Alex Karaban is, if not the most, then certainly one of the most accomplished players in men’s collegiate basketball. Yet, all his achievements have only fueled his hunger, and now he’s driven to achieve even more. After an impressive 71.4% 3-point shooting in the season opener, following a poor 27% average earlier in March, he is also admittedly confident about his game. But, Coach Dan Hurley is still focused on guiding his progress.

As Karaban contributed an impressive 17 points in UConn’s 90-49 rout of Le Moyne, Coach Hurley seemed pleased. When asked about Karaban in a post-game conference, he didn’t hold back in praising the junior forward. “He’s played on the biggest stages in college basketball, and you know he’s a back-to-back champion… he’s a potential All-American, and he’s got a chance to stake a claim as having, maybe, the greatest career of anyone that’s played at UConn, so he should come in with a lot of confidence,” Hurley shared during a press conference on Thursday.

It was Hurley’s way of boosting the confidence of a key player who shot 42.9% from three-point range in the last game and managed no less than 17 points in all three so far. And of course, Hurley is proud of him. Karaban is truly a go-to guy on the court, with two championship titles under his belt. Returning for a fifth year, his current season average of 18 points and 4.7 rebounds per game proves he’s set on making history again.

As the 22-year-old puts it, “No matter how the past two years went… we want more.” Since it’s a quest for a three-peat, he knows he has to stay aligned with Hurley’s coaching philosophies.

Alex Karaban is an ace in Dan Hurley’s deck of Huskies

Karaban’s impressive stats back Hurley’s words. And even Donovan Clingan recognizes his dominance on the court. After Karaban’s game against Sacred Heart, where he came close to Clingan’s NCAA tournament single-game block record, Clingan, now with the Portland Trail Blazers, quipped, “I didn’t leave school for you to break my block record.”

Karaban had recorded 7, one shy of Clingan’s 8 last season. But, it’s not only Karaban’s stats that appeal to his head coach. With top players like Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer now in the NBA, Hurley is counting on Karaban to lead the roster.

After the victory over Le Moyne, when Hurley was asked about making history, he shared an intriguing thought: “I don’t think it’ll (making history) be a thing for anyone but Alex… maybe me and Alex. Everyone else is either trying to get their first or will be pretty oblivious to it,” Hurley said. And well, it is showing. Karaban has led in scoring in all three games and with the evolving roster, he seems to be taking the role the HC wants him to.