The longest and most accomplished career in UConn men’s basketball history came to an end April 6, as Alex Karaban and the Huskies experienced a heartbreaking 69-63 loss against Michigan in the national championship game.
The senior is still grappling with the end of his time in Storrs nearly a month later, as he posted a lengthy goodbye message to the UConn fan base on Instagram Sunday afternoon.
“UConn, words can’t describe how much this place means to me, so all I can say is, thank you,” Karaban’s message began. “Over the past 4 years, I have gained unforgettable memories, experiences and relationships that I will have forever. I learned so much about myself that wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for UConn. Thank you to all the great teammates and coaches I’ve had. Through all of the ups and downs, we stuck together and accomplished our dreams. As this chapter for me ends, Storrs will always be home for me. Thank you UConn, it’s always Bleed Blue.”
Karaban’s post received around 10,000 likes within the first two hours of posting and a wave of supportive messages in the comments section. Among these commenters was former assistant Luke Murray, who arrived at Storrs a few months before Karaban and accepted the head coaching opening at Boston College this offseason, simply writing, “Legend.”
This announcement comes just one day before a significant D1 Board of Directors meeting to discuss an age-based eligibility proposal, which would grant seniors a five-year window of eligibility after a player’s 19th birthday or high school graduation. If passed, the implementation of this policy is unclear, but if graduating seniors are ultimately included, Karaban and fellow UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. may be eligible for a fifth season of college basketball.
Instead, Karaban will look ahead to the NBA Draft, where the 6-foot-9 forward is among multiple UConn players expected to hear their names called in New York City. According to ESPN’s latest mock draft, which was released ahead of the NCAA Tournament, Karaban is projected as the No. 34 overall pick, which belongs to the Sacramento Kings.