G – Silas Demary Jr. (Matt)
Silas Demary Jr. was the centerpiece of UConn’s offseason additions, transferring to Storrs from Georgia. He started in all 33 games for the Bulldogs last year, scoring 13.5 points per game and logging 1.7 steals per game. Demary was also the team’s best shooter from beyond the arc, leading the team in both makes and three-point percentage. At 6-foot-5, he provides the Huskies with size at the point guard position that has made teams of the past successful. Demary made his first appearance for the Huskies in Tuesday’s exhibition against Michigan State. Demary knocked down two 3’s in the game’s opening minutes to kickstart UConn’s momentum. The expectations for Demary are high coming into the season, as he was named to the Preseason Watch List for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in the country.
G – Solo Ball, So. (Matt)
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame also recognized Solo Ball for its positional awards, selecting him to the Preseason Watch List for the Jerry West Award. awarded to the nation’s best shooting guard. On top of that, he was named to the preseason All-Big East First Team. Last season was a breakout year for Ball. He averaged 14.4 points per game last season and was the best 3-point shooter in the Big East, shooting 41.4%. Ball made seven 3’s on his way to a 25-point game during a road win over Marquette in February. The key for Ball this season is to improve on the defensive end, an area in which he struggled last year. If he can do that, there is no reason he cannot be the best shooting guard in colleg basketball this year.
F – Jaylin Stewart (Sam)
With five-star freshman Braylon Mullins out, Stewart is in line to start for the next 4-5 weeks. The junior from Seattle is a streaky player, but when he catches fire, you see the potential for him to make a major leap from his first two seasons at UConn. Last season, Stewart posted averages of 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 17.8 minutes per game with shooting percentages of 54.5% from the floor, 36.4% from 3-point range and 72% from the free throw line. Those numbers might not impress you, but he got into double figures scoring-wise seven times last season, including impressive efforts against tournament teams Memphis, Gonzaga and Creighton. In more advanced analytics, Stewart finished in the 90th percentile in true shooting percentage at 64.8%. Especially in transition, expect Stewart to break out with Mullins absent.
F – Alex Karaban (Sam)
Karaban is back for his final year and looks to shake off the inconsistency and decrease in confidence that occurred following the loss at Villanova last season. Even with that, Karaban’s numbers increased as his role saw him become a first option player. Karaban was named to the preseason All-Big East first team despite the roller coaster ride last year. What his critics cannot argue is that he was essential in every one of the 33 games he played last year. He made his teammates better, averaging 3.1 assists per 40 minutes (91st percentile nationally). His true shooting numbers were down from the 2024 national championship run, but expect the Southborough, Mass. native to find more consistency this year.
C – Tarris Reed Jr. (Sam)
Reed is likely to start on opening night against New Haven after missing both exhibition games with a hamstring injury. The former Michigan Wolverine comes into the 2025-26 campaign as the reigning Big East Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game on 19.9 minutes per game off the bench with an astounding 67% shooting percentage from the floor. The advanced analytics greatly favor him, including a true shooting percentage of 68.1% (96th percentile nationally). His ceiling showed at Providence last year, with a stat line of 24 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks and two steals on 10-13 shooting. While he did not average double figures in scoring, he averaged 19.3 points per 40 minutes (91st percentile nationally). Reed could emerge as the best player on the team in an Adama Sanogo-like role.