UConn forward Alex Karaban is more intent on forging an NCAA legacy than boosting his portfolio for the 2024 NBA draft.
The 6-8, 280-pound redshirt sophomore from Southboro was emphatic on the point prior the Huskies’ scheduled practice on Wednesday afternoon at the TD Garden.
“During the season coach (Dan) Hurley never talks about (draft) stock, he never talks about NBA,” said Karaban. “He wants us focused on the moment and he thinks those are distractions
“There is no talk about that ever and I don’t care about that at all. What I care about is UConn. I care more about what I can do at this program and this school and help leave a legacy of two national championships.
“I think that is something that is going to stick with me forever, more than anything that can happen in the future.”
The reigning national champion and No. 1 seed Huskies (33-3) advanced to the Sweet 16 with East Regional wins over Stetson and Northwestern at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. UConn will resume its quest for back-to-back crowns when the Huskies engage No. 3 San Diego State on Thursday night (7:30) at the TD Garden. No. 2 Iowa State (29-7) will confront No. 3 Illinois (28-8) in the second game at 10:05.
The UConn vs. San Diego State game is a rematch of last year’s championship game. The Huskies captured their fifth national championship with a 76-59 victory over the Aztecs at NRG Stadium in Houston. Karaban started 38 games as a redshirt freshman chasing the national championship and he expects to confront a San Diego State program intent on atoning for its loss in Houston.
“They are going to want a sense of revenge,” said Karaban. “They are definitely going to want a piece of what we did to them last year.
“Losing in the national championship, I know heartbreak and I can only imagine that it was tough for them. They are going come in here to get their revenge and pretty much they have a lot of returners from last year.
“They are super experienced and they made it championship game last year and the Sweet 16 game this year. I know they are going to be amped up, juiced up. It is going to be a tough game and they will be a tough team to play against.”
Karaban has played the third most minutes of any UConn player this season. He leads the team with 178 field goals and ranks highly in rebounds (3rd), blocks (3rd) and steals (3rd), while shooting more than 50 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. He averages 13.7 points per game, third best on the high-powered team.
Karaban is excited to play his first college basketball game in the Garden but it will not be his first trip in uniform to the barn on Causeway Street. Karaban was a freshman at Algonquin High School in Northboro when he played in a MIAA Tournament game on the parquet against Belmont.
He would later in play in AAU tournament games at the Garden after he transferred to the New Hampton School, a private prep school in New Hampshire.
Karaban also attended numerous Celtics games over the years, the most recent being Game 5 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers last season. He even attended Jayson Tatum’s basketball camp.
“Super excited to play in Boston,” said Karaban. “Probably the only chance I get to play with UConn in Boston so it will be special.
“At the same time, it is a Sweet 16 game for us so we are locked in as if it was at any location.”
