Indianapolis, IN, USA : Braylon Mullins said on Saturday he will forgo the 2026 NBA Draft and return to UConn Huskies for his sophomore season.
The 20-year-old wing, widely projected as a potential first-round pick, made the announcement on Instagram on his birthday.
Mullins, a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, earned unanimous Big East All-Freshman Team honours after averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 33 games. He missed the first six games of the season with an ankle injury but started 29 of the final 30.
The 6-foot-6 sharpshooter made 72 three-pointers, the second-most by a freshman in UConn history, shooting 33.5% from beyond the arc.
His most notable moment came in the NCAA Tournament when he hit a 35-foot buzzer-beater with 0.3 seconds left to lift UConn past Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight and send the Huskies to the Final Four.
UConn (34-6) went on to reach the national championship game, where they fell 69-63 to Michigan Wolverines.
The Huskies are set to return a core group including Mullins, point guard Silas Demary Jr. and wing Jayden Ross, while also adding transfer Najai Hines from Seton Hall and incoming freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County.
Meanwhile, forward Jaylin Stewart and centre Eric Reibe have entered the transfer portal, and guard Solo Ball has yet to announce his plans.
