UConn junior guard Jalen Gaffney plans to transfer, according to his father, Adolphis.

Gaffney is the second player this week to decide to transfer out of coach Dan Hurley's basketball program. Freshman guard Rahsool Diggins also announced that he's leaving.

During his career, Gaffney served mainly as a backup point guard. He appeared every game — all 87 — since arriving in Storrs his freshman season and started 15.

This past season, Gaffney, who's from Columbus, N.J., averaged 4.0 points, 2.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds in a career-low 12.8 minutes per game. He shot just 34.6 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from 3-point range.

He struggled throughout the season and saw his playing time diminish, seeing a total nine minutes of action in the Big East tournament semifinal and NCAA tournament first-round losses. He failed to score in double figures in the last 24 games.

The Huskies have major holes to fill in the backcourt with the departure of starters Tyrese Martin and R.J. Cole, who both declared for the NBA Draft, and the loss of Gaffney and Diggins.

Andre Jackson, Corey Floyd, Jr., and Jordan Hawkins are the only other guards remaining on the roster.

Jackson, who played some point guard this past season as a sophomore while starting all 33 games and ranked second on the team in assists at 3.1, has the most experience of the three.

Hawkins just completed his freshman year, averaging 5.8 points in 27 games, making four starts. Hawkins was named to the Big East all-freshman team. Floyd sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt but will play next season. Both underclassmen are considered primarily shooting guards.

Earlier this week, Floyd said he can play either guard spot.

"I can play point," Floyd said. "I've been working on my ball handling a lot this year. The one position is actually easy for me. I like to pass first and get my teammates involved."

The UConn coaching staff is expected to explore the transfer portal for experienced backcourt options.

"This is an important late signing period for us," Hurley said on Tuesday. "We have a very specific plan for how we want to attack it while keeping our culture intact."

g.keefe@theday.com