Dan Hurley Bolsters UConn Roster With Transfer Portal Addition

The UConn Huskies fell just short of winning it all, losing to the Michigan Wolverines 69-63 in the national championship game. While recovering from the sting of that loss, Dan Hurley and his staff were tasked with navigating the transfer portal.

Throughout the offseason, the Huskies have kept a close eye on the constant movement. So far, they have landed seven transfer commitments, while five players have left for new programs. The group ranks 26th in the nation with an average transfer rating of 93.75.

On Monday, they made their latest addition. On3's Pete Nakos reported that UConn received a commitment from former Arkansas Razorbacks center Elmir Dzafic.

The big man is coming off his freshman season and didn't have much of an impact with the Razorbacks. He appeared in seven games, averaging 0.4 points, 0.1 rebounds and zero assists. The Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina native attempted just six free throws, making three.

However, at 7-foot-0 and 285 pounds, Hurley and his coaching staff are hoping to develop Dzafic into a contributor. After his freshman season, he still has three more years of eligibility.

He is far from the flashiest addition UConn has made through the portal, bringing in bigger names such as forward Nik Khamenia (Duke Blue Devils) and Najai Hines (Seton Hall Pirates).

However, the Huskies need depth at center. Of their five transfer losses, two are centers, including Eric Reibe (USC Trojans) and Rrezon Elezaj (Appalachian State Mountaineers). They're also losing Tarris Reed Jr. to the 2026 NBA Draft.

While Dzafic may not be an everyday starter right now, he provides Hurley with another piece to work with before the 2026-27 season.

Related: Arizona Basketball Linked to No. 3 Transfer Portal Recruit

Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 6:05 PM.