Hawthorne Christian grad Jaiden Fuller (left) played college basketball not for UConn, but against the women's team that won the national championship.

STORRS, CT – Hawthorne Christian Academy graduate Jaiden Fuller entered high school with thoughts of developing his game and becoming a college basketball player. He popped onto the radar of some college teams but unfortunately had an injury that wiped out most of his junior year and then the Covid pandemic led to a truncated senior season. He decided to pivot towards the next phase of his life and attend the University of Connecticut.

Although he was not on a college basketball roster, that love of playing and learning the game still burned inside of him. With that in mind, he took a chance and has since embarked on a journey very few will ever experience.
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Fuller beat out a slew of other players in a tryout to join the practice squad that the vaunted UConn women’s program goes up against every day. Now as a senior, he has seen the ups and downs of the most storied program in women’s college basketball history that culminated this year by winning the NCAA title.

“Jaiden was always an extremely hard-working student and player, which has carried over into his latest chapter,” said his former high school at HCA, Aaron Nadzan. “He played with Athletes in Action AAU in high school and they had a connection with the UConn women’s program. I told him just to go for it at UConn. Don’t stop playing.”

“He knew just making the practice squad would not be easy. Jaiden just worked his butt off like he always does. His love of the game and willingness to get involved and stay involved has opened so many doors for him. I’m proud of what he has done and how he’ll continue to impact lives on and off the court.”

Between being injured and then the pandemic, Fuller faced his fair share of adversity through the latter part of high school career. He was skeptical about whether he could not only make the practice squad but be able to stick with it while keeping up with his studies. With nothing to lose, he took a chance, and it forever shaped the best four years of his life. Fuller beat out nearly 40 players to earn a coveted spot on the practice squad.

“I was always more of an introvert so even going to the tryout was a good step forward for me,” said Fuller. “The coaching staff gave me an opportunity and I wanted to take advantage of it. As guys who were on the practice squad had graduated, I grew into more of a leadership role within the squad and on the team in general. No matter what, I just kept my head down and went to work every day to try and help them prepare the best I could.”

This is not just any program though. With whom is widely considered to be one of the best coaches in the history of basketball in Geno Auriemma at the helm and eventual national player of the year Paige Bueckers on the court, Fuller knew he had to be locked in every single rep, every single day.

Fuller took pride in watching the team grow day-by-day all the way into winning a national championship, the 12th in the history of the program, all under Auriemma. Not only was he a help on the court in preparing the Huskies, but he had even more responsibility put on his plate in his senior year.

“I’ve been working with the film coordinator in helping break down practices and go over game film as well,” added Fuller. “To help the team in any way and have someone like (Bueckers) give our squad a shoutout at the Final Four was really great to hear. There is a ton of respect between all of us and seeing it pay off with a national championship was incredible.”

Set to graduate in May, Fuller is now debating what steps to take for the next few years. He is on track to enter the Master’s degree program; the coaching bug got hold of him and it is an option he hopes to pursue as well.

“At some point I’d love to be a coach, whether on the high school or collegiate level,” said Fuller. “I’ve learned so much from Coach (Auriemma) and his staff. They’ve always been willing to help me expand my knowledge of the game. Going from where I started to where things are now, I’m so happy that I went down this path and got to be a part of a special program like we have here at UConn.”

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