UW Men's Hoops Team Up to Give Back Before European Trip

Several Huskies men's basketball players took part in an event Monday morning to help package food for families in need.

Before the Washington men’s basketball program begins a preseason tour halfway around the world, its seven newcomers teamed up to make their new city a better place.

Roughly a dozen fans volunteered to package and prepare food donations at south Seattle's Food Lifeline with the players, who paired up with Montlake Futures to host the second NIL event this year with the organization. 

Six transfers in sophomore guard Nate Calmese from Lamar, junior center Wilhelm Breidenbach from Nebraska, forward Moses Wood from Portland, guard Paul Mulcahy from Rutgers, Anthony Holland from Fresno State and Sahvir Wheeler Kentucky, plus freshman guard Wesley Yates III each participated in the event.

Most players already had experience at previous schools doing NIL events in a similar fashion, but this outing gave everyone a unique chance to interact away the court with one another.

“You get to know each other, what we like, what we don’t like,” Wheeler said. “You kind of see some of the guys who are morning guys and who aren’t morning guys. You get to see what gets them going, just continue to crack jokes and build trust.

“Because at the end of the day, end of the season, mid-season, even at the beginning of the season, we’re going to face some adversity. For us to know we have each other’s back is going to be a big thing in our team’s success.”

New Huskies such as Paul Mulcahy, center, shared in volunteer work on Monday :: Lars Hanson / UW Fan Nation

On Tuesday, the UW travels to France and Spain for a 10-day trip that includes three games — against Parisian Select on Aug. 18, the Spanish All-Stars on Aug. 21 and the Barcelona All-Stars on Aug. 23 — that will involve sightseeing and a full immersive experience for the players.

It’s the first time a UW basketball team has traveled abroad since 2019.

However, it’s not a first-time experience for several players. Wheeler scored 11 points in 37 minutes to lead Kentucky over Michigan 73-69 at the O2 Arena in London last season while Mulachy was a part of the Rutgers team that spent 11 days in Spain back in 2019.

“I’m really excited,” Mulachy said. “I think it’s going to be a really good bonding experience for all of us. Especially for me just because I came in a little later. But I got to go to Spain my freshman year. We did Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia. I’ve never been to Paris. I was in Ireland last summer.

“I think it’s going to be really cool on and off the court. We’ve been practicing really hard. To play against other people is going to be fun and then just see where we are.”

UW begins regular-season play on Nov. 6 against Bellarmine at Alaska Airlines Arena. 

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