On NBA Draft night, Rutgers had a reason to celebrate as basketball players around the world saw their NBA dreams come true. The program’s all-time leader in steals, Caleb McConnell, signed an NBA Exhibit-10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum-salary NBA deal that allows the franchise to convert the contract to a two-way contract if that change is made before the start of the regular season.
While it was a night McConnell will never forget, his accomplishment is big for the program. McConnell became the second NBA signee during the Steve Pikiell era following in Ron Harper Jr.’s footsteps. Last year he signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors.
The @espn College Gameday Defensive Player of the Year, Caleb McConnell.🔥
(@CollegeGameDay)#TheKnighthood🛡️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/FdGH5Lguth
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) March 4, 2023
During his time as a Scarlet Knight, McConnell set a new program record in steals with 221. The Jacksonville native also scored 972 points and started 92 of the 142 games he played in. On a nightly basis, he created headaches for opponents and was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten.
Additionally, McConnell became the first player in program history to win the national defensive player of the year award twice. He was also a top-4 finalist for the 2022-23 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award. His 2.56 steals per game last year was the sixth most in the nation and first in the Big Ten Conference.
Caleb McConnell – Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/pFhpeR7VGh
— Pete Winter (@pwinter7) March 8, 2022
In McConnell, the Thunder are getting a player who can score and loves getting under his opponent’s skin. During his college career, McConnell’s specialty was creating turnovers which any NBA team will benefit from. Many in Piscataway will now closely watch the Thunder as Rutgers basketball fans cheer for his success.
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