UConn Huskies women’s basketball recruit Krista Gross had the Huskies in her top four schools after her visit to the UConn campus. But the allure of playing close to home was the ultimate factor for Gross as she announced today that she will be attending the University of North Carolina next season to play for the Tar Heels.

“I’ve known a few of the players for a while now,” Gross said, “and the coaches I’ve known for a long time but ultimately it came down to location.”

“For me when it came down to the players it felt like I was playing with my friends,” Gross said, “rather than just some teammates.”

For Geno Auriemma this leaves him with just one recruit for next season in Kelly Faris. Transfer Jessica McCormack will become eligible next season and it’s quite possible that Kalana Greene could return for a 5th year if she so chooses since she was a medical redshirt last season after tearing her ACL. Auriemma already has received a commitment from Samarie Walker for the 2010-11 season.

The Huskies will lose Renee Montgomery, Tahirah Williams and Cassie Kerns to graduation in the spring.

Here is a press release from the University of Connecticut athletic department concerning the “Huskies of Honor.”

STORRS, Conn. (October 30, 2008) -The 1994-1995 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, which won the 1995 NCAA National Championship and posted a perfect 35-0 overall record, will be inducted into the “UConn Huskies of Honor” recognition program on November 16.

The “Huskies of Honor” program, which pays visible tribute in the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion to the top individual and team achievements in UConn men’s and women’s basketball history, was launched in 2006.

The inaugural class of UConn women’s basketball “Huskies of Honor” who were recognized in December 2006 included 10 First Team All-Americans and Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma.

The honoring of UConn’s unbeaten 1995 National Championship team will be the first induction of an entire team (players and coaches) into Connecticut’s “Huskies of Honor” program.

The return to Gampel Pavilion of Connecticut’s 1995 National Champs will take place on Sunday, November 16, when the UConn women’s basketball team hosts Georgia Tech in a 2 p.m. non-conference match up.

At the ceremony on November 16, a four-by-five foot panel will be unveiled, heralding Connecticut as the 1995 NCAA Division I National Champion in women’s basketball. In addition to the large panel honoring the team that will be displayed adjacent to the scoreboard on the East end of Gampel Pavilion, the team will also have a plaque unveiled that will be on permanent display on the lobby level of Gampel Pavilion. The plaque will include a group photo of the 13 players and four coaches who will be inducted as a “Huskies of Honor” national championship team.

The 1994-95 Connecticut Women’s Basketball team put collegiate women’s basketball on the national map. After posting a spotless 26-0 regular season record and winning the Big East Conference regular season title with an 18-0 mark, UConn added the Big East Tournament crown and entered the NCAA Tournament 29-0. Connecticut then added six NCAA tournament victories, including a 70-64 triumph over Tennessee in the NCAA National Championship game at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

In posting its perfect 35-0 record, the 1994-95 UConn women’s basketball team recorded an NCAA record average winning margin of +33.2 points per game. UConn also led the nation in field goal percentage shooting (50.7%) and field goal percentage defense (31.5%).

Head Coach Geno Auriemma was honored as National Coach of the Year and Senior Rebecca Lobo was named the National Player of the Year.

The 17 members of the 1994-95 team who will be inducted as a group into the “Huskies of Honor” program on November 16 include: Head Coach Geno Auriemma, Associate Head Coach Chris Dailey, Assistant Coach Tonya Cardoza, Assistant Coach Meghan Pattyson, Co-Captain Rebecca Lobo, Co-Captain Pam Webber, Jill Gelfenbien, Kim Better, Jamelle Elliott, Jennifer Rizzotti, Carla Berube, Sarah Northway, Missy Rose, Kara Wolters, Kelley Hunt, Brenda Marquis, Nykesha Sales.

The inaugural class of UConn women’s basketball greats inducted into the “Huskies of Honor” program in December of 2006 included: Stevlana Abrosimova, Kerry Bascom, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Rebecca Lobo, Shea Ralph, Jennifer Rizzotti, Nykesha Sales, Diana Taurasi, Kara Wolters, Head Coach Geno Auriemma.

The first of the two major men’s college basketball polls are out and the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is ranked 2nd behind the North Carolina Tar Heels in the USA Today/Coaches Preseason Top 25.

There are a total of 7 Big East teams ranked in the top 25, including 3 in the top 6 and 4 in the top 10 as the Louisville Cardinals come in at No. 3, the Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 6 and the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish at No. 9.

The Huskies will kickoff the regular season on November 14th when they host the Western Carolina Catamounts at Gampel Pavilion.

Let’s kickoff the post by taking a look at the highlights from the UConn Huskies 40-16 win over Cincinnati this past Saturday.

The Huskies football team secured another recruit in Steve Greene, a 6’5″ 311 lb offensive lineman.

Lauren Aird’s hat trick helped the UConn Huskies field hockey team to a 6-1 win over the Georgetown Hoyas.

Let’s close out today’s daily roundup with a behind the scenes look at the Burton Family Football Complex on the campus of UConn.

Videos are courtesy of Santini.