Lasan Kromah grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, earned a criminal justice degree in his four years at George Washington University and loves everything about the school.

He simply wanted a change of scenery.

Kromah will get that this upcoming season at UConn, where he will spend his final season of eligibility as a basketball player enrolled in the school’s Cognitive, Instruction and Learning Technologies master’s program.

“I wanted to explore somewhere else, in a different environment, and play basketball at a higher level,” said Kromah, a 6-foot-5 wing who was second on the Colonials in scoring last season at 10.1 points per game.

Kromah missed his entire sophomore season at GWU after tearing a ligament in his left foot during a preseason scrimmage with NC State. That means he has another year of playing eligibility left, even though he graduated from GWU. He visited Indiana and Xavier, but felt most comfortable in Storrs.

“I got a good vibe, I really got a sense of family,” he said. “I have a good relationship with Coach (Karl) Hobbs. It’s an opportunity for me to develop and play.”

Indeed, Hobbs recruited and coached Kromah his freshman season at GWU. Hobbs was let go as head coach following the 2010-11 season and joined UConn’s staff.

GWU assistant coach Pete Strickland has coached Kromah the past two seasons.

“He definitely has the ability to score the ball,” Strickland said. “He has a very instinctive ability to get to the rim. He doesn’t really fit a type – he’s not a ‘classic’ anything – he just has a unique ability to get to the rim. He’s got great length to him and a nice nose for the basket.”

Strickland pointed out that Kromah has “plus-four” length – meaning his wingspan is 6-9.

“Defensively, because of his length, he’s kind of disarming,” Strickland said. “He had nine steals in a game (on Dec. 28, 2011, against UAB) that set a school record. He just kind of unfolds. You think you have a pass … now you don’t.”

Kromah whose mother hails from Liberia) insisted he had no ill will towards second-year GWU coach Mike Lonrgan or his staff. He said he doesn't really know any of the current UConn players but met Ryan Boatright, Phil Nolan, Rodney Purvis and a few others during his visit a few weeks ago.