Future Husky Ahmad Nowell takes in the celebration at Gampel

— Future Husky guard Ahmad Nowell received a standing ovation from the Gampel Pavilion crowd when introduced during a timeout in Sunday’s game.

Then Nowell went back to his seat behind the UConn bench and watched the Huskies beat Seton Hall by 30 and clinch the program’s first Big East regular season title since 1999.

Nowell made the trip to Storrs with family and friends, including mom Teneka Greer and Tasheed Carter, whom he called his father figure.

He’s enjoying watching UConn’s success.

“It’s been very exciting just to see this program continue to be great and build their legacy,” Nowell said. “Just to be able to go into March with high energy for March Madness.”

A 6-foot guard and top 30 recruit, Nowell is having a terrific season for Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia. He’s averaging 22 points, six rebounds and four assists for the 26-3 Panthers, who’ll play a state tournament game on Friday.

Nowell hopes to lead his high school team to a state title.

He certainly had a more enjoyable experience on Sunday than while attending his previous UConn game. He was at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Dec. 20, for a 75-60 loss to Seton Hall.

Wherever he watches the Huskies play, he thinks about how he’ll fit in. He’s expected to compete for a starting backcourt spot next season.

“I always know that Dan Hurley is going to put something great together depending on the point guards and the players that he’s got, so I’m not really worried,” Nowell said. “I know he’s going to do a good job with me and I’m just going to play my role and be the best player that I can be for us.”

Nowell is part of an incoming class that also includes 6-7 forward Isaiah Abraham, who plays for Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Va.

He’s worked hard on his game over the winter.

“I feel like I improved a lot just on my point guard skills and just being a real one-guard this year … Just being able to come out this year and really be one dominant, so taking responsibility for all my other players’ actions and just getting ready for Dan Hurley intenseness.”

So why did Nowell want to play for a demanding coach like Hurley?

“I just know how bad he works on winning and how much he wants to win and how great of a coach he is,” Nowell said. “We both have that mentality, just winning first. I feel like that’s why we both connect. Before the relationship, I knew we had the mindset of just winning.”

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