Huskies pick up transfer guard

Former University of San Diego guard Joey Calcaterra announced via social media on Monday that he is transferring to the Uconn men’s basketball team.

The graduate transfer will join Andre Jackson, Andrew Hurley, Jordan

Hawkins, Texas A&M transfer Hassan Diarra, East Carolina transfer Tristen Newton and Virginia Tech transfer Nahiem Alleyne as the guards on the roster.

Calcaterra averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the 2021-22 season and will have one year of eligibility left. He’s a guard primarily known for his shooting as he shot 41.6% from 3 in his four playing seasons with the Toreros.

Calcaterra feels he can bring quite a bit to the program.

“I bring a lot more than just being a shooter,” he said. “I bring five years of Division I experience at a mid-major level. I bring leadership, talk and 100 percent effort every day. I am just a hard worker that is going to do whatever to help my team succeed.”

Ultimately, the opportunity on the court and the history drove Calcaterra to Uconn.

“I felt like Uconn was the best fit for my game coming into this last year,” he said. “It’s a historic, winning program that has established itself on the highest level. Coach [Dan] Hurley and his

staff really sold me on it. I felt like it was a place where I could help an already great team and come in and help them even more.”

The Huskies had eight players leave the roster from the 2021-22 team. Isaiah Whaley and forward Tyler Polley exhausted their eligibility, while guards R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin turned pro.

Uconn also had four players enter the NCAA transfer portal. Forward

Akok Akok transferred to Georgetown, guard Rahsool Diggins to Umass, guard Jalen Gaffney left for Florida Atlantic and guard Corey Floyd Jr. went to Providence.

With the addition of Calcaterra, Uconn has two scholarship spots left.