So Jeff Jacobs call out the NBA Alums...

[Palatine]

Outstanding post as always, fleud. Most of our high profile players have been wonderful ambassadors to the program. Look at how active the guys are in charitable events. Look at Ray donating new computer labs to local schools. I know that many are active where they grew up. Caron has done a lot for Wisconsin kids in need. Rip, Kemba, and Mek have done a lot, and these things are far more valuable than giving money to the practice facility.

Truth is, we don't know the truth, cuz we don't have all the facts.

We know some facts. The names are not on the donor board. JC has said they have done enough.

 

[uconnfan68]

Feels that they should ante up en masse to pay the balance of the bill for the Werth Center. He always has an angle.

He was just reading the AP column on espn.com. They brought it up.

 

[mauconnfan]

As I tried to explain on the women's board (yeah I know- why?) who say our men have made a billion dollars in the NBA so where are their names? There's a lot of women hoops player donors so why not our guys?

Just want to know how many of them have put the kinds of time and money into things like juvenile diabetes, heart awareness (Pat and JC), local kids community centers and so many other things we don't even know about. I mean there have been millions and millions spent to support local charities in their own areas growing up as well as for JC, UConn and their own funds.

Everyone would love to see their names up there but there is a reason and no one knows. And we know most of our guys have been more than generous and willing to support JC and now KO in all of their charitable events. Let's not try to guess or even suggest they don't care as much as the women!! That's a joke.........

 

[ctchamps]

He asked Ray about it and the answer was long and convoluted, but what I gathered from it is that Ray and other players took an active role in going to fundraisers, reaching out to boosters, behind-the-scenes stuff. Which is what I think JC preferred they do, although I don't know why he gets to decide this issue.

We know some facts. The names are not on the donor board. JC has said they have done enough.

And this is the answer to those who are puzzled. The players want to respect JC's point of view regarding this matter.

I guess it boils down to whether we agree with JC that the players have done enough or not. We know how much they've made from bb. The question is how much, in monetary terms, has the university gained as a result of their playing in a UConn uniform? A million. Ten's of millions? Hundreds of millions? Shouldn't this be considered as being contributions? If not, why not?

How much has JJ helped the university financially or with PR. It's not even close because there have been several times, including this one, that he's creating negative publicity towards the university and UConn bb.

 

[Robertelamin]

I just find it odd that Steve Pikiell is there but no one else is (I'm not counting KO) from the JC era. Did Steve not get the memo? If Steve wasn't there I could at least rationalize that JC's former players donated anonymously or JC told them all not to donate, now I have no idea. Not that is any of my business anyway but it is just strange.

 

[zls44]

How much has JJ helped the university financially or with PR. It's not even close because there have been several times, including this one, that he's creating negative publicity towards the university and UConn bb.

1. UConn PR isn't JJ's job.
2. In what world is everyone cool with someone possibly discouraging donations to UConn? Specifically, someone who is paid a high salary in a semi-fundraising role? How does that make sense to anyone?

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

Why would they donate to a school that let them sleep hungry at night?!?! Just ask Bazz!

 

[husky8273]

If I was an alumni with NBA loot I surely would be donating a huge ton of money. The thing is I don't have NBA loot, so I (like JJ) can easily say that.

NBA Career earnings for former UConn players

Ray Allen 1997 2014 $184,356,410
Richard Hamilton 2000 2013 $109,166,043
Emeka Okafor 2005 2013 $89,578,416
Ben Gordon 2005 2014 $80,117,019
Caron Butler 2003 2014 $77,125,677
Rudy Gay 2007 2014 $73,499,210
Donyell Marshall 1995 2009 $72,417,867
Clifford Robinson 1990 2007 $61,579,625
Charlie Villanueva 2006 2014 $48,761,810
Travis Knight 1997 2003 $22,622,500
Kevin Ollie 1998 2010 $20,131,418
Hasheem Thabeet 2010 2014 $16,779,840
Jake Voskuhl 2001 2009 $12,321,407
Hilton Armstrong 2007 2014 $9,494,478
Kemba Walker 2012 2014 $7,457,640
Scott Burrell 1994 2001 $7,200,000
Josh Boone 2007 2010 $5,456,088
Andre Drummond 2013 2104 $4,818,720
Marcus Williams 2007 2010 $4,395,789
Jeremy Lamb 2013 2014 $4,131,360
A.J. Price 2010 2014 $2,959,292
Jeff Adrien 2011 2014 $2,333,323
Tate George 1991 1995 $2,073,260
Donny Marshall 1996 2003 $1,190,000
Chris Smith 1993 1995 $825,000
Khalid El-Amin 2001 2001 $782,819

 

[selles]

Not that is any of my business anyway.

This. Best insight in the thread I think.

We'd all be proud to see other names on that list. But it comes off as sanctimonious to criticize other people for not giving away the money they've earned in a manner that pleases you. Lower those horses fellas.

 

[huskyniner]

I think we can count Tate George out as a potential donor.

 

[Kitaman]

NBA Career earnings for former UConn players

Ray Allen 1997 2014 $184,356,410
Richard Hamilton 2000 2013 $109,166,043
Emeka Okafor 2005 2013 $89,578,416
Ben Gordon 2005 2014 $80,117,019
Caron Butler 2003 2014 $77,125,677
Rudy Gay 2007 2014 $73,499,210
Donyell Marshall 1995 2009 $72,417,867
Clifford Robinson 1990 2007 $61,579,625
Charlie Villanueva 2006 2014 $48,761,810
Travis Knight 1997 2003 $22,622,500
Kevin Ollie 1998 2010 $20,131,418
Hasheem Thabeet 2010 2014 $16,779,840
Jake Voskuhl 2001 2009 $12,321,407
Hilton Armstrong 2007 2014 $9,494,478
Kemba Walker 2012 2014 $7,457,640
Scott Burrell 1994 2001 $7,200,000
Josh Boone 2007 2010 $5,456,088
Andre Drummond 2013 2104 $4,818,720
Marcus Williams 2007 2010 $4,395,789
Jeremy Lamb 2013 2014 $4,131,360
A.J. Price 2010 2014 $2,959,292
Jeff Adrien 2011 2014 $2,333,323
Tate George 1991 1995 $2,073,260
Donny Marshall 1996 2003 $1,190,000
Chris Smith 1993 1995 $825,000
Khalid El-Amin 2001 2001 $782,819

Interesting, if you add all that up, it could be used as evidence. For what I don't know but it sure looks incriminating. And there is at least is a couple more million out there with JC and the WNBAers. I almost wish I didn't see this because 1 or 2% of this total is a nice healthy chunk.

I blame Selvie for not passing around a hat.

 

[kjk9183]

I think we can count Tate George out as a potential donor.

If the school give shim the money that has been donated he has promised to double it in 12 months

 

[champs99and04]

If I was a wealthy basketball player who could impact the world in real, meaningful ways with my money, donating to a practice facility - which is the very essence of a first-world luxury, regardless of how much it may help with recruits - would be pretty far down my list. That's not to say people who did donate are misguided in their charitable dispersal of money, just that everybody should be able to give at their own discretion.

Additionally - did we ever think that possibly, one of the reasons these guys haven't donated to the practice facility is because they don't think it's important? They didn't have first-class facilities when they were here, and it didn't stop them from generating millions of dollars of revenue and fulfilling their dreams anyway. I understand the importance of it, but if they don't, it's hard to blame them.

 

[ucjoet]

I have graduated from UConn as have my brother and sister. My son will be graduating from UConn next spring. I have been a basketball season ticket holder from 1985 and a football season ticket holder from 1998. Been to Notre dame , Michigan , Maryland, Army and Charlotte for away football games ( just to name a few) . I named my cat Calhoun.

My point being ( A Calhoun favorite saying) is that I love UConn sports and bleed American Flag blue. But it bothers me to no end that these UConn NBA alumni have not donated back to their university. Make up all the excuses you want ( behind the scenes work, volunteerism, helped in other ways) , to me it is a bunch of BS.

Many people with less means and less ties to the university have stepped up and to have none ( Steve Pikiell excluded) of our past players help is beyond ridiculous.

Unless someone proves that these players have done things behind the scenes or anonymously that make up for this, it is a total embarrassment. Hope I am proven wrong on this.

 

[intlzncster]

I think he has a point, the alum should be at the forefront, and should be ambassadors for the program

They aren't now?

I don't care who pays for the infrastructure as long as the Alumni continue to represent

 

[jleves]

NBA Career earnings for former UConn players

Ray Allen 1997 2014 $184,356,410
Richard Hamilton 2000 2013 $109,166,043
Emeka Okafor 2005 2013 $89,578,416
Ben Gordon 2005 2014 $80,117,019
Caron Butler 2003 2014 $77,125,677
Rudy Gay 2007 2014 $73,499,210
Donyell Marshall 1995 2009 $72,417,867
Clifford Robinson 1990 2007 $61,579,625
Charlie Villanueva 2006 2014 $48,761,810
Travis Knight 1997 2003 $22,622,500
Kevin Ollie 1998 2010 $20,131,418
Hasheem Thabeet 2010 2014 $16,779,840
Jake Voskuhl 2001 2009 $12,321,407
Hilton Armstrong 2007 2014 $9,494,478
Kemba Walker 2012 2014 $7,457,640
Scott Burrell 1994 2001 $7,200,000
Josh Boone 2007 2010 $5,456,088
Andre Drummond 2013 2104 $4,818,720
Marcus Williams 2007 2010 $4,395,789
Jeremy Lamb 2013 2014 $4,131,360
A.J. Price 2010 2014 $2,959,292
Jeff Adrien 2011 2014 $2,333,323
Tate George 1991 1995 $2,073,260
Donny Marshall 1996 2003 $1,190,000
Chris Smith 1993 1995 $825,000
Khalid El-Amin 2001 2001 $782,819

Most surprising thing on that list:
1) Gordon has earned more than Caron, Gay and Donyell - that totally shocked me.

 

[intlzncster]

If I was a wealthy basketball player who could impact the world in real, meaningful ways with my money, donating to a practice facility - which is the very essence of a first-world luxury, regardless of how much it may help with recruits - would be pretty far down my list

Boom.

 

[chapwilvaug72]

keep in mind how many sacrifices these hoopsters have made to put UCONN on the map

their contributions have been worth multimillions to the UCONN cause indirectly

deducting the cost of full boat scholly to each playa; still UCONN could never ever repay them even if endowment > 1 bil some day

UCONN has been very blessed by their appearances: playas and coaches are the reason and only reason UCONN is not thought of by all folks outside storzz as YUKON

ironically; tangible revenue by both hoop progs combined last yr did not come close to 11.1 mil generated by foosballers

N.B. wash dc still has not gotten it; wash post only gazeteer in nation that still writes headlines U-Conn; maybe they could use their massive powers of observation to note the front of hoop jerseys; it says UCONN but you cannot blame them when bone guys don't know correct spelling, cant read the univ letterhead which says UCONN and some bone guys have stated they detest posters who type UCONN when they prefer UConn which according to univ is misnomer

 

[Robertelamin]

Ed Nelson donated his pick up truck i heard.

 

[jleves]

NBA Career earnings for former UConn players

Ray Allen 1997 2014 $184,356,410
Richard Hamilton 2000 2013 $109,166,043
Emeka Okafor 2005 2013 $89,578,416
Ben Gordon 2005 2014 $80,117,019
Caron Butler 2003 2014 $77,125,677
Rudy Gay 2007 2014 $73,499,210
Donyell Marshall 1995 2009 $72,417,867
Clifford Robinson 1990 2007 $61,579,625
Charlie Villanueva 2006 2014 $48,761,810
Travis Knight 1997 2003 $22,622,500
Kevin Ollie 1998 2010 $20,131,418
Hasheem Thabeet 2010 2014 $16,779,840
Jake Voskuhl 2001 2009 $12,321,407
Hilton Armstrong 2007 2014 $9,494,478
Kemba Walker 2012 2014 $7,457,640
Scott Burrell 1994 2001 $7,200,000
Josh Boone 2007 2010 $5,456,088
Andre Drummond 2013 2104 $4,818,720
Marcus Williams 2007 2010 $4,395,789
Jeremy Lamb 2013 2014 $4,131,360
A.J. Price 2010 2014 $2,959,292
Jeff Adrien 2011 2014 $2,333,323
Tate George 1991 1995 $2,073,260
Donny Marshall 1996 2003 $1,190,000
Chris Smith 1993 1995 $825,000
Khalid El-Amin 2001 2001 $782,819

For the record, that's a total of $921,575,011.
An average of $35,445,193 per player (26).
We are about 2 years away from going over a Billion dollars earned by UConn players in the NBA.

 

[husky8273]

For the record, that's a total of $921,575,011.
An average of $35,445,193 per player (26).
We are about 2 years away from going over a Billion dollars earned by UConn players in the NBA.

Don't overlook that many players on and off this list had lucrative careers overseas.

What is most surprising is that not even an independent few of these alumni have stepped up. Wasn't Jake announced as the liaison to the men's alumni to generate donations? The fact no one except for Donyell's $100,000 to the library years ago has stepped up suggests a concerted decision not to do so.

 

[David 76]

Did JC donate? This really may stem from his opinion but I don't get it.

I give to various things and it I still donate a little to UCONN. I think it is great our stars have charitable causes they donate to, but I don't see where that precludes a donation to their Alma Mater.
Some are quick to defend, w/o any facts.
But it is a legitimate question.
I know some helped raise funds. When I have done that for various causes, I always felt I would have been bogus asking others to give money if I hadn't

 

[mauconnfan]

Did JC donate? This really may stem from his opinion but I don't get it.

I give to various things and it I still donate a little to UCONN. I think it is great our stars have charitable causes they donate to, but I don't see where that precludes a donation to their Alma Mater.
Some are quick to defend, w/o any facts.
But it is a legitimate question.
I know some helped raise funds. When I have done that for various causes, I always felt I would have been bogus asking others to give money if I hadn't

And I can see some are here to throw stones without any facts either!..........I think it's been fairly obvious to all of us over the years you can be very supportive to UConn basketball and it's surroundings/family without directly dropping a mil on the basketball center. Unless someone tells me otherwise I like our guys and view them as very thoughtful and proud. This sudden need to throw daggers amazes me!

 

[intlzncster]

Did JC donate? This really may stem from his opinion but I don't get it.

I give to various things and it I still donate a little to UCONN. I think it is great our stars have charitable causes they donate to, but I don't see where that precludes a donation to their Alma Mater.
Some are quick to defend, w/o any facts.
But it is a legitimate question.
I know some helped raise funds. When I have done that for various causes, I always felt I would have been bogus asking others to give money if I hadn't

JC gave probably 10 years of his natural life to UCONN.

Then again, knowing JC, he'll likely live to 100.

 

[superjohn]

There is a lot to get on Jeff Jacobs case about but this isn't one of them. It's weird, nobody knows what's going on and it's now time to move along.