UConn Basketball 2024-25 Roster Breakdown: Starters, Bench Rotation, Depth Forecast for Huskies

UConn somehow managed to improve after losing three players from its 2022-23 national title team. The Huskies again put up a dominating performance and won 37-3 over fellow heavyweight Purdue in the national championship game. Now there is another big challenge as UConn says goodbye to four players from its 2023-24 roster.

While UConn made some key transfers and saw a strong recruiting class on campus during the offseason, it was a season that was defined by who returned. Veteran forward Alex Karaban considered leaving for the NBA before opting out of the draft. Coach Dan Hurley also flirted with the Los Angeles Lakers before turning down the opportunity to coach LeBron James in favor of returning to Connecticut, back to a program he has built into a powerhouse.

The return of Hurley and Karban gives UConn a chance to do what no program has done since John Wooden’s heyday at UCLA and winning three times as national champions. The last program to win back-to-back titles was Florida, but the Gators then missed consecutive NCAA Tournaments as they went through the process of rebuilding. While the Huskies have questions to answer, there’s no reason to believe a rebuild is coming.

UConn has a chance to make history as its mix of returners, transfers, and freshmen move forward. As the 2024-25 season approaches, it’s time to start breaking down the list of the sport’s top programs. For this installment, we’re taking a look at UConn and trying to understand what the Huskies’ lineup could look like when the season begins.

The 2024 Summer Shootaround spotlight has shifted to the back-to-back national champions, the UConn Huskies. Subscribe to Eye on College Basketball, available free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever you listen to podcasts.

UConn’s 2024-25 projected starting lineup

g hassan diara

6-2 | 195 | Gr.

The virtue of patience is on full display with Diarra, who is set to take on the most important role of his five-year college career after winning Big East Sixth Man of the Year last season. He’s a dangerous defender who increased his offensive efficiency last season, while seeing a significant increase in his role starting in the 2022-23 season. He’s younger than Tristan Newton, who played the role last season, but he’s the kind of veteran backcourt presence that’s needed for teams with championship aspirations.

G. Solomon Ball

6-3 | 190 | So.

Ball gained valuable experience during the first two months of the season, playing 23 minutes per game in UConn’s first 14 contests before Hurley tightened the rotation in conference play, moving Ball out. His potential is still captivating, and the fact that he’s returned shows there’s an understanding on both sides that he’ll be given a chance to show what he can do. The left-hander is an explosive athlete with an incredible wingspan that suggests a lot of defensive upside for a player of his size.

F Jaylin Stewart

6-7 | 215 | So.

Stewart performed brilliantly in the Big East Tournament and earned an increased role at the end of his freshman season. He can play any forward spot and brings versatility on both ends thanks to his combination of size and athleticism. He hit three 3-pointers in two games last season, a breathtaking display of floor-spacing ability. The consistency of that outside shot could be key as the Huskies look to replace Cam Spencer’s perimeter shooting.

F Alex Karaban

6-8 | 225 | R-Junior

Karaban is UConn’s only returning starter after deciding to withdraw from the NBA Draft. He is a 38.9% 3-point shooter in his career and gives the Huskies a needed dose of consistency in key roles in their quest for a three-peat. He will be in the running for preseason All-America honors and will be the most recognizable face on this team. He is a true stretch four on offense and has demonstrated the ability to defend multiple positions.

C Samson Johnson

6-10 | 225 | Senior

Johnson is set to become one of the Big East’s most dominant defenders as he takes on an increased role in his senior season. Although Donovan Clingan is tough to follow, Johnson is a great rim protector in his own right and converted 72.5% of his shots from the floor in 16 minutes per game last season. It was an encouraging sign that Johnson appeared in all 40 games last season after struggling with injuries early in his career.

bench

Liam McNally

6-7 | 210 | Fr
According to 247Sports, McNeely is the No. 10 prospect from the class of 2024. The former Indiana standout is a talented shooter and aggressive player who has enough size and athletic ability to handle the defensive rigors of playing in the Big East.

Aidan Mahaney

6-3 | 190 | Junior
Mahaney’s raw scoring ability could make him a starter for the Huskies. But his efficiency declined in his second season at Saint Mary’s, and he will also have to prove he can hold his own defensively against increased competition.

Taris Reed

6-10 | 260 | Junior
Hurley has never had a problem finding minutes for two traditional big men. Reed should get plenty of run after averaging nine points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game at Michigan last season.

Jaden Ross

6-7 | 205 | So.
Ross struggled for some minutes as a freshman, but he has come up a bit now and may now have a better chance to find a stable role. He was considered a four-star prospect in the 2023 class.

depth

Ahmed Nowell | 6-0 | 195 | Fr.
Isaiah Abraham | 6-7 | 205 | Fr

It’s not fair to expect too much from Nowell and Abraham as rookies. But both players are four-star prospects entering a great development pipeline. Nowell is a strong guard from Philadelphia while Abraham has been praised by Hurley for “his big-time athleticism and versatility on the perimeter.”