University of Connecticut basketball star Braylon Mullins revealed on Saturday through social media that he will skip the NBA draft and come back to play his second year with the Huskies.
The talented shooter, who scouts project as a potential first-round selection or even lottery pick in the 2026 draft next June, shared his decision on Instagram while celebrating his 20th birthday.
The lanky 6-foot-6 player from Greenfield, Indiana, earned recognition as a five-star high school recruit and McDonald’s All-American before joining UConn. During his debut college season, he received every vote for the Big East All-Freshman Team honors after posting averages of 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 33 contests, despite sitting out the opening six games due to an ankle problem. He became a starter for 29 of the team’s final 30 matchups.
Mullins connected on 72 three-point shots, establishing the second-highest total by any first-year player in UConn program history. He converted 33.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc (72 of 215), with his most memorable basket coming during the NCAA Tournament.
The freshman’s dramatic 35-foot jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock defeated Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight round, propelling UConn into the Final Four. The Huskies finished with a 34-6 record but eventually fell 69-63 to top-seeded Michigan in the national title game.
Also on Saturday, Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia, who will be a sophomore next season, announced his transfer decision. The 6-foot-8 forward will join a UConn roster that brings back Mullins along with point guard Silas Demary Jr., wing Jayden Ross, transfer addition Najai Hines from Seton Hall, and incoming first-year players Colben Landrew and Junior County.
The Huskies are still awaiting word from guard Solo Ball regarding his future plans, while they have already lost forward Jaylin Stewart and center Eric Reibe through the transfer portal.
