Fansided

2014 NBA Draft Rumors: UConn’s DeAndre Daniels stock is rising

By Andrew Melnick

Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward DeAndre Daniels (2) celebrates after defeating Florida Gators 63-53 in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward DeAndre Daniels (2) celebrates after defeating Florida Gators 63-53 in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward DeAndre Daniels (2) celebrates after defeating Florida Gators 63-53 in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward DeAndre Daniels (2) celebrates after defeating Florida Gators 63-53 in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Connecticut Huskies’ forward DeAndre Daniels picked a good time to have one of the best games of his career.

The 6’9, 195-pound junior scored scored 20 points on nine-of-14 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the seventh seeded Huskies to a 63-53 win over the top overall seed, the Florida Gators in the Final Four on Saturday night.

By winning the national semifinal, the Huskies set up a showdown with the eighth seeded Kentucky Wildcats, who took down the second seeded Wisconsin Badgers 74-73 in the late game Saturday, on Monday night with the National Title on the line.

Scouts have taken notice of Daniels and his draft stock is on the rise.

What is the reason for his improved play?

His former coach told him to “be a son of a bitch.”

“He was a top 20 player in high school. One of the nicest kids I’ve ever met in my life. I told him he should be more like his coach, ex-coach,” Jim Calhoun told SNY.tv. “Be a son of a bitch on the court, and he’s being that way.”

Daniels averaged 13.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during the season and is averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during the tournament.

Home/NBA