Braylon Mullins’ Whirlwind Journey After Epic Shot

INDIANAPOLIS — Braylon Mullins found himself inundated with hundreds of text messages.

His Instagram was bursting with notifications. Among the messages was a simple “Wow” from comedian Joe Gatto, known for “Impractical Jokers.”

“It’s surreal. I grew up watching that show,” Mullins remarked. “He mentioned me during a comedy show in New York City.”

On Monday, it was hard for Mullins to avoid the 35-foot shot that led Connecticut to victory over Duke, securing a spot in this weekend’s Final Four. Since then, he’s signed a name, image, and likeness deal with Greenies Dog Treats and launched his own clothing line called “Money Mullins.”

Describing the past five days as a whirlwind feels like an understatement, especially given Mullins’ return to his roots in Indianapolis. He hails from Greenfield, Indiana, a mere 30 minutes from Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Reflecting on it, it’s just insane,” said the 6-foot-6 guard as the second-seeded Huskies gear up to face third-seeded Illinois on Saturday night. “It’s crazy to think about how that shot has turned into this experience. March Madness comes around every year, and now I’m part of that moment. It’s something I’ll hold dear forever.”

On Tuesday, he realized that the hard work was far from over. Coach Dan Hurley had given them a day to savor the incredible comeback from a 19-point deficit against the top seed.

“Tuesday hit me with a dose of reality,” Mullins noted. “It showed me that Coach Hurley truly supports us.”

Hurley’s message was straightforward: “That moment is unforgettable. But we came here for a ring, not just a watch. Everyone who makes it to the Final Four gets a nice watch, but only one team walks away with a ring.”

For Mullins, making the shot that sent Connecticut to its third Final Four in four years feels like something out of a movie script. He managed to secure 15 tickets for family and friends, though many more supporters from his hometown are expected to attend. “There’s going to be a huge crowd here,” he said.

“It feels like a dream scenario,” Hurley chimed in, almost reflecting on a scene tailored for the big screen.

During his recruitment, the Huskies had promised Mullins that he’d get a shot to play in Indianapolis this weekend. On his official visit, they even showcased photos of the Final Four throughout the city.

“I saw my picture on the JW Marriott,” he reminisced, referring to the large NCAA Tournament poster adorning the hotel.

Mullins had an impressive season, averaging 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds as a freshman, though he faced challenges with his shooting toward season’s end. Projected as a top-20 NBA Draft pick, he missed his first four three-pointers before that fateful shot against Duke, struggling at 4-for-23 from long range in the tournament. But when it mattered most, the ball found its way to him. He took a shot well beyond the arc.

Swish.

That shot made history, propelling him home after one of the NCAA Tournament’s standout moments.

Yet, as Coach Hurley and Mullins both emphasized during interviews, the objective isn’t merely to make it to the Final Four. UConn has claimed six national championships since 1999, and they aim to add to that tally.

There’s still one significant piece to this story for the Indiana native. “We have to win now,” Mullins declared.