UConn Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Huskies

Key Reserves

Guard – Solomon Ball (Freshman)

A 4-star guard originally from Virginia, Ball is a terrific athlete who could factor into the rotation pretty quickly with the Huskies. One shouldn’t expect explosive scoring figures from him as a true freshman, but he’ll find his ways to contribute and affect the game, especially on the defensive side of things. Don’t sleep on Ball as a future backcourt star for this program.

Forward – Jaylin Stewart (Freshman)

Stewart is a 4-star forward from Seattle who looks like a relatively strong wing for the Huskies. He’ll need to improve his strength, but he’s already relatively decent sized and can score from all over the court. We’ll certainly see him getting minutes in relief of Karaban, though it’s unfair to rush his development from the high school level into the Big East.

Guard – Hassan Diarra (Senior)

Diarra is a former Top 100 recruit who had a limited run in two seasons at Texas A&M. He landed with the Huskies in the offseason last year and would average just 2.1 points and 1.8 assists per game in limited opportunities. He will bring a veteran presence to a pretty young bench, again serving in a solid reserve role for the Huskies. Don’t expect much on offense; he made barely 30% of his field goals and was putrid from beyond the arc.

Forward – Jayden Ross (Freshman)

Another piece from this recruiting class, Ross is a 4-star small forward from Maryland who has an interesting combination of factors. His size and strength have been more impressive than expected and he could work his way into decent run off the bench this season. It’s early but don’t be surprised if he’s a household name a few years from now.

Center – Youssouf Singare (Freshman)

Another massive presence for a UConn program filled with frontcourt talent, Singare stands at 7’0 and is a 3-star prospect with some work ahead. He’s very physical and has plenty of potential in this program, but needs to continue to build himself up if he’s going to make a significant impact at the center position.

Forward – Samson Johnson (Junior)

Johnson did not get much run these last two seasons, but moves up the depth chart after those offseason departures. He’s a 6’10 forward who’s a former Top 50 recruit, but don’t be dissuaded by his last two seasons. Now he’s got a chance to shine and will be the first person off the bench in the frontcourt. Hurley and company just hope he can show consistency; he’s already looked great on the boards, especially on the offensive end.