Cam Spencer Transfer: Exploring Real Reason Behind 23YO Star Joining UConn

Back in June this year, the news of Cam Spencer leaving behind his guarding days for Rutgers started coming in. He found a new home by transferring to the defending national champs, the UConn. The 6’4 guard played a total of 3 seasons at Loyola Maryland, following which he moved to Rutgers last season. Spencer managed to shoot 43.4 per cent from a 3-point range for the Knights.

But with one year of his eligibility still remaining, why did the 3-point threat, Spencer choose the Huskies over Miami, UCLA, and Oklahoma? Let’s find out.

The real reason behind Cam Spencer’s transfer

In UConn’s men’s basketball team, Cam Spencer is emerging as their perfect addition. He’s is their leading scorer and the leading shooter; plus he’s also emerging as a gradual leader for the Huskies. He literally chose the team and got himself transferred. But why would he do that? Well, the real reason’s out.

A Towson transfer, Nick Timberlake was all set to step into the UConn basketball team. Everything was signed and sealed and about to kick-start. A 3-point sharpshooter was an outside threat that Dan Hurley was looking forward to when it came to Jordan Hawkins, Nahiem Alleyne, and Joey Calcaterra’s departure.

Hurley even issued statements like “I think we go into the portal looking for very specific roles“. But when things got real, Timberlake fled away. He did not stop. He committed himself to Bill Self in Kansas. People thought it was rumours, but it was not. He really left the Huskier alone and hanging. This is when Spencer came into the picture.

He just grabbed the opportunity as soon as it came his way. If it were not for another player’s last-minute exit, Spencer wouldn’t be here at UConn. He would probably be representing another program today. It all turned out to be great, though!

In an interview with a college basketball insider in September, Spencer stated, “It was a great fit from the first call, we spoke early”. He further added, “The assistants, we just meshed well, very blue-collar people, competitive people like myself. Really just meshed very well, it was a perfect fit for me.”

Showing his winning spirit, Spencer also added the following words, “I’m here to do whatever it takes to help the team win on both ends of the floor. I’m really just happy with the coaches and all the guys on the team so far. I can’t wait to get the season started.”

Spencer’s basketball run before Uconn

Spencer began his collegiate career with the Loyola Greyhounds. He averaged 10 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games before sustaining a hip injury, earning him a berth on the National League All-Freshman team. He missed the majority of his second season due to a hip ailment. After making a return, he averaged 10.2 points per game in the final five games of the season. Spencer registered for the NCAA transfer site after the season.

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Eventually, Spencer went to Rutgers, but Minnesota and NC State were also interested in him. He started with the Scarlet Knights as a guard going into the 2022–23 season. At the end of the season, he averaged 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.

Following the season, Spencer decided to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility provided by the coronavirus pandemic for collegiate athletes who competed in the 2020 season. He accomplished this by logging in a second time to the NCAA transfer website.

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