UConn somehow managed to improve after losing three starters from its 2022-23 national title team. The Huskies repeated in dominant fashion, finishing 37-3 with a convincing victory over fellow heavyweight Purdue in the national championship game. Now comes an even greater challenge as UConn bids farewell to four starters from its 2023-24 roster.
While UConn nabbed a couple of key transfers and saw a strong recruiting class arrive on campus during the offseason, it was a period defined by who returned. Veteran forward Alex Karaban considered leaving for the NBA before pulling out of the draft. Coach Dan Hurley also flirted with the Los Angeles Lakers before spurning the opportunity to coach LeBron James in favor of returning to Connecticut to return to a program that he’s built into a powerhouse.
The returns of Hurley and Karaban give UConn a fighting chance to do what no program has done since John Wooden’s heyday at UCLA and three-peat as the national champion. The last program to win back-to-back titles was Florida, but the Gators then missed consecutive NCAA Tournaments as they went through a rebuilding process. While the Huskies have questions to answer, there’s no reason to believe a rebuild is coming.
UConn has a chance to keep on chugging as a mix of returners, transfers and freshmen combine to pursue history. As the 2024-25 season approaches, it’s time to start breaking down the rosters of the sport’s top programs. For this installment, we’re taking a look at UConn and trying to decipher what the Huskies’ lineup could look like when the season begins.
The 2024 Summer Shootaround spotlight shifts to the back-to-back national champs, the UConn Huskies. Subscribe to Eye on College Basketball, which is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever else you listen to podcasts.
UConn’s 2024-25 projected starting lineup
G Hassan Diarra
6-2 | 195 | Gr.
The virtue of patience is on full display with Diarra, who is positioned to play the most significant role of his five-year college career after winning Big East Sixth Man of the Year last season. He’s a menacing defender who elevated his offensive efficiency last season while seeing a significant uptick in role from the 2022-23 season. He’s smaller than Tristen Newton, who held this role last season, but he’s the type of veteran backcourt presence that is essential to teams with championship aspirations.
G Solomon Ball
6-3 | 190 | So.
Ball gained valuable experience during the season’s first two months, playing 23 minutes per game over UConn’s first 14 contests before Hurley tightened the rotation in conference play, squeezing Ball out. His potential remains tantalizing, and the fact that he returned suggests there’s an understanding on both sides that he’ll be given a chance to show what he can do. The left-hander is an explosive athlete with a ridiculous wingspan that portends immense defensive upside for a player of his size.
F Jaylin Stewart
6-7 | 215 | So.
Stewart shined in the Big East Tournament while carving out an increased role late in his freshman season. He can play either forward spot and brings versatility on both ends because of his combination of size and athleticism. He hit three 3-pointers in a pair of games last season in a tantalizing demonstration of floor-spacing capability. The consistency of that outside shot may be key as the Huskies replace the perimeter marksmanship of Cam Spencer.
F Alex Karaban
6-8 | 225 | R-Jr.
Karaban is UConn’s lone returning starter after choosing to withdraw from the NBA Draft. He’s a career 38.9% 3-point shooter and gives the Huskies a needed dose of continuity in key roles as they pursue the three-peat. He’ll be in the running for preseason All-America honors and will be this team’s most recognizable face. He’s a true stretch four on offense and has demonstrated the ability to defend multiple positions.
C Samson Johnson
6-10 | 225 | Sr.
Johnson is poised to be one of the Big East’s most impactful defenders as he takes on an increased role in his senior season. Though Donovan Clingan is a tough act to follow, Johnson is a great rim protector in his own right and converted 72.5% of his shots from the floor in 16 minutes per game last season. It was an encouraging sign that Johnson appeared in all 40 games last season after dealing with injuries earlier in his career.
Bench
Liam McNeely
6-7 | 210 | Fr.
McNeely is the No. 10 prospect from the Class of 2024, per 247Sports. The former Indiana commitment is a gifted shooter and offensive player with enough size and athleticism to handle the defensive rigors of playing in the Big East.
Aidan Mahaney
6-3 | 190 | Jr.
Mahaney’s raw scoring ability could make him a starting-caliber player for the Huskies. But his efficiency took a hit in his second season at Saint Mary’s, and he’ll also need to prove he can hold his own defensively against increased competition.
Tarris Reed
6-10 | 260 | Jr.
Hurley has never had problem finding minutes for two traditional bigs. Reed should get plenty of run after averaging nine points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game at Michigan last season.
Jayden Ross
6-7 | 205 | So.
Ross struggled for minutes as a freshman, but he’s moved up the pecking order a bit and may have a better chance to earn a steady role now. He was considered a four-star prospect in the Class of 2023.
Depth
Ahmad Nowell | 6-0 | 195 | Fr.
Isaiah Abraham | 6-7 | 205 | Fr.
It’s not fair to expect much from Nowell and Abraham as freshmen. But both players are four-star prospects entering a great developmental pipeline. Nowell is a gritty guard from Philadelphia while Abraham is lauded by Hurley for his “big-time athleticism and versatility on the perimeter.”
Duke basketball roster breakdown: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook for 2024-25
David Cobb
