Connecticut News, Matt Whitfield, NBA Notes

‘GOOD RUN’ AT UCONN FOR A.J. PRICE

A.J. Price looks toward NBA Draft after event-filled UConn career

A.J. Price had a career, and then some, in his five years as part of the Connecticut basketball program. Price game to Storrs as a highly touted recruit from Amityville (NY) in the class of 2004. Expected to play a big role right from the start, Price’s career, and life, was nearly cut short. Price was hospitalized in October of his freshman season when a life-threatening condition, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a defect of the circulatory system, caused bleeding in his brain.

After weeks in the hospital, Price would return to school at UConn but he nearly tossed away his basketball future that June when he was suspended for the 2005-06 academic year for his involvement in an on-campus incident involving stolen laptops.

Price would make his long-awaited college debut for the Huskies in November of 2006, scoring 12 points in a over Central Arkansas. However, the 2006-2007 season was another trying experience for Price and UConn as he struggled with the rist of two seasons away from game activity and the events that occurred. UConn would miss the postseason altogether as they slumped down the stretch.

Price hit his stride the following year, leading UConn to near the top of the Big East standings and becoming a 1st team All-Big East selection, but the bad luck continued, just nine minutes into his first NCAA Tournament game, Price would tear his ACL, UConn would lose and he seemed destined for a cursed college basketball career.

However, persistence and hard work had Price back on the court to open his senior season just eight months after knee surgery. Again, rust and emotional baggage had to be removed, once it did, Price helped lead the Huskies to the Final Four and ended his career with nearly 1,300 points and 465 assists in his 99 career games.

As Price was home last month taking in some action at the IS8 Spring League and preparing for the NBA Draft, Matt Whitfield of the NBE Basketaball Report caught up with the former UConn player to get a quick retrospect of the 2008-2009 season, his career and a look into the future…

Matt Whitfield (MW): What did you think about this past season?

AJ Price (AJ): It was a good season. I think we improved a lot as a team and team and just came up a little short.

MW: How crushing was that last lost to Michigan State?

AJ: You know it hurt, being that we didn’t play our best game so that was the most disappointing part about it.

MW: What did Coach Calhoun say to you guys afterwards?

AJ: He told us to keep our head high and to continue to keep working hard. And for the seniors we got to continue that work ethic that got us there and for the guys coming back they try and get back there next year.

MW: What did you think about your four years at UCONN?

AJ: It was a good run. It was fun, I’ll remember it.

MW: What was the best thing about playing at UCONN?

AJ: Just the fan base, wherever we went home or on the road we had a fan base we had a following and just wearing that jersey.

MW: What’s your greatest basketball memory?

AJ: Just making it to the Final Four.

MW: Your going to the NBA Draft obviously, what round do expect to get picked in?

AJ: I don’t know you know. We’ll see.

MW: Do you a favorite team you’d like to play for?

AJ: It doesn’t matter

MW: What have you been working on hard for the NBA?

AJ: Just doing everything, trying to get myself in the best shape possible.

The entire staff at the NBE Basketaball Report wishes AJ Price the best of uck in his future, on and off the court!!

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