University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn MBB Pays Tribute To Richard Hamilton
2/25/2024 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By PHIL CHARDIS
Special to uconnhuskies.com
STORRS – Jim Calhoun said that he knew by halftime that he wasn't getting the kid he had come to watch play in the high school basketball game in the Philadelphia suburbs. The then-UConn men's basketball coach was also pretty sure that none of the other college coaches in attendance were getting Kobe Bryant, either.
But Calhoun was intrigued by a skinny guard playing for the opposing team.
And so began the recruitment of Richard Hamilton to UConn.
"Coach said if I came to UConn, I'd have the chance to do a lot of things," Hamilton said. "Be an All-American, be a BIG EAST Player of the Year, win BIG EAST championships, win national championships – but he never said anything about getting my number retired."
Most everything Calhoun told Rip Hamilton has come to pass, including the part he didn't say, as Hamilton's No. 32 was officially retired in an impressive ceremony at sold-out Gampel Pavilion during halftime of Saturday night's 78-54 win over Villanova. As soon as UConn's current No. 32, Donovan Clingan, finishes his UConn career, no future Husky will ever wear the number.
"I've just got so many emotions running through my head and I'm trying to hold it together," Hamilton admitted. "It's so great to be back here where I have so many great memories.
Hamilton, second on UConn's all-time scoring list (2,036 points) only to Chris Smith (2,145), is only the second men's player to have his number retired, joining Ray Allen. Hamilton has also had his number retired by Coatesville High School and by the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
"You don't play the game for that, you play to win championships," he said. "When they told me they wanted to retire my jersey here, I thought it was amazing. It was definitely a magic moment in my life."
Hamilton was a big part of a huge basketball day at UConn on Saturday, starting with a two-hour ESPN Game Day, during which he made an appearance and hit a halfcourt shot to set off a wild celebration. Then came UConn's first half against Villanova, ending with UConn owning a 10-point lead, and then came the halftime ceremony to retire Hamilton's number.
"Walking into the gym, I still get the same butterflies in my stomach as I did as an 18-year-old kid, trying to make a name for myself," Hamilton said. "Being back in the building, this is home … I miss it.
"I always tell kids, 'Dream big.' Your imagination is everything. I always say I've been blessed – great family, great teammates, great coaches and I'm just a product of all that."
Calhoun, as well as Hamilton's UConn teammates Kevin Freeman, Jake Voskuhl, Edmund Saunders, Souleymane Wane and family and friends joined him on the Gampel court.
"First of all, happy to be home, man," Hamilton said to the sold-out crowd as his number was unveiled. "The one thing I knew when I came here as an 18-year-old kid trying to figure it out was that the fans were going to be engaged, you were going to motivate us, you were going to inspire us. I said if I never got thee chance to play in the NBA, playing at UConn is like playing for a professional basketball team. And even though my name going up in the rafters, I wouldn't have been able to do it my teammates, my coaches, the staff, they've been amazing to me. So, when I go up, we all go up."
Hamilton, a two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year and two time All-American, led the Huskies to the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships in both 1998 and 1999. His Huskies reached the NCAA Elite Eight in 1998 and won the program's first NCAA title in 1999. During his three seasons, UConn's record was 84-22.
He was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. After three seasons, he was traded to the Pistons, where in 2004 he helped win an NBA championship. He played seven more seasons in Detroit, was a three-time NBA All-Star, then two more for the Chicago Bulls before retiring in 2015.
His ceremony ended with a heartfelt message to the UConn fans.
"So, thank you, I love you and to every kid who's inspired to be great, dream big, because you never know what can happen. Peace out – from a kid from Coatesville."
