It’s hard to believe last year was the first year a UConn alumni team joined The Basketball Tournament and Stars of Storrs certainly has a lineup to win the whole thing the second time around.
This UConn alumni team is making their second TBT appearance and I’m sure most teams would like to avoid them as long as possible. Like typical Huskies squads, they’ve got a winning pedigree, fueled by National Champion point guard Ryan Boatright. But it’s also a UConn team that spans a few different eras of Huskies basketball, with guys who played for Jim Calhoun, Kevin Ollie, and Dan Hurley. That should make for some interesting teamwork and conversations in the locker room.
Roster:
- Brandon Garrett (Murray State)
- Daniel Hamilton (UConn)
- DeAndre Daniels (UConn)
- Elijah Thomas (Clemson)
- Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall)
- RJ Cole (Howard & UConn)
- Rodney Purvis (UConn)
- Ryan Boatright (UConn)
- Terry Larrier (UConn)
- Tyler Thomas (Hofstra)
- Tyree Mitchell (University of St. Joseph – CT)
Coaching Staff:
- Jake Sullivan (Asst. Coach)
- Marc D’Amelio (GM)
- Michael Boatright McAllister (Asst. Coach)
- Stephen Laffin (Asst. Coach)
Region: Syracuse
All-time Record: 1-1
First Matchup: vs. Brown Ballers (July 19 at 8 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: RJ Cole
In 2024, Cole was the most consistent impactful player, averaging 16 points per game across the two games Stars of Storrs played. At UConn, he was a great three point shooter, who was used to having the basketball in his hands and making plays. This Stars of Storrs team has a lot of guards, but based on how well Cole played last year, he figures to be a go-to option yet again.
Make-or-break Player: Isaiah Whitehead
I can’t wait to see how the former Seton Hall great fits in on this mostly UConn alumni team. Whitehead’s NBA career was short but he’s had a solid international career and still stays rooted in the New York City area. He never truly added a great three point shot, but Whitehead really knows how to attack downhill and can keep the pace moving quick for the squad.
Team Outlook
Last summer, Stars of Storrs only won one game, but it almost feels imminent that we’ll see a Syracuse region final between them and Boeheim’s Army. That’s certainly what the fans want, with the rivalry between Syracuse and UConn being one of the best in the history of the game. And while the Orange alumni team would be the favorites, there’s no counting out this team. Stars of Storrs is stacked with guards, so if their bigs can hold down the fort, they can control the tempo and win that potential game, if not a few more.