University of Connecticut Athletics
Scott Burrell To Join Huskies Of Honor
9/27/2018 10:20:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Gampel Pavilion Wall To Welcome No. 24 At Preseason Game Vs. SCSU
STORRS, Conn. --- Scott Burrell, one of the finest prep athletes in Connecticut state history, a UConn basketball icon, and an NBA champion, will become the newest member of the Huskies of Honor when his No. 24 UConn jersey is placed on the Gampel Pavilion wall during ceremonies on Friday night, Nov. 2.
Burrell, the head basketball coach at Southern Connecticut State University, will bring the Owls to Gampel for a preseason exhibition game against UConn that night, the lone preseason game for the 2018-19 Huskies. Burrell will be honored in pregame ceremonies just before the 7 p.m. tipoff.
"I am proud and honored to be included with the many great UConn players who are in the Huskies of Honor," Burrell said. "Being born and brought up in Connecticut, it was a dream come true to attend UConn and to play basketball for Coach (Jim) Calhoun. It obviously has shaped the rest of my life and brought me to where I am today. I couldn't be more thrilled."Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Burrell, a native of Hamden, where he starred at Hamden High in football, basketball and baseball, spurned a professional baseball offer from the Seattle Mariners, who made him a first-round pick in the 1989 Major League Draft, to attend UConn.
The 6-7 guard-forward made an immediate impact in Storrs as a freshman starter during the Huskies' Dream Season (1989-90), which climaxed with the Huskies' first Big East Conference Championship and their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 11 years. Along the way, Burrell authored perhaps the greatest assist in UConn basketball history, his 94-foot pinpoint pass to Tate George with 0:01 remaining in the NCAA Sweet 16 game against Clemson. George's subsequent baseline jumper gave the Huskies a thrilling 71-70 victory, sending them to the Elite Eight.
Burrell went on to a stellar four-year UConn career under Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, scoring 1,562 points, grabbing 752 rebounds, handing out 293 assists, and logging 310 steals, and remains the all-time UConn leader in the latter category. As a sophomore in 1990-91, he led the nation with 112 steals. He is the only UConn player to amass at least 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 250 assists and 300 steals. A three-time Big East All-Conference pick and a Big East All-Rookie Team selection, he left UConn as the No. 8 all-time scorer and still ranks No. 18. In 2001, he was elected by fan vote to the UConn All-Century Team.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Burrell with the 20th overall pick of the 1993 NBA Draft, making him the only athlete in professional sports history to be a first-round draft choice in two different sports, a distinction he still holds. He played eight seasons in the NBA with four franchises, becoming the first UConn player to capture an NBA championship with the 1998 Chicago Bulls. He also played professionally in Japan, Spain, the Philippines and China before starting his coaching career in the NBA Developmental League.
Burrell spent eight years as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac under current UConn assistant coach Tom Moore before assuming the head coaching position at Southern Connecticut before the 2015-16 season. In three years at the helm of the Owls, he has produced 56 victories, two NCAA Tournament berths, a Northeast-10 Southwest Division title, and two NABC Team Academic Awards.
Burrell becomes the 21st player to be honored with a jersey plaque on the Huskies of Honor wall, which also includes three head coaches, one administrator and one team, the 1998-99 National Champions. The administrator is former athletic director John Toner, the head coaches are Hugh Greer, Dee Rowe and Jim Calhoun, while the players list includes Walt Dropo, Vin Yokabaskas, Worthy Patterson, Art Quimby, Toby Kimball, Wes Bialosuknia, Bill Corley, Tony Hanson, Corny Thompson, Cliff Robinson, Chris Smith, Donyell Marshall, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Khalid El-Amin, Emeka Okafor, Caron Butler, Rudy Gay, Kemba Walker, and Shabazz Napier.
