Sam Cassell, Jr. and Daniel Hamilton have signed agreements to attend UConn beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the school announced.
Cassell Jr. reportedly signed a National Letter of Intent, while Hamilton opted not to sign an NLI in part because of what his brother, Isaac, went through at UTEP. He signed financial aid papers.
Cassell, a 6-4, 195-pound guard out of Baltimore, is the son of 15-year NBA player Sam Cassell, who is currently and assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. The elder Cassell was teammates with Ollie on the 2002-03 Milwaukee Bucks.
Hamilton, a 6-7 guard/forward from Los Angeles, also has family ties to the NBA with older brother Jordan currently playing for the Denver Nuggets.
“I’m very pleased and excited to have these two young men joining our basketball program,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. “They are excellent players and more importantly, high-character people. I expect both Sam and Daniel to do great things at the University of Connecticut.”
Cassell is currently attending Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., for the second year. He redshirted last season but is on the roster this season. In three games, Cassell is averaging 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. He will have three years of eligibility at UConn after enrolling next fall.
“Sam is just an outstanding guard who can do a number of different things on the basketball court,” Ollie said. “He brings a level of maturity after two years in junior college. He’ll be a great addition to our team, especially with his experience.”
Hamilton is a senior at St. John Bosco High in Los Angeles. He is ranked among the top 25 players in the country by most recruiting services. Last season, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists for Bosco.
“Daniel is just full of versatility,” Ollie said. “He’s 6-7 and can do everything. He can play 1, 2, 3 and 4 …just an exceptional basketball player. It’s always great to have a West Coast guy come to the East Coast.”
