Alex Wilkins has emerged as a standout in New England high school basketball, growing up in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood and shining at the Brooks School. Despite being ranked No. 3 by the New England Recruiting Report, Wilkins flew under the radar for major Northeast programs, ultimately committing to Furman in the Southern Conference. He's quickly become a key player for the Paladins, averaging nearly 18 points and five assists per game, leading the team with the highest usage rate in March Madness.
Wilkins and Furman are set to face UConn in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64 in Philadelphia, fulfilling a "childhood dream" for the Massachusetts native.
"It's competing. It's a childhood dream," Wilkins shared with reporters. "If you have an edge to you, just excited to play a good team, and two good teams going out there to play basketball for 40 minutes, so it's exciting."
UConn has been a powerhouse in college basketball, claiming four national titles in the last 15 years, with iconic moments like Jim Calhoun and Kemba Walker's championship run in 2011. Under Dan Hurley, the Huskies have continued their success, winning titles in 2023 and 2024, and entering this year's tournament as a No. 2 seed with a 29-5 record. They're considered strong favorites against Furman.
"Yeah, I would say tremendous respect for the program," remarked Furman guard Tom House. "But they have to play 40 minutes just like we do, tie their shoes the way we do, and we're excited to show that."
Furman, once a regular in the NCAA Tournament during the 1970s, ended a 43-year drought in 2023 with a memorable upset over Virginia, thanks to JP Pegues' game-winning three-pointer. This year's team, ranked lower in KenPom, secured their tournament spot with an impressive run in the Southern Conference Tournament, highlighted by a 76-61 victory over top-seeded East Tennessee State, led by Cooper Bowser's standout performance.
"Yeah, like they said, we're excited for the challenge it presents, and it's a dream playing UConn in March," Bowser expressed. "This is amazing.
This is stuff you dream of. We're excited to go out there and give it our best."