UConn basketball saw four players get taken in the 2024 NBA Draft, with two in the second round.
UConn fans had to wait an extra day to hear Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer’s names called during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. It was well worth the wait as both players were selected late in the final round, putting a punctuation point on a 2024 for the ages for the program.
Just months after winning back-to-back titles for the first time since Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators almost two decades prior, UConn basketball sent four of its starters to the NBA and would have sent all five if Alex Karaban had chosen to stay in the draft. UConn is firmly established as the premier program in college basketball and shows no signs of slowing down.
Now let’s assign some grades to how these Huskies fit with their new teams!
Tristen Newton, 49th Overall, Indiana Pacers: B
Last season Tristen Newton tested the NBA Draft waters but ultimately decided to return for one last season in Storrs following feedback from scouts. He answered all the concerns and was the focal point of another national championship. It’s been a long road to the pros for Newton but it all paid off in the end.
The Pacers’ style of play will fit in seamlessly with Newton’s play style. The Pacers had one of the most efficient offenses in league history and led the NBA at over 30 assists per game. Newton is an excellent facilitator as he ran Dan Hurley’s offense to perfection which features cutting and screening. He’s no stranger to moving the ball and will be an excellent addition to the rising Indiana Pacers.
The downside to being selected to such a talented team is there will be limited playing time as the season begins. With solid guard play including Tyrese Haliburton, TJ McConnell, and Andrew Nembhard, there will be plenty of competition for minutes. Newton may spend some time down in the G-League but could see time in the NBA as well. The best attribute Newton has is his versatility, from rebounding, to passing, to scoring, he checks many of the boxes coaches look for during a long 82-game regular season.
Tristen Newton is no stranger to the bright lights and could potentially be one of the steals of the second round if he makes the most of his minutes. Newton was selected during a Burger King commercial which felt like deja vu from when Nikola Jokic was selected in the second round during a Taco Bell commercial in the 2014 NBA Draft. To say Newton will become a three-time NBA MVP would be unrealistic, but it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could end up being a franchise cornerstone for the Pacers.
Cam Spencer, 53rd Overall, Memphis Grizzlies: A
Nobody deserved to be drafted more than Cam Spencer. He eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball and is one of the most competitive players college basketball has seen in a long time. His fiery personality made UConn basketball fans fall in love with him and the same will ring true in Memphis. The days of the ‘grit and grind’ Grizzlies may have passed but Spencer will help bring that swagger back as he will not back down from anyone.
Memphis was the second-worst in the league in three-point percentage at just over 34% so drafting Spencer at this spot makes perfect sense. He was one of the most efficient shooters in college basketball, hitting his three-pointers at a 44% clip. Having a superstar like Ja Morant as a fellow backcourt mate will open up tons of open looks for Spencer which is how he will make his mark in the league.
Realistically, Cam Spencer projects as a role player who will be called upon for short periods to provide an offensive spark. There are lots of players who have made a living doing this in the NBA and there is no doubt that Spencer will do everything in his power to stay on an NBA roster for the next decade.