Ryan Boatright wore his UConn jersey with pride for four years, playing hard every time he took the floor -- with the scars to prove it.

On Thursday night, he'll put that jersey on one last time.

Boatright will compete in a 3-point shooting contest, as part of Final Four week's festivities. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN at 7 p.m. on Thursday from Butler University in Indianapolis.

"He was debating on if he should do this," Boatright's mom, Tanesha, said by phone on Tuesday night. "Then he was like, 'This is my last time putting on my Husky jersey. I've gotta try to represent one more time.'"

Boatright, of course, was in street clothes for UConn's season-ending loss to Arizona State in the NIT a couple of weeks ago. He had hurt his shoulder in the Huskies' AAC championship game loss to SMU a few days before.

He's still rehabbing the shoulder, and while he wasn't prepared to play in the college all-star game this week in Indianapolis, his shoulder is good enough to shoot.

"If somebody would've asked me a year ago, I would've said he'd be in the dunk contest," Tanesha said with a laugh.

Tanesha, her parents and Ryan's brothers and sisters are planning to make the drive down from Aurora, Illinois to watch Ryan compete. (And if you're wondering how Ryan is getting there despite Gov. Malloy's travel ban to Indiana, his flight and expenses are paid for by Intersport, the event's sponsor, and not with state funds).

"He gets to put on that Husky jersey one more time," she said. "He's walking away at peace, and enjoying it more than having to watch it from the sideline. I told him, 'I know you always compete to win, but as a mom, I'll just love to see you compete with a smile.'"

After that, Ryan Boatright, who hasn't hired an agent yet, will focus on finishing up his classwork and preparing for his dream of the NBA. It'll be a tough road, and both he and his mother know it. The other night, Tanesha was on the phone with Shabazz Napier's mom, Carmen Velasquez, when Carmen put Shabazz on the phone.

"It's a process," Napier said of the NBA draft workout circuit. "People don't really understand until they get into it."

At least the Boatrights have a great "family" to go to for advice.

"I'm just thankful to have all the family -- Andre Drummond's mom, Kemba's mom Angela, Carmen, we're all like sisters -- for real," Tanesha said.

My game story from UConn's overtime win over South Florida today was essentially a mini-feature story on Shabazz Napier, who continues to show Kemba-like clutchness. Shabazz had some interesting things to say about how he's always felt comfortable in the proverbial "big spot."



And here's an OK write-up on the game from the Tampa Bay Times.

*** As for Kevin Ollie, it was basically Groundhog Day, a day later. Whether its being outrebounded by 31 on Thursday at Providence or scoring just 15 first-half points on Sunday, the Huskies found a way to win. In overtime. Again.



*** Meanwhile, here's a few quotes from Carmen Velasquez (Shabazz's mom) after watching her son pull off yet another clutch performance.

"It’s just in him, I don’t know. It’s a blessing. He’s always been like that, even in high school.”

(where does he get it from?)

“Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you … his older brother (Timmy Barrows) was good at those 3’s from far away, so maybe that’s where he picked it up from.”

(is Napier French for Walker (jokingly)?)

"It's his father's name, I don't know ... I don’t think his father had any French in him.”

(on Napier's terrific junior season)

“He’s loving every bit of it, and so am I. I lost my voice at the Providence game.”

(so does that mean Napier will be coming back for his senior year?)
“I leave it all up to him. Whatever he decides, at the end of the day, it’s not my choice or his choice, it’s God’s choice. Whatever God has planned for him, that’s what it’ll be. To stay here another year or two or test the water, we’ll just have to wait (until he makes that decision).”

*** Finally, Napier was named Big East player of the week after leading the Huskies to consecutive overtime wins. He averaged 21 points, five boards, 3.5 assists and two steals in those games while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor (11-for-19) and 61 percent from 3-point land (8-for-13).