Polley opts for a 5th season at UConn
Apr. 14—Tyler Polley will be returning to the UConn men's basketball team for a fifth season of play.
That is, unless the NBA decides it has a strong interest in the 6-foot-9 forward right now.
UConn announced Wednesday that Polley, a senior who has competed for four years with the Huskies, will take advantage of the NCAA's one-time, pandemic-based exception that allows athletes an extra season of eligibility. But the school also revealed that the Miramar, Florida, native will submit his name into the NBA Draft.
The latter move is primarily intended for Polley to get feedback from the league about his draft prospects, though there is a chance he leaves UConn this summer anyway.
Wednesday's announcement does make it clear that Polley won't be a graduate transfer, the path two of his teammates, Josh Carlton and Brendan Adams, opted for last month.
Polley joins Isaiah Whaley, another graduating UConn senior, who plans to return to play for coach Dan Hurley for one more year.
The Big East's Sixth Man of the Year for the 2020-21 season, Polley played in 22 of UConn's 23 games this season and averaged 7.5 points.
"Tyler has been a big part of the progress we've made over the last three years," Hurley said in a statement released by the school. "Like Isaiah (Whaley), he is a UConn man who has been with us from the start and wants to finish what he started.
"And like Isaiah, Tyler's experience and his leadership, as well as his shooting and versatility on the court, are invaluable to us as we continue to rebuild this program."
Polley's biggest contributions this season to the Huskies came in the immediate aftermath of star guard James Bouknight's elbow injury. Polley came off the bench to score 23 against Marquette and 19 against Butler — hitting five 3-pointers in each game — and was named the Big East's Player of the Week for his effort.
Polley is scheduled to graduate next month with degree in Urban and Community Studies.
"I want to come back because UConn basketball is my family and I wanted the chance to play ball with my family one more time," Polley said in a statement. "I feel like we moved the program forward last year and we want to take it even further next season."
Polley's best year so far with the Huskies was his junior season in 2019-20, when he averaged 9.5 points and made 40.5% of his 3-point attempts. His season ended after just 15 games, however, when he suffered a torn ACL.
He has appeared in 102 games in his UConn career with 60 starts.
Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.