Storrs — Coach Kevin Ollie broke into a big smile on Friday when asked about two former UConn Huskies in the NBA.

It's been a memorable week for Daniel Hamilton and Shabazz Napier.

Hamilton made his NBA debut on Wednesday in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 92-79 win over the Chicago Bulls. He played four scoreless minutes and missed his only shot.

The Thunder traded for Hamilton, who was selected 56th overall on draft night in 2016, and he had been playing in the franchise's G-League until being called up. He left UConn after his sophomore season.

Ollie reached out to congratulate Hamilton, who signed a two-way contract with Oklahoma City last summer allowing him to go back and forth between the pro and minor league affiliate. He averaged 21.3, points, 9 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the G-League.

"The kids just like to text, they're not picking up my phone," said Ollie, a former Thunder player, after practice Friday. "I hit him with a text and he texted me back."

Ollie went on a Portland radio show on Thursday to talk about the recent play of Napier, who's enjoying one of his best stretches since entering the league in 2014 after being drafted 24th overall by the Miami Heat. A two-time national champion at UConn, he's bounced around as a reserve guard, playing for Miami, Orlando and now Portland.

In his last three appearances prior to Friday, Napier's averaged 12.6 points, 2.3 assists and 2 steals while sinking 13 for 22 from the field and 6 for 8 from 3-point land. He came off the bench to score 19 points and hit a career-high tying five 3-pointers without missing beyond the arc in a 99-94 win over Orlando on Wednesday.

"Shabazz is playing phenomenal," Ollie said. "One thing, Shabazz is always going to be prepared. He didn't play the first four games. It's just a great story. The team (Orlando) sold him for $75,000 and now he goes and gets 19 against that team. That's good stuff right now."

EGBs

• Ollie loves what he calls EGBs — Energy Generating Behaviors.

A prime example came with just over five minutes left in Tuesday's come-from-behind win over Stony Brook. With UConn down nine, a hustling Jalen Adams chased down a loose ball, leading to freshman Tyler Polley's 3-pointer that started a game-changing 17-0 run.

"Jalen chases that ball down, got in the lane, kicked it out to Tyler and he makes a three," Ollie said. "That's what starts the chain reaction of us getting back in the game. If he didn't hustle back, we're not winning that game.

"I praise him for doing that. That's an EGB. ... That was the biggest play of the game."

News and notes

UConn hosts Boston University on Sunday night at the XL Center. The Terriers (0-2) have lost to Northeastern (65-59) and Albany (88-74). ... Graduate transfer David Onuorah's hip is a little sore coming off his UConn debut against Stony Brook. He had a team-high tying seven rebounds in 13 minutes before fouling out. "He's been stiff but he's been coming a long," Ollie said. "You're never going to have him complaining about anything. ... Because I played the game before, I can see where he's compensating for some things. But, other than that, he's been good." ... The Huskies have 28 turnovers and just 21 assists so far. That's not a good ratio. The top offenders are Terry Larrier, Antwoine Anderson and Christian Vital, who are tied for the team lead in four turnovers apiece.

g.keefe@theday.com