Braylon Mullins Is Staying at UConn and the College Basketball World Should Be Nervous
The guy who hit one of the most iconic shots in NCAA Tournament history just announced he's coming back for another year, and Dan Hurley's Huskies are about to be a problem again.
Braylon Mullins announced on his 20th birthday Saturday that he's returning for his sophomore season in Storrs. The 6-5 shooting guard could have bolted for the NBA, but he's betting on himself in a way that could pay him millions more through NIL deals and a bigger payday if he declares next year.
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Let's be real: you remember where you were when Mullins drained that 33-footer in the Elite Eight against Duke. The Huskies were down 19 points before storming back to win and punch their ticket to the Final Four. That shot has already cemented itself among the 10 or so biggest moments in NCAA Tournament history. Tate George's 1990 buzzer-beater against Clemson? Kemba Walker's ankle-breaker in 2011? Mullins belongs in that conversation now.
As a freshman, Mullins was a five-star prospect out of Indiana who actually improved his stock as the season wore on. He played in 33 of Connecticut's 40 games, starting 29 of them, and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 28.3 minutes per game. Those numbers don't scream superstar, but his biggest moments came when they mattered most.
UConn's Reload Is Wild
Here's what makes Mullins staying put even bigger: the Huskies are reloading around him. Yes, they lost some key pieces to graduation and the portal. But Saturday also brought news that former Duke transfer Nik Khamenia is heading to UConn after visiting this week. On top of Mullins, the Huskies are bringing back three veteran pieces in shooting guard Solo Ball, point guard Silas Demary, and wing Jayden Ross.
Add in transfers Najai Hines from Seton Hall (a 6-10 sophomore-to-be) plus top-40 prospects Colben Landrew and Junior County, and Hurley has built something scary. UConn went 34-6 and made the national title game. They're already locked in for the preseason top 10 for a fourth straight year, and they'll likely add at least one more notable portal piece in the coming weeks.
Mullins' decision to stay means UConn stays the most interesting team in college basketball. The Huskies aren't slowing down anytime soon.
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