Months turned to weeks, and weeks to hours, yet we do not have an answer from what many have come to call one of UConn’s greatest players. If you ask Dan Hurley, “he’s an NBA player.” The forward believed it too when he tested the waters last season. But he said, maybe not just yet. Becoming the winningest college player was a little too tempting. Looks like it still is going by the uncertainty. But while he decides, the Husky isn’t the only one torn.

“I do want to do it relatively soon,” Karaban said last week. “No exact timeline yet, but I do want to let the coaches and my teammates know which direction I want to go with relatively fast.” Well, it has been anything but. Karaban has until April 26th, 11:59 pm ET to announce his decision. Now, do we take that as a sign that the forward is staying? But we cannot rule out the possibility that he had a good reception at the draft process last year, either.

In the latest episode of the CBS Sports College Basketball podcast, co-hosts and college hoops analysts Gary Parish and Matt Norlander wondered the same thing. For one, it would make sense for Karaban to declare for the draft.

“My prediction would be that Karaban will go into the draft. He almost went in a year ago and he had assurances of a guaranteed contract like in the top 40. Now he didn’t have a great junior season, obviously, but like he’s won two national championships. Has he fulfilled everything he’s looking to get out of college? I don’t know, but I would predict that he is in fact leaving,” Norlander weighed.

That sums up the case with Karaban. A little too good to continue with college, and maybe just not enough to land a desirable pick. The forward finished his season on a 92-22 record, 13-1 in the NCAA tournament, and a 2x National and Big East champion, each. That naturally makes the case for one of the winningest players in college hoops. But is his junior season adding to it? Not very sure.

When Karaban returned, Hurley declared he was going to have to take the leading role on the team. With the experience he had and all the new faces, it was only right. And Karaban did rise to the occasion, too. In his absence, Liam McNeeley would admit, “A lot of guys had to step up because Alex brings so much.” By early March, he was averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 35% from beyond the arc. But his shooting concerns and lack of physicality had Hurley calling him out more than once. And the anticipated three-peat campaign? The Florida Gators washed it down with a 75-77 defeat. 

Now Karaban may have shown potential the last time he was testing the NBA waters. He was a standout at the draft combine, hitting 14 consecutive 3s to finish 21/25– the best by then. The strong showing had him looking like a real first-round prospect. But things haven’t exactly gone his way since. In what should have been a season that would see him rise to a Top 20 pick, it is instead seeing him down at 30. So Parish believes it would be a wiser move for the forward to return to Storrs. And maybe not just for the draft stock.

“I have him projected back. Not because I 100% believe he’s coming back, just because that is the most logical thing for him to do if UConn is willing to pay him market value. Like, he might get picked if he enters the draft, and stays in it, but I don’t think he helped himself very much this season,” he added. Money has certainly been a factor for many in declaring for the draft or staying put this season.

Karaban himself had one of the highest valuation at $1.8 million. If things go south in the draft, he could see a sum much less. Fans already want him in the UConn squad next year, making the case of Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer’s draft last season. The two star Huskies were drafted 49th overall and 53rd overall, with the latter even going for a two-way deal. The sum there? $600,000.

Parish’s argument is simple. Karaban is a more valuable player in college than he is as a professional. So if he returns, which is the wiser decision per him, UConn would have to consider paying him his worth in this era of NIL. “I think there’s more money to be made in college if UConn is willing to pay him what a player of his caliber and pedigree would be worth,” he adds.  

Now Hurley admires Karaban’s game, has heaped praise, his return would boast the squad. But the uncertainty and maybe the NIL pay isn’t something he’d want on his list right now. Because the head coach knows he has had his share of mental agony this off-season. With de-commits becoming the new normal, how is Hurley dealing?

UConn faces a De-committment amidst the Transfer Portals

After

Duke saw some serious missed signees this season where top recruits like Nate Ament and Shelton Henderson switching their decisions to join Tennessee and Miami, respectively, other NCAA teams are not entirely free from the recent decision-making storm. In a recent series of events, UConn too had a taste of the ongoing de-commitments. As a strong prospect, Darius Adams refused to join the program or play under Hurley despite committing to join the program next year.

According On3’s Industry Rankings, the five-star and number 7 shooting guard confirmed the news on social media and wrote, “

After much thought and prayer, I’ve decided to decommit from the University of Connecticut. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the best step for me and my future. With that being said, my recruitment is officially back open and I’m excited to see what the next chapter holds.”

Despite having acquired promising players like Malachi Smith and Silas Demary Jr. through transfer portals this off-season, players changing their decisions come as a setback for the HC and an entire team. Nonetheless, it will be exciting to witness as each of these transfer recruits translate own strengths and USP on the court next year.