Hasheem Thabeet has been named the 2007-08 NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) National Defensive Player of the Year and was due to be honored tonight at the AT&T/NABC Guardians of the Game awards show at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.

Thabeet's selection marks the third time in six seasons that UConn has had the nation's top defensive player by the NABC and he becomes the second Husky to earn the honor, joining Emeka Okafor (2003-04 & 2002-03). Thabeet averaged 4.5 blocks per game this season, ranking No. 3 nationally and leading the Big East for the second straight season. He averaged 5.2 blocks per game in league play and his 94 total blocks in Big East play set a new conference record, breaking the old mark of 93 held by Alonzo Mourning of Georgetown, set in 1991-92.