UConn landed three players on the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big East men’s basketball first team, announced Tuesday.

In addition, UConn guard Braylon Mullins was named Preseason Freshman of the Year.

The voting was done by the league’s head coaches.

The UConn trio on the first team consists of Solo Ball, Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. The Huskies are the first team to have three players on the Big East preseason first-team list since Villanova did it in 2005-06.

Silas DeMary Jr. was named to the second team. He is a transfer from Georgia.

Ball, a junior guard, averaged 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and shot 41.4 percent from 3-point territory last season.

Karaban, a senior forward, averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks.

Reed, who won the conference’s Sixth Man Award in 2024-25, put up numbers of 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots. The senior center shot 67.0 percent.

Mullins comes to UConn with impressive credentials. He was a 2025 McDonald’s All-American and averaged 33.0 points per game as a senior at Greenfield-Central High School in Greenfield, Ind. He earned Indiana’s “Mr. Basketball” honors after a career in which he scored 2,158 points.

Mullins is the third consecutive player from UConn to earn the freshman honor, following Stephon Castle and Liam McNeeley. Both players were named Freshman of the Year after their first seasons and went on to become first-round selections in the NBA draft.

Here’s the full list of preseason honorees. Six and even players instead of the typical five were named to the first and third teams, respectively, because of ties in the voting.

2025-26 Big East Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors  

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, F, Sr., 6-9, 245, Garland, Texas  

PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Braylon Mullins, UConn, G, Fr., 6-6, 196, Greenfield, Ind.  

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM

Solo Ball, UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 200, Leesburg, Va.

Alex Karaban, UConn, F, R-Sr., 6-8, 230, Southborough, Mass.

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn, C, Sr., 6-11, 265, St. Louis

Owen Freeman, Creighton, F, Jr., 6-10, 240, Moline, Ill.

Chase Ross, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Dallas

Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.  

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM

Silas Demary Jr., UConn, G, Jr., 6-4, 195, Raleigh, N.C.

Josh Dix, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-6, 205, Council Bluffs, Iowa

KJ Lewis, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-4, 210, El Paso, Texas

Jason Edwards, Providence, Gr., G, 6-1, 180, Atlanta

Ian Jackson, St. John’s, G, So., 6-5, 195, Bronx, N.Y.  

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM

Nik Graves, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Durham, N.C.

Jackson McAndrew, Creighton, F, So., 6-10, 225, Wayzata, Minn.

CJ Gunn, DePaul, G, Sr., 6-7, 200, Indianapolis

Malik Mack, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 175, Oxon Hill, Md.

Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence, F, So., 6-10, 235, Benin City, Nigeria

Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s, F, Sr. 6-8, 210, Tampa, Fla.

Joson Sanon, St. John’s, G, So., 6-5, 200, Fall River, Mass.

Related UConn Stories

HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Defending champ UConn sits atop women’s basketball preseason rankings. READ HERE

FUN MEMORY: Alex Karaban provided a memorable moment in the Huskies’ exhibition opener. READ HERE

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