Forward Jaylin Stewart will not return to UConn, choosing to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

That’s according to Joe Tipton of On3, who reported Friday evening that Stewart’s agency, Klutch Sports, had confirmed the decision.

Fans immediately took to social media to say how much they would miss Stewart and his all-out style of play while wishing him well.

“The biggest of thank yous to Jaylin Stewart.,” one fan posted to X. “Three years, one title, another championship game appearance. Great Husky. You will be missed. Go be great. We will be rooting for you.”

The 6-foot-7 Stewart arrived at UConn as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2023 from Garfield High School in Seattle. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 10 forward and No. 56 overall player in the class.

The Huskies won the NCAA Tournament championship to end his freshman season. He appeared in 37 games with increasing playing time as the season went on and wound up averaging 2.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game.

In his sophomore season, he was one of just four UConn players to appear in all 35 games, starting 12 of them and scoring in double figures seven times. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game.

And as a junior, Stewart missed eight games, including the first two of the NCAA Tournament, due to an ankle injury. But in the final four games, he gave UConn a spark off the bench, always hustling and making a statement on defense.

“The locker room is filled with great guys, just like J Stew and throughout the roster,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said before the Huskies upset Duke, 73-72, to reach the Final Four.

“He's an easy guy to root for. He's a guy who … stayed at UConn when it would have been easier for him to leave. He's a real UConn man, and he's a sweetheart of a guy.

“He's funny. He's just a great guy. “

He finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 16.8 minutes per game. He started 12 of his 32 games and shot 34.5% from 3-point range.

Stewart, 21, is the fifth UConn player expected to transfer. Centers Eric Reibe and Rrezon Elezaj, along with guards Jacob Furphy and Uron Paunovic, put their names in the portal.

So far, UConn has a commitment from center Najai Hines, a transfer from Seton Hall. He is a key pickup given the graduation of center Tarris Reed Jr. and his two backups  entering the portal.

They still need another center, a wing and depth at guard. The decisions by Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins as to whether they are staying or going will dictate additional needs.

Silas Demary Jr. and Jayden Ross already have announced their returns.

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported Friday that Moustapha Thiam, a 7-2 sophomore who played at Cincinnati, is talking to 10 schools, including UConn.

The Huskies also hosted Nikolas Khamenia, a freshman wing from Duke, for an official visit this week.

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