Lynch Inks Contract with Bahia Basket

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Former Hartford men's basketball player J.R. Lynch has recently signed a contract to play professionally with Bahia Basket of Argentina's National Basketball League. A two-time America East All-Conference selection, Lynch closed out his career by becoming the only player in program history to record 1,000 points, 300 assists and 150 steals in his career. In his final season with the Hawks, the 5-10 guard led the team with a career-high 16.6 points per game en route to earning First Team All-Conference honors. Recording the third-most steals in a single season in program history (70) while tying for sixth for most assists in a season (126), Lynch led the America East in assist/turnover ratio while ranking in the top-10 in three-point field goal percentage, field goal percentage, assists and steals. "J.R. is one of the most accomplished student-athletes to ever graduate from the University of Hartford," said head coach John Gallagher. "He was a First Team All-Conference performer, he earned his bachelor's degree and his MBA in four years and he helped promote numerous America East initiatives." Earning his Master's degree in marketing last May after receiving an undergraduate degree in marketing, Lynch's name is peppered throughout Hartford's Division I record book. The Hoboken, N.J., native is ranked No. 2 in both assists (374) and steals (176), No. 3 in free-throw percentage (.823) and three-point field goal percentage (.383), No. 6 in three pointers (186) and No. 7 in scoring (1.472 points). "The fact that J.R. is playing professional basketball at a high level is another incredible accomplishment," said Gallagher. "We are all so proud of this gifted and hardworking young man." Lynch becomes the third member of the Class of 2019 to sign a professional contract, joining former classmates John Carroll and George Blagojeivc. Carroll inked a contract with BK Nová Hut' Ostrava (Czech National Basketball League), while Blagojevic signed with the Cairns Marlins, a developmental team of the Cairns Taipans (Australia National Basketball League). Blagojevic, Carroll and Lynch helped make program history during their time at Hartford. In their final two seasons, the trio helped the Hawks combine for 37 victories — the most in a two-year stretch in Hartford's Division I era — including a school-record 19 in 2017-18.