UConn Basketball lands Seton Hall transfer center Najai Hines

The 6-foot-10 center will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Huskies.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the action and intensity of a basketball game, with players' forms broken down into overlapping angular shapes.A cubist interpretation of the energy and movement of a college basketball game, capturing the dynamic interplay between players on the court.Plainfield Today

UConn Basketball has added its first transfer center, as the Huskies will add former Seton Hall freshman Najai Hines. Hines spent his freshman year as a Pirate before announcing his intent to enter the transfer portal on April 6th. The 6-foot-10, 265-pounder becomes the first transfer portal addition to the frontcourt, after UConn lost several members to graduation or the transfer portal.

Why it matters

Hines' addition helps UConn rebuild its frontcourt after losing key players. As a four-star recruit out of high school, Hines showed strong potential in his freshman season at Seton Hall and will look to make an immediate impact for the Huskies.

The details

In 31 games as a freshman, Hines put up 6.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 2.2 blocks per game, and shot 60.2% from the floor on 18.0 minutes per game. He finished the year with four double-double performances, including an 11 point and 11 rebound game versus UConn in late February.

  • Hines announced his intent to enter the transfer portal on April 6th, 2026.
  • Hines will have three years of eligibility remaining with UConn.

The players

Najai Hines

A 6-foot-10, 265-pound center who spent his freshman season at Seton Hall before entering the transfer portal and committing to UConn.

Plainfield High School

The high school Najai Hines attended in Plainfield, New Jersey, where he was a four-star recruit and the No. 66 overall prospect in the Class of 2025.

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What’s next

Hines will join the UConn roster for the 2026-27 season, where he will look to make an immediate impact in the frontcourt and help the Huskies compete for a conference title.

The takeaway

Najai Hines' transfer to UConn provides a much-needed boost to the Huskies' frontcourt after several key departures. As a former four-star recruit with strong defensive and rebounding metrics, Hines has the potential to develop into an impactful two-way center for the Huskies in the coming seasons.