UConn staff won't attend NBA Draft due to COVID issues
Jul. 29—James Bouknight will be celebrating his NBA Draft selection tonight without UConn coach Dan Hurley and associate head coach Kimani Young in attendance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Hurley and Young planned on being in the Green Room with Bouknight and his family and friends, but COVID-related issues among members of the UConn coaching staff will force them to miss the 2021 NBA Draft.
UConn announced the news this afternoon.
According to a release, several members of the coaching staff either tested positive or are exhibiting symptoms. All the coaches are fully vaccinated. They've been in close contact on the recruiting trail this week.
"It is extremely disappointing that Kimani and I can't be with James on such a momentous occasion in his life," Hurley said in a release. "He has done so much to help the UConn program and we couldn't have been more proud and excited to celebrate with James and his family. We have been in touch with them and they know that we are wishing James nothing but the greatest success as he takes the next step in his basketball career."
Bouknight, a former standout guard for the Huskies, is expected to be selected in the six to 14 range of the draft. He played two seasons in Storrs before chasing his professional basketball dream.
UConn has had 13 players chosen in lottery pick territory in program history.
