March Madness Hero Braylon Mullins Will Stay at UConn

UConn men’s basketball star Braylon Mullins has decided to forgo entering the NBA draft and return to the Huskies for his sophomore season.

Mullins, 19, was projected as a fringe lottery pick in the first round, which likely would have meant a rookie salary somewhere between $3 million and $5 million, depending on what pick he was selected. The 2026 NBA draft lottery will set the top of the first round order May 10.

As a freshman, Mullins averaged 12 points per game and hit the biggest shot of UConn’s season—a game-winning three-pointer to top Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight and punch a ticket to the Final Four.

It was a classic March Madness moment, and something Mullins has the opportunity to cash in on if he wants. 

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” Mullins said ahead of the Final Four. “You look everywhere and you see the shot. And then the inbox is all filled.” 

The teenager at the time said he was relying on his agent to filter through inbound messages, as UConn attempted to win the program’s third NCAA title in the past four years. 

Mullins is represented by Excel Sports and has had NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals with Raising Cane’s, Greenies, Olipop, NBA 2K, and Vuori Clothing. While financial details are not available, Mullins likely received a multimillion-dollar payday as a freshman and could see that increase next season.

UConn ultimately lost to Michigan in the national championship game.

“Unfinished business,” Mullins wrote in an Instagram post announcing his return to school.

UConn is one of many Big East schools that are prioritizing funding their basketball programs while most other Division-I powerhouses spend big on football in the college sports’ revenue-sharing era.