UConn basketball roster breakdown: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook for 2023-24

rewrite this content material with complete period and stay HTML tags UConn is shedding key items from its national-title profitable workforce reminiscent of Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo, however do not fall into the entice of calling the 2023-24 season a rebuilding yr for the Huskies. With a number of key individuals from closing season again and poised to thrive in larger roles, trainer Dan Hurley’s squad is more likely to compete at the nationwide level once more. The arrival of the country’s No. 6 signing magnificence, headlined through five-star guard Stephon Castle, and the inbound switch of elite 3-point shooter Cam Spencer additionally supply explanation why for optimism that there may not be a vital drop-off for the Huskies. Returning to anchor the 2023-24 squad are fifth-year senior level guard Tristen Newton, redshirt sophomore energy ahead Alex Karaban and sophomore middle Donovan Clingan. Of the trio, Clingan is poised for the most-significant breakout after outperforming his No. 73 general prospect rating as a real freshman whilst backing up Sanogo. One in particular fascinating wild card at the Huskies’ roster is Samson Johnson, a third-year member of this system who used to be not off course for a key position closing season previous to an early-season damage. Hurley has been top on Johnson since earlier than his arrival, and he may provide a spark for UConn within the entrance courtroom within the season forward. As school basketball’s offseason participant motion cycle slows to a trickle, it is time to get started breaking down the rosters of the game’s best methods. For this installment, we are looking at UConn and looking to decipher what the Huskies’ lineup may appear to be when the season starts. The reigning nationwide champion UConn Huskies are bringing again probably the most best possible giant males within the nation and a couple of extra items. So, the place does this workforce fall within the general hierarchy for name contenders for 2024, and is UConn even the favourite within the Big East? Matt Norlander and Gary Parrish elaborate at the difficult climb forward for the Huskies, together with a historical past lesson on how this system has carried out the yr after profitable all of it. Subscribe to Eye on College Basketball, which is to be had to be had for unfastened at the Audacy app in addition to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and anywhere else you pay attention to podcasts.  Projected beginning lineup 1. Tristen Newton 6-5 | 190 | Sr. Newton stuck some flack early closing season for now not being a “true point guard” after arriving as a switch from East Carolina, the place he served because the Pirates’ number one scoring choice. But he were given higher because the season went alongside and capped it off with a 19-point, 10-rebound efficiency within the nationwide name sport. He completed closing season averaging 4.7 assists and must once more be a key piece of the Huskies’ rotation. 2. Cam Spencer 6-4 | 207 | Sr. Spencer entered the portal in May after main Rutgers in scoring with 13.2 issues according to sport on 43.4% taking pictures from 3-point vary in his lone season with the Scarlet Knights. Including 3 seasons at Loyola-Maryland, he is a profession 40.5% 3-point shooter. Replacing the fringe marksmanship of Hawkins may not be simple, however Spencer’s overdue addition to the roster provides the Huskies a really perfect outdoor taking pictures choice. 3. Stephon Castle 6-6 | 205 | Fr. Castle landed at No. 7 in Kyle Boone’s early 2024 NBA mock draft after rating because the No. 7 prospect within the Class of 2023, in keeping with 247Sports. Those are some lofty expectancies, however the McDonald’s All-American is a large combo guard with the entire bodily equipment essential to ship at the hype. From a ability perspective, his shot is a piece in growth, because of this that fanatics must cool their expectancies for what Castle may give a contribution offensively. 4. Alex Karaban 6-8 | 210 | R-So. Karaban exceeded expectancies as a redshirt freshman, getting into the beginning lineup for the season’s 2nd sport and not relinquishing the position. He hit 40.2% of his 3-point makes an attempt on 4.2 tries according to sport and in addition proved to be a faithful defender, even if switched onto smaller guards. His versatility on each ends of the ground makes him the very best stretch energy ahead within the fashionable sport and explains how he landed as a projected first-round pick out in Boone’s 2024 NBA mock draft. 5. Donovan Clingan 7-2 | 265 | So. The handiest explanation why Clingan did not play a starring position for the Huskies as a real freshman used to be as a result of Sanogo, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, performed the similar place. With Sanogo now within the NBA, the trail is apparent for Clingan to grow to be probably the most dominant facilities in school basketball. He averaged a whopping 1.8 blocks in simply 13.1 mins according to sport and averaged 6.9 issues on 65.5% taking pictures. If he can keep out of foul bother and take care of his conditioning, Clingan is usually a strolling double-double and elite rim protector worthy of All-American attention. Bench Samson Johnson 6-10 | 215 | Jr.Johnson began the season opener closing yr earlier than a foot damage derailed his sophomore marketing campaign. The former four-star prospect can play both place within the entrance courtroom and must in the end get a possibility to turn what he can give a contribution in his 1/3 season with this system. Hassan Diarra6-2 | 190 | Sr.Diarra is a superb perimeter defender, however that wasn’t sufficient to stay him prominently featured within the rotation all over the NCAA Tournament closing season. Still, the previous Texas A&M guard gave the impression in 36 video games for the Huskies and must issue into the bench equation as soon as once more, particularly if he can fortify upon closing season’s lackluster offensive metrics. Solomon Ball 6-3 | 185 | Fr.Ball completed the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 41 nationally through 247Sports, making him the lesser-heralded of this system’s two beginners guards. But whilst Castle is usually a one-and-done condo, Ball has the makings of a long-term contributor. With elite athleticism, a reported 6-10 wingspan and a name for prolific scoring, he’s going to even have the risk to earn an early position. Jaylin Stewart 6-7 | 210 | Fr.Stewart ranked because the No. 53 freshman within the magnificence, and Hurley is constructive about his offensive repertoire. “He has an awesome blend of size, strength and skill for a perimeter player,” Hurley stated. “He is a natural basketball player with an elevated feel for the game and we feel he has the potential to be a star.” Jayden Ross 6-7 | 180 | Fr.Ross ranked because the No. 108 prospect within the magnificence. Hurley described him as “an explosive athlete, a big wing who can really use his shooting as a weapon on the offensive end.” DepthApostolos Roumoglou | 6-7 | 200 | So.Youssouf Singare | 7-0 | 225 | Fr. A overdue addition to UConn’s 2022-23 roster from Greece, Roumoglou stays fairly of a thriller after handiest logging rubbish mins closing season. But it is imaginable that he may in finding his method into the combo after a season of acclimating to university basketball. Singare ranked because the No. 134 prospect within the magnificence and holds promise as a rim protector. But mins may well be arduous to seek out in the back of Clingan and Johnson this season. 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