The college basketball season is over, and unfortunately for UConn fans, it’s time to say goodbye to some of the players they’ve fallen in love with– whether since November, or over the last four years and three Final Four runs.
Husky of Honor Alex Karaban has played his last game in a UConn uniform, as has fellow senior Tarris Reed Jr.
Freshman Braylon Mullins, who will forever be remembered for his last-second 35-footer against Duke, could follow them out the door too, though his decision hasn’t been made yet.
If Mullins does decide to enter the draft, where might we see these now-former Huskies balling next?
Here’s a look at where they’re being projected in the latest mock drafts.
Braylon Mullins
Bleacher Report: No. 9, Bulls
USA Today: No. 15, Hornets
SB Nation: No. 18, Thunder
Ringer: No. 28, Timberwolves
CBS Sports: No. 30, Mavericks
Mullins projections vary widely, with some having him as a Top-10 pick, and others at the very end of the first round. The swings in opinion make sense– he had a freshman season filled with highs (the Mullins miracle) and lows (injuries, some poor shooting nights). His numbers were good– 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1 steal in 28.3 minutes over 33 games. But considering his biggest strength is his shooting ability, Mullins didn’t actually have a great shooting season (42.1% FG, 33.5% from 3-point range). At 6-6, he’s big and has plenty of upside, but injuries and inconsistency have some questioning whether he’d be better served coming back to UConn and developing his body and game for another year.
If he does declare for the draft, where Mullins ultimately goes will depend on how much a team falls in love with his potential. This year’s draft class is notoriously stacked– in a way that had NBA teams tanking before the ball was even tipped this season– so it could serve Mullins to hang back and try his luck as a bigger, stronger, less-injury prone 20-year-old next year. He would also have the chance to prove he can lead the Huskies as one of the team’s main options, and put any concerns about consistency to bed. If Mullins gets intel that he’ll go in the lottery or even mid-first round, you’d have to think he’ll be gone. Otherwise, it could be a tough decision.
UConn Notes: Braylon Mullins finished freshman season ‘like a man,’ now has tough decision to make
Alex Karaban
NBADraft.net: No. 38, Mavericks
Sports Illustrated: No. 39, Rockets
Bleacher Report: No. 41, Heat
He’s one of the great winners in college basketball history, and after deciding against leaving early twice, Karaban will now find out how much NBA teams value his game. At 6-8, he’s got the requisite size to be an NBA wing. He’s also shown the ability to be a terrific 3-point shooter, though like Mullins, he struggled a bit more with his shot than would have been ideal. Karaban shot 37.4% from 3 this season, and his best shooting season actually came as a freshman (40.2%). He went through slumps as his role increased, and as he was keyed in on by opponents defensively. Still, his shooting ability isn’t the main question NBA teams will have– that will be his athleticism, lateral quickness and ability to playmake and defend. NBA athletes are on a different level, and Karaban, will have to prove he can guard both on the perimeter and inside. He also struggled to get open at times, which could be another major issue against NBA defenders, though floor spacing and the gravity of playmakers he’s on the court with could help him there. Regardless, there’s a spot for tough, smart leaders who know how to win, and Karaban is certainly one of those. Most projections have him coming off the board in the early-to-mid second round, and if he lands with the right team, he could make an impact.
Dom Amore: For Alex Karaban, UConn men, pride showed through pain of losing championship game
Tarris Reed Jr.
SB Nation: No. 30, Mavericks
NBADraft.net: No. 32, Pacers
Bleacher Report: No. 33, Nets
CBS Sports: No. 38, Mavericks
Much like former UConn great Adama Sanogo, Reed’s issue is– as ridiculous as this is to say about someone listed as 6-11– that he’s going to be perceived as undersized. Sure, Reed has a few inches on Sanogo, who was listed at 6-9, but the two have similar games that reflect that of a classic, post-up big-man. Both were monsters on the boards and couldn’t be stopped at times inside. Sanogo was the Most Outstanding Player in the ’23 Final Four, and Reed carried these Huskies to the Final Four on his back. UConn might have lost in the first round without him (who could forget his record-breaking 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman) and likely would have been run out of the gym without his 26 points and 9 rebounds against Duke. Reed proved to be one of the best big men in the country this season, and he improved greatly during his time in Storrs, eventually developing into one of the better bigs the Huskies have ever had. Still, today’s NBA values bigs who can either shoot from the perimeter, or have crazy length and can defend, rebound and block shots, and run in transition. Reed’s numbers (14.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game) suggest he may have a chance to make an impact at the next level, which is why he’s trending towards the late-first or early second round.
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