{"id":110572,"date":"2016-03-18T13:39:09","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T17:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=110572"},"modified":"2016-03-18T13:39:09","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T17:39:09","slug":"former-husky-caron-butler-makes-gift-to-basketball-champions-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2016\/03\/former-husky-caron-butler-makes-gift-to-basketball-champions-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Husky Caron Butler Makes Gift to Basketball Champions Center"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Between<\/a>
Between 2000 and 2002, Caron Butler earned All-American honors, was the Big East Conference Player of the Year and the Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2001-02, and led the Huskies to the NCAA Elite Eight. (UConn Athletic Communications Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former UConn men\u2019s basketball All-American Caron Butler and his wife Andrea have made a gift in support of the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Caron Butler earned All-American honors and was the Big East Conference Player of the Year and the Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2001-02, and led the Huskies to the NCAA Elite Eight. After that season, Butler was an NBA Draft lottery selection, with the 10th pick by the Miami Heat. He is a two-time NBA All-Star, 2011 NBA Champion as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, and is in his 14th season in the NBA, currently as a member of the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n

Butler returned to campus in February and was inducted as a member of the Huskies of Honor<\/a>, which recognizes great players in UConn history.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrea and I met at UConn, and it has always held a special place in our hearts,\u201d says Butler. \u201cBeing recognized in the Huskies of Honor event brought back so many incredible memories and emotions. Coach Jim Calhoun and all the coaches \u2013 Karl Hobbs, Dave Leitao, George Blaney, and Tom Moore \u2013 have played a critical role in my life, and Andrea and I are blessed to be able to give back in this small way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are extremely grateful to Caron and Andrea for their support,\u201d said Joshua Newton, president and CEO of the UConn Foundation. \u201cWe have raised more than $33.5 million in private support toward this project, with another $3.5 million needed to complete it. Caron and Andrea\u2019s commitment is meaningful as we work to complete the fundraising for the Center, and hopefully provides an example that others will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Basketball Champions Center is the first building at UConn financed entirely by private donations.<\/p>\n

\"Former<\/a>
UConn Men’s Basketball standout Caron Butler was drafted to the NBA as a lottery pick after the 2001-2002 season, and is still pursuing a career in professional basketball. (UConn Athletic Communications Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Butler, whose gift amount remains private, hopes his act of giving inspires others. \u201cI want everyone who values UConn and its student-athletes to understand that every<\/em> gift matters, small or large,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time a former student-athlete makes a gift we are grateful, as it shows how much UConn still means to them,\u201d says Rachel Rubin, interim director of athletics. \u201cWe truly appreciate Caron and Andrea\u2019s commitment to the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Butler\u2019s Husky pride runs deep. He recently said he is \u201celated that UConn has been loyal to the Husky Brotherhood\u201d by hiring former UConn and NBA player Kevin Ollie as head coach of the men\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

The 75,000-plus square-foot Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center facility features two separate wings for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball programs. It includes common areas for academic support, sports medicine, and strength training areas, as well as separate practice gyms, locker rooms, coaches\u2019 offices, meeting rooms, and video analysis theaters.<\/p>\n