Alex Karaban stats today: How veteran forward led UConn to Sweet 16 with career-high performance vs. UCLA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Under Dan Hurley, all the UConn Huskies have done is win. In 2026, it once again appears they’ll be in the mix for a deep NCAA Tournament run.
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UConn took down UCLA in the second round of March Madness on Sunday, claiming an 82-71 victory to advance to the Sweet 16. Hurley still has a few players on his squad who were around for the team’s 2024 title — including veteran Alex Karaban, who was a significant contributor in both of the Huskies’ recent championship runs.
On Sunday, Karaban was at the center of all of UConn’s success against UCLA. He posted a new career-high in scoring, leading the Huskies to a double-digit win.
Here’s a look at Karaban’s big game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and what to know about his potential NBA future.
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Alex Karaban stats today
On the season, Karaban has averaged 12.9 points per game — on a UConn team that always has plenty of depth, he’s been the Huskies’ second-leading scorer. But on Sunday, Karaban was the go-to offensive hub for Hurley’s unit.
He put up 27 points, a new career-high, including four 3-pointers. Karaban’s 6-foot-8 frame with shooting touch proved too much to handle for a UCLA team missing its top scorer, Tyler Bilodeau.
UConn has now seen two of its key players step up in huge ways for each of its NCAA Tournament games. In Round 1, Tarris Reed Jr. had a historic performance, posting 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. In Round 2, it was Karaban who had a career night.
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Alex Karaban highlights vs. UCLA
Karaban couldn’t stop putting the ball in the basket for UConn on Sunday — and UCLA had no answers.
On drives to the rim, he was relentless, including on the offensive glass.
He particularly caught fire in the second half, connecting from 3-point range a few times.
Perhaps his most impressive shot of the night came from near the “March Madness” logo on the court.
By the end of the night, it was a terrific showing for Karaban and the Huskies, and they will now take on Michigan State in the Sweet 16.
Alex Karaban NBA Draft
Karaban, a senior who has spent all four of his college seasons at UConn, is set to be NBA Draft eligible this year. He isn’t the Huskies’ top 2026 prospect, as guard Braylon Mullins is a potential lottery pick, but Karaban is being projected as a potential second-round pick.
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Tankathon has Karaban listed at No. 44 on its 2026 Draft Big Board. He’ll be entering the league as a winning player who has done a little bit of everything in the frontcourt for the Huskies, capable of knocking down threes, moving the ball and scoring when needed.
Karaban appears to have a future as a strong NBA role player, despite little shot creation or athleticism. But he’ll be a high-floor prospect, proven as a contributor to elite UConn teams.
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