10/29/2026 1:01:00โฏPM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. โย The Naismith Hall of Fame has announced UConn men's basketball sophomoreย Na'jai Hinesย is on theย Naismith Starting 5 โ Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List. The Hall of Fame is announcing the preseason watch lists for its annual positional awards this week.ย
Entering his first season in Storrs, the big man averaged 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as a freshman a year ago at Seton Hall along with a BIG EAST-best 2.2 blocks per game. In 18.0 minutes per game across 31 contests, the 6'10 native of Plainfield, N.J. shot 60.2 percent from the field and totaled 69 blocked shots. In three preseason games at Connecticut,ย Hinesย averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes, shooting 60.0 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the line along with five blocked shots.ย
Hinesย joins teammatesย Silas Demary Jr.,ย a member of the Cousy Award Preseason List,ย Braylon Mullinsย on the West Award List andย Colben Landrewย on The Erving Award list as Huskies lauded by the Hall of Fame for positional awards thus far. UConn's all-time Naismith Starting 5 winners are a trio of Cousy Award winners in Kemba Walker (2011), Shabazz Napier (2014) and Tristen Newton (2024).ย
