G – Hassan Diarra, Gr. (Connor)
In many ways, Hassan Diarra was an unsung hero of last year’s national championship run. While he did not score a plethora of points like his teammates, his contributions were pivotal. Whether it was being a great facilitator, playing hard-nosed defense or leading breaks in transition, Diarra was one of the best sixth men in the country a year ago. With the Huskies losing four players to the NBA, the guard will take on a more prominent role this season. Considering how talented Connecticut is, the program does not need Diarra to take on a sizeable scoring role. His aptitude as a traditional point guard is his strength, which meshes perfectly with the program. When given the opportunity, Diarra can get a bucket from most areas on the floor, making him a threat to the game in many ways.
G – Solo Ball, So. (Connor)
Despite starting 10 games last season for the Huskies and playing solid minutes early in the campaign, Solo Ball fell out of the rotation as a freshman, and we didn’t see much of him. Part of it had to do with how intense the competition for minutes was last year, but despite that, Ball is all in on the UConn system. Coaches at UConn for two years have been raving about how good of a shot the 6-foot-3 guard has, which he demonstrated in Connecticut’s 102-75 exhibition win over URI. Ball scored 18 points on 7-10 shooting, including 3-6 from beyond the arc. This performance, coupled with the confidence of the UConn coaching staff, makes us confident that Ball will be running with the first unit. The likelihood of Ball making a strong sophomore jump has never been greater.
F – Liam McNeeley, Fr. (Sam)
It’s easy to fall in love with a five-star recruit like Liam McNeeley, who brings a more prominent offensive presence than Stephon Castle started with last year. The Huskies lost shooters in Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton, but bringing in McNeeley will help with that as he was shooting over 40% during the EYBL season. The only concern that Head Coach Dan Hurley has expressed about him is his defense. Not only is his shooting strong, but his frame allows him to finish at the rim in various ways. Expect the star freshman to make an immediate impact on the team’s hopes of a third consecutive national championship. McNeeley didn’t waste any time showing his offensive game in the team’s exhibition against Rhode Island, scoring the game’s first points and finishing with 10.
F – Alex Karaban, R-Jr. (Sam)
Even though Samson Johnson and Hassan Diarra were on the team for both national titles, Alex Karaban brings the most experience out of the three. He flirted with the NBA, but ultimately decided to return in a new role: becoming the headlining player of the defending champions. Karaban started the last two seasons and is coming off a regular season where he shot at least 50% from the field, 40% from deep and 90% from the free throw line. He’s expected to step up after shooting just 31.6% from 3-point range in the final 15 games of last season. Fans should be ecstatic about Karaban in a new role. He’s not going to be considered a role player that relies on catch-and-shoot type of shots. His game is expected to expand beyond that.
C – Samson Johnson, Sr. (Sam)
Samson Johnson had a unique path to become the Huskies’ starting center this season. He started at power forward at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, but things derailed in the first game. Since then, Hurley and the coaching staff have worked with Johnson to reshape him into a center. That transition is similar to 2004 National Champion Josh Boone, who went from starting at power forward his first year, to eventually center his final year in Storrs. Assistant Coach Tom Moore talked about the similar paths between Johnson and 1999 National Champion Souleymane Wane to reach this role. Johnson feasted in the paint last year, shooting 73.5% from inside the arc, according to KenPom. While he is expected to split time with Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr., the table is set for Johnson to have a breakout year.