UConn men’s basketball lands former Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney out of transfer portal

The UConn men’s basketball team has made another major transfer portal addition.

Former Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney announced his commitment to the back-to-back champs with an Instagram post Monday.

A 6-foot-3 rising junior, Mahaney averaged 13.9 points in each of his last two seasons while shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc over his career. The Gaels’ leading scorer added 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season while shooting 35.5% on 6.9 3-point attempts per game. He shot 40% on 5.3 3-point attempts per game as a freshman.

Mahaney, one of the best guards in the portal, also visited Kentucky, Virginia and Creighton before ultimately choosing the Huskies.

UConn fans got their first glimpse of Mahaney in Albany last March, when the Huskies took down Saint Mary’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before going on to win the 2023 national title. He finished that game tied for the team-high with nine points, plus a steal and an assist as UConn rolled to a 70-55 victory.

Mahaney is the third addition to the Huskies roster as Dan Hurley and staff anticipate a number of departures for the professional ranks; four of the five starters have already announced their plans. Both Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle are set to leave college early as projected lottery picks in the NBA Draft, while Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are also looking to get drafted with their eligibility expired.

UConn is still awaiting an important decision from “brain center” Alex Karaban, who is testing the waters while retaining his eligibility for a potential return to Storrs, which would immediately improve the program’s chances to win a third title in a row.

The Huskies added a third member to their 2024 recruiting class, which already included a pair of four-stars in guard Ahmad Nowell and forward Isaiah Abraham, when five-star Liam McNeeley announced his commitment Friday. They also signed Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr., a big man who they hope can form another two-headed monster with Samson Johnson in the frontcourt.

Dayton transfer Koby Brea, the best 3-point shooter in the nation last season, is another target for the Huskies. He visited over the weekend and is reportedly visiting Kentucky this week.