On a night filled with emotion and legacy, Hasheem Thabeet took his rightful place among UConn’s all-time greats. The towering 7-foot-3 center was inducted into the Huskies of Honor on Saturday night at Gampel Pavilion, with none other than former head coach Jim Calhoun by his side - a fitting reunion that brought back memories of a dominant era in Connecticut basketball.
Calhoun, who coached Thabeet from 2006 to 2009, was visibly moved as he introduced his former player to the crowd. With his arm around Thabeet and a grin on his face, Calhoun didn’t just reflect on the player - he celebrated the person.
“It is my pleasure to introduce a special basketball player, special person and a man I clearly look up to,” Calhoun said, drawing laughter as he looked up at the 7-footer. “Most importantly, former Big East Player of the Year.
His three years here were as special as could possibly be. He and Mek [Emeka Okafor], the two greatest shot blockers I ever coached - and two of the greatest people.”
For a coach who’s seen his share of elite talent, that’s high praise. And it’s earned.
Thabeet was a defensive force during his time in Storrs, finishing second all-time in school history in blocked shots with 417 - just behind Okafor’s 441. He was a two-time national Defensive Player of the Year, a second-team All-American, and the Big East Player of the Year in 2009.
When Thabeet’s No. 34 was unveiled in the rafters - now hanging proudly beside Ben Gordon’s No. 4 - it wasn’t just a jersey going up. It was a reminder of a player who helped define UConn’s identity during his time there: tough, unrelenting, and team-first.
For Thabeet, the moment was both surreal and deeply personal.
“It feels like two or three years ago when I played here,” said Thabeet, who turns 39 on Monday. “I'm very happy to be part of this.
A lot of great names played here. To get a chance to play with great guys like Kemba [Walker], [A.J.]
Price, Jerome [Dyson] and everybody else... it means a lot.”
He took a moment to thank Calhoun directly, acknowledging the role the Hall of Fame coach played in shaping his journey - both on and off the court.
“Playing for coach, a lot of great times. A lot of ups and downs.
You helped me grow up to be who I am today. So I want to say thanks to you, thanks to the organization and thanks to everybody that comes here - a lot of you guys.
Husky forever, baby.”
It was a full-circle moment for the native of Tanzania, who arrived at UConn as a raw, towering prospect and left as one of the most dominant defensive presences in college basketball. His impact was so significant that when the Memphis Grizzlies selected him No. 2 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, he tied Okafor as the highest draft pick in UConn history. Okafor had gone second overall to the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004.
Thabeet went on to play five seasons in the NBA, suiting up for the Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. While his professional career didn’t mirror the dominance he showed in college, his legacy at UConn was never in question.
Now, with his name and number etched into Huskies history, Thabeet joins a brotherhood of legends - a group built on excellence, effort, and pride in the program.
And on a night meant for celebration, the message from Thabeet to Husky Nation was simple, heartfelt, and clear: “Husky forever, baby.”