Former UConn champs to compete for $1 million in The Basketball Match

The Stars of Storrs are on the way in which!

Former UConn nationwide title winners Ryan Boatright, DeAndre Daniels, and Joey Calcaterra have dedicated to compete in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) this summer season — alongside different Husky alumni — because the Stars of Storrs. 

The group will characterize the back-to-back nationwide champions within the eleventh yr of the March Insanity-style occasion, which includes a $1 million winner-take-all prize airing on FOX Sports. 

[Everything to know about The Basketball Tournament]

Boatright and Daniels will reunite as teammates after bringing dwelling the nationwide title in 2014. They may be part of Calcaterra, who was part of the Dan Hurley-led 2023 championship group.

“Representing UConn on this event means every little thing since you get to place these colours on once more and play for a standard objective: successful one other championship on a nationwide stage along with your brothers,” Boatright mentioned.

“Reuniting with Deandre can be enjoyable, and I’m tremendous enthusiastic about it,” he continued. “We did some superb issues collectively on the court docket and want to proceed that success this summer season.”   

Stars of Storrs was organized by College of Connecticut alum Marc D’Amelio and the D’Amelio Huskies Collective, which has been helping UConn scholar athletes, together with present hoopers Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, and Hassan Diarra, with title, picture, and likeness (NIL) alternatives because it was based in 2022. If the Stars of Storrs wins TBT’s $1 million prize, $100,000 can be donated to the Collective.

“Initially, a UConn fan on Twitter requested me to place collectively a group,” D’Amelio mentioned. “I like constructing manufacturers, groups, and UConn basketball, so assembling a UConn TBT group combines every little thing I’m captivated with.”

D’Amelio will function the group’s common supervisor, whereas Chris Smith, UConn’s all-time main scorer, would be the group’s head coach. 

Smith, a member of the UConn Basketball All-Century Crew, performed for the Huskies from 1988-1992 and holds the all-time scoring report with 2,145 factors. The previous level guard is happy concerning the alternative to educate a mix of Huskies from completely different generations. 

“To be one of many first extremely recruited folks from Connecticut to be the top coach is superb,” Smith mentioned of the teaching alternative. “To have the ability to coach ex-Husky gamers from completely different time eras can be enjoyable for myself and for the gamers. They may get an opportunity to play with guys they watched as properly.”

TBT’s 64-team discipline consists of eight regionals with eight groups in every, all hosted on the campus of a powerhouse school basketball group. If Stars of Storrs advances out of the Pittsburgh Regional, they’ll play in TBT’s quarterfinals on July 29.

TBT’s semifinals and $1 million championship recreation can be held August 2 and August 4 at Drexel College in Philadelphia.

Earlier than Stars of Storrs departs for Pittsburgh, there can be an open apply for followers to attend in Connecticut. The date and time can be introduced on Stars of Storrs social media platforms, @starsofstorrs. 

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