All head coach Dan Hurley and UConn fans needed to hear from guard Silas Demary Jr. were these four little words.

"Let's run it back!"

And with that message posted to social media Tuesday night, Demary announced he will be returning to Storrs, Conn., for his senior season in 2026-27.

Demary transferred to UConn last April from Georgia, where he spent two seasons as a starter, averaging 11.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists, while shooting 35.3% from 3-point range.

In his first season with the Huskies, Demary appeared in 39 of 40 games with 38 starts, missing the first game of the NCAA Tournament with an ankle injury. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, which led the Big East. In conference-only play, his assists rose to 7.4 points per game over 20 games.

Demary shot 38.5% from 3-point range and also averaged 1.6 steals per game.

Demary’s signature moment of the season came when he poked the ball loose from Duke’s Cayden Boozer, causing a turnover that led to a game-winning three pointer in the final second by Braylon Mullins that led UConn to the Final Four.

The 21-year-old Demary also was an All-Big East first team, Big East All-Defensive Team and NABC All-District first team selection.

Demary was the exact player Hurley went shopping for in the transfer portal last spring – an elite defender who could run the UConn offense much the way Tristen Newton had on the 2023 and ’24 national championship teams. And Hurley had tons of praise for Demary throughout the season, especially in the late stages as he fought through injury during the NCAA Tournament to do what he could do to help the Huskies.

“I thought players like Silas, what he's done for our basketball team, the mentality, it was everything we were lacking last year,” Hurley said after UConn defeated Illinois in the Sweet 16. “Just a guard like him, ball hawk, incredible toughness, on the backboard.”

Hurley continued: “He's a shell of himself offensively. He is really gutting it out, and the courage he has showed, I think, has been inspiring for the group.”

The Huskies lost to Michigan 69-63 in the NCAA Championship on April 6.

UConn is awaiting word from guards Solo Ball and Mullins as to their plans for next season. Hurley already is actively looking in the portal for a replacement for center Tarris Reed Jr. Jayden Ross, a key contributor down the stretch, could move into the starting spot being vacated by Alex Karaban. Like Reed, Karaban is out of eligibility.

Committed to the Huskies in the Class of 2026 are Colben Landrew, ranked by the 247Sports composite as a five-star recruit and the No. 8 small forward in the class, and four-star recruit Junior County, the No. 6 shooting guard.

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