On Saturday, UConn legend Richard “Rip” Hamilton will get his jersey number retired, becoming the second player in the history of the men’s basketball program to receive this honor, the other being Ray Allen in 2019.
Hamilton’s jersey retirement is one of many things UConn basketball fans are looking forward to for Saturday night’s matchup against Villanova.
With the Huskies solidifying their blue-blood status by winning the national championship last season, there are a lot of legends in the program’s history that deserve to have their numbers retired.
While the Huskies of Honor is a meaningful way to honor these legends, I like having jersey numbers retired for those inducted into the Naismith Memorial and/or the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Allen was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, while Hamilton was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
So, who will soon find their jersey numbers hanging from the rafters of Gampel Pavilion? Here are a few that come to mind.
Emeka Okafor
Okafor is one of the greatest players in UConn men’s basketball history, winning a national championship in 2004 while being named the NABC Co-Player of the Year. He is a two-time recipient of the NABC Defensive Player of the Year award and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. Okafor ranks fourth in UConn history in total rebounds, behind Art Quimby, Toby Kimball and Jeff Adrien. He is the all-time program leader in blocked shots with 441. Only Hasheem Thabeet had over 400 blocks in his college career outside of Okafor. He is one of six Huskies to average a double-double throughout their career, being the only player to do so since the NCAA Tournament field expanded to 64.
He holds the program’s single-season record for double-doubles with 24 during the 2003-04 season and led the nation in blocks in his last two seasons in Storrs, including a program-record 156 during the 2002-03 season. He is one of three players in UConn basketball history to record ten blocks in a single game. The two-time first-team All-Big East center deserves to have his number 50 hanging from the rafters.
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker is one of the most iconic players not only in UConn basketball but in college basketball history. His stepback shot against Gary McGhee and Pittsburgh in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Big East Tournament alone should have a spot in Kansas City’s College Basketball Hall of Fame. He led Connecticut to the national championship in 2011, winning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award and receiving the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s best point guard. He was a finalist for many national Player of the Year awards and could have received those honors if it weren’t for BYU legend Jimmer Fredette.
Walker holds the program record for most 30-point games in a season with 11 during the magical 2010-11 season. He had 11 consecutive games with at least 20 points, which ranks third in UConn history. Walker had the most points as a junior out of any UConn men’s basketball player in program history, with 965 in 41 games. That is 110 more points than the next player. He holds the record for most field goals made in a single season with 316 during his final season in Storrs. He made 258 free throws during that season, the most in a single season in program history. He is one of 12 players with a 40-point game, recording 42 in a win against Vermont. He recorded one of UConn’s 12 triple-doubles in a win over UMBC with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. No one should be known for wearing the number 15 other than Walker.
Shabazz Napier
Napier is well known for leading Connecticut to its fourth national title in 2014 in an improbable run as a No. 7 seed. He’s a two-time national champion and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 2014. He won the Bob Cousy Award that season and was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in the conference’s inaugural season. No one has played in more games or made as many free throws in their career as Napier. Fourth in all-time scoring, Napier is known for iconic game-winning shots against Villanova and Florida. He holds the program record for most points as a senior with 720. His career-high 34 points came against Memphis in 2014. Napier held the program record for most career triple-doubles before being passed by Tristen Newton earlier this season. His number 13 should forever be remembered by being retired.
Adama Sanogo
Sanogo just ended his college career last season, but his number 21 could be hanging not only from the Huskies of Honor board but also from the top of Gampel Pavilion. He led the Huskies to a national championship last season and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He’s a two-time All-Big East first-team player, and was named to the Big East All-Freshman team in 2021. While other iconic players wore number 21, including the late Stanley “Sticks” Robinson, Sanogo left a legacy that will last a lifetime.
Donyell Marshall
While he was not a national champion, Marshall is one of the greatest UConn basketball players ever. In his time in Storrs, the Reading, Pa. native was named the Big East Player of the Year in 1994 while also receiving a spot on the consensus All-American first team. He was named the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year that season and was a first-team All-Big East forward in 1993 and 1994. During the 1993-94 season, Marshall dropped 42 points in both games against St. John’s, the most points any Husky has scored in a Big East game. He recorded the program’s first triple-double in 1994. When you think of players who wore number 42 for Connecticut, Marshall should always come to mind.