10/29/2026 11:01:00โฏAM | Men's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. โย The UConn men's basketball duo ofย Silas Demary Jr.ย andย Braylon Mullinsย have each earned a spot on the Preseason Watch List for the 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year. The 2027ย NABC Division I Player of the Yearย โย to beย selected by a nationwide vote of Division I head coachesย at the conclusion of the regular seasonย โย will be announced the week of the 2027 Final Four.ย
Demary Jr.ย andย Mullinsย are among 20 players nationally to earn a spot on the preseason list. UConn is one of three teams โ along with Duke and Florida โ to have multiple players earn a spot.
The BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year,ย Demary Jr.ย enters his second season at Connecticut with a slew of preseason honors, including Preseason All-America nods from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and Field of 68. In his first year in Storrs in '25-26 the 6'4 lead guard averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and a BIG EAST-best 5.9 assists per game. His on-ball pressure and IQ helped lead the Huskies to a top-10 defensive unit per major metrics, flipping a unit that was top-75 a season prior.ย ย
Mullinsย was a Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST pick and was tabbed a First Team All-American by Blue Ribbon Report. A year ago,ย Mullinsย was a unanimous All-Freshman pick in the BIG EAST. The 6'6 Indianan made 29 starts as a rookie and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He knocked down 72 threes, second-most in a season for a freshman in UConn history.ย
The NABC Division I Player of the Year award has been presented every season sinceย 1974-75, and is the only national player of the year honorย selected by the sport's head coaches.
