STORRS, Conn. — It has been a glorious time for UConn Men’s Basketball, as the team is coming off back-to-back national championships.
As fans enjoy the rare accomplishment, it is never too early to look ahead to the next season. With success comes a price tag, however, and the team could lose all five starters and its sixth man before the new season begins.
Star freshman guard Stephon Castle and prolific sophomore center Donovan Clingan have both declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in June, where they are expected to be picked near the top of the lottery.
AP First Team All-American and Bob Cousy Award winner Tristen Newton, a fifth-year guard who also was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, has used all his eligibility. Fifth-year guard Cam Spencer, who was named as a First Team All-Big East selection, falls into the same category, and cannot return to Storrs as a player in the fall.
RELATED: UConn freshman Stephon Castle declares for NBA draft and becomes school's second one-and-done player
Sophomore forward Alex Karaban has also put his name into consideration for the upcoming draft, although he will maintain his college eligibility in case he doesn’t like where he is projected to be picked. Lastly, Big East Sixth Man of the Year Hassan Diarra hasn’t announced if he will return to Storrs for his final season of eligibility.
UConn has already gotten to work in the transfer portal, as the team brought in Tarris Reed Jr. this week. The 6-foot-10 sophomore averaged 9.0 points per game for Michigan last season. Below are more options that the Huskies could add entering the 2024-2025 season.
Look now, and don’t blink, because the list is dwindling every day, as top-tier players select their new schools.
Liam McNeeley
The first player on the list isn’t a college transfer but rather an incoming freshman who shocked the country when he recently decommitted from Indiana. McNeeley, one of the top ranked high school seniors in the country, is a five-star recruit and the best three-point shooter in his class. UConn is one of less than 10 schools believed to be in competition for the six-foot-seven small forward. He began his official visit to UConn on Monday, and the Huskies expect they have a real chance at landing the McDonald’s All-American.
Koby Brea
Last week, the Dayton guard entered his name into the transfer portal. Last season, Brea was the nation’s top three-point shooter. If the Huskies land Brea, he would instantly fill the void left open by the departure of Spencer. UConn is competing with Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and Duke for Brea, according to the Hartford Courant. The six-foot-six guard shot 49.8% from distance last season, taking more than six three-point attempts per game, while averaging 11.1 points per game. UConn can only hope the Washington Heights, N.Y. native decides to play close to home and commits to the “Basketball Capital of the World” in Storrs.
Johnell Davis
The former FAU standout averaged 18.2 points per game in 2023-2024 and was a key component of the 2023 Owls team that came a buzzer beater away from appearing in the national championship game. Last season, the 6-foot-4 guard nailed 41.4% of his three-point attempts. Davis has one season of eligibility remaining and has entered the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
Vladislav Goldin
Another former FAU star, Goldin would be an ideal replacement for Clingan. At 7-foot-1, the Russian averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 67.3% from the field in 2023-2024 for the Owls. Like Davis, Goldin was a critical piece of the 2023 FAU Final Four team. Goldin has entered the 2024 Draft but maintains his college eligibility while he is in the portal. UConn has been in touch with the big man, although he is leaning toward Michigan, according to Sports Illustrated.
DJ Wagner
Following head coach John Calipari’s exodus from Kentucky, Wagner, a 6-foot-3 guard, is one of six former Wildcats to enter the portal. Wagner arrived at Kentucky as the sixth-ranked high school prospect in the country and performed inconsistently during his one season in Lexington. Many expected Wagner to be one-and-done, but he chose to transfer, and UConn could be there to snag one of the most talented players in the portal.
Clifford Omoruyi
Last season, UConn hit a home run when the team landed the Rutgers transfer Spencer. Looking at next season, another former Scarlet Knight could come to Storrs. Omoruyi is a 6-foot-11 center who protects the rim with the best of them, as he earned consecutive Big Ten All-Defense Honors. In each of the past three seasons, Omoruyi averaged double figures and had 29 double-doubles in his Rutgers career. The defensive stalwart has one year of eligibility remaining.
Rylan Griffen
UConn fans should be familiar with the 6-foot-6 guard, who scored 8 points against the Huskies in the Final Four just over two weeks ago. The sophomore averaged 11.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season while shooting 39.2% from three-point land. His defense has room to grow, but his offensive capabilities cannot be questioned. Griffen would bring size to UConn’s backcourt, potentially filling the void left behind by Castle.
Cade Tyson
Tyson is a name many people don’t know, but his statistics speak for themselves. Coming from Belmont, where he spent two seasons, Tyson is a career 44.6% three-point shooter on almost 300 attempts. Last season, he averaged 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Like Griffen, Tyson’s defense is uncertain, but as a 6-foot-7 guard, he could bring tremendous size to UConn’s backcourt.
Brandon Garrison
The former Oklahoma State center averaged just 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in his one year in Stillwater, but his potential is considerable. As a top-50 high school prospect and McDonald’s All-American, Garrison had an up and down freshman season but has three seasons of eligibility remaining and could complement newcomer Reed and two-time national champion center Sampson Johnson in UConn’s lineup.
Jevon Porter
The younger brother of Denver Nuggets standout Michael Porter Jr., the former Pepperdine Wave scored 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore season, earning honorable mention All-WCC honors. As a 6-foot-11 forward, Porter brings size and shooting to the table. If Karaban leaves, UConn will need a forward. Could it be Porter?
Other possibilities
Other potential names that UConn could add include Dillon Mitchell, a former five-star power forward that played for Texas for two seasons. The Huskies could also be interested in Kevin Miller, a six-foot guard who averaged 15.6 points and 3.5 assists for Wake Forest last year.
To learn more about possible transfer options, one can visit CBSsports.com or ESPN.com.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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