2008 Woodie Awards
Thabeet To Stay
Men's Basketball: Star Center Opts To Return For Junior Year
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Sports
Hasheem Thabeet is staying in Storrs.
The 7-foot-3 sophomore has decided not to declare for the NBA Draft and will return for his junior season at UConn.
"I am excited about the opportunity to stay at UConn and continue the mission that we started this season," Thabeet said in a statement. "I also want to thank my family and close friends for all of their help and support. As a team, we took a step in the right direction this year, but I look forward to us working together to win a Big East championship and making a run at a national championship."
Had he declared himself eligible, Thabeet would have most likely been a first-round selection.
"We are happy that Hasheem has made the decision to return for his junior season," said head coach Jim Calhoun. "Hasheem has made as much progress as any player I have coached in my 36 years and if he continues that incredible progress, he will help us take the next step as a team and help himself become one of the best players in college basketball."
The reigning Big East Defensive and NABC Defensive Player of the Year, Thabeet started all but one game for the Huskies, averaging 10.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a game. He also broke the conference's single-season blocks record - with 946 - in the Huskies' final regular season game of the season against Cincinnati, surpassing Georgetown and NBA star Alonzo Mourning's previous high.
With members of his family in his hometown of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania struggling financially, Thabeet considered making a jump to the pros last year to ease financial strain on his mother, Rukia Manka, and two younger siblings. But instead, he returned for his sophomore year.
A year later and still facing similar problems, most assumed the Tanzania-born player would bolt this season. However, after deliberating for weeks, the second team All-Big East center announced his decision to stay hours before the NBA-mandated deadline of 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
The 7-foot-3 sophomore has decided not to declare for the NBA Draft and will return for his junior season at UConn.
"I am excited about the opportunity to stay at UConn and continue the mission that we started this season," Thabeet said in a statement. "I also want to thank my family and close friends for all of their help and support. As a team, we took a step in the right direction this year, but I look forward to us working together to win a Big East championship and making a run at a national championship."
Had he declared himself eligible, Thabeet would have most likely been a first-round selection.
"We are happy that Hasheem has made the decision to return for his junior season," said head coach Jim Calhoun. "Hasheem has made as much progress as any player I have coached in my 36 years and if he continues that incredible progress, he will help us take the next step as a team and help himself become one of the best players in college basketball."
The reigning Big East Defensive and NABC Defensive Player of the Year, Thabeet started all but one game for the Huskies, averaging 10.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a game. He also broke the conference's single-season blocks record - with 946 - in the Huskies' final regular season game of the season against Cincinnati, surpassing Georgetown and NBA star Alonzo Mourning's previous high.
With members of his family in his hometown of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania struggling financially, Thabeet considered making a jump to the pros last year to ease financial strain on his mother, Rukia Manka, and two younger siblings. But instead, he returned for his sophomore year.
A year later and still facing similar problems, most assumed the Tanzania-born player would bolt this season. However, after deliberating for weeks, the second team All-Big East center announced his decision to stay hours before the NBA-mandated deadline of 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Be the first to comment on this story