{"id":20580,"date":"2023-10-14T01:27:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T00:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.courant.com\/?p=5922556"},"modified":"2023-10-17T10:55:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T09:55:25","slug":"as-he-signs-deal-with-lakers-g-league-team-uconns-joey-calcaterra-says-hes-got-plenty-left-in-the-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/14\/as-he-signs-deal-with-lakers-g-league-team-uconns-joey-calcaterra-says-hes-got-plenty-left-in-the-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"As he signs deal with Lakers G-League team, UConn\u2019s Joey Calcaterra says he\u2019s got plenty left in the tank"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were a few celebration barbecues around Marin County, California, when former UConn guard Joey Calcaterra<\/a> returned home last spring.<\/p>\n

His one-year mission, to go play basketball on the opposite side of the country, to prove himself capable of competing at college\u2019s highest level, couldn\u2019t have been more successful. In the months since cutting down the nets in Houston he\u2019s spent time hanging at home with his family, hosting camps for local kids and getting back to his former high school, Marin Catholic<\/a>, to work out.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could tell within the community how much it meant and I was just so happy to be able to put Marin County on the map like that and just bring the national championship home,\u201d he told The Courant. \u201cWe\u2019ve been enjoying the season and reminiscing but I\u2019ve been staying active, staying ready, working out every day. Just staying prepared for whatever opportunity comes next for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calcaterra had been in talks with a few G League teams \u2013 one of which was the Santa Cruz Warriors<\/a>, Golden State’s affiliate, who he worked out with five times over a span of two weeks this summer.<\/p>\n

He finalized a deal with the South Bay Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers’ G League team, on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people would think that I\u2019d give it up right now but I\u2019ve still got a lot left in the tank,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve got a lot more to prove myself and it\u2019s always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA, so we\u2019ll see. I\u2019ve still got the dream and I\u2019m still chasing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Connecticut
Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley celebrates with guard Joey Calcaterra during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game against Miami in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That was part of the goal in transferring to spend his graduate year at UConn \u2013 to join one of college basketball\u2019s biggest brands and put himself in the best position to get to the next level.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely gave me that higher platform to showcase my game and prove to these teams that I could compete, hang at that level. But I definitely think my (four years) at San Diego really helped a lot too,\u201d he said. \u201cI think I had a pretty solid college career, obviously winning a national championship at UConn is only going to help. But I\u2019m grateful for both situations and wouldn\u2019t be the player I am today without San Diego or UConn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calcaterra\u2019s cool, confident, West Coast vibe made him one of the greatest connectors in the locker room and, with the nickname \u201cJoey California\u201d coined by coach Dan Hurley, quickly extended outside of it as well.<\/p>\n

His minutes nearly cut in half when he made the move from San Diego, Calcaterra averaged 5.8 points in 14.5 minutes per game off the bench with the Huskies. He took about three 3-pointers per game, converting on a career-high (and a team-high) 44.6% of them.<\/p>\n

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Up close view of @JoeyCalcaterra2<\/a> Wow. https:\/\/t.co\/tiy9MmzBF2<\/a><\/p>\n

— Marin Catholic (@marincatholic) December 23, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n