
Minnesota basketball legend Khalid El-Amin to coach St. Thomas Academy
A Minnesota high school basketball icon and former University of Connecticut star has been tapped to coach St. Thomas Academy's basketball program.

I wish him the best. Doubtful he ever coaches a kid as good as he was. How about that, Boat and KEA sightings on the same day.
We had many great players that didn't get it done before KEA. He was the difference maker. I still remember him breaking ankles without putting the ball on the floor. That can't be taught!Ok this is a controversial topic but.... best personality in the Calhoun era? Loved Khalid's moxy.
Minnesota.Is this St. Thomas More, or some other school, as in, is Khalid coaching in Connecticut?
When I read we recruited a 5'10", 210 or 220 pound, point guard my first thought was the story must have factual errors.We had many great players that didn't get it done before KEA. He was the difference maker. I still remember him breaking ankles without putting the ball on the floor. That can't be taught!
He was one of our highest-rated recruits ever, though.When I read we recruited a 5'10", 210 or 220 pound, point guard my first thought was the story must have factual errors.
Then it got more interesting when it mentioned how he took over at a workout or practice session with the team while on his visit.
And then we saw him in the first exhibition game and decided Calhoun wasn't out of his mind and we had the guy we needed.
He was a very highly ranked recruit and a McDonald's All American so the spotlight was on him and most knew what he was about before he got to UConn.When I read we recruited a 5'10", 210 or 220 pound, point guard my first thought was the story must have factual errors.
Then it got more interesting when it mentioned how he took over at a workout or practice session with the team while on his visit.
And then we saw him in the first exhibition game and decided Calhoun wasn't out of his mind and we had the guy we needed.
I've written some of what follows before, but always from a different point of view, and likely in a different relationship with time.Khalid had it and Calhoun knew it. Verballed to Minnesota the year before but rescinded and Calhoun swooped in and got his man. 99 was awesome obviously winning the championship but 98 was great also seeing that young team grow stronger by the game and took the tar heels in North Carolina to take them out. Great scene jumping on the scorers table in Pittsburgh after that great finish and just totally deflating the whole building and just broke there hearts.
He hit the game winning shot against st Thomas in 1996 state championship
I dunno if that's the move when the coach hauls you down. I'll go with "We shocked the world!"Did he jump on the scorer's table as the post game melee was starting? If so, signature move!
And now he’s our hope for ‘sool’s compA few years after he played, I talked to an opposition college coach, who use to do the scouting report on UConn. The coach said there usually is a prototype you can point to in how to stop a certain type of player. However, with Khalid there was no template to use. He was that unique and a difference maker player.
One of the team managers was charged by Coach Calhoun with the responsibility of getting Khalid to practice on-time. They had various team rules about getting to practice on time and restrictions regarding game minutes. The running joke in some quarters was the manager should be in the running for team MVP - LOLI still get goosebumps thinking back on the first time I saw him play. I finagled student season tickets (and a new ID sticker) for several seasons after I graduated law school--summer associates are good for something!--and my seats were in the last row behind the basket, which I loved because I could stand the entire time and have plenty of room.
Pretty sure it was the Yale game his freshman year. As soon as I saw him I elbowed my buddy and said "He's the x-factor; he's what we've been missing."
Granted, I thought the same about Cupp Cormier (RIP) several years earlier and obviously missed the mark there...
In any event, Khalid is and always will be my favorite Husky.