UConn gets more good news as Braylon Mullins announces return
By ADAM ZAGORIA
After huddling with his family, UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins announced on his 20th birthday that he will return for his sophomore season, giving a major boost to Dan Hurley’s club following an appearance in its third NCAA championship game in four years.
The 6-foot-5 Mullins hit arguably the biggest shot of the NCAA Tournament to lift UConn over overall No. 1 seed Duke in the Elite Eight. He averaged 12.0 ppg on the season while shooting 34% from deep.
Mullins had been a borderline projected lottery pick, but some NBA personnel thought he wasn’t quite ready.
“He’s not ready physically,” one NBA exec told ZAGSBLOG before his announcement. “And next year’s draft isn’t as strong. This year’s Draft is full of very good shooters.”
Jonathan Givony of Draft Express Tweeted: “Smart move by Braylon Mullins to return for sophomore season. Rated No. 27 on my board. Shot 34% from 3 and didn’t impact the game enough in other areas — 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.1 FTA per game. Needs to get stronger and more versatile on both ends.”
Hurley had recently urged Mullins to return.
“I think that that the world has changed,” Hurley said on The Dan Patrick Show. “There’s not this pressure to go to the NBA now because of the money situation. Players like Braylon, he probably would make more money at UConn next year than he would if he was the 15th pick. So, you know, those are the things that you have to weigh. How badly do I want to get out of college and get to the NBA?””
A year ago, UConn freshman Liam McNeeley left big NIL offers on the table and was picked 29th in the Draft. He averaged 4.4 points in limited NBA time while spending time in the G League.
“Unless it absolutely makes total sense for you to go and you know you’re a lottery pick guaranteed to go top 15-18, the biggest mistake you can make right now as a college basketball player is going to the draft too early,” Hurley said.
The Huskies are losing junior forward Jaylin Stewart and freshman big man Eric Reibe in the portal, but junior point guard Silas Demary Jr. , junior guard Solo Ball and junior wing Jayden Ross are all returning while the Huskies added 6-8 Duke transfer wing Nik Khamenia and 6-10 Seton Hall transfer Najai Hines in the portal.
The Huskies also bring in a pair of top-50 freshmen in 6-foot-6 wing Colben Landrew and 6-foot-4 guard Junior County.
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