Previous UConn champs to contend for $1 million in The Basketball Tournament

The Stars of Storrs are on the method!

Former UConn nationwide title winners Ryan Boatright, DeAndre Daniels, and Joey Calcaterra haveactually dedicated to complete in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) this summertime — togetherwith other Husky alumni — as the Stars of Storrs. 

The group will represent the back-to-back nationwide champs in the 11th year of the March Madness-style occasion, which includes a $1 million winner-take-all reward airing on FOX Sports. 

[Everything to know about The Basketball Tournament]

Boatright and Daniels will reunite as colleagues after bringing home the nationwide title in2014 They will signupwith Calcaterra, who was a part of the Dan Hurley-led 2023 champion group.

“Representing UConn in this competition indicates whatever since you get to put those colors on onceagain and play for a typical objective: winning another champion on a nationwide phase with your bros,” Boatright stated.

“Reuniting with Deandre will be enjoyable, and I’m very ecstatic about it,” he continued. “We did some fantastic things together on the court and are looking to continue that success this summertime.”   

Stars of Storrs was arranged by University of Connecticut alum Marc D’Amelio and the D’Amelio Huskies Collective, which hasactually been helping UConn trainee professionalathletes, consistingof existing hoopers Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, and Hassan Diarra, with name, image, and similarity (NIL) chances consideringthat it was established in2022 If the Stars of Storrs wins TBT’s $1 million reward, $100,000 will be contributed to the Collective.

“Initially, a UConn fan on Twitter asked me to put together a group,” D’Amelio stated. “I love structure brandnames, groups, and UConn basketball, so puttingtogether a UConn TBT group integrates whatever I am enthusiastic about.”

D’Amelio will serve as the group’s basic supervisor, while Chris Smith, UConn’s all-time prominent scorer, will be the group’s head coach. 

Smith, a member of the UConn Basketball All-Century Team, played for the Huskies from 1988-1992 and holds the all-time scoring record with 2,145 points. The previous point guard is firedup about the chance to coach a mix of Huskies from various generations. 

“To be one of the veryfirst extremely hired individuals from Connecticut to be the head coach is fantastic,” Smith stated of the training chance. “To be able to coach ex-Husky gamers from various time periods will be enjoyable for myself and for the gamers. They will get a opportunity to play with guys they viewed as well.”

TBT’s 64-team field is madeup of 8 regionals with 8 groups in each, all hosted on the school of a powerhouse college 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 champion videogame will be held August 2 and August 4 at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Before Stars of Storrs leaves for Pittsburgh, there will be an open practice for fans to participatein in Connecticut. The date and time will be revealed on Stars of Storrs social media platforms, @starsofstorrs. 

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