Just one week into his freshman year, four-star forward Sidney Wilson is transferring from St. John's to UConn. Wilson will apply to get a waiver to be able to play this season at UConn, but he may need to sit out as a transfer and wait until the 2018-19 season to play for the Huskies.
While the plans were for Wilson to return to New York City and play for St. John's after leaving home for a year of prep basketball, things were not meant to be.
“It was a difficult decision to leave St. John’s but this was best for Sid and his growth. Not just on the basketball court but mentally, as well. Being in the city was more of a burden, which was really the first reason why I moved him from out of it to Brewster. I kind of lost sight of it when he came back,” Sidney Wilson Sr. said.
“Him not being home for a year and a half, I missed him a lot and so did his sister. However, I forgot the initial reason why I moved him: to get some growth and to become comfortable with losing his mother,” Wilson Sr. said, referencing to Wilson Jr.’s mother’s passing in the spring of 2015.
“He just wasn’t happy being back at home and it was just the next best alternative as far as the coaching staff and the people that can relate to what he is going through. This can help him mature and still not be too far away from home,” Wilson Sr. said.
Now a member of the UConn men’s basketball program, Wilson is a tremendous score. Bringing a wealth of offensive firepower and versatility to Storrs, Wilson is the likely replacement for Terry Larrier on the wing, a one-time VCU transfer who could opt for the NBA a year early this spring.
Wilson comes to UConn after being a top contributor for a very talented Brewster Academy program that had won its league championship within the very talented NEPSAC. He played on the Under Armour circuit with the New Heights travel program averaging close to 17 points and six rebounds per contest.