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WORCESTER — Shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Alex Karaban got his haircut at FG Barber Studio in Milford.
Nearly 13 hours later, the Southborough resident was selected No. 29 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2026 NBA Draft. Karaban was then traded to the Sacramento Kings for the No. 34 overall pick and a future second-round selection according to ESPN Senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
“It’s going to be super exciting,” Karaban told the Boston Herald before being drafted. “All the work, all the sacrifices, just all the hours, days, months, whatever it is, just all that time built up to reach my dream of playing in the NBA. It’s going to be special.”
As a ninth grader at Algonquin Regional, Karaban averaged 22.4 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists to lead his team to the Division 1 Central final in his lone season playing high school hoops in Northborough.
“Alex is one-of-a-kind,” former Algonquin basketball coach Brian Doherty told the T&G in 2023. “He’s smart, intelligent and knows the game of basketball so well, and he’s such a great kid. He’s on the next level.”
Karaban then spent two years at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire, where he was the 2020-21 Gatorade New Hampshire Player of the Year, before spending a semester at IMG Academy in Florida. He then committed to play basketball the University of Connecticut.
During his storied career in Storrs, Conn., Karaban finished as the Huskies’ all-time leader in wins (126), games played (151) and career 3-pointers made (292) while leading UConn to two National Championship wins.
The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a redshirt senior this past season en route to helping the Huskies reach another National Title game.
“You see how important situational basketball is when you watch the Finals, getting a guy like Alex on your team who plays great situational basketball is so critical,” UConn coach Dan Hurley recently told the Hartford Courant.
Widely considered a possible late first-round pick or early second-round selection, Karaban opted to withdraw from the NBA Draft in each of the past two years (2024 and 2025) before taking part in the draft this year.
Before the draft, Karaban’s college coach had some high praise for former star player.
“Alex has shown an expertise to be an all-NBA role player,” Hurley recently said. “If I’m a team in 20s and I have a choice … just how do you pass on Karaban?”
Karaban was reportedly with family and friends in Worcester Tuesday when he received the news that he was selected in the first round. The last player from Central Mass. selected in the NBA Draft was Worcester’s Michael Bradley of Burncoat High, who was a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) of the Toronto Raptors in 2001.
What a journey it’s been for the 23-year-old. From Southborough to Sacramento, Alex Karaban is now in the NBA.
“It’s not just me,” Karaban told the Herald, “but it’s kind of a celebration of everyone within my circle that helped me get to this point.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: NBA Draft: Uconn's Alex Karaban picked No. 29 overall in NBA Draft
Continue reading...
Nearly 13 hours later, the Southborough resident was selected No. 29 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2026 NBA Draft. Karaban was then traded to the Sacramento Kings for the No. 34 overall pick and a future second-round selection according to ESPN Senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
“It’s going to be super exciting,” Karaban told the Boston Herald before being drafted. “All the work, all the sacrifices, just all the hours, days, months, whatever it is, just all that time built up to reach my dream of playing in the NBA. It’s going to be special.”
As a ninth grader at Algonquin Regional, Karaban averaged 22.4 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists to lead his team to the Division 1 Central final in his lone season playing high school hoops in Northborough.
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“Alex is one-of-a-kind,” former Algonquin basketball coach Brian Doherty told the T&G in 2023. “He’s smart, intelligent and knows the game of basketball so well, and he’s such a great kid. He’s on the next level.”
Karaban then spent two years at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire, where he was the 2020-21 Gatorade New Hampshire Player of the Year, before spending a semester at IMG Academy in Florida. He then committed to play basketball the University of Connecticut.
You must be registered for see images attach
During his storied career in Storrs, Conn., Karaban finished as the Huskies’ all-time leader in wins (126), games played (151) and career 3-pointers made (292) while leading UConn to two National Championship wins.
The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a redshirt senior this past season en route to helping the Huskies reach another National Title game.
“You see how important situational basketball is when you watch the Finals, getting a guy like Alex on your team who plays great situational basketball is so critical,” UConn coach Dan Hurley recently told the Hartford Courant.
You must be registered for see images attach
Widely considered a possible late first-round pick or early second-round selection, Karaban opted to withdraw from the NBA Draft in each of the past two years (2024 and 2025) before taking part in the draft this year.
Before the draft, Karaban’s college coach had some high praise for former star player.
“Alex has shown an expertise to be an all-NBA role player,” Hurley recently said. “If I’m a team in 20s and I have a choice … just how do you pass on Karaban?”
You must be registered for see images attach
Karaban was reportedly with family and friends in Worcester Tuesday when he received the news that he was selected in the first round. The last player from Central Mass. selected in the NBA Draft was Worcester’s Michael Bradley of Burncoat High, who was a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) of the Toronto Raptors in 2001.
What a journey it’s been for the 23-year-old. From Southborough to Sacramento, Alex Karaban is now in the NBA.
“It’s not just me,” Karaban told the Herald, “but it’s kind of a celebration of everyone within my circle that helped me get to this point.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: NBA Draft: Uconn's Alex Karaban picked No. 29 overall in NBA Draft
Continue reading...
