Boy with rare disease named honorary UConn basketball player

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 th