SPRINGFIELD — When watching Alex Karaban’s Basketball Hall of Fame promotion for his “Hoophall Hangouts” appearance on Friday, the UConn forward was amazed.
His appearance was sandwiched between two members of the Hall of Fame of 2023: Dirk Nowitzki, who appears around Thursday, and Tony Parker, who appears on Wednesday.
“I mean, I saw the post and Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker said and then I and I were like, ‘Wow, why do you have it here?'” joked the national champ in front of three sets of stands full of families at the Center Hall of Fame court. “That means a lot, Basketball Hall of Fame, I’ve been (coming) here since I was a little kid.
“Now that I have the opportunity to speak here, I hope it will inspire other kids (to know) that basketball can take you places you never thought; I never thought I’d be here.”
“Dirk, Tony Parker and Alex Karaban come together for one National Championship and it’s yours,” the event’s host, Kyle Belanger, joked.
Karaban rode about an hour and 15 minutes west on I-90 to get to Springfield from his home in Southboro, where he’ll be staying for the next two days before returning to UConn on Sunday. Arrived early enough to make another run at the venue, stopped to hear the advice UConn’s Hall of Fame coach, Jim Calhoun, had scored for the “Circle Coaches” exhibit and then spent some time checking out Kobe Bryant’s show around the corner.
The one-on-one interview session with Belanger lasted approximately 25 minutes. They discussed his journey from Southboro to playing prep hoops at New Hampton School in New Hampshire and finally making his way to IMG Academy in Florida. Then, of course, the crowd marched through the National Championship season.
Belanger made sure that Karaban was out to win his ‘first’ national championship, leaving room for more.
“Seems like (Coach Hurley) forgot that sometimes,” Karapan said afterwards. “He knows the target is big on our backs now and he’s trying to prepare us for what’s going to happen during the season. … It’s been a great summer so far, I think we’re really starting to find success as a team. It’s a weird feeling to hit the reset button and forget about last year’s team but that’s it.” Part of the journey and I love it.
“The freshmen have been amazing, they really played at the level we need them to. Cam (Spencer) has been incredible so far and the returnees are better than they’ve ever been, so I think everyone has upped their game and we felt like we got UConn back and we want to stay at that level.”
Karapan revealed that he was one of 10 college players invited to Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum’s opening “JT Elite Camp,” which also features 10 of the best high school players in the country. Camp will be held July 20-23 in St. Louis, making Karapan unavailable to throw the first pitch when the hometown Boston Red Sox are recognized as the national championship on July 21.
Once the event was over, Karaban moved to the autograph table and it was a natural as he signed to a long line of excited kids.
14-year-old Noah Green and his family flew in from San Diego yesterday, their entire trip planned around a visit to @employee. When Alex Karaban finished signing autographs after appearing on “Hoophall Hangouts,” Green came up and asked if he could throw him in: pic.twitter.com/ze2AsUKsG3
– Joe Arruda (@joearruda9) July 7, 2023
“This is probably my favorite thing,” he told The Courant after the event. “That’s what I want to use basketball for, is to give back to the community, give back to the kids, just try to inspire them to get to the stage of me signing autographs for people when they’re older. I’ve always said it’s bigger than basketball. So, just putting a smile on somebody’s face, And picking up a hit from someone — just make sure it makes their day, I love it.”
Yes, after Karapan signed his national championship hat to the last young fan in line, 14-year-old Noah Green approached and asked if he could throw an alley on center field. Green and his family had flown in from San Diego on Thursday, and had their entire trip planned around Friday’s visit to the Hall of Fame.
Karaban immediately obliged and stood as the Hall of Fame staff showed him around nervously making it clear that she was not responsible if he was going to get hurt. On the third attempt, Green’s pass was deflected off the top of the backboard and Karapan threw it.