Whaley Set to Join Hometown Hornets
The Story: Former UConn center Isaiah Whaley’s NBA dreams are continuing as he was one of the players the Charlotte Hornets announced will be joining training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract and have a chance to make the team.
BIG ADDITION: Whaley’s addition comes as a bit of a surprise in some respects because although he was on the Hornets’ roster for the NBA Summer League, he never played in a game. Still, he showed enough to the Hornets to keep him around.
• “I want to prove that I belong,” Whaley said. “That I can help any NBA team and bring something to the table.”
• An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed one-year deal that allows a player to join a team for training camp and perhaps beyond. Should Whaley impress the Hornets, his contract could be converted to a two-way deal that would enable him to play in the NBA or in the G League.
• If Whaley were to remain in the G League for 60 days, he would earn an additional bonus, separate from his G League or prorated NBA salaries, of up to $50,000.
• Yes, we’re pretending that this news didn’t surface over the summer, but hey, we took some time off and figured it’s probably new to you, too!
MAUI ON THE MIND: The Huskies will reportedly return to Hawaii to take part in the Maui Invitational next year.
• UConn will join Colorado, Dayton, Iowa State, Memphis, Michigan State and North Carolina in the eight-team event, with the eighth team, expected to be from the SEC, to be determined.
• The Huskies have had a lot of success in the event as they won it in 2005 and 2010. Their first appearance was in 2000, and they last made the trek west for Thanksgiving weekend in 2016, when they disappointingly won just one of three games.
SCHEDULE UNVEILED: UConn’s full schedule for this season has been announced with several marquee games, including those against Georgetown, Creighton, Xavier, Seton Hall and Providence, to take place at Gampel Pavilion.
Men’s Hockey Team to Play at Fenway
The Story: The men’s hockey team will return to Fenway Park for the first time since 2017 when it faces Northeastern at the iconic ballpark on Saturday, Jan. 7.
BIG STAGE … : The ice rink is being built for the Winter Classic, which will pit the Boston Bruins against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Huskies will lace up their skates for an afternoon game as part of a college men’s hockey doubleheader.
• The Huskies played at the ballpark on Jan. 14, 2017, when they lost 4-0 to Maine in one of five college hockey games held that year.
… BIG SEASON: UConn’s schedule is loaded with a ton of cool events, with Frozen Fenway just one of them.
• According to The UConn Blog, the Huskies will play Cornell at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Nov. 26.
• This is also the season when UConn will open its new on-campus ice area, which will happen on Jan. 14.
SIGNING CLASS COMPLETE: The Huskies unveiled their Class of 2023, which includes 16 players, four of whom are transfers.
• UConn is adding experienced forwards Ty Amonte (Boston University), Adam Dawe (Maine), and Justin Pearson (Yale) and defenseman Andrew Lucas (Vermont).
• The headliner of the class is Matthew Wood, a 6-foot-3, 194-pound forward from Lethbridge, Alberta, who is considered one of the top prospects eligible for the NHL Draft. Seriously.
• Another prospect will be coming from Russia in Arsenii Sergeev, a goaltender who will compete with sophomore Logan Terness to start.
Morning Reads
• The women’s basketball team has also released its schedule, which includes games at Notre Dame, Tennessee and South Carolina. Yikes. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
• Freshman Isuneh “Ice” Brady said she has had the goal of winning a national championship at UConn since she was in sixth grade. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
Top photo: UConn warms up prior to a game against CCSU on Nov. 25, 2020. (David Butler II/USA Today)
