KARABACK! As Alex returns for last ride at UConn, a look at how his retention helps shape Huskies

Alex Karaban ended speculation about his future Tuesday by announcing return to UConn for his senior season after he did not declare for NBA Draft prior to early entry deadline. (Photo by UConn Men’s Basketball)

Alex Karaban’s initial thoughts after UConn’s quest for a third straight national championship ended last month centered around his jersey.

The redshirt junior was not ready to move on—after a valiant, heartbreaking two-point loss to eventual national champion Florida, few, if anyone, would blame him for feeling that way—in an emotional locker room in Raleigh, not wanting to part with the No. 11 he had donned since arriving in Storrs in 2022.

Karaban did eventually hang the jersey up, but, as everyone learned Tuesday morning, will wear it again this November after his name was conspicuously not found among the list of early entry candidates for the NBA Draft. Shortly after, he formally announced what Husky fans had started to feel was increasingly likely the longer his future plans took to be brought to the fore.

“I pride myself on accepting challenges and holding myself to the highest standard,” Karaban tweeted in a graphic Tuesday. “Last year, we didn’t achieve what we set out to, and I am not running from a chance to make that right.”

Karaban underwent a metamorphosis of sorts this season, going from supporting the likes of Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson, Adama Sanogo, Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer to being the face of the program on a younger UConn squad. Even with classmates Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson there to help him shepherd Solo Ball, Liam McNeeley and Jaylin Stewart into life with the Huskies, you could see the transformation take a toll on Karaban at times as UConn struggled to uncork the bottle that had made it so formidable during consecutive championship runs. That experience should help him this coming season, as it will for Ball, Stewart and Jayden Ross as well, when Karaban and his fellow upperclassmen set out to regain what was taken from them.

UConn also got tougher before Karaban announced he would come back, adding Silas Demary and Malachi Smith in the transfer portal to replace Diarra at point guard. That tandem will anchor the backcourt with Ball, while Karaban and Tarris Reed, Jr. handle the front line. On the wing, McNeeley’s void will be filled partially by Stewart, but also by incoming McDonald’s All-American Braylon Mullins, who is one of three freshmen that will see significant playing time. Eric Reibe and Jacob Furphy, the two other rookies on Dan Hurley’s roster, are works in progress upon entry but will each have their chance to prove themselves.

Finally, the return of Karaban gives UConn the veteran presence it needs to keep up with the consistent challenge it will face from St. John’s at the top of the Big East standings. The Red Storm, who bullied and powered its way to the top of the conference this year, added a Who’s Who of portal talent around likely preseason conference player of the year Zuby Ejiofor as Rick Pitino beefed up his program on the heels of a 31-win season. A starting five of Demary, Ball, Mullins, Karaban and Reed will most likely be the first impression for opponents on most nights this coming year, and represents the Huskies’ best chance to neutralize the all-star cast of Ian Jackson, Joson Sanon, Oziyah Sellers and Bryce Hopkins alongside Ejiofor in Queens.

After UConn turned back Xavier in a thrilling Big East opener that required overtime to settle this past December, head coach Sean Miller—who will see the Huskies again this December even after leaving the Musketeers for the University of Texas—praised Karaban unprompted in his postgame press conference. Miller spent almost three minutes extolling Karaban’s virtues, calling him a winner who “reminds you of that every time you play UConn.” With that said, maybe it was for the best that Karaban reminded both himself and the fan base to which he has endeared himself that the one thing the Huskies did not do last month is still fresh in his conscience, something that still holds a greater value than any NIL agreement or professional contract could ever quantify in dollars and cents.

“I’ve realized that my heart remains in Storrs, and I have unfinished business to chase another national championship with my brothers,” Karaban said. “Let’s run it back one last time.”

So let it be written. So let it, if the two-time champion has any say in the matter, be done.