Bucks' Jeff Adrien happy for mentor Kevin Ollie

Milwaukee Bucks forward and UConn grad Jeff Adrien has had a rocky ride to the NBA, but a connection with his mentor and now NCAA championship winning coach Kevin Ollie has helped him get to where he is today. 

Both men spent time playing for the UConn basketball program, tasting success 15 years apart, but the similarities goes much further than that. 

Neither player was drafted out of college, but men started their careers with the Golden State Warriors, only to be cut before getting a chance to establish their footing. 

They both continued on in lower-profile locations, with Adrien spending three years bouncing around the NBDL and getting stints with Houston and Charlotte. Ollie spent three seasons playing with the Connecticut Pride of the Continental Basketball Association. 

Adrien played with the UConn Huskies from 2005 through 2009, and told NBA.com that he considers his time spent there the most important years of his life. 

“During those years of your life, you're making the transition in life from a boy to a young adult. I've had great coaching and great teachers to help me become that and become who I am now. I'm really thankful for that."

Adrien credits Ollie - a veteran NBA player, playing for Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City  during the span - a large part of that development.

“He played with us during the offseasons back at UConn and he taught me so much before he went off to play for his teams. He helped teach us the game. He was so competitive. A lot of guys can talk it, but they haven't played the game like he has. Everything that his guys did on the court in the tournament mimics what he did as a player."

Adrien was the first UConn player to amass 1,600 points and 1,100 rebounds in his Huskies career. He ranks in the top-10 in team history in rebounds (1,126), games played (133), field goals (602), and is 14th all-time in scoring (1,603 points).

In 25 games with the Bucks, he has averaged 10.7 points, and 7.7 rebounds, while playing a career-high 24 minutes per night.