Top 3 UConn players Illinois basketball should target if Dan Hurley leaves

3. Alex Karaban – 6-foot-8, 220-pound, Forward

This past season was special for the UConn Huskies. They had one of the best teams I have ever seen, and a big part of that unit was Alex Karaban.

Coming out of IMG Academy in Florida, Karaban didn’t have a ton of high-level recruiting attention. He was a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 95 player in the class of 2021. Karaban took a few Big Ten visits before committing to UConn. This ended up being a great decision.

Karaban took a redshirt season in 2021-22. After that, he began to blossom as a player. In 2022-23, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He also shot 40.2% from three-point range while taking 4.2 three-point attempts per game.

This past season was great as well. Karaban continued to develop his game, and he averaged 13.3 points 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He also upped his three-point attempts to 5.5 attempts per game and hit them at a clip of 37.9%.

If you have an opportunity to pursue a great player like Karaban, you take that opportunity. This kid would be a great get for the Illini, and I think he would be an instant upgrade to the roster.

Karaban would easily start from day one. At 6-foot-8, I think he probably takes the No. 3 or No. 4 spot on the floor. My guess would be that you have Kylan Boswell and Ty Rodgers in the backcourt. Tre White would then play the No. 3 spot, Karaban at the No. 4 spot, and Morez Johnson Jr. at the No. 5 spot. Illinois’ roster would be loaded.