UConn Linked to Former 4-Star Center in College Basketball Transfer Portal
The UConn Huskies 2025-26 college basketball season ended with a loss to the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the national championship. It was a disappointing end for the Huskies, who finished the year 34-6.
However, Dan Hurley and his staff didn't have long to recover from the loss. On April 7, one day after losing to Michigan, the transfer portal officially opened. UConn has already lost four players. Among the losses are centers Eric Reibe and Rrezon Elezay.
The Huskies are also set to lose center Tarris Reed Jr., who started 35 games last year but has exhausted all of his eligibility.
With all of the losses, Hurley is weighing his options for potential replacements. On Thursday, On3's Jamie Shaw reported that UConn is among several teams to show interest in former Washington Huskies center Franck Kepnang.
"The second his name showed up in the Transfer Portal, he created quite the stir with college coaches," Shaw wrote. "I am told that Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Seton Hall, NC State, Michigan, UConn, and Saint Louis are among the early schools to show interest in the 6-foot-11, 253-pound native of Cameroon."
Kepnang originally committed to the Oregon Ducks as a four-star recruit in the 2020 cycle, per Rivals Industry Rankings. After two years in Eugene, he transferred to Washington, where he's been since.
He is coming off a solid season with the Huskies. Kepnang appeared in 27 games and made 25 starts, averaging 6.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists. The graduate student also shot 51.5% from the field.
With one more year of eligibility, he is garnering interest from a handful of teams. If UConn can land his commitment, Kepnang would be the team's second transfer portal addition this offseason, joining forward Najai Hines (Seton Hall Pirates).
Related: Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. Reacts to Transfer Portal Decision
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 10:47 AM.