Dan Hurley, UConn Receive Unfortunate Solo Ball Update for Next Season
Things seemed to be looking up for head coach Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies this offseason, despite losing starting players Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban from a team that reached the National Championship game last season.
First came several essential transfer portal acquisitions with former Seton Hall big man Najai Hines and Duke Blue Devils forward Nikolas Khamenia. In addition to Jayden Ross and Silas DeMary Jr. revealing their intentions to return to UConn, March Madness hero Braylon Mullins also announced he would return for a sophomore season.
With that, the starting lineup for next season was beginning to take shape. There was also the belief that starting guard Solo Ball would return, and he likely will, but unfortunately, it won’t be to play in the coming season.
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On Monday, UConn announced that Ball will undergo season-ending surgery on his wrist. Due to the length of recovery afterward, he will not be able to participate in the Huskies’ upcoming season. He will become a medical redshirt and is available to play for UConn in the 2027-28 season.
The surgery and recovery are good news for Ball, as he had been attempting to play through the injury, but his shooting and scoring abilities weren’t quite the same. With a full season off to address the injury, he will hopefully return healthy and regain his form for next season.
"Solo is a true Husky and a champion who would do anything to be out on the court. This guy has shown throughout his career what a warrior he is. Solo is going to use the season to get his wrist fully healthy and then come back next year as one of the best guards in America while cementing his legacy as an all-time great at UConn,” Hurley said in a statement, per CT Insider.
That said, it opens another spot in UConn’s lineup that it will need to address. Ball was leading the team in scoring at one point, even though the team relied on multiple players to lead the way in games, potentially. His injury occurred during an awkward landing in a Dec. 16 game against Butler, where Ball had a career-high 26 points.
For Hurley’s starting lineup for next season, one would think that Silas DeMary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, the only starters available from last season, will be starters again.
Hines could potentially start in the frontcourt along with Khamenia and Ross. If Khamenia and/or Ross are reserves, it leaves a spot for another player in the lineup. UConn has several talented incoming recruits in small forward Colben Landrew and shooting guard Junior County.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 5:01 PM.