UConn notes: Once a recruiting target for Huskies, Wong plays starring role for Miami

Mar. 31—HOUSTON — UConn coach Dan Hurley once envisioned Isaiah Wong in his starting backcourt.

Now Hurley and his Huskies will face Wong, a former prime recruiting target, in the Final Four semifinals Saturday night at NRG Stadium.

Wong, Miami's leading scorer, is from Piscataway, New Jersey, and attended Monsignor Bonner in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

He took a recruiting trip to Storrs in 2018 before deciding to attend Miami.

"I spent a lot of time thinking about UConn and the decision," Wong said. "It was Miami, UConn and another school. But it was just close. (Coach Dan Hurley) showed me a good time over there. I got to meet a lot of people on the team,and they were all great people. He was just a great coach."

Wong, a 6-foot-4 junior, is enjoying a terrific career. He earned Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors this season. He's averaging 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

In Miami's only other game against Big East competition this season, Wong had 18 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 74-64 win over Providence at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at the Mohegan Sun.

Miami coach Jim Larranaga has watched Wong grow into a star and role model.

"The young man never had a bad-attitude day or bad-effort day," Larranaga said. "He just has a great attitude towards life and a great work ethic toward basketball. And, quite frankly, that leads to other guys wanting to be just like him."

Hurley still loves Wong's athletic game. He never sensed during the recruiting process that Wong would commit to UConn.

"We always felt we were a little bit behind," Hurley said. "But we imagined a potential backcourt of him and (James) Bouknight. It was an exciting dream that didn't come to fruition. ... It's not surprising that he's led his team to this point and eventually is going to have a long career in the NBA."

Gaffney reunion

After spending three seasons playing at UConn, Jalen Gaffney transferred to Florida Atlantic, which is located in Palm Beach, Florida, last spring.

Now both Gaffney and the Huskies are at the Final Four.

It's the first Final Four appearance for Florida Atlantic.

"It's a surreal moment for all of us," Gaffney said. "A lot of us haven't been to March Madness before. To get to the Final Four, it's a crazy feeling. We're happy to be here and excited to play."

Ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic (35-3) plays No. 5 San Diego State (31-5) at 6:09 p.m. in the first game of Saturday's Final Four doubleheader.

Gaffney, a junior guard, plays a reserve role. He's appeared in all but one game, averaging 4.4 points, 2.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds.

"Jalen Gaffney has brought a calming presence," FAU coach Dusty May said. "He's brought an IQ and knowledge to our team. And we've all learned something from Gaff. He's been an unbelievable teammate every single day."

When Gaffney decided to transfer last spring, he took his only visit to Florida Atlantic.

His UConn experience prepared him for playing in the NCAA tournament. He played in two March Madness games with the Huskies, scoring 12 points in a first round loss to Maryland in 2021.

"We played at a lot of high majors teams and the Big East was a tough league," Gaffney said. "Just having that experience under my belt definitely helped me out and my team out as well."

Hurley is thrilled for Gaffney.

"It's played out so great and that he's had such a successful season," Hurley said. "I have a lot of appreciation and gratitude toward Jalen, because just like the Bouknights, Isaiah Whaleys, Tyler Polleys, Christian Vitals and Jalen Adams, he's a huge reason why we're here as a program. He's helped us build the culture and begin to have success."

Gaffney appreciated Hurley's kind words. He keeps in contact with some former teammates, including R.J. Cole, Bouknight and Tyrese Martin.

"Coach Hurley is a great coach," Gaffney said. "I just needed a fresh start. Nothing against Hurley or UConn or any of them. I still love those guys."

Adjusting to dome life

UConn practiced inside NRG Stadium, the home of the NFL's Houston Texans, for the second time on Friday.

These Huskies have never played in a domed stadium, which has a seating capacity of roughly 72,000.

The shooting background takes some time to get comfortable with.

"Going out there (Thursday), I had a little bit of an adjustment because the basket feels so far away," redshirt freshman Alex Karaban said. "So it's a little bit of an adjustment. And the court also is lifted up, too. We'll get a little more comfortable out there today and we'll just be fine."

Junior Andre Jackson isn't concerned.

"Maybe more people in the stands and a lot louder," Jackson said. "I don't see it as much different for me. It's a basketball court. You can get lost in the game and forget about everything else."

One of the ugliest national championship games took place at NRG Stadium, then known as Reliant Stadium. UConn beat Butler 53-41 in the 2011 title game. The Huskies shot 34.5% (19-for-55), the Bulldogs 18.8% (12-for-64).

g.keefe@theday.com