Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is in his freshman year as a Forward for the UConn Huskies. His interest in basketball started at around age nine while spending time at the local community center. “I had nothing else to do but play basketball so I just became interested in.”

“Winning the National Championship in high school last year (at Tilton Prep School in New Hampshire) has been the greatest experience so far.” Jamal and his high school teammate Alex Oriahki (also UConn freshman) have been teammates and roommates for three years at prep school. Now they’ll continue that on- and off-the-court friendship, as they begin their freshman years at UConn.

Jamal’s decision to come to UConn was made when he was beginning his sophomore year of high school. He and Alex are the youngest players during the Coach Calhoun era to have made their college commitment to UConn prior to starting their sophomore year in high school. “It wasn’t a difficult decision; I knew Coach Calhoun was a Hall of Fame coach. He has sent a lot of players to the pros, and UConn is close to home so my family can come to my games. It’s a New England school, and I’m from New England near Boston, Massachusetts”.

Jamal has already found that the players in college are a lot taller and stronger, and the work is much harder realizing early on he must have good time management skills to fit everything in. “It’s been fun so far. There is a lot more freedom so you just have to know how to deal with it. So far I’m doing well.”

Final Four Bound: “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and defense to get back to the Final Four this year.” Jamal feels that he is on a great team and that it’s going to be a great year.