Braylon Mullins Just Chose College Over the NBA, and Duke Fans Should Be Watching Closely

UConn's Braylon Mullins made his decision official: he's coming back for his sophomore season instead of declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6'6" wing was projected as a potential first-round pick, but he's staying put with the Huskies. And for Duke, this one move could actually shift everything about whether their key guys stick around.

Mullins Chose the College Route When the NBA Was Calling

The numbers tell you why scouts were interested. As a freshman at UConn, Mullins averaged 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42.1% from the field and 33.5% from three on 6.5 attempts a night. Oh, and he also hit the dagger three in the Elite Eight against Duke that sent the Huskies to the Final Four. That's the kind of moment that gets NBA scouts' attention. But instead of testing the waters in the 2026 draft, he's back in college.

What This Means for Duke's Roster Puzzle

Duke is in the middle of transfer portal chaos right now. Head coach Jon Scheyer already got good news: freshman point guard Cayden Boozer committed to returning for his sophomore year. But the Blue Devils also lost sophomore Darren Harris and freshman Nik Khamenia to the portal, with those two heading to Indiana and UConn respectively.

The real question mark is who comes back. Scheyer is still waiting on decisions from Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba, Caleb Foster, and Dame Sarr. Evans and Ngongba specifically are weighing whether to return to Durham or declare for the NBA Draft. Right now, it feels wide open where they're leaning.

Why One UConn Guard's Choice Matters in Durham

Here's the connection: Mullins had a similar draft projection as Evans and Ngongba, around the end of the first round potentially into the late teens or early 20s. The argument for why Mullins should return to UConn is the exact same argument that could convince Evans and Ngongba to stay at Duke. When a prospect with comparable draft stock chooses another year of college development, it sends a message to other borderline first-rounders sitting on the fence.

Duke fans waiting on Evans and Ngongba just got a reason to be optimistic. The portal is still early, but Mullins' decision proves guys at this level are thinking twice about leaving early.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.