Ahead of Final Four, UConn commit Olivia Vukosa plays at McDonald's All American Game

UConn’s present-day stars will play in the Final Four this week at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, but about half an hour down the road, the past and the future of the program were together at the McDonald’s All American Game. Basketball legend Diana Taurasi, who won three National Championships with UConn from 2002-04, was in the crowd to watch Olivia Vukosa, a Husky commit and the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, take part in the prestigious game. The two met two weeks ago, when Taurasi presented her with the trophy at her school, Christ the King (Middle Village, NY).

"I've heard and seen Olivia for the last four years," Taurasi said to NBC Connecticut . "Coach has always hit me up, like, you've got to see this kid. You got to see this kid.

And watching her play here, Christ the King, just an incredible career she's had here. " She got to see Vukosa at the McDonald’s Game at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The 6-foot-5 center had limited shots, taking only three in the game, but knocked down a 3-pointer and had four rebounds and a pair of assists.

Vukosa helped the East team win 91-71 in Taurasi’s backyard. The future Hall of Famer played her entire career for the Phoenix Mercury, and the WNBA team’s practice court is named after her. “Seeing her name on the court yesterday in practice, it just kind of made me feel like I really had found my home at UConn,” Vukosa said during Media Day on Monday.