euroleague.net
Watch below as Niels Giffey scores 9 of ALBA Berlin’s final 11 points, including the game-tying and game-winning three over Khalid El-Amin’s Goettingen. Although as UConn fans already know, the two-time National Champion’s shooting touch gets much softer come March…
Giffey finished with 14 points/4 rebounds in just 21 minutes of action while El-Amin added 9 points/5 assists.
Khalid El-Amin goes behind-the-back for 2 of his 17 points in a win over Fraport.
Here is a recap of UConn Basketball’s week on Twitter for Huskies past, present and future.
NBA
Kemba Walker may need surgery on meniscus (would miss 6 weeks)…
Jeremy Lamb to Brooklyn? Or maybe Charlotte?
LeBron James recruits Ray Allen to Cavs by staring until he agrees…
Shabazz Napier plays with Reggie Evans (peek-a-boo)…
Roscoe Smith records NBA D-League leading 20th double-double…
International
The German BBL begs the question of Khalid El-Amin for MVP (update to come) and other stuff I don’t understand…
Niels Giffey plays in the German BBL All-Star Game…
Jerome Dyson keeps it simple…
Marcus Williams shows play-making is not the only play he’s making…
UCONN
Ryan Boatright moves into 18th on the all-time scoring list…
…on a career-high 28 points.
Daniel Hamilton does a little bit of everything (turning the ball over included)…
…while Omar Calhoun does something (forgot he could dunk).
High School
UConn ESPN Top 25 commit Jalen Adams puts on at the Hoop Hall Classic…
…and future teammate Steve Enoch does the same.
Khalid El-Amin got the sweet taste of victory after leading UConn to the 1999 National Championship, and has not stopped since. BC Goettingen (Germany, BBL) received much criticism this off-season when they brought in the 35 year old El-Amin, fresh off a 2013-14 season he spent rehabbing an injury. The move was based off El-Amin’s European track record, which speaks for itself. Joining Besiktas (Hilton Armstrong’s current team) of the Turkish League in 2003, El-Amin dominated for two straight seasons -averaging 20 points a game and leading the league in assists- including an MVP performance at the 2005 Turkish League All-Star Game. Next, El-Amin signed in Ukraine where he led Mariupol of the Ukrainian Basketball Superleage to the 2006 Championship, earning both regular season and playoff MVP honors. Following stints in Turkey and Lithuania, El-Amin won his most recent title in 2011, with Zagreb of the Croatian A-League.
Goettingen’s bold move has paid immediate dividends as El-Amin has led the club to a #10 ranking in their first season back in the BBL(first tier German league, think Niels Giffey) after winning the German ProA title last season (second tier, think Enosch Wolf). Goettingen has 16 regular season games remaining to move up to #8, the last playoff berth. The club took a step in the right direction this afternoon, defeating #5 EWE Baskets behind 15 points/3 assists from El-Amin.
His performance was worthy of an appearance in the BBL “Tweet of the Day”, comparing El-Amin to 2004 German Footballer of the Year Ailton, who like El-Amin was small and chubby but quick (thank you Enosch for the explanation).
After a rough 36 point loss at the hands of Giffey’s ALBA Berlin (see above photo) to start the year, El-Amin has put together quite the season, averaging 14 points per game in 29 minutes with his 5.9 assists good for fourth in the BBL. Since highlights from today’s game are not yet available, here are top plays from a game back in December where El-Amin dropped 28 points en route to an upset of #4 Ratiopharm.
Although nearly 16 years removed from his Storrs days, El-Amin still bleeds blue. In fact, this past summer I watched him hit the game-winner in the Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic at Mohegan Sun. At the 2:10 mark of the interview below, El-Amin talks about his love for UConn and the disbandment of the Big East Conference.
“I represent UConn everywhere I go, I’m a Husky for life.”
Here is an alphabetical list of former UConn players currently abroad. Most leagues are already underway and the remainder tip off this week. Check back for weekly updates on your favorite former Huskies. The list will be updated as more information becomes available.
mattwemet 