Sacramento bolstered their spacing by trading back into the first round for UConn’s Alex Karaban, a knockdown shooter and proven winner ready to transform the Kings' perimeter.
After landing Darius Acuff Jr., the Sacramento Kings' top prospect at pick No. 7, the front office moved back into the first round to select UConn sharpshooter Alex Karaban.
Karaban, thanks to a strong pre-draft process, worked his way into first round consideration after starting off as a mid-second round prospect.
At the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, Karaban showcased his knockdown 3-point ability, with the UConn sniper leading all participants in the spot shooting drill (74.8-percent).
In the 3-point star shooting drill, Karaban made 14 deep balls in a row en route to a 21/25 performance.
The two-time National Champion worked out with the Kings in the offseason, and had been a popular choice for them in multiple mock drafts.
In four seasons with the Huskies, Karaban posted an absurd 116-24 record, losing less games than some teams drop in a single season.
At 6-foot-7, Karaban has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, possessing the size and length to compete at the next level.
In college, Karaban never had a season shooting less than 34.7-percent from deep, while constantly giving maximum effort on the defensive end.
After securing their point guard of the future, Karaban is a great pick for Sacramento, who ranked dead last in 3-pointers made per game last season (10), and needs some culture setters in the locker room.
I love the fit, and Sacramento gave up very little to move up to acquire the No. 28 pick.
Draft Grade: A
Karaban helped jumpstart UConn's resurgence as a powerhouse program, leading the Huskies to three National Championship Game appearances, winning two.
This past season, after falling just short of a historic third championship, Karaban and head coach Danny Hurley had an emotional embrace before exiting to the locker room.
Hurley, who is known for his tough coaching nature, gave Karaban the ultimate compliment following the loss.
"This guy changed my life, the staff's lives, the joy he's brought to the university, the fan base," Hurley said. "His decision to come to UConn has made us ... we're probably the premier program in college basketball right now, having been to three out of four national championship games, having won two of them. He's put UConn in that rarefied place in college basketball."
Karaban was huge in the Huskies' improbable run back to the Final Four, elevating his level of play during March Madness.
The First Team All BIG-EAST performer averaged 16.2 points per game, including a 27-point flurry against UCLA in the second round.
Now, he will add much-needed spacing and winning pedigree to a Kings team looking to rebuild.
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