University of Connecticut freshman center Hasheem Thabeet officially announced Thursday that he will return for his sophomore season in 2007-08, according to a press release issued by the school's sports information department.

Thabeet will discuss his decision later this afternoon.

Thabeet started all 31 games and averaged 6.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots a game (No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in BIG EAST). He blocked 119 shots, ranking behind only one other freshman in UConn history (Emeka Okafor totaled 138 blocks in 2001-02). He had seven or more blocked shots in six games this season and had two double-doubles on the season. He matched the UConn single game record of 10 blocked shots in the win over Texas Southern, equaling the mark held by Emeka Okafor and Donyell Marshall. He also blocked nine shots in the win over Fairfield and was named to the all-tournament team of the Hispanic College Fund Classic.