Nahiem Alleyne, the senior guard for UConn, has been an integral part of the team’s success this season. Despite facing adversity earlier in the year, Alleyne’s confidence is now higher than ever, and he has thrived in his role off the bench. His routine includes prayer, which has helped him balance adversity while maintaining the confidence that has gotten him this far. Alleyne’s advice to younger players in the locker room is simple: « just go out there and have fun, never lose that joy. »
Alleyne has also picked up a thing or two during his time in Storrs. One of his goals for the season was to break out of his shell and become more vocal. He has learned from his teammates, including Andre Jackson, who helped him become more aggressive on the court. Alleyne has also received advice from legendary coach Jim Calhoun and NBA all-star CJ McCollum. McCollum advised Alleyne to « remember who you are as a person. That’s gonna take you to the court. »
As UConn heads into the biggest weekend of Alleyne’s career, he is taking the opportunity to soak it all in and continue to prepare for when his name is called upon once more. With the opportunity to bring another trophy home to Storrs, Alleyne is ready to contribute that spark off the bench UConn has needed. The team’s depth has been integral to their success during the tournament, and Alleyne has played a huge role in that success.
Keywords: Nahiem Alleyne, UConn, basketball, confidence, prayer, adversity, bench, advice, CJ McCollum, Jim Calhoun.