KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UConn's Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins have each earned a spot on the Preseason Watch List for the 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year. The 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year – to be selected by a nationwide vote of Division I head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season – will be announced the week of the 2027 Final Four. 

Demary Jr. and Mullins are among 20 players nationally to earn a spot on the preseason list. UConn is one of three teams – along with Duke and Florida – to have multiple players earn a spot.

The BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, Demary Jr. enters his second season at Connecticut with a slew of preseason honors, including Preseason All-America nods from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and Field of 68. In his first year in Storrs in '25-26 the 6-4 lead guard averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and a BIG EAST-best 5.9 assists per game. His on-ball pressure and IQ helped lead the Huskies to a top-10 defensive unit per major metrics, flipping a unit that was top-75 a season prior.  

Mullins was a Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST pick and was tabbed a First Team All-American by Blue Ribbon Report. A year ago, Mullins was a unanimous All-Freshman pick in the BIG EAST. The 6-6 sophomore made 29 starts as a rookie and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He knocked down 72 threes, second-most in a season for a freshman in UConn history. 

The NABC Division I Player of the Year award has been presented every season since 1974-75, and is the only national player of the year honor selected by the sport's head coaches.