On April 8, 2024, Dan Hurley sent Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban to the court to start the NCAA Tournament final for UConn against Purdue.

The Huskies won 75-60, capturing the program’s second consecutive national title.

Karaban is now a senior with the Huskies, aiming to become the rarest of players to win three national championships.

The other four, all of whom entered the 2024 NBA Draft, will reunite Feb. 13 in Inglewood, Calif., for the Rising Stars event, part of the NBA All-Star 2026 weekend. The event features NBA rookies and sophomores, as well as a group playing in the G League.

On Tuesday night, honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter – all members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – drafted their teams, which consist of the NBA players. Austin Rivers will coach the squad of G Leaguers.

The first three picks of the draft were rookies: Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers).

Anthony selected Clingan and Castle; McGrady picked Spencer. Newton, signed to a two-way deal by the Houston Rockets, will play on Rivers’ team.

Here’s a closer look at the four UConn title winners who will participate in the Rising Stars event.

Donovan Clingan

Age: 21

Drafted: 2024, first round, No. 7 overall, Portland Trail Blazers

UConn stats (2022-24): 74 games (33 starts), 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game

NBA stats: 110 games (80 starts), 8.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game

Notable: Averaging double-double on the season with 11.2 points and 11.0 rebounds, the latter tied for third in NBA 

Cam Spencer

Age: 25

Drafted: 2024, second round, No. 53 overall, Detroit Pistons

Current team: Memphis Grizzlies

UConn stats (2023-24): 40 games (40 starts), 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game

NBA stats: 68 games (13 starts), 9.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists per game

Notable: NBA career 93.5% shooter from foul line

Tristen Newton

Age: 24

Drafted: 2024, second round, No. 49 overall, Indiana Pacers

Current team: Houston Rockets

UConn stats (2022-24): 79 games (78 starts), 12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists per game

NBA stats: 8 games (0 starts), 0.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game

Notable: G League stats – 26.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists

The four teams will compete in a mini-tournament. As described in an NBA.com report: “Team A will face Team B in the first semifinal (Game 1), and Team C will play Team D in the second semifinal (Game 2). The winner of Game 1 will meet the winner of Game 2 in the championship (Game 3).

“For each semifinal game, the winner will be the first team to reach or surpass 40 points. For the championship game, the winner will be the first team to reach or surpass 25 points.” 

Team Melo

Team T-Mac

Team Vince

Team Austin

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