UConn fans know some jersey numbers carry instant weight.
Say 34, and the answer comes back fast: Ray Allen. Mention 11, and it’s Alex Karaban.
Bring up 15, and Kemba Walker is right there. Ask about 32, and Rip Hamilton is the name that lands.
That’s the kind of company the newest Huskies will be trying to join, even if most of them are starting from scratch. UConn’s 2026-27 roster includes 10 new players, and the school has already revealed the numbers they’ll wear.
For a few of them, the path to making that number feel like theirs is wide open. For others, the jersey already has some history attached.
Here’s how the newcomers line up:
0: Junior County
3: Colben Landrew
4: Nik Khamenia
7: Jaye Nash
9: Na’jai Hines
17: Egor Amosov
18: Oskar Giltay
21: Nils Machowski
29: Elmir Džafic
33: Isaiah Shaw
Some of those digits have a deeper UConn past than others.
No. 3 has had a pretty strong run through the years, with Caron Butler in 2001-02, Charlie Villanueva in 2004-05 and Jeremy Lamb in 2011-12. No. 4 has also been worn by some familiar names, including Ben Gordon from 2002-04, Jeff Adrien from 2006-09 and Tyrese Martin in 2021-22. No. 5 has been used by Hassan Diarra, Stephon Castle and Tarris Reed Jr. in recent seasons, while No. 21 has belonged to Josh Boone and Adama Sanogo.
Then there are the numbers that have barely been touched at all.
No. 7 was last worn by freshman Jacob Furphy, who played 36 minutes across 14 games in 2025-26 before transferring to Boston College. Before him, the number had not been used since 1949.
No. 9 showed up last season on Alec Millender, a senior transfer who appeared in 18 games and logged 59 minutes; before that, UConn hadn’t issued it since 1946. No. 18 has been off the board even longer, last worn by Joe Gminski in 1955.
That one comes with a notable family tie, too. Joe Gminski’s son, Mike Gminski, was a three-time All-American and Academic All-American at Duke before a 14-year NBA career.
A few familiar numbers are also back in the mix for returning Huskies. Solo Ball is listed at No. 1, though he is injured and expected back in the 2027-28 season.
Silas Demary Jr. will wear No. 2.
Jacob Ross is at No. 13, Jayden Ross at No. 23 and Braylon Mullins at No.
So while some UConn jersey numbers already have a legacy attached, this roster also leaves room for a new set of memories to be made.
In Other News...
UConn Fans Should Stay Patient With Alex Karaban's Quiet NBA Start
Alex Karabans first NBA summer with Sacramento has been quieter than UConn fans might have expected, but there is a straightforward reason for it. The Kings took him with the 29th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, and his early run in Summer League has been limited as he works through the transition to the pro game while getting up to speed in a new environment.
Karaban has seen only brief minutes in two games and is still learning the Kings system after five years in Dan Hurleys program at UConn. The bigger picture has not changed much around him, either, since there is no indication the organization views this as anything more than a normal adjustment period for a rookie finding his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Early Summer League Returns Have UConn Fans Watching One Name Closely
Early Summer League action has given UConn fans a little bit of everything, from encouraging flashes to the kind of rough edges that usually come with July basketball. Former Huskies are getting their first real run against pro competition, and the early returns have been mixed enough to keep plenty of attention on how each player is handling the jump.
Tarris Reed Jr. has given the cleanest reason for optimism so far with solid rebounding and a couple of double-double type efforts, while Liam McNeeley has looked comfortable enough from long range to stand out quickly. Tristen Newton has also put up eye-catching scoring and defensive numbers, even if the efficiency has not always matched the production, leaving UConn followers with one name in particular still worth tracking as the games keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Several Former Huskies Are Suddenly Forcing NBA Teams To Notice
A few former Huskies have been turning heads in Las Vegas, and the Summer League stage has given NBA teams a fresh look at why UConn players keep showing up on pro radars. Liam McNeeley delivered the loudest scoring night, pouring in 28 points for Charlotte in a win over Orlando, while Tarris Reed kept flashing the inside game that made him such a difficult matchup in college by stacking up double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks.
Tristen Newton has also made his case with Houston, adding 13 points and three steals while drawing praise from Dan Hurley for his potential as a rotational player. For UConn, it is another reminder that the programs recent pipeline is not just producing names for draft boards, but players who can walk into summer competition and force NBA staffs to pay attention a little sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]