Seton Hall center Najai Hines commits to UConn in transfer portal
The UConn men’s basketball program landed a marquee transfer portal prospect to handle a obtrusive want at center, incomes a dedication from Seton Hall put up participant Najai Hines Wednesday evening.
Hines, who visited the UConn campus Tuesday, made the announcement on social media.
Dan Hurley’s squad suffered main losses on the inside after Tarris Reed Jr. graduated from this system and freshman Eric Reibe made a stunning dip into the transfer portal final week. Hines fills this hole because the No. 6-ranked center in the transfer portal, in accordance to 247Sports, and one of many nation’s premier rim-protectors final season — the New Jersey native blocked 16.4% of opponent pictures in 2025-26, the second-highest charge in Division I.
Hines joined the Seton Hall program as a late enrollee in the 2025 class and made an instantaneous influence for the Pirates, recording 12 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks on opening evening towards Saint Peter’s. He averaged 6.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds and over two blocks per recreation off the bench for Seton Hall final season, usually battling hassle (5.2 fouls/40 minutes) whereas posting the best turnover charge of any Pirates front-court participant.
The Storrs trustworthy ought to have already got a good opinion of Hines as he delivered a wonderful efficiency at Gampel Pavilion again in February as Seton Hall practically spoiled Senior Day for Reed and Alex Karaban. Hines recorded an 11-point double-double to go along with three blocks off the bench because the Pirates constructed a three-possession lead after halftime, however the Huskies managed to rally for a 71-67 win.
The 6-foot-10, 265-pound large man grew up simply 15 miles from the Seton Hall campus and blossomed into the No. 1 participant in New Jersey in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports. As a senior at Plainfield High, he averaged 18.8 factors, 16.9 rebounds and three.5 blocks per recreation and recorded a double-double in each recreation.
He additionally starred throughout the 2025 Nike Peach Jam for the NY Rens, averaging 13.1 factors, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 57 % capturing over eight video games.
Hines, who’s certainly one of 14 youngsters in his household, attended highschool in North Carolina earlier than transferring again to his dwelling state of New Jersey forward of this season yr. As a highschool tight finish in North Carolina, Hines drew soccer scholarship provides from South Carolina, West Virginia, and Houston.
