The transfer portal for men’s college basketball will close on Tuesday. Until then, we’re seeing a frantic wave of activity from programs across the country.

Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are working the portal aggressively, as are head coaches throughout college basketball. While they focus on solidifying their rosters for the 2025-26 season, players around the country are making important decisions.

Outside the portal, veteran players are also weighing their options—whether to use another year of eligibility or declare for the NBA Draft. One of those players is Alex Karaban of the UConn Huskies. 

As of Saturday, Karaban had yet to decide his future. Joe Arruda, a UConn beat writer for the Hartford Courant spoke with Karaban, who shared, “I’ve been at UConn for a while, and I just love this place so much. It’s hard to leave a place you love, but at the same time, it’s also my dream to go to the NBA.”

The forward came to UConn from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He has been with Coach Hurley for both of the program’s recent NCAA Tournament titles in 2023 and 2024. During the 2025 season, Karaban was named a second-team All-Big East selection. His freshman year earned him a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team.

Karaban has appeared in 111 games for the Huskies. His junior season was his most productive, averaging 14.3 points per game. During the 2025 NCAA Tournament, he played 38 minutes in the 67-59 win over Oklahoma, scoring 13 points. In the second game, he logged 36 minutes and scored 14 points in a narrow 77-75 loss to Florida.

A return to Storrs would allow him to compete for a third national title in four seasons. The Huskies have won six national championships as a program. UConn has made seven NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances.

Hurley took over UConn in 2018 after six seasons at Rhode Island, where he compiled a 113-82 record. Following his first two seasons in the program without an NCAA Tournament appearance, the Huskies have now reached the tournament five straight years.