STORRS, CT (WFSB) – The UConn men’s basketball team added an honorary new player to their roster on Wednesday.
Elijah Randolph, age 12, is officially a Husky.
He’s only in middle school, but players said he’s the stronger person they’ve met.
Back in 2023, Elijah was diagnosed with a rare disease commonly referred to as BPDCN, which is a blood disorder.
His dad said he’s the first kid with BPDCN to be treated at Connecticut Children’s.
“Ninety-eight percent of it is found in men, 60-75 years old. He was 10 when he was diagnosed,” said Carl Randolph, Elijah’s father.
Elijah was receiving treatment one day when the UConn basketball team made a trip to the hospital. He immediately hit it off with Coach Dan Hurley’s wife.
Two years later, he got a piece of paper making him a member of the Husky family.
“It’s going to go on my wall and it’s going to be framed in my bedroom, right next to my bed.
Elijah’s favorite players on the team are Tarris Reed and Solo Ball.
“It’s definitely a motivator every single day you walk into this facility, every time you wake up,” said Ball.
Elijah’s dad said he couldn’t be prouder of his son.
“The diagnosis, we said, ‘We’ll take it one step at a time, put one foot in front of the other’… I’m extremely proud of my son. Proud of his resilience, I’m proud of his strength, I’m proud of his joy, his laughter. I’m proud of everyday that we have,” added Randolph.
Elijah’s goal was to make it to every single game this year.
He’s hoping for a national championship ring on his finger at the end of the season.
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