When UConn takes the court against Creighton on February 18, the Huskies will do more than just battle for a win-they’ll honor one of the most dominant forces to ever wear the blue and white. Emeka Okafor’s No. 50 jersey will be officially retired at halftime, cementing his place among the program’s all-time greats.
He’ll join Ray Allen (No. 34) and Richard Hamilton (No. 32) as the only men’s players to receive that rare honor. On the women’s side, legends like Sue Bird (No.
10), Swin Cash (No. 32), and Rebecca Lobo (No. 50) have already had their numbers lifted into the rafters.
And make no mistake-Okafor’s legacy at UConn is more than worthy of the recognition.
From the moment he stepped on campus, the 6-foot-10 center from Bellaire, Texas, was a game-changer. In just three seasons, he became UConn’s all-time leader in blocked shots with a staggering 441 rejections. That’s not just a school record-it’s a testament to how he anchored one of college basketball’s most feared defenses during the early 2000s.
Okafor’s impact wasn’t just on the defensive end, though that’s where he made his name. He led the Huskies to their second national championship in 2004, and remains the only player in program history to win the National Player of the Year award. That season, he was the heart and soul of a team that powered through adversity-including his own battle with back spasms-to cut down the nets.
His accolades are as stacked as his stat sheet. A two-time All-American, Okafor earned consensus First Team honors in 2003-04. He was also named National Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04), and still holds UConn single-season records for blocks, blocks per game, and double-doubles.
Over a 50-year span, only two Huskies have pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds. Okafor is one of them.
He wasn’t just a rim protector-he controlled the glass, owned the paint, and did it all with a relentless motor. Ask anyone who watched him play, and you’ll hear the same thing: he’s the best center in UConn history.
Team success followed his individual brilliance. During his time in Storrs, UConn captured five Big East titles-three regular-season crowns (2002-04) and two Big East Tournament championships (2002, 2004). Okafor was a two-time First Team All-Big East selection, a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and took home the 2004 Big East Player of the Year award.
His final season was a masterclass in leadership and toughness. Despite dealing with nagging back issues, Okafor averaged 17.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
In the Final Four, he delivered when it mattered most-dropping 18 points (including clutch free throws) in a win over Duke, then dominating Georgia Tech with a 24-point, 15-rebound performance in the national title game. It earned him the 2004 Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor, and more importantly, it earned UConn another championship banner.
After his college career, Okafor went No. 2 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, selected by the Charlotte Bobcats. He made an immediate impact, winning Rookie of the Year in 2005, and went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA, spanning from 2004 to 2018. These days, he’s still around the game, sharing his insight as a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports.
Okafor was the last Husky to wear No. 50.
Before him, seven other players had donned the number since 1981. But after February 18, No. 50 will no longer be available-it’ll be hanging from the rafters of Gampel Pavilion, a permanent reminder of one of the most dominant big men college basketball has seen in the modern era.
For UConn fans, it’s a celebration long overdue. For Okafor, it’s a fitting tribute to a career that helped shape the program’s championship DNA.