UConn HC Dan Hurley scores major coup with Braylon Mullins, Duke transfer double whammy appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The UConn Huskies caught a double win on Saturday, as head coach Dan Hurley’s roster gained both continuity and fresh talent through a core return and a transfer addition for the 2026-27 season.
Freshman guard Braylon Mullins will return to Storrs for his sophomore season after withdrawing from consideration for the NBA Draft, his father announced. A 6-foot-6 guard and McDonald’s All-American, Mullins was ranked No. 17 on ESPN’s most recent NBA Draft big board and was widely projected as a first-round selection. He originally entered college as a five-star recruit and was ranked No. 12 in the 2025 high school class by 247Sports.
Mullins appeared in 36 games during his freshman season, averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 33.5% from three-point range, and helped UConn reach the national championship game. He was limited early in the season after an ankle injury caused him to miss the first six games. He made at least five three-pointers in three separate games.
Mullins most memorable play came in the NCAA Tournament when he hit a near half-court, 35-foot buzzer-beater against Duke in the Elite Eight, sending UConn to the Final Four.
The same day, UConn also landed a transfer portal win as Blue Devils freshman Nikolas Khamenia committed to the Huskies. The 6-foot-8 forward was ranked No. 15 in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports. At Duke, he played 38 games off the bench, averaging 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, while shooting 41.7% from three-point range during a three-game ACC Tournament stretch in which he averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds after increased minutes due to injuries to Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II.
With Mullins and Khamenia expected to start, UConn is projected as a preseason top-five team. All-Big East guard Silas Demary Jr. has also confirmed his return, while Solo Ball may return as well. The Huskies additionally added Seton Hall transfer Najai Hines to help replace Tarris Reed Jr. and Eric Reibe.
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