With UConn’s return to the top in men’s basketball, it’s only logical that the program’s presence in the NBA would rise with it.
This is happening to an extraordinary degree with the new season at hand.
“We had that little window after 2014 where we struggled a little bit and there haven’t been as many UConn guys when you turn on the TV,” Dan Hurley said. “I think we’re going to get back to that point where you’re going to turn on TNT, or whoever is streaming these games now and you’ll see Jordan Hawkins being guarded by Steph Castle.”
Stephon Castle, UConn’s second one-and-done, is sticking with the Spurs, and he’s poised to play a meaningful rule. In five preseason games, he has played at least 19 minutes in each one, and scored in double digits three times, including 16 points, with four rebounds and three assists, in a loss to Houston Thursday night.
“I feel like I’m ready to go,” Castle told reporters after the game. “Just trying to gauge the speed of the game, the physicality. It’s starting to slow down a little bit now. … Just build on chemistry in the preseason. I found those games were really needed and useful.”
The Spurs with the No.4 pick in the draft, and signed veteran Chris Paul to break him in at point guard.
“I’m very impressed,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Really mature young man. Has a great demeanor, a good way about him. Goes on to the next play. Good basketball IQ. He’s strong. He learns quickly. He’s a good one. He can play 1, 2, or 3 right now.”
It’s a surprise that Castle, who was so often described at UConn as the polar opposite of most one-and-done types — unselfish, unentitled, all about winning — would be advanced enough after just one year of college to not only play in the NBA, but earn that kind of praise from a crusty, Hall of Famer like Pop.
The Spurs open at Dallas on Oct. 24, and they play the Knicks at The Garden on Christmas Day, the Nets at Barclays two days later. I’m sure I’m not the first to notice he’ll be playing home games at the site of the next Final Four.
That allows us to segue to Donovan Clingan, as the Spurs play at Portland on April 6, the day between the NCAA semifinals and final. Clingan, UConn’s other lottery pick, has also been playing about 20 minutes a game through the Blazers’ first three preseason tuneups. His best game so far was a 10-point, 10-rebound effort against the Kings on Oct. 3.
“I feel like it gave me a good feel for what it’s going to be like this year,” Clingan told reporters after his first game. “It’s way more physical. These dudes are strong, much older. The physicality is on another level.”
By the way, he made a 3-pointer against the Clippers, went 0-for-3 against the Kings. Portland opens the season Wednesday at home against the Warriors, plays at Brooklyn Feb. 28, at Boston March 5, at New York March 30.
Clingan has been working on his conditioning to be able to keep up the NBA pace in running the floor. He will be fighting for minutes against Deandre Ayton.
He’s a beast,” Ayton told SB Nation’s Blazers Edge website. “He’s hard to move out of that paint. I don’t care how young he is, that’s a big dude. He knows how to use his body. He’s just a sacrificial dude, man. Anything he does on the court is literally for the team. There is nothing selfish about that kid. He’s keeping up with the running, too. We’re working his ass a little bit, but he’s keeping up. Like I said, he’s not backing down at all. That dude is a true winner.”
And, yeah, winning in college does mean something for prospective NBA players. That’s becoming evident in the inroads former Huskies who were not considered classic prospects are making.
Tristen Newton has been getting 15 minutes per game for the Pacers in the preseason, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 assists. Cam Spencer, with the Grizzlies, has been out with a right ankle injury. “It is beyond frustrating, honestly,” Spencer told reporters during camp. “I was feeling good, getting ready to come into training camp, very happy to come into that. I’m going to control what I can control now.”
The 2022 wave of Huskies to the NBA is also on track. Adama Sanogo, who spent much of last season in the G League for the Bulls, started a preseason gae, getting 16 points and 15 rebounds vs. the Bucks, and could be headed for a place in Chicago’s rotation.
Andre Jackson Jr.’s first season with the Bucks was looking promising, but his minutes evaporated after Doc Rivers became coach and emphasized veterans. He’s been getting 12 minutes a game during the preseason.
Jordan Hawkins, who had some splash games with the Pelicans last season, is back in the mix for minutes in the preseason, scoring in double figures three games in a row, getting 20 points against Houston Oct. 15. He’s leading his team in scoring (16.3) in the preseason.
“I’m being more aggressive this year, getting to my spots more efficiently,” Hawkins said.
That would make seven players off the back-to-back champions in the NBA.
It wasn’t long ago that Huskies in the NBA was a dwindling group, so much so that for a time there were as many or more former UConn players in MLB or the NFL than in the NBA . The men’s basketball program had 13 lottery picks in 18 years ending in 2012, then didn’t have one until James Bouknight 10 years later. One by one, the old guard retired. Only Andre Drummond, with the Sixers, starting his 13th season, is still around from that pre-Dan Hurley group.
The best recruiting video UConn can send out is of players the current coaches have gotten to the NBA, especially one-and-dones and transfers from mid-majors who blossom as prospects in Storrs. Like all other facets of the program, this developmental piece is on a roll.
“I know the organizations are very happy with them,” Hurley said. “I know that when organizations come in here, they know they’re going to get somebody that’s going to be prepared for the rigors of whatever they’re doing.”
Second chance for Bouknight
Off-the-court troubles plagued Bouknight after he was drafted by Charlotte with the 11th pick in 2022, signed with the Blazers on Tuesday, and waived the next day. The plan is for him to play for the Blazers’ G League affiliate under what is called an Exhibit 10 contract, which could yield up to $77,500 in bonuses if he stays there 60 days.
After being waived by the Hornets last February, Bouknight spent a lot of time around the UConn team, working on campus. Hurley remains deeply invested.
“I know (Portland assistant GM) Mike Schmitz is happy with him right now,” Hurly said. “He has immense talent, and if that guy can get right he’s got the potential to turn around his career. Portland’s a good place for him, he’s got Donovan out there supporting him. He’s got to battle his way, prove himself in the G League, humble himself, but with the right support around him that guys is not just an NBA player but a really impactful NBA player. We believe Bouk’s going to do it.”
Sunday short takes
*Two former Huskies are thriving at the moment in Japan. Pitcher Anthony Kay, a Mets first-round pick who pitched for them, the Jays and Cubs in the majors, is with the Yokohama Bay Stars and pitched six scoreless innings, a one-hitter, against the storied Yomiuri Giants in Game 1 of their playoff series this week. And former UConn quarterback David Pindell is still doing it with his arm and legs in Japan’s X League, named offensive player of the week.
*Watching the baseball postseason, including commercials, one question: Is Jennifer Coolidge supposed to be funny? Must be over my head.
*With Ben Casparius’ ascension to the Dodgers, UConn pitching coach Joshua MacDonald can claim three major-leaguers he helped developed, Kay, Casparius and Scott Oberg. That doesn’t count several he coached on Cape Cod.
First Night: UConn men’s basketball rings in the new season for all to see; McNeeley to miss time
*Joey Calcaterra (2022), Terrence Samuel (2014), Jeremy Lamb (2011), Emeka Okafor (2004) and Tom Moore (1999) represented their championship teams at UConn’s ring ceremony on Thursday night at Gampel Pavilion. Appears a good time was had by all. Popular host of ESPN’s First Take, Molly Qerim, a UConn grad, who has been missing from the show, taking a planned break, was originally supposed to emcee the ring ceremony, but cancelled. NBC Boston’s Kayla Burton, the sister of Connecticut Sun guard Veronica Burton, stepped in.
*Fun baseball fact: Lary Sorensen, who was an 18-game winner and All-Star with the Brewers in 1978 and pitched for several teams from 1977-88, is an analyst for Wake Forest football and baseball on TV and radio and was in town for the Deacons’ game at UConn on Saturday.
*Most coaches you’ll hear from, including Hurley and Geno Auriemma, can relate to Tony Bennett’s decision to retire as Virginia men’s coach, believing he was not equipped to deal with the changing world of major college sports, i.e., the transfer portal, name-image-likeness compensation and, coming soon, revenue sharing. However, assuming this is all there is to the decision, all of this was also true last spring, so the timing of Bennett’s retirement is unfortunate for the school and the players who assembled to play for him.
Last word
The MLB postseason has generally been a great watch — dramatic, big stars, compelling stories. But the way these games are managed, turning over the bullpens ridiculously early has left all four remaining teams with overused, overexposed relievers. Every game could be 8-7 from here on. This strategy could be devastatingly effective in a one-game, winner-take all scenario, but a five- or seven-game series can’t be managed this way. Hitters get too many looks at the same pitchers. The manager who is most willing to let a starter go longer is likely to come out on top.
