Newton Joins Jackson in NBA Draft

The Story: The UConn men’s roster remains very much undecided as Tristen Newton decided yesterday to enter the NBA Draft, not long after Andre Jackson made his decision.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: We go away for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose. Remember a week ago when we were writing about how the Huskies don’t have enough scholarships if everyone returns? There is no roster glut anymore. Everyone who could conceivably leave is gone or will at least test the draft waters.

• Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo were joined by Jackson on Tuesday and Newton last night. Newton and Jackson had indicated they are retaining their eligibility to both could return for another year in Storrs.

• Nahiem Alleyne, who came on late in the season, curiously decided to transfer and is off to St. John’s and new coach Rick Pitino.

• The Huskies are also losing little-used freshman forward Yarin Hasson and senior Richie Springs, who graduated. Both plan to transfer.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The good news is that the Huskies are defending national champions. The bad news? Four starters are leaving and a top bench player is transferring. Don’t feel too bad, however. Alex Karaban was stellar as a freshman and the big guy, Donovan Clingan, is back as the frontcourt should be among the best in the nation.

• The Huskies have an experienced guard in Hassan Diarra presumably coming back, and they have one of the top five recruiting classes in the nation, led by 6-foot-7 McDonald’s All-American point guard Stephon Castle.

• The potential lineup? Move Karaban to the wing and the Huskies can play big with Clingan, Castle and Samson Johnson, with perhaps Diarra or another freshman, top-50 recruit Solomon Ball, at guard. Wing Jaylin Stewart is also a highly regarded prospect. Three freshmen in the starting lineup? Yikes.

TRANSFER PORTAL OPTIONS? If Jackson and Newton don’t return, the Huskies will be down a player or two.

• They were thought to have the inside track on coveted Towson transfer Nick Timberlake, but he decided to commit to Kansas last night despite a lot of chatter and a great recruiting meeting last week.

• There are bound to be more players in the transfer portal — or, like last year, the Huskies could make a late add.

DECISIONS TO BE MADE: Hawkins is looking like a first-round pick and we strongly believe Sanogo is headed for an NBA career or a chance in Europe depending on his workouts.

• Jackson remains in an interesting study. He doesn’t shoot and averaged only 6.7 points per game for the Huskies this season. He was an impact player defensively and is going to be one of the best, if not the best, athletes in the draft. ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony, kind of a Jackson stan, thinks he has the potential to move into the first round based on his athleticism and skills.

• Newton’s prospects are a bit murky, and he really is a poster child for testing the waters. He is older, has graduated, and needs to know his path. Newton looks like an NBA player and has NBA size and shooting range, and he can finish off the dribble and make plays. Can he do those things in the NBA? That’s what he’ll find out.

NEW NBA DEALS: This isn’t the NBA Draft of 10 years ago, when if you weren’t a first-round pick and didn’t get guaranteed money, you returned to school. Second-round picks do not have guaranteed money, but new rules over the last couple of years have expanded NBA rosters.

• NBA teams will add an additional two-way contract next season, making it possible for each to have three young pros. That’s 90 additional players in the NBA than 10 years ago and it’s a safe bet that if a player is a second-round pick, he is almost assured of a two-way contract. Even undrafted free agents are getting two-way contracts.

• As part of the new CBA, another two-way contract will allow an NBA team to have a young player develop in the G League and be called up to the big leagues as needed while receiving a decent amount of money.

OUR TAKE: Putting players in NBA is a good thing. So are national championships. This is what happens when you have success. Dan Hurley will host reporters this afternoon and talk roster and other topics. UConn was No. 1 in a lot of way-too-early polls, but because of the exodus, we are thinking it will drop out of the top 10. But, Karaban and Clingan and the recruiting class are too good to not have top-25 expectations heading into next season.

— John Silver

Morning Reads

• The thought of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd playing together for a whole season means the UConn women are the overall No. 1 seed in the first edition of Bracketology. (ESPN)

• Wide receiver Aaron Turner has entered the transfer portal, a surprising development late this spring for the Huskies, who have their spring showcase on Saturday. (Associated Press)

• The volleyball team is getting a new home as well as the Freitas Ice Forum, which is no longer needed, will become its new home. (Hartford Business Journal)
Top photo: Andre Jackson dunks the ball in the Huskies’ Big East tournament game against Providence at Madison Square Garden. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)