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Weekend Brunch: Why the development of UConn’s freshman class may determine if the Huskies can three-peat in 2025

Can UConn be the first program to win three national titles in a row since UCLA did it under John Wooden from 1971-73?

It’s definitely within the realm of possibility, but much of that quest will depend on the growth of the Huskies’ three freshmen — Solomon Ball, Jaylin Stewart, and Jayden Ross — between now and the start of next season.

While people from the periphery will highlight UConn’s offseason additions of five-star prospect Liam McNeeley and a pair of transfers — Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed (Michigan) — who both figure to play key roles, it’s important to remember that this program’s rise under Dan Hurley has been built on internal progress.

“We’re banking on player development,” Hurley told reporters on Thursday in Storrs. “We’ve also proven that we’ve been able to take those freshmen who are becoming sophomores and have them make those big jumps for us.”

Two years ago, Jordan Hawkins went from a player that averaged just 5.8 points as a freshman to the best shooting guard in the 2023 NCAA Tournament as a sophomore. Hawkins averaged 16.2 points during the 2022-23 season and made 109 three-point shots en route to being selected 14th in the 2023 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.

This past season, Tristen Newton (15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists) went from being an erratic floor general during the Huskies’ 2023 national title run to a first-team All-American and the Most Outstanding Player in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The stoic Newton had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 43:7 during March Madness. An upperclassmen, the 6-5 Newton wasn’t going from his freshman to sophomore season last year, but it was his second season in UConn’s program after transferring from East Carolina in 2022.

Hurley needs at least two of the Huskies’ three future sophomores — Ball, Stewart, and Ross — to take substantial jumps next season.

The 6-7 Stewart scored a combined 17 points in just 22 minutes in back-to-back games in the Big East Tournament in March and feels like he’s primed to be one of college basketball’s breakout players in 2024-25. Ball and Ross meanwhile, were both consensus Top-100 recruits out of high school and should see their production go up with higher usage. The 6-2 Ball is a potent offensive talent that can play either guard spot; Hurley has already likened his game to former NBA and St. Joe’s guard Delonte West. Ross meanwhile, only logged an average of 4.4 minutes as a freshman.

“Solomon Ball had a major impact in one of the bigger non-conference games that we won when we beat North Carolina at MSG in December,” Hurley said of Ball, who had 13 points against the Tar Heels in the Jimmy V Classic. “And (Jaylin) Stewart played a major role (nine points, three rebounds in 11 minutes) when we beat Marquette in the Big East Tournament.”

Three other players — Alex Karaban (13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds), Hassan Diarra (6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds), and Samson Johnson (5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds) — who logged double figure minutes on this past season’s team that won the national title could also return. The 6-8 Karaban is currently an early entrant to the 2024 NBA Draft, but has maintained his college eligibility. Diarra meanwhile, is expected to share time at lead guard with Mahaney (13.9 points) and four-star freshman Ahmad Nowell after earning Big East Sixth Man of the Year honors this past season.

If Karaban returns to Storrs, UConn will have proven commodities at point guard, power forward, and center, with questions lingering on the wings.

That’s where Stewart, Ball, and Ross come into play.

Their collective development between now and Nov. 4th — the opening night of the 2024-25 college basketball season — may ultimately determine if a three-peat is within the Huskies’ reach in 2025.

On The Side

  • Three of last season’s 15 AP All-Americans — RJ Davis (North Carolina), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), and Johni Broome (Auburn) — have already publicly announced their intentions to return to school next season. Three others — Mark Sears (Alabama), Caleb Love (Arizona), and DaRon Holmes II (Dayton) — are early entrants for the 2024 NBA Draft and can also still return to college in 2024-25.
  • Ohio State’s Jake Diebler is bullish on the Buckeyes’ addition of Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw. “I think people are going to be surprised on how he grows as a player,” Diebler said of the 7-1 Bradshaw on this week’s edition of the College Hoops Today Podcast. “I I believe that he’s got the ability to step outside and shoot the ball. We’re going to put him in situations to showcase some different skillsets.” A five-star prospect when he was in high school, Bradshaw averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds last season as a freshman.
  • The Big Ten announced this week that the league’s four new teams — UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington — will all play each other twice during the 2024-25 season.
  • Four of Kentucky’s incoming transfers — Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Koby Brea (Dayton), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), and Andrew Carr (Wake Forest) — shot 37% or better from three-point range last season. Think Mark Pope wants guys who can space the floor?!
  • Five of the Top 15 teams in the ROTHSTEIN 45 — Kansas, Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, and Arizona — are currently from the Big 12.

Leftovers