The Huskies picked up some early season accolades in New York City.
UConn men’s basketball kept the honors coming to kick off Big East Media Day in New York City. After the Huskies earned the No. 1 spot in the preseason coaches’ poll, three separate Huskies received individual honors.
Liam McNeeley was named the 2024-25 Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year, while junior Alex Karaban was named to the Preseason All-Big East First Team and Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney was named to the Preseason All-Big East Third Team.
McNeeley, widely regarded as one of the top freshmen in the country, is the second Husky in a row to earn preseason Freshman of the Year honors, joining Stephon Castle from last season. Castle went on to have a historic season en route to winning the Big East Freshman of the Year, winning Freshman of the Week more than any player in Big East history. McNeeley is currently battling a calf strain and his availability for the Huskies’ season opener against Sacred Heart is in jeopardy, but the Richardson, Texas native did start in UConn’s charity exhibition against Rhode Island and figures to be a mainstay in the starting lineup this season.
Karaban is joined on the Preseason All-Big East First team by Kam Jones of Marquette, Bryce Hopkins of Providence, Kadary Richmond of St. John’s and Eric Dixon of Villanova. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the Preseason Big East Player of the Year. Despite a successful sophomore campaign in which he averaged 13.3 points per game and shot over 37 percent on 3-pointers, Karaban did not earn any All-Big East honors last season.
Mahaney, a First Team All-WCC selection with the Gaels last season, comes to UConn as a highly-touted transfer that can provide scoring ability from deep and the ability to run the offense at times. He averaged 13.9 points and 2.6 assists per game last season while shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. He scored 17 points in the Huskies’ exhibition win over URI, good for the second most on the team.
The full list of Big East preseason honors can be found below.
BIG EAST PRESEASON HONORS
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Sr., 7-1, 270, Florissant, Mo.
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Liam McNeeley, Connecticut, F, Fr., 6-7, 210, Richardson, Texas
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, R-Jr., 6-8, 225, Southborough, Mass.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 205, Memphis, Tenn.
Bryce Hopkins, Providence, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
Kadary Richmond, St. John’s, G, Gr., 6-6, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, Gr., 6-8, 265, Willow Grove, Pa.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Pierre Brooks, Butler, F, Sr., 6-6, 240, Detroit, Mich.
Jahmyl Telfort, Butler, F, Gr., 6-7, 225, Montreal, Quebec
Deivon Smith, St. John’s, G, Gr., 6-0, 175, Decatur, Ga.
Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Gr., 6-9, 227, Teaneck, N.J.
Dayvion McKnight, Xavier, G, Gr., 6-0, 190, Shelbyville, Ky.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Aidan Mahaney, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-3, 185, Lafayette, Calif.
Steven Ashworth, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-0, 175, Alpine, Utah
Jayden Epps, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Norfolk, Va.
Wooga Poplar, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 197, Philadelphia, Pa.
Ryan Conwell, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-4, 215, Indianapolis, Ind.