Dan Hurley, UConn Add 7-Foot Arkansas Transfer to Roster

Dan Hurley and the UConn staff continue to build their roster for another attempt at the NCAA Tournament in the coming season, working the transfer portal to add more players.

After an impressive run to the championship game, UConn lost to Michigan, and then lost several key players for next season. Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. were both ineligible to continue playing college basketball and are NBA Draft-bound.

The team lost key reserves, including Malachi Smith due to ineligibility, as well as Jaylin Stewart and Eric Reibe, who entered the transfer portal. Starting guard Solo Ball required offseason surgery for a nagging wrist injury and will sit out the coming season as a redshirt.

However, the team added multiple players through the portal, including 7-foot, 285-pound Arkansas transfer Elmir Dzafic, who officially signed with the Huskies on Monday, giving UConn a third-string center.

More news:Stephen A. Smith Calls Out LeBron James' Agent for Michael Jordan Criticism

As a freshman with Arkansas, Dzafic saw limited action, averaging 0.4 points and 0.1 rebounds in 2.1 minutes in seven games. Most likely, he won’t be a dominant force in games, but he was a necessary player for Hurley to fill out the roster for the upcoming season.

One of the main reasons many believe the UConn Huskies were unable to defeat Michigan in the NCAA Championship Game was that they lacked enough big players to contend with the Wolverines’ size.

There were also instances where Reed and his backup, Eric Reibe, got into foul trouble during crucial parts of games. With a third-string center, it would seem to give Hurley more options when it comes to his big men and the use of fouls on opponents’ frontcourt players.

In addition to Dzafic, other transfer players the Huskies recently added include Isaiah Shaw (Northern Arizona) and Jaye Nash (Jacksonville State), who are also unlikely to see much playing time, but one never knows with Hurley’s mastermind coaching.

UConn’s starting lineup looks to feature returning players Silas Demary Jr., Jayden Ross, and Braylon Mullins, who decided to return for his second season rather than enter the NBA Draft. UConn also landed Seton Hall big man Najai Hines and Duke power forward Nik Khamenia to complete the starting five.

UConn is still seeking out a final piece, as they’ll need a power forward to back up Khamenia. Amid all the offseason moves, Hurley’s squad remains among the top four or five teams in the odds to win the 2027 NCAA Tournament.

More news:Draymond Green Calls Out Knicks for NBA Finals vs Spurs

For more about UConn and college basketball, head over to Newsweek Sports.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 6:05 PM.