UConn center to skip senior season for NBA

STORRS, Conn., April 14 (UPI) -- Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet said Tuesday he will declare for the NBA draft, forgoing his senior season.

The 7-foot-3 junior averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks over 36 games in helping the Huskies get to the Final Four this season. UConn (31-5) lost to Michigan State in the NCAA semifinals.

Thabeet, a native of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, started 63 of 64 games over his freshman and sophomore campaigns, averaging 8.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game.

This past season, Thabeet was named First Team All-American by the NABC, Big East Co-Player of the Year and won the John R. Wooden Award. In addition, he was the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons.