Karaban withdraws from draft, will re-join 2-time champ UConn

UConn forward Alex Karaban is withdrawing from the NBA draft process and returning for his redshirt junior season, he announced Wednesday on social media.

The 6-foot-8 Karaban has been a staple in Huskies head coach Dan Hurley's squad for their back-to-back title-winning campaigns.

In 2022-23, Karaban's first year after sitting out for 2021-22, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shot 40.2% on threes on 4.2 attempts per contest - the second-best mark on the Huskies that year behind Joey Calcaterra.

Karaban's rate from distance dipped slightly to 37.9% this past season, but his overall production rose to 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in six NCAA Tournament games to help UConn topple Purdue in the national final.

The former four-star recruit was ranked as the 36th-best prospect available in the 2024 NBA Draft by ESPN.