Cam Spencer's intense moments are plentiful.

There's the time the former UConn standout didn't win a 3-point contest at a preseason event that he still hasn't gotten over. Then there's the moment the 6-foot-3 shooting guard was nudged in the back by North Carolina's Armando Bacot, only to turn around and go chest to chest with the 6-10 center.

What about that the time Spencer said some unkind words to the Marquette bench that resulted in a technical foul? The game result was pretty much decided, but UConn coach Dan Hurley wasn't too happy and Spencer later apologized for his actions. Sometimes Spencer's fire would pump Hurley up, too, like the moment against North Carolina.

That intensity is something that should mesh well with a Memphis Grizzlies team that has been known for its competitive fire in recent years.

"He's a pretty level-headed kid," UConn men's basketball beat writer for CT Insider Dave Borges said. "He just turns into a different guy on the court."

The Grizzlies drafted Spencer in the second round of the NBA draft after his championship-winning season at UConn.

Spencer was one of the best college 3-point shooters over his five years at three different schools. He shot at least 43% on 3-pointers in four of those seasons.

"He's like the ultimate perfectionist," Borges said. "He's so competitive. I've heard stories of him kicking balls. He is somebody who is going to work as hard as he can and get up as many shots as he can to be a 3-point shooter. He's pretty consistent. I don't remember him going on too many shooting slumps."

When Spencer arrived at UConn, he had four years of college experience. He was one of older players, but Spencer still wanted to grow into a bigger role on the team.

Spencer is expected to start his career in Memphis on a two-way contract, where he'll likely spend time in the G League with the Memphis Hustle as well as the Grizzlies. He started his college career at Loyola (Maryland) with current Memphis forward Santi Aldama. That's a situation Spencer is hoping to lean on in his adjustment to the NBA.

"I think they have grown so quickly in this league," Spencer said of the Grizzlies. "Having four or five years in, they have really established themselves. As any rookie should, I really want to learn from them and see why they've had success so early on in their careers."

Grizzlies first-round pick Zach Edey and Spencer are now teammates, but they had multiple battles over the past couple of years that started when Spencer was at Rutgers and ended in a national championship showdown between UConn and Purdue.

Edey and Spencer share the same agent, so they both participated in the some pre-draft workouts.

"There was a little trash talk there for sure," Spencer said. "We're two competitive guys. I think I have a ton of respect for Zach. It was pretty cool to match up with him in the national championship game for sure."

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At first glance, Aldama and Edey are familiar faces that should help Spencer's transition, but his intensity and trash-talking ways should expedite the process. This is a Grizzlies team where Desmond Bane trash-talked LeBron James two years ago. Even though Dillon Brooks is long gone, Vince Williams Jr. has become adept at getting under opponent's skin. And Ja Morant said when Williams is talking to opponents, he'll be there "right behind him every step of the way."

Spencer's shooting is his most obvious fit in Memphis, but it isn't the only one.

"The little bit of trash-talking, the kind of intensity, that's just kind of sometimes bite him a little bit, but that's the kind of thing you look forward to," Borges said. "Once he gets a few years in (the NBA), then you could see more of that."

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies: Cam Spencer intensity will fit with Memphis roster