Emeka Okafor becomes third UConn men’s basketball player to have number retired

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STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Emeka Okafor became the third UConn men’s basketball player to have his number retired, with the Huskies honoring the former national player of the year Wednesday night at halftime of their loss to Creighton.

Okafor, the center who led UConn to the 2004 national title, joined Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton as the only players to have their numbers retired. It was the second number retirement at UConn this season. Sue Bird’s No. 10 was retired before a Dec. 7 women’s game against DePaul.

“I am really soaking in the legacy, going in both the men’s and women’s side,” Okafor said. "Looking at all the numbers and all the pictures. What a special basketball powerhouse for the men and the women to be so highly regarded and to have the wealth of history. To a part of that makes me well up on the inside."

From Bellaire, Texas, the 6-foot-10 Okafor averaged 13.8 points,10.6 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in 103 games in three seasons at UConn.

“There are certain environments where people just thrive,” Okafor said. "Coach (Jim Calhoun) obviously saw something in me. I did my thing, but it was more to do with my environment.”

Okafor was selected second overall by Charlotte in the 2004 NBA draft, and was the rookie of the year. He also played for New Orleans and Washington in his 10-year NBA career.

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