It is not every day that the world sees a player openly cheering on a staff member exiting. Especially when it’s in the middle of major NIL-era chaos. But Alex Karaban clearly isn’t reading from the usual PR playbook. The UConn forward didn’t flinch at the optics, instead, he is simply cheering on.
Alex Karaban Silently Backs Mathew Johnson’s Bold Princeton Leap
Not so long ago, Karaban went on to share a post from Princeton’s official page. The post announced that Mathew Johnson, a key part of UConn’s championship squad moving to Princeton. No captions. No flashy goodbye posts.
Instead, it was a clean, simple repost of Princeton’s announcement that said it all. The post by Princeton read, “Welcome to Princeton, Mathew Johnson!”
Karaban didn’t need to write a long tribute. That one tap said more than enough. And more than anything, it showed that Johnson’s move to Princeton didn’t come with bitterness.
Johnson was the Video and Scouting Coordinator for the UConn Huskies. He was the brains behind the dynasty. His job wasn’t glamorous, but it was vital. And now, with two national titles in tow, he’s off to Princeton as an assistant coach. And Karaban’s post is simply a silent standing ovation. But why Princeton?
View this post on Instagram
It looks like Johnson is chasing a legacy. He started his journey at St. Anthony’s under the legendary Bob Hurley Sr. and then went on to play under Ron Kane at Lawrenceville. Johnson’s roots are deep in Jersey basketball tradition.
And if that wasn’t enough, add in a Magna Cum Laude degree, fourth all-time assists at the University of Tampa, and a three-time academic honor roll nod. Evidently, he brings pedigree.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley put it best. “Mat has done great things for us the last few years and played an important role in our championship success… He can connect with players at a high level,” said Hurley.
At Princeton, that connection will matter more than ever. Johnson will now play the frontman in building a new identity for the Tigers.
At UConn, Johnson helped land top-five recruiting classes in 2023 and 2025. He was the man behind coordinating visits, building custom presentations, and making sure prospects felt like family before they ever wore a Huskies jersey.
Now, at Princeton, he is likely to do bigger things.
Meanwhile, for Karaban, who’s still got business left in Storrs, the message was simply about the fact that Johnson mattered. As he begins his new chapter with Mitch Henderson’s squad, that one IG story is a reminder that even in an era of chaos, appreciation still has a place.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
And if Johnson’s next chapter goes anything like the last one? Princeton just made a move that could change everything.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
