Hasheem Thabeet – NBA Potential and Preview
June 17, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under NBA News, NBA Teams
Hasheem Thabeet, the 7-foot-3 center out of the University of Connecticut, will undoubtedly be a top three pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. The native of Tanzania has a huge frame and great potential as a defensive player.
When it comes to his NBA potential, the first thing scouts marvel at is his shot-blocking ability. In his three years at Connecticut, he averaged 3.8, 4.5 and 4.2 blocks per game, respectively. In his junior season, his 10.8 rebounds per game average was also very impressive.
Expect whichever team that drafts him to use him as a defensive center in the mold of Dikembe Mutombo. Thabeet is a relatively safe pick because he’s sure to at the very least be a quality option when it comes to protecting the basket.
Offensively, he’s definitely raw. He averaged 13.6 points per game on 64% shooting from the field last year but most of that success was due to his height alone. In the NBA, he’ll have to learn how to finish near the basket around strong players who he won’t be able to overwhelm.
All in all, Thabeet should become a solid center in the NBA. He doesn’t have huge potential and could get off to a slow start due to being a raw player, but his defensive ability could prove to be invaluable.
