The UConn Huskies got all the way to the NCAA championship game, and they had a stellar season, other than falling to the Michigan Wolverines in the championship matchup.
The Huskies are also a heritage basketball program and have been to three Final Fours under head coach Dan Hurley, winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
But, believe it or not, they only have one player projected to go early in the 2026 NBA draft. That player is center Tarris Reed Jr.
In a mock draft from NBC Sports published on Monday, May 18, Raphielle Johnson and Kurt Helin have Reed going at No. 26 to the Denver Nuggets.
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“Few players participating in the most recent NCAA tournament did more to improve their draft prospects than Reed,” Johnson states in the piece. “His dominance helped the Huskies reach the national title game for the third time in four seasons, but they fell short against Michigan.”
Johnson adds: “A rugged post player who is also active on the glass, Reed can give the Nuggets needed depth behind Nikola Jokić, even with Jonas Valančiūnas having one more year on his deal.”
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My Analysis: Tarris Reed Jr. is a Great Fit for the Nuggets
The key here is that the Nuggets should certainly use this draft to get depth behind Jokić, and that’s really what makes Reed an ideal fit for the team. He’s a big man, standing at 6’11” and weighing 265 pounds, and has shown during UConn’s championship run that he’s ready to jump into the NBA with his mature physicality. So, if he’s available by No. 26, the Nuggets would be wise to snatch him up.
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