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UConn men’s basketball will retain senior Tyler Polley for the upcoming season, the school announced Wednesday. Polley has chosen to exercise his fifth year option and return to the Huskies, with his roster spot not counting against the program’s scholarship limit for the 2021-22 season.
Polley will also explore the “possibility of a professional offer” by entering his name into the NBA Draft. This is mostly to receive feedback on his game, according to the release.
“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. “I feel like we moved the program forward last year and we want to take it even further next season.”
Polley was named the Big East Sixth Man of the Year this past season after averaging 7.5 points in 20.6 minutes, largely off the bench. He scored in the double digits six times, including a 23-point performance during a massive comeback win over Marquette on Jan. 5.
The 6-foot-9 forward has been one of UConn’s most dangerous three-point shooting threats during his tenure at the program. He has shot over 35% from three-point range in each of his four seasons at UConn, including two seasons above 40%.
He was also one of the countries leaders in ball security last season, turning the ball over on just 5.0% of possessions – the third-best mark in the nation, according to KenPom.
“Tyler has been a big part of the progress we’ve made over the last three years,” head coach Dan Hurley said. “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 will be one of two UConn players sticking around Storrs for their fifth year of eligibility, after Whaley announced his decision to return earlier this month. UConn will also have Tyrese Martin and R.J. Cole coming back for their senior season, giving Coach Hurley a strong group of upperclassmen to help lead the team during his fourth year with the program.