UConn stars reunite, show out in NBA Rising Stars Challenge

Carmelo Anthony channeled a calmer version of Dan Hurley at the NBA Rising Stars Challenge.

The Hall of Famer and national champion at Syracuse sat back and watched as former UConn stars Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan revived their connection that dominated college basketball at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles Friday night.

There were three former Huskies who started in the first semifinal game as Tristen Newton represented the G League All-Stars, with Cam Spencer waiting to play in the Game Two. But it was the Castle-Clingan lottery duo, with a new NBA twist, who provided the highlights early.

“We won a couple games in college together, so being able to share the court with (Castle) and do some special things is gonna be fun,” Clingan told reporters before the game. “That team was really special, the way we bonded, connected, it was fun. We were a great group.”

Castle took it to Newton right away, driving past the two-time national champion point guard and flipping an alley-oop to Clingan, just like old times, for the first points of the game. The duo connected again for a dunk in transition before the big man from Bristol – who only attempted nine 3s over two seasons at UConn – made his first of the night from beyond the arc.

Clingan scored nine points on 4 of 7 shooting and blocked two shots as Castle, drawing Derrick Rose comparisons on the broadcast, went for six points and five assists.

Donovan Clingan in the Rising Stars Challenge tonight🔥‼️

20 MIN15 PTS3 REB6/10 FG – 3/7 3FG pic.twitter.com/40b78IE6F1

— Husky Report (@TheHuskyReport_) February 14, 2026

“It’s been special just being able to see everything he’s done, he’s a special player, he’s a winning player. He helps his team in so many different ways and I’m happy for him, proud of him,” Clingan said. “It’s been fun to watch.”

Team Melo beat Newton (two points, four assists) and Team Austin Rivers, 40-34, in Game One.

“(Having four former Huskies in the event shows) the level of work that we put in day-in and day-out (at UConn) translates to the next level,” said Newton, who recently signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets.

Spencer came out for Team Tracy McGrady’s team in the second semifinal game and scored five points with three rebounds and two assists. He scored his team’s first points from beyond the arc before spending his time on the bench soaking up advice from his Hall of Fame coach. But former Baylor star VJ Edgecombe scored the final 10 points to hit the target score for Team Vince Carter and denied the chance for the beloved former Husky to play against his former teammates in the championship game.

Castle, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year after winning MVP of last season’s Rising Stars event, opened the final game by driving to the baseline and passing out to Clingan at the perimeter, a pass he rarely made in college. The big man was firing from beyond the arc and made two on three attempts, getting Anthony out of his chair. Castle, the reigning MVP of the event and NBA Rookie of the Year, finished with four points, three rebounds and an assist.

The event ended in anticlimactic fashion as Edgecombe challenged the Huskies’ duo and drew a foul on Clingan to reach the 25-point target score from the free throw line. He was named MVP.

It didn’t end with a trophy, like the former UConn stars were used to, but they embraced the opportunity to reconnect at the halfway point of a season where they are all excelling. Five days after Castle went off for a 40-point triple-double, Clingan went for 23 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in his final game before the All-Star break.

“I feel like it just speaks that much more highly of our championship team,” Castle said.

“I’m in contact with all of my UConn guys, we’re all talking, we’re all friends, we’re all brothers,” Clingan said. “We all did special things together and nothing can take that relationship away.”