UConn is probably the only program in the nation with two former walk-ons now on scholarship who are also molecular cell biology majors.

Junior Nnamdi Amilo of New Fairfield, who spent last season as a walk-on player, has been awarded a scholarship for the 2014-15 season, men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie announced Monday. He joins Cheshire's Pat Lenehan, a walk-on the past two seasons who was granted a scholarship by Ollie a couple of months ago.

Amilo, a 6-2, 225-pound forward, saw action in two games last season, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds. His work against the UConn big men daily in practice, however, proved invaluable as the Huskies prepared for games on their way to the 2014 national championship.

"Nnamdi is a terrific young man who we're proud to have as part of our family," Ollie said. "He's a hard worker on the court, doing whatever we need him to do to make his teammates better, he's an outstanding student in the classroom, and he's a young man of the highest character. I'm very happy to be able to give him a scholarship."

Like Lenehan, Amilo is a molecular cell biology major with plans of a career in medicine. He is also a resident adviser on the Storrs campus. He graduated from Avon Old Farms in 2012 as the top scholar in his class and a member of the Cum Laude Society. Amilo played three years of varsity basketball at Avon, under coach Tim Roller.

Amilo, Lenehan, Omar Calhoun and Leon Tolksdorf were recently selected to the American Athletic Conference's All-Academic Team for men's basketball. Tolksdorf has transferred to American University.

Amilo's scholarship bring the total number of scholarship players on the 2014-15 Huskies to 12.