Thursday, April 26, 2007

Thabeet to return

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.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Garrison visit

Tom Moore may be close to landing his first big name recruit for the Quinnipiac University men’s basketball program.

The only catch is the player, University of Connecticut guard Rob Garrison, would have to sit out next season per NCAA transfer rules.

Garrison has yet to announce his departure from UConn, but both Niagara and Quinnipiac have received permission to talk to him about joining their programs. Garrison will make an unofficial visit to the Quinnipiac campus Tuesday after visiting Niagara the weekend of April 13-15.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Garrison is still considered a member of the UConn men’s basketball team and is finishing up spring semester classes. He was recruited by Moore after a standout senior season at Niagara Falls (N.Y.) High, considered an elite scholastic level boys’ basketball program.

As a sophomore for UConn last season Garrison played sparingly in 12 games after finding himself behind A.J. Price, Craig Austrie and Doug Wiggins in coach Jim Calhoun’s backcourt rotation. Garrison appeared in 17 games as a freshman, averaging 1.9 points and 2.1 assists.

-- Sean O'Rourke