Hasheem Thabeet
Who was Hasheem Thabeet?
Professional basketball center who was selected second overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, becoming the highest-drafted African-born player at the time.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Hasheem Thabeet (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Hasheem Thabeet, originally named Hashim Thabit Manka, was born on February 16, 1987, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A professional basketball center, he is one of the most notable African-born players in NBA history. Standing at seven feet three inches tall, Thabeet started focusing on basketball later than most, only getting serious about it as a teenager. His impressive physical attributes soon caught the eye of American college scouts. His journey from Tanzania to the top levels of professional basketball was shaped by his time at Cypress Christian School in Texas, where he honed his skills at the high school level before advancing to major college competitions.
Before Fame
Hasheem Thabeet, who grew up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, started playing basketball in his mid-teens, which is quite late for someone who would later be drafted second overall in the NBA. But his height and athletic ability helped him progress quickly. He moved to the United States to attend Cypress Christian School in Houston, Texas. There, he got structured coaching and could compete at a higher level than what was possible in Tanzania at that time.
Key Achievements
- Selected second overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, the highest draft position ever achieved by an African-born player at the time
- Two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Connecticut
- Led the NCAA in blocked shots during the 2008-09 season
- Played in the NBA for multiple franchises including the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Portland Trail Blazers
- Competed in the Basketball Africa League, representing a significant connection between his NBA background and African professional basketball development
Did You Know?
- 01.Thabeet did not begin playing basketball until he was approximately 16 years old, making his rise to the second overall NBA draft pick within a few years one of the more accelerated development stories of his draft class.
- 02.He recorded 199 blocked shots during the 2008-09 college season at UConn, setting a program record and leading the nation in blocks per game.
- 03.Thabeet was selected one pick ahead of James Harden in the 2009 NBA Draft, a selection order that has frequently been referenced in discussions of draft evaluation and player development.
- 04.He was the first Tanzanian-born player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft.
- 05.After his NBA career ended, Thabeet returned to Africa to compete in the Basketball Africa League, a competition co-organized by the NBA that launched its inaugural season in 2021.