Hassan Diarra's value to the UConn men's basketball team is now official.

Diarra, UConn's senior guard, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Big East Sixth Man Award, the league announced on Monday. Diarra becomes the second Husky to receive the honor since its inception in 2007-08, joining Tyler Polley who won the award in 2020-21.

Diarra has been a major contributor this year as a spark off the bench, helping the Huskies finish 18-2 in Big East play to set a league record for conference wins and winning the league by four games. He has appeared in all 31 contests, coming off the bench in all but one and averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. During league play his scoring ticked up to 6.2 points per game as he shot 47.8 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range in conference action.

A stalwart on the defensive end, the Queens, N.Y. native has posted 28 steals and 12 blocks this season while consistently matching up with some of the opposition’s top scorers. Diarra scored in double-figures three times during league play, including a season-high 14 points along with six assists and five rebounds in a top-five showdown against Marquette on Feb. 17.

In his second season in Storrs, Diarra has seen his numbers improve across the board. His overall shooting percentages have improved from 29.4 percent from the floor and 17.9 percent from 3-point range a season ago to impressive marks of 48.1 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from downtown this season. He has doubled his rebounding total and tripled his scoring output this season.

Diarra and the Huskies return to action on Thursday in a Big East Tournament quarterfinal game at noon.