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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies reacts after basket against the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
With the No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected UConn’s Alex Karaban — then traded him to the Sacramento Kings. He is the 27th first round draft pick in Husky program history and 59th drafted overall.
Karaban initially looked to be going to Cleveland, but the pick was dealt to Sacramento in exchange for the No. 34 pick tomorrow night and a future second round pick. It wasn’t a given that he would be picked tonight, but the Kings made it a reality by trading up five spots to acquire him. Once he suits up, he will be the sixth UConn player to play for the Kings, joining Kevin Ollie, Rudy Gay, Hilton Armstrong, Jeremy Lamb and Caron Butler.
The Southborough, Massachusetts native wasn’t in attendance at the draft in Brooklyn on Tuesday, rather celebrating at home with friends and family as he saw his dream come true and hear his name get called.
The fit in Sacramento is an interesting one, as well. The Kings were tied for last in the NBA in team 3-point percentage last season, so adding Karaban can only help bolster that area. The team also selected Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick.
Karaban spent all four years of his college career at UConn, where he made his mark as one of the most established players not just in program history, but in all of college basketball history. The two-time national champion is the winningest player in Husky program history, appearing in three Final Fours and winning 18 NCAA Tournament games.
A starter in 150 of his 151 career games, Karaban averaged 12.5 points per game and connected on 65 or more three pointers all four years. He had four double-doubles, including in his final game in the 2026 national title game against Michigan.
Karaban was the second player who heard his name called in the draft after Tarris Reed Jr. was selected on Tuesday in the first round with the 26th pick by the San Antonio Spurs in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. Karaban becomes the 11th Husky drafted since 2021 after the program went five years without draft picks.
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