The kids unique: UConn freshman Aubrey Griffins breakout game through the eyes of family

April 2024 · 5 minute read

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J­. — As Aubrey Griffin blocked a Seton Hall 3-point shot at the top of the arc, broke free and took it back to the UConn basket, her mom, Audrey, stood up. With Aubrey approaching the paint on the fast break and her layup easing into the net, the mother proudly raised her arm to the arched roof of Walsh Gymnasium on Thursday, letting out a big celebratory “Yaahhhh Aubs.”

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Aubrey’s moment in the fourth quarter was fitting in a breakout performance as the freshman earned a double-double, with a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, in the Huskies’ 92-78 win over the Pirates.

Aubrey Griffin WHAT 😤#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/3xQiz2M2eH

— UConn Women's Hoops (@UConnWBB) December 6, 2019

The final score didn’t reflect the start of the matchup. Despite opening the game on an 11-3 run, UConn lost the lead with under five to play in the first quarter. Starters Megan Walker, Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa got into early foul trouble. Williams and Nelson-Ododa ended the first quarter with two fouls apiece, making Griffin’s performance off the bench even more crucial. The Huskies regained the lead for good midway through the second quarter, as Walker led the team with 29 points.

UConn (7-0) also struggled at first with the absence of senior point guard Crystal Dangerfield, who missed two straight games with back issues. Coach Geno Auriemma said after the game he was fairly certain Dangerfield would be practicing Friday and playing Sunday in the team’s next game against Notre Dame back in Storrs, Conn.

Even more meaningful in Griffin’s breakthrough game was the fact Aubrey’s parents were star athletes at Seton Hall in the mid-1990s. Aubrey’s dad, Adrian, played on the basketball team and her mom was an All-America track and field athlete. Before the game, Audrey said she went down to the track and felt nostalgic for a moment. But when asked if the connection affected her allegiances for Thursday’s game, she didn’t hesitate to support her daughter.

Audrey Griffin likely wasn’t surprised by her daughter’s performance either. As Aubrey emerges at a storied UConn women’s basketball program, she joins the family’s basketball legacy — Adrian played nine seasons in the NBA and works as a Raptors assistant; her older brother, Alan, is a sophomore at Illinois; and her younger brother, Adrian Jr., recently committed to Duke.

So excited that my daughter @aubrey_g44 will be playing @setonhall on the same floor I spent so much time developing my game. Life truly comes full circle 🙏🏾@SetonHallMBB @UConnWBB

— Adrian Griffin (@NBACoachGriffin) December 5, 2019

While her mom sat behind the Huskies bench, Aubrey’s old high school teammates were across the gym, a contingent of 50 strong decked out in a variety of Ossining (N.Y.) jackets and T-shirts. The varsity team, which was on its way to a weekend tournament in Fairfax, Va., decided to make a pit stop to watch Griffin play against two other Ossining grads on the Seton Hall side (senior Shadeen Samuels and freshman Kailah Harris). Along with the team and their families were Aubrey’s old guidance counselor, a few teachers and her high school coach, Dan Ricci.

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At a timeout midway through the third, as Griffin reentered the game, Ricci made sure to spread the message — “Aubrey’s going in” — to those across the aisle and in nearby seats. Ricci, who said it was the first game in his life where he wanted both teams to do well, talked about the other Division I players he has coached, including fellow Husky Saniya Chong. He noted Aubrey is still a little nervous but once she’s comfortable, her ability to get to the rim and rebound comes out. It’s just a matter of time.

“In high school, you didn’t have to run a play for Aubrey. Just give her the ball and nobody can do anything,” Ricci said. “Here, she’s got to learn the system. She’ll get it. She really wants to be great. I think (Thursday’s) a big step.”

During that big block and score play, Griffin said she wasn’t really thinking as dribbled down the court. She did acknowledge that the performance gave her confidence.

“So that I know that I have an impact on the game just coming in,” she said, “getting rebounds, offensive boards and just, like, driving to the basket.”


Aubrey Griffin and her mom, Audrey, pose by the plaque of Seton Hall All-Americans. (Courtesy of Audrey Griffin)

Auriemma has spoken highly of Griffin’s athleticism, saying Tuesday there are two versions of her game. There’s the one where she breaks out and makes an impact, as she did against Temple on Nov. 17 when she scored nine points, her previous high, and added eight boards. Then there’s the one where she takes time to adjust to the style and the game. But what Griffin doesn’t know, Auriemma said, “she can make up for with her athletic ability.”

While Audrey Griffin was enjoying a full-circle moment at Seton Hall, Auriemma pointed to the future for her daughter.

“You’re going to see this a lot in her career, and you’re going to see it often,” the coach said. “I don’t know if she’s ready to do it right now. … That kid is capable of doing things that very few kids can. She has a knack for the ball. The kid’s unique, man. She’s something else.”

(Top photo: AP Photo / Bill Kostroun)

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