University of Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb will enter the NBA Draft, according to The Hartford Courant.

“It was a difficult decision, but after much prayer and discussion with my parents, I feel that it’s in the best interest of me and my family to declare myself eligible for the upcoming NBA draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball,” Lamb said in a statement released by the school. “I have very much enjoyed my two years at UConn, especially getting to experience one of the greatest feelings that a college player can have, winning the national championship.”

Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun released a statement congratulating Lamb, but also said that it will be difficult to adjust to him being gone.

“It’s never easy to lose a great player from your program, but Jeremy has a unique opportunity that he needs to take advantage of,” Calhoun said in a statement. “He’s been a great kid to coach for the past two years … his teams have won 52 games, been to two NCAA Tournaments, and won a national championship. I look forward to him developing into a terrific player in the NBA and secondly, as he’s promised me, to come back and finish his degree.”

Last season Lamb started every game for the Huskies and averaged 17.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. During his career with the school he scored 1,060 points in just two seasons, ranking him 42^nd in the school’s history. He will also becomes the 14^th UConn player under Calhoun to leave school early and enter the NBA Draft.

University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun underwent successful  spinal surgery, according to the Associated Press.

“I am very fortunate to have been treated by three of the very best surgeons,” Calhoun said in a statement. “My heartfelt thanks to them and the entire Beth Israel community, who have made every effort to ensure my stay is as comfortable as possible. Lastly, thank you to the people across Connecticut and beyond who have reached out to offer their support.”

Calhoun had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine, normally associated with aging.  The school said that the surgery was performed in order to remove a large extruded disk fragment that had been pressing on a spinal nerve.

Calhoun hopes to be back in time to coach the March 3 regular season finale against Pittsburgh.  Connecticut is 5-5 without Calhoun this season, including 3-4 during his current medical leave for spinal stenosis.  They play Providence Tuesday night.

Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun was forced to walk away from the Huskies last week when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, but his departure is only temporary. Calhoun now insists that his health problems will not force him to retire.

“I’m doing my best to fight this thing,” Calhoun said in an interview with ESPN’s Andy Katz. “I’ve had couple of other obstacles before, and this is another one. I’ll fight through this.”

Calhoun, who turns 70 this May, also had a bout with prostate cancer a decade ago and has battled various stomach ailments over the years as well. But the Hall of Fame coach says he plans to end his latest medical leave of absence as soon as he’s physically able.

“There’s no question,” Calhoun said. “I’ve talked to the people at UConn and president [Susan] Herbst. I just want to get a resolution on my back.”

Calhoun missed both Saturday’s win over Seton Hall and Monday’s loss at Louisville. He has said that he won’t be back in time for Saturday’s showdown with Syracuse, but his timetable after this weekend is still unknown.

University of Connecticut’s head basketball coach, Jim Calhoun, is temporarily taking a medical leave of absence, according to CBS Sports. Calhoun’s leave of absence is a result of a worsening condition of spinal stenosis.

“It turns out that there is some degenerative problem in the lumbar vertebrae and it’s impinging on the nerves. It has led to significant back pain and some symptoms in his lower extremities,” Calhoun’s doctor, Peter Schulman, said in a team press release today.

Jim has been able to manage it with the physical therapy and stretching, but over the last several days, things have become worse and he is not able to deal with this on a day to day basis,” he continued. “Right now, he is physically unable to coach.”

The school’s athletic department has named George Blanley interim head coach for the time being. The Huskies are currently 14-7 and 4-5 in the Big East Conference.

Calhoun has 866 career coaching wins, and has helped Connecticut win three NCAA National Championships.