UConn’s Hurley urges Braylon Mullins to stay in college for more money
By ADAM ZAGORIA
UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins is a borderline NBA lottery pick, but Dan Hurley thinks he might be better off staying in college another year.
The 6-foot-5 Mullins hit arguably the biggest shot of the NCAA Tournament to lift UConn over overall No. 1 seed Duke in the Elite Eight. He averaged 12.0 ppg on the season while shooting 34% from deep.
He’s currently projected as the No. 17 pick in the Draft by ESPN.com and No. 14 by Tankathon.com.
He could be a massive star at UConn next season should he return.
“I think that that the world has changed,” Hurley said on The Dan Patrick Show. “There’s not this pressure to go to the NBA now because of the money situation. Players like Braylon, he probably would make more money at UConn next year than he would if he was the 15th pick. So, you know, those are the things that you have to weigh. How badly do I want to get out of college and get to the NBA?””
One NBA executive suggested Mullins should return to UConn.
“He’s not ready physically,” the exec told ZAGSBLOG. “And next year’s draft isn’t as strong. This year’s Draft is full of very good shooters.”
A year ago, UConn freshman Liam McNeeley left big NIL offers on the table and was picked 29th in the Draft. He averaged 4.4 points in limited NBA time while spending time in the G League.
“Unless it absolutely makes total sense for you to go and you know you’re a lottery pick guaranteed to go top 15-18, the biggest mistake you can make right now as a college basketball player is going to the draft too early,” Hurley said.
Dan Hurley on the NBA draft:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 9, 2026
"Unless it absolutely makes total sense for you to go and you know you're a lottery pick guaranteed to go top 15-18, the biggest mistake you can make right now as a college basketball player is going to the draft too early"pic.twitter.com/TReV9mEqXV
“What I’ll tell Braylon and I’ll tell his family, is No. 1, do you do you like college?” Hurley added. “Some players are in a rush to get to the NBA because they don’t like being a college student. They don’t like being in a college program…because college programs are run way differently than NBA teams in terms of how we practice and how kind of rigorous study hall and going to class, and then the coach being in charge of the whole operation.”
Hurley and the Huskies lost to Michigan in the national championship game Monday night in Indianapolis, and must now focus on re-loading in the portal.
The Huskies will lose Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban to graduation, while other players like junior point guard Silas Demary Jr. have decisions to make.
“For teams like us and the teams that played in the Final Four national championship game, it’s like it hits you like an avalanche because your season really just ended like literally two days ago, and now you’ve got to make all these decisions,” Hurley said. “You’ve got to help your players make monumental decisions,”
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