STORRS, Conn. (AP) — NCAA Tournament star Braylon Mullins will stick around one more season at UConn in hopes of winning a national championship instead of heading straight to the NBA.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard made his announcement Saturday on his Instagram account with highlight clips of his biggest shots and the words “unfinished business.”
Mullins was projected to be a first-round pick.
The 2025 IndyStar Indiana Mr. Basketball Award winner became a national sensation when he made a 35-footer with 0.4 seconds left to cap UConn's incredible comeback to beat top-seeded Duke 73-72 to win the East Region title, sending the Huskies to their third Final Four in four years.
But he had been a key player for the Huskies once he returned from an ankle injury that kept him out of UConn's first six games. He was fourth on the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game and also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals. He finished third on the team with 72 3-pointers, five behind Alex Karaban who played in all 40 games and Solo Ball who played in 39.
Mullins scored 15 points in a victory over Illinois before finishing with 11 in the national championship game loss to Michigan — with both games being played about a 30-minute drive from his alma mater, Greenfield-Central High School.
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
UConn guard Braylon Mullins and forward Jayden Ross (23) sit in the locker room after losing to Michigan in the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg is pressured by UConn guard Braylon Mullins, rear, and forward Tarris Reed Jr., right, during the first half of the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
UConn's Braylon Mullins (24) heads to the basket as Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg watches during the second half of the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City knew it was getting possibly the world’s best shot-stopper in signing Gianluigi Donnarumma as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper for this season.
The problem with the Italy international, however, was his frailties with the ball at his feet.
Unfortunately for City, that was shown up Sunday in its biggest game of the season.
City had just taken the lead through Rayan Cherki in its much-anticipated Premier League title-race showdown with Arsenal when Donnarumma received a back pass from Matheus Nunes.
There seemed little danger when Donnarumma took a touch but he dallied on the ball, allowing Arsenal forward Kai Havertz to close him down. Donnarumma tried a hurried clearance but a nightmare ensued as the ball was charged down by Havertz’s outstretched leg and rebounded back into the net.
Donnarumma looked down at the ground and was distraught. A number of his City teammates ran over to the goalkeeper and comforted him.
Being able to pass the ball out from the back has typically been a pre-requisite for goalkeepers used by City manager Pep Guardiola.
It was why the signing of Donnarumma seemed at odds with City’s playing approach that was reflected in the raking passes and calmness under pressure with the ball at his feet shown by long-time goalie Ederson Moraes for the previous eight years.
Donnarumma vowed to improve his passing out of the back upon joining City but his issues have proved costly, gifting Arsenal a way back into the game at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City fought back to clinch a 2-1 win, however, with Donnarumma atoning for his mistake with a crucial save low down from Havertz in the second half.
City manager Pep Guardiola refused to attach any blame on Donnarumma, saying it was the nature of being a goalkeeper.
“Gigi’s mistake is our mistake,” Guardiola said.
“I love seeing his teammates, how they support him unconditionally."
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki celebrates with his teammate Erling Haaland after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Arsenal, in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
