| In an April 2004 press conference at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., Okafor announced he was making himself eligible for the 2004 NBA Draft. Okafor graduated in May with a Bachelor's of Science degree in finance after three years at UConn. He started 103 games in his three seasons and averaged 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.28 blocked shots per game. Okafor had 53 career double-doubles, including one triple-double and 24 career Big East double-doubles (a UConn record). He holds the UConn career record for blocked shots with 441 (4.28/game) and has the top three single season marks for blocks with 156 (in 2002-03), 147 (in 2003-04) and 138 (in 2001-02). Okafor finished his career No. 7 in NCAA history in both blocked shot average and total blocked shots. Has best Big East regular season blocked shot average of 4.31 (207 in 48 games), surpassing Patrick Ewing of Georgetown (3.98/game). Oakfor's field goal percentage of 59.0% is No. 1 all-time at UConn. A definite NBA lottery pick, Okafor is expected to go at either #1 or #2.
Okafor had 24 double-doubles during his junior NCAA National Championship season, which led the nation, and averaged 17.6 points, 11.5 rebounds (No. 3 in the nation) and 4.1 blocks (tied for No. 1 in the nation). He was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the Final Four as well as the 2003-04 NABC National Player of the Year, National Defensive Player of the Year and National Big Man of the Year. Okafor grabbed a trifecta as the 2003-04 Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Aeropostale/BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was named to the 2003-04 All-Big East First Team for the second consecutive season. Okafor was named the 2004 Academic All-American of the Year, was First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American for the second consecutive year, a consensus First Team All-American and was named First Team NABC & USBWA All-District I.
Okafor averaged 15.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.73 blocked shots per game as a full-time starter for the second straight season. He led the nation in blocked shots and was No. 7 in the country in rebounding. Also led the BIG EAST in rebounds, blocked shots and double-doubles (22). Among his awards, Okafor was named to the John R. Wooden Award All-American team, the Verizon Academic All-American First Team and was the 2002-03 NABC National Defensive Player of the Year. He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and the Big East/Aeropostale Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Along with teammate Ben Gordon, played with USA Basketball's Junior Team in summer of 2003 at the Pan American Games, leading the team with 12.0 points per game while shooting 68.3% from the field.
Okafor started all 34 games as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game, leading the Huskies in rebounding. Named a First Team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News, Basketball News and Basketball Times and a member of the All-Big East Third Team and a unanimous selection to the league's All-Rookie Team.
Okafor averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots per game as a senior for 26-5 Bellaire HS. Chose UConn over Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Rice and Vanderbilt. |
