BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A fourth UConn men’s basketball player heard his name called in the 2024 NBA Draft when 6-foot-4 guard Cam Spencer was selected 53rd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Spencer joins UConn teammates Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs, Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail Blazers and Tristen Newton of the Indiana Pacers, all who were chosen in the draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
After playing three seasons at Loyola Maryland and one season at Rutgers, Spencer transferred to UConn in the summer of 2023. While he carried a reputation as a sharpshooter, few could have imagined the integral role that Spencer would play for the 2023-2024 national champion UConn Huskies.
Almost immediately, Spencer’s fiery demeanor and emotional performances won over UConn fans across the state. He backed it up with his play, earning First Team All-Big East honors.
In his lone season in Storrs, Spencer averaged 14.3 points per game, grabbed 4.9 rebounds per contest and dished out 3.6 assists on average. He vaulted himself into the NBA Draft discussion by shooting 44% from three-point range and 91.1% at the free throw line.
Spencer was a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament, where he facilitated UConn’s offense and scored 13.3 points per game, while averaging seven rebounds per contest.
Similar to his older brother Pat, a legendary college lacrosse player who shifted his focus to basketball and earned a spot on the Golden State Warriors’ roster, Spencer will have to fight for playing time at the next level.
He took a giant step towards reaching that goal on Thursday when he was drafted by Memphis, where he could play alongside stars such as Ja Morant and Marcus Smart. Anyone who has watched Spencer over the past seven months knows that his intensity makes him an ideal candidate to receive a two-way contract.
Spencer’s good decision making, prolific shooting, prowess for finding the ball and ability to make plays on defense helped him achieve his dream of being drafted. His knack for scoring within the flow of the offense could allow him to play the role of a utility guy, like Boston’s Sam Hauser and Milwaukee’s Pat Connaughton.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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