Calhoun: Retire Allen’s number

CROMWELL — In a little more than two months, Ray Allen will receive the ultimate honor for anyone who’s ever picked up a basketball and knocked down a 3-pointer.

Allen will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — the first former UConn men’s player to be so feted.

“It’s certainly a day I’m looking forward to,” Allen said on his way from the putting green to the first tee on Wednesday at the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am at TPC River Highlands.

At some point after that — perhaps even this upcoming season — Allen could be honored in a way no other UConn player has yet been honored. Allen’s No. 34, along with the No. 50 worn by Rebecca Lobo, a 2017 inductee, could be raised to the Gampel Pavilion rafters and officially be retired, never to be used by another Husky player.

“I think we should (do that), besides the banners up there, for he and Rebecca, particularly,” said Jim Calhoun, a Hall of Famer himself. “Geno and I are sort of afterthoughts in that regard. But, get a place on the wall.”

The numbers of Allen, Lobo and dozens of other former UConn players already hang on the Gampel wall in the Huskies of Honor. But the numbers aren’t retired. Calhoun believes there should be a particular space on the wall for all UConn players who’ve been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

“We’ll probably have five or six more women,” he noted. “Rip (Hamilton) still has a chance, he was on the ballot last time. Depending where Kemba (Walker) goes, he’ll possibly have a chance. That honor is so special, we should have something at the school.”

According to a school spokesman, there have been preliminary talks about honoring Allen in such a way. But nothing is close to concrete at this point.

Following his round on Wednesday, in which his group (pro Charley Hoffman, ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman and NHL player Ron Hainsey) shot an 11-under 59, Allen said he’d be honored if UConn decided to retire his number.

“That’s totally up to the

university,” he said. “I’ve not had my jersey retired anywhere I’ve played. It’s all about what you’ve done, what you mean to them and how they feel about you. So, that would be a call on their behalf.”

Allen will be one of 13 members of the Class of 2018, including Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Grant Hill, who’ll be inducted on Sept. 7 in Springfield, Mass. He said he hasn’t thought a whole lot about it yet.

“It’s hard to really think anything, because it’s not something you’ve ever thought about or a situation you’ve put yourself in in your mind,” Allen said. “I’ve been there for past inductions. Even when I sat there, I never thought one day this is gonna be me. Because it just seems otherworldly to be able to be counted in that class, amidst these great, legendary Hall of Famers. Just like anything else I’ve done in my life, I’m just thankful for the journeys I’ve been able to go on, the people I’ve been able to meet. When you get to that next level, you soak it in, have a good time, enjoy yourself and bring people with you.”

He said he has yet to decide who will induct him. Could it be Calhoun?

“We’ve talked a little bit about it,” Calhoun noted. “I was there when he was announced, I was there in San Antonio with him the morning that he spoke. I’ll be there during the ceremonies, I’m just so proud. We haven’t really talked about that, though. I don’t think it’s necessarily the two of us.”