NCAA Basketball: 8 biggest takeaways from 2023 NBA Draft deadline results

UConn brings back Tristen Newton but loses Andre Jackson

After winning a national title, the Huskies had arguably the most players with NBA Draft decisions to deal with than any other NCAA Basketball team. A couple was done early on, as freshman center Donovan Clingan and projected lottery pick Jordan Hawkins. And while it was viewed as a foregone conclusion, leading scorer and rebounder Adama Sanogo made it official that he was gone.

That left two players, Andre Jackson, and Tristen Newton. The transfer from ECU and multi-triple-double producer averaged 10.1 ppg and 4.7 apg as the starting point guard, including 19 points and 10 rebounds in the title game win over San Diego State. He has the option of having a 5th year or going pro but decided to come back.

Jackson’s decision was tougher, as he was a projected top-40 pick. The 6’6 guard averaged 6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 4.7 apg and was one of the most versatile players in the country, despite not being much of an offensive threat. He decided to stay in the draft and that’s a blow because UConn isn’t going to be able to replace what he does on the court.

This puts more pressure on incoming five-star freshman guard, Stephon Castle. He’s certainly not going to be the passer and defender that Jackson was but the Huskies, with who is coming back, have a chance to be a threat to win the Big East yet again.