his roster for the coming season.

The Huskies on Monday landed pledges from 7-foot-2 Turkish big man Rrezon Elezaj and 6-4 Serbian guard Uroš Paunović, sources confirmed.

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Here is the official UConn release:

UConn men’s basketball and head coach Dan Hurley have announced the addition of a pair of international prospects for the upcoming campaign. Rrezon Elezaj and Uroš Paunović will matriculate in Storrs this fall to round out the 2025-26 roster. 

“With rosters expanding to 15 this year, we look at it as a great opportunity to further roster construction, focusing on growing our team’s depth and competitiveness,” Hurley said. “We feel like Rrezon and Uroš help us do that.”

Rrezon Elezaj | Istanbul, Turkey | 7-1 | C | Beşiktaş JK (Turkey U-19 League)

Before UConn: Comes to Storrs with extensive experience in the Turkey national team program…last competed with Turkey at the 2025 FIBA U18 Eurobasket…helped Turkey reach the quarterfinals in the 16-team competition by averaging 5.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 17.7 minutes per game…was a key cog in helping Turkey to a bronze medal at the 2024 U17 World Cup, where he averaged 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks while shooting 51.4 percent in 16.9 minutes per game…on the club level, last competed with the prestigious Beşiktaş in the Turkey U-19 League…in the 24-25 season with Beşiktaş, averaged 7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20.2 minutes per game, shooting 60.7 percent from the field…played in four games for Next Generation Istanbul at the 2025 Istanbul Adidas Next Generation Tournament, averaging 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 56.3 percent shooting in 12.4 minutes per game. 

Hurley on Elezaj: “Rrezon is an interesting prospect, a true 7-footer, who just turned 18. We’re looking forward to bringing him into our program and getting to work on his development. He has really solid instincts and timing as a shot-blocker and is a legitimate lob threat in the ball-screen game. Rrezon has experience coming through the ranks as a Turkish youth national team player, and we’re excited to add him to our group up front with Tarris, Eric, and Dwayne.”

Uroš Paunović | Belgrade, Serbia | 6-3 | G | KK Zlatibor (Serbia – KLS)

Before UConn: Joins the Huskies after competing in Serbia’s top division (KLS) since the 2021-22 season…most recently spent the 2024-25 season with KK Zlatibor, playing in 11 games in the Adriatic League 2 before appearing as a regular starter in 30 contests in the top flight…scored 8.8 points with 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from 3-point range in KLS play…in 2023-24, played with KK Dynamic and scored a career-high 11.7 points with 3.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per contest, posting a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio over 30 games.

Hurley on Paunović: ”Uroš is a guy we liked on film. He’s got a ton of experience as a 22-year-old; he’s been a starter professionally in the top division in Serbia, a 6-3 guard who’s pretty good with the ball, can shoot and pass, and plays with real emotion on the floor. We’re looking forward to having him join the Huskies.”

UConn’s roster for 2025-26 now stands at the newly implemented cap of 15 members, with 10 newcomers joining five returners. 

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