11/2/2026 12:01:00โฏPM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY โย The UConn men's basketball duo ofย Silas Demary Jr.ย andย Braylon Mullinsย have been named toย 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Watch List,ย theย Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Monday (Nov. 2).
Demary Jr.ย andย Mullinsย are among 50 players nationally to earn a spot on the preseason list. UConn is one of 10 teams nationally and the lone BIG EAST side to have multiple players earn a spot.ย
The BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year,ย Demary Jr.ย enters his second season at Connecticut with a slew of preseason honors, including Preseason All-America nods from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and Field of 68. In his first year in Storrs in '25-26 the 6'4 lead guard averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and a BIG EAST-best 5.9 assists per game. His on-ball pressure and IQ helped lead the Huskies to a top-10 defensive unit per major metrics, flipping a unit that was top-75 a season prior.ย ย
Mullinsย was a Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST pick and was tabbed a First Team All-American by Blue Ribbon Report. A year ago,ย Mullinsย was a unanimous All-Freshman pick in the BIG EAST. The 6'6 Indianan made 29 starts as a rookie and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He knocked down 72 threes, second-most in a season for a freshman in UConn history.ย
Both were also among the 20 players recently named to the NABC Player of the Year Watch List. The regular season begins later on Monday when UConn hosts Gardner-Webb at PeoplesBank Arena.
