NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - Southborough's Alex Karaban will be suiting up for the NCAA men's basketball championship game Monday night.

Karaban is a freshman forward for UConn and will be on the court as the Huskies battle San Diego State for the title. Karaban scored eight points as UConn cruised past Miami in their Final Four appearance Saturday.

Karaban starred his freshman year for his hometown Algonquin Regional High School. As a freshman, he averaged over 22 points and eight rebounds a game while leading his team to the Central Mass. finals.

At Algonquin, Karaban played for long-time coach Brian Doherty. Doherty said he still keeps in regular touch with the hometown hero.

"Couldn't be more excited for him," Doherty said. "I talk to him a lot, text before every game. It's a ritual, so I'll later on today I'll text him again. Just so happy for him. He works so hard. I texted him the other day and said, 'you deserve this.'

"In the area he's unbelievably well liked, well known. Got little kids that still talk about him, they still come up to me today and say, 'how's Alex doing?' He'll be back this summer to help me with the clinics. Just a unbelievable, great kid."

It's the first time UConn will be in the championship game since 2014, when they won the title. Tip off is set for 9:20 p.m. in Houston.