Eight thoughts on the UConn mens eight scholarship players

Transfer portal season is here, and UConn is like any college team at the moment: prey for the portal but ripe for the overall pickings as well.

UConn was already losing upperclassmen R.J. Cole, Tyrese Martin, Isaiah Whaley and Tyler Polley before four others elected to enter their names into the portal. Big man Akok Akok along with guards Jalen Gaffney, Rahsool Diggins and Corey Floyd Jr. will be playing elsewhere next season. This currently leaves UConn with eight scholarship players, including the recent addition of East Carolina guard transfer Tristen Newton.

But coach Dan Hurley has plans to build on that number, telling reporters last week he’s hoping to add a couple guys for help on the perimeter in addition to some developmental players. Despite fewer players compared to last offseason’s depth, Hurley loves the core that’s returning and anticipates a better team as he has with each new season.

With five open scholarships and plans to add a few more names, this list will be refreshed. But given the whirlwind few weeks, let’s take a look at who’s coming back, who’s coming in and an idea of what to expect from everyone.

Tristen Newton, guard

2021-22 season at East Carolina: 17.7 ppg, 5.0 apg, 4.8 rpg

With Cole’s departure along with the other younger guards, the Huskies needed a go-to point guard. Enter Newton, who has experience as a facilitator and scorer after three seasons at East Carolina. The 6-foot-5 Newton earned second-team all-conference honors with the Pirates as junior, and Hurley already loves his fit with remaining guards Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins. The coaching staff was looking for someone who could easily pass the ball but also add points if Jackson takes over as facilitator.

“I just love interchangeable guards,” Hurley said last week. “A lot like Tyrese did for us, a guy shooting in the low 30s from 3 doesn’t tell the story in terms of quality for what he can do from the 3-point line. Tyrese came in as a low-30s 3-point shooter and left as a low-40s. I think he’s going to shoot better here than he did at East Carolina because of the inside players we have, he’ll get better 3s.”

Newton shot 43 percent overall from the field in 34.7 minutes a game. He also led the American Athletic Conference in free-throw percentage (87.9 percent). Since Newton’s adds more length, Hurley added, it allows the ability to do more switching and play more zone.

Newton arrives with one season of eligibility remaining, plus the option of a second season due to the NCAA granting an extra year for those players affected by Covid-19.

Adama Sanogo, forward

Sophomore at UConn: 14.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg

There’s no one more crucial inside and critical to UConn’s success than Sanogo. Of UConn’s top five scorers last season, he’s the only returner. He was also the team’s leading rebounder. The Huskies built their game around him in the paint. The big man carried the Huskies all season, and his plentiful minutes started to show at the worst moments as Hurley said he thinks Sanogo ran out of gas.

“He was playing 37, 38 minutes in these games,” Hurley said. “We needed him to play that many minutes for us to be in the position that we were — a 5 seed, playing at the top of the Big East and everything we were able to accomplish, playing a Top 25 season. … He was pretty spent down the stretch. You could see it in the lack of lift he had at (Madison Square) Garden and the lack of pop he probably had in the tournament.”

With incoming 7-footer Donovan Clingan’s arrival, UConn will have some backup in the paint and ideally a fresher Sanogo for late March.

Andre Jackson, guard

Sophomore at UConn: 6.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.1 apg

Jackson has shown signs of leadership this year as he continues building on his basketball skills. This year was all about finding his identity, especially as a defender, while continuing becoming a 36 percent shooter from beyond the arc. But with limited returners, Jackson can embrace that mantle even more. He’s grown as a facilitator, which coaches want to keep encouraging as Jackson tallied the team’s second most assists last season. With Newton headed to Storrs, Jackson won’t be the primary point guard, so coaches want him to make leaps as a stronger scorer and someone who attacks the rim more. As an extremely athletic playmaker, he should bring plenty of pop to that role.

Richie Springs, forward

Redshirt sophomore at UConn: 1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Springs has stuck around even after only tallying 28 minutes in eight appearances last season. But if there’s ever a time for him to make an impact, this summer seems ideal. While Sanogo shouldered a lot of the paint load last season, he also had the experienced Isaiah Whaley and Akok as backups. Unless there’s another transfer addition, Springs is one of the “elder” post players. But Samson Johnson recorded more minutes, so what role the 6-9 Springs takes on will be interesting to monitor.

Jordan Hawkins, guard

Freshman at UConn: 5.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Hawkins has qualities akin to former NBA Draft lottery pick James Bouknight. We just weren’t privy to all that this postseason when he suffered a concussion. He missed the Big East tournament and UConn’s NCAA Tournament loss where he could have really helped the Huskies with some scoring. Of the returners, he took the most attempts from beyond the arc last season.

This summer, he’s working on bumping up five pounds to 195. Just as Bouknight could take over a game, Hawkins has that potential too. “This guy is going to have a monster sophomore year,” Hurley said.

Samson Johnson, forward

Freshman at UConn: 1.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg

With all the post depth last season, Johnson played just 68 minutes in 13 contests. But Hurley praised his “wall” potential early, meaning he could become a lottery pick. Johnson is suited to the four. The 6-10 big man played the most minutes of the season (20) in an early December contest against Grambling. With UConn’s injuries and foul trouble, he also made an early appearance on the road at Villanova, but he looked a little lost. That experience should help going forward as he becomes more comfortable. He also made a brief appearance in UConn’s win over Seton Hall at the Big East tournament. With limited upperclassmen in the paint, Johnson can really make an impact down low.

Alex Karaban, forward

Early enrollee from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

The 6-8, 210-pound Karaban out of Massachusetts arrived early at UConn this winter, watching and learning from the sideline. That semester will be helpful. He can play the three or four positions, and he’s a great shooter. It was especially fun watching him shoot during warmups and practices during the postseason when he was draining plenty of long-range attempts. That length and shooting stroke could be clutch for the Huskies.

Donovan Clingan, center

Incoming freshman from Bristol (Conn.) Central High School

Clingan was a huge recruiting coup for the coaching staff as they landed the home-state talent. After years of local anticipation, he’ll finally head to Storrs soon. Clingan is a 7-1 recruit who is ranked No. 51 in the ESPN 100.

Hurley recently saw Clingan and said he looked like he lost about 20 pounds, which is important for him to get into the type of condition he’ll need to play in college. That’s going to be a point of emphasis this summer.

“But from a skill standpoint and a guy that has a motor and wants to be out there and believes in himself and thinks that he’s a great player and believes it, he’s got all of that,” Hurley said. “He’ll help Adama a lot.”

(Photo of Adama Sanogo: Joshua Bessex / Getty Images)

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