HASHEEM THABEET Age: 22 College: Connecticut Position: Center Height: 7-3 Weight: 265 Class: Junior

The draft has not seen a pure defensive threat since 1991 with Dikembe Mutombo. The 7-3 center patrolled the paint for the Huskies and vaulted to the top of draft rankings by averaging 4.2 blocked shots per game last year. Thabeet quickly developed his game on the defensive side of the floor under the tutelage of Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun. Similar to most great shot-blocking players in the NBA, Thabeet has excellent timing and always finds a way to disrupt shots from the weak side. For his lengthy body, Thabeet can run the floor with ease. The Tanzanian product is not exactly polished offensively but he does finish around the basket.


The team that decides to draft Thabeet will have to accept the necessary time needed for him to develop offensive skills. Scouts are fearful that Thabeet is too raw with his back to the basket. Much like Dwight Howard, Thabeet is flustered in the post when teams decide to double team and scrap for the basketball. Despite Thabeet's apparent strength, smaller players in the Big East (DeJuan Blair and Luke Harangody) had success against him.


Thabeet is the perfect example of a player fitting a team need. The Wolves are small in the frontcourt with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love forced to play the center position without a seven-footer on the roster. Thabeet will instantly bring a defensive presence to a Minnesota squad that ranked 27th in the league in shot blocking. If the Wolves select Thabeet, Jefferson can move to his more natural position at the power forward spot much like Tim Duncan in San Antonio. Thabeet will not feel the pressure of most top draft picks to carry a team on the offensive side of the floor. The Wolves will rely on Thabeet to simply focus on defense and rebounding, two essential areas of needed improvement.


ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla on Hasheem Thabeet







Round 1: UCONN 103, Chattanooga 47
Round 2: UCONN 92, Texas A&M 66
Round 3: UCONN 72, Purdue 60
Round 4: UCONN 82, Missouri 75
Round 5: Michigan State 82, UCONN 73


Chad Ford's Top 100
"You can't teach 7-foot-3, but you can improve it. Two years ago, Thabeet looked big and clueless. Now, in his junior year, he's turned himself into a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker and an improving offensive player. The Dikembe Mutombo comparisons may be a little optimistic, but Thabeet's combination of size and athleticism encourages them."

Draft Express
"Hasheem Thabeet’s value comes from his defensive ability, but the development of his offensive game will be integral to his success in the long-term and determine how he is viewed as a player."

NBADraft.net
"For his immense size, Thabeet is an above average runner of the court Does a great job of getting initial post position by using his body wide and sealing off his defender Has soft hands. Rarely does he bobble passes and catches with few problems no matter the distance or speed of the pass Shot blocking skills are top shelf His explosiveness: getting off the floor quickly is mind blowing for a player his size."



Ford's Mock Draft
No. 2 to Memphis

NBADraft.net
No. 3 to Memphis

Draft Express
No. 3 to Oklahoma City

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Reports Compiled By:

Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
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