Since the turn of the millennium, UConn has been the standard of excellence in college basketball.
The latest addition to the pantheon of Blue Bloods has a strong case to be the defining program of the century. Since 2000, the men have won five national championships, and the women have more than doubled that mark with 11 of their own.
That success has coincided with UConn’s ability to develop NBA talent—at least to some extent.
Richard Hamilton in 1999. Emeka Okafor in 2004. Kemba Walker authored a Cinderella run in 2011. His successor, Shabazz Napier, got it done three years later.
The latest run was no different. Jordan Hawkins headlined the 2023 group on the way to a lottery selection. Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan followed in both regards.
Now, as UConn tries to make it back to the mountaintop in 2027, the Huskies boast their most intriguing collection of NBA prospects since their last title.
Braylon Mullins is mocked in the mid-to-late lottery on mainstream draft boards—the 6’5” sharpshooter returns for his second year in Storrs, viewed as the preeminent prospect for the Huskies.
Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines has found his way on first-round mocks, and Nikolas Khamenia is a popular breakout candidate after a move from Duke.
But I favor incoming freshman Colben Landrew among that group and believe that he is the program’s best long-term prospect.
Let’s dive into why.
