UConn Men's Basketball: How Silas Demary Jr. Joined Elite Program History on Monday

The No. 4 UConn Huskies men's basketball team beat Wagner 83-41 on Monday night at Gampel Pavilion to improve to 3-0 on the young season. The Huskies clamped down defensively on the Seahawks, putting together a historic performance on that end of the floor. And senior guard Silas Demary Jr. was a huge part of it, scoring 18 points and registering six steals.

As noted by Katie Sharp, Demary is only the third UConn player in the last 20 years to have a game with at least 18 points and six steals, joining Shabazz Napier (2013) and Kemba Walker (2010, 2011).

Considering that Napier and Walker are royalty in Storrs, that's elite company to be in.

A North Carolina native, Demary is now in his fourth collegiate season with Georgia and Connecticut. A member of the SEC All-Freshman team in 2023-24, he was also an All-Big East selection in 2025-26. He helped the Huskies to the national title game and has averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.3 rebounds in the early going this season.

Head coach Dan Hurley has called him, perhaps, the best "ball-hawking" point guard in the nation.

A Massachusetts native who appeared in 143 games for the Huskies from 2010-14, Napier won two national championships in Storrs (2011, 14), bookending his career with them. He averaged 13.7 ppg for his career, including 18.0 in his senior season.

His accomplishments include being the 2013-14 AAC Player of the Year, an All-Big East selection and an All-American.

Taken No. 24 in the 2014 NBA Draft, he spent six years in the NBA with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. He averaged 7.1 ppg.

A three-year standout, Walker won the national title in 2011 as a junior while Napier was a freshman. He started 77 of 111 possible games at UConn, scoring 16.1 ppg in total. He earned All-America status in his final year as he averaged 23.5 ppg. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and the No. 9 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

In the NBA, he spent 12 seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 19.3 ppg. He was a third-team All-NBA selection in 2018-19 with Charlotte before signing a massive deal with Boston, where he spent two seasons.