STORRS, Conn. – The crutches that became part of Sam Cassell Jr.’s daily wardrobe last winter are gone. Friday evening at Gampel Pavilion, the junior guard was officiating a pickup game at Kevin Ollie’s basketball camp and a smile had returned to his face.
But Cassell, sidelined Jan. 25 with a stress fracture in his right leg, still has not resumed full-speed activities – such as pickup games with his teammates, new and old. And he is itching to reach that point in his long recovery.
“I should get cleared next week for full activity,” Cassell said Friday. He has been doing individual workouts and shooting drills. He can even handle some jumping. It’s all part of the master plan.
“I’m back working out,” Cassell said. “I’m just trying to getmy legs back under me so I can play pickup with the guys. I feel way better than when I was playing last January. The doctors told me it was going to be three to six months. So I knew it might be a long process.”
There was some talk about Cassell returning in time for the American Athletic Conference championship last season, but he decided against the risk.
“I was hoping [to play] but the doctor told me not to rush it,” Cassell said. “It was healing but it wasn’t all the way healed. “It hurt me [not playing]. It felt like me, back at JUCO sitting out all over again [after transferring]. My health was much more important. Even though I was struggling [when I played], sitting out hurt me even more.”
Cassell, who played in 18 games, averaged 3.9 points in his first season at UConn. He hopes that he can return to full health and provide some outside shooting to stretch the floor for the Huskies on offense. That’s what he was trying to do when the injury forced him off the court last season.
UConn is known for taking a cautious approach with injuries.
“He’s not back 100 percent,” Ollie said. “I think he goes to the doctor Tuesday and hopefully they can give him a full bill of health. He’s been working out with [assistant coach] Ricky [Moore] within our two hours a week. He looks good working out, he just isn’t full speed. . . . Everything so far has been going that direction. We’re just trying to see the last X-rays and we’ll be confident as a staff he’s not going to get reinjured if we go out there playing 5-on-5, putting a lot of wear and tear on that stress fracture area.”
BOATRIGHT SHOPPING FOR DEAL
Ollie said he received several phone calls Friday, inquiring about the status of former UConn guard Ryan Boatright. Boatright was not selected in the NBA Draft Thursday night. As a result, he was pursue a contract as an undrafted free agent. Ollie would not say how many teams called and would not identify the interested teams.
“I don’t know where he is going to go to summer league but that’s the next decision he has to make,” Ollie said. “And I know his agent is probably trying to get some guaranteed money, hopefully. He has to look at the total picture. He has to go to the right team, the one that has the fewest contracts and the style of play that’s going to fit him.”
CALHOUN INJURED AGAIN
Senior guard Omar Calhoun has been bothered by injuries throughout his UConn career. He is hurt again this summer, but it doesn’t appear to be serious. Ollie said Calhoun has a toe injury and is wearing a protective boot on his foot. “He’s still in a boot and hasn’t been able to play 5-on-5 or do any individual work,” Ollie said. “I believe it’s a little small fracture. I just want to get him back healthy. Then we will see what he can provide. I know he can provide some leadership.” . . . The UConn coaching staff is hosting recruits this weekend, including guard Nate Pierre-Louis, a Class of 2017 prospect from Jersey City, N.J., and St. Benedict’s Prep School. The 6-3 guard is also considering Creighton, Florida State, Georgetown and Iowa State. . . . Ollie said Amida Brimah will be a captain again this season for the Huskies. There will be others but Ollie said he hasn’t made a final decision.
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