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Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:10 pm EDT

Rehashing the remarkable story of Hasheem Thabeet

By Eamonn Brennan

During UConn's Elite Eight win over Missouri on Saturday, CBS broadcaster Dick Enberg used a quick bit of TV downtime to reference how star UConn center Hasheem Thabeet got his name. The story is that after Thabeet's father died, Thabeet removed his last name and took his middle name as his last. His reasoning was less bitter than inspirational. As Enberg mentioned, Thabeet wanted to "be his own man."

Thabeet was determined to find a career. Several years earlier, his father had died of complications from diabetes. He immediately made his middle name his last name because "once my dad passed, then I've got to make a new person," and looked for work to support his family because that's what his culture taught him.

Anyone who watched the broadcast Saturday will be familiar with that story. Fewer will know the remarkable way Thabeet even got to America in the first place.

By age 15, Thabeet had never touched a basketball. Upon viewing pickup games in his home country of Tanzania, Thabeet had the same thought any scout would agree with: he needed to play basketball. (It took Thabeet a while to figure this out. When he was 14, he worked as a model, which brought home $300 a night. He was also hired by a club owner to be a bouncer and "look scary"; Thabeet claims he never fought anyone.)

But how does someone who has never played basketball before get a scholarship in America to play basketball? The same way you find old furniture on Craigslist: The Internet. Thabeet went to an Internet cafe, bought a few hours worth of time, and emailed as many college admissions departments as he could. Long story short, he ended up at UConn. Which is how you ended up seeing him on TV today -- new name, new career, thousands of miles away from home, and all in five years' time. This Internet thing is handy, huh?

Related: Big 12 Basketball, College Basketball Media

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281 Comments

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  1. Coach Isiah Thompson
    1. Posted by Coach Isiah Thompson Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    Who picked Rodney to win it all?
  2. ricmccla
    2. Posted by ricmccla Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    First, am not a UM fan, however, UConn should have been removed from this tournement two weeks ago. Cheating is cheating, don't care who is doing it and there is already enough evidence for the NCAA to take action, but will not do so because it would call their inability to police universities. Stop the tournement now until some legal action can be determined as to UConn's cheating. Even if the cheating does not involve current players, fact is UConn cheated and must have its basketball program sanctioned for these activities with all conference and/or national titles removed for the past couple of years. prevented fom post season appearance this year and the next four or five years, and the number of allowed scholarship players reduced. Message needs to be sent to all members schools that this type of action on the part of alumni and program representatives will no longer be tolerated by the NCAA and the public.
  3. J
    3. Posted by J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    My opinion is that all of the article is false and the real reason he dropped his last name was because he did not want to inspire college kids to make funny signs, such as "We Got Thabeet." Come on, think about it.
  4. Bob C
    4. Posted by Bob C Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    to ricmccia- Are you alright my brother?
  5. Ryan M
    5. Posted by Ryan M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    you are an idiot. innocent until proven guilty.
  6. Ricky Fe5
    6. Posted by Ricky Fe5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    ricmccla. Your an idiot! Stop the tournament?? I hate UCONN, but why would you punish these kids for what others did. I could see if Nate Miles was still on the team, but he is in Idaho. He didnt play one second for UCONN. Get over it. Calhoun and UCONN should be penalized if they cheated. But you are innocent until proven guilty. Take away a few scholarships, problem solved.
  7. Aaron T
    7. Posted by Aaron T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    Wow, all of a sudden when ricmccla says something it's important. Stop the presses.
  8. Jar
    8. Posted by Jar Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    ricmccla, Nobody cares about your little rant. Miles is gone. None of these players have anything to do with it. And theres no way you can tell me that no other school in the nation has ever had a student manager "coincidentally" talk to a prospect. It happens.
  9. Just Me
    9. Posted by Just Me Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    2 You are such an a s s w i p e. These have only been allegations. There has to be an investigation. The NCAA does not work that way. This player never even played for the team. You need to shut your hateful mouth because there have been no statements saying UConn cheated except for this internet sports site. The player in question did not play one game. The NCAA would not even consider such a move if it happened to have been true. You need to shut your mouth. You are not judge and jury nor are you in any position to past judgment on UConn program. You are probably some sore sport whose team is not going to the final four. WE ARE. SO KISS MY ASS!!! YOUR A HATEFUL LOSER WITH AN AXE TO GRIND. And this article just came out on Wednesday not two weeks ago. ONTO THE FINAL FOUR!!!
    GO HUSKIES!!!!
  10. Gators Rule
    10. Posted by Gators Rule Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    I agree with ricmccla. Uconn is just like the patriots!
  11. Alvin
    11. Posted by Alvin Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    good man looking out for his familey.
  12. Gators Rule
    12. Posted by Gators Rule Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Except maybe not kick them out of the tournament. But they should do something with Calhoun! :)
  13. gdrichgridiron77
    13. Posted by gdrichgridiron77 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    That is probably the dumbest thing I have heard about the topic. In no way does the unic\versity deserve all of that. The guy never even played. it DID NOT have anything to do with what games they won, or anything, you are just plain wrong.
  14. harry h
    14. Posted by harry h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    i didnt know he was from africa
  15. Garath F
    15. Posted by Garath F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    J, you need to think about it. If this kid grew up in a poor country like that, what do you think would have known about college?
  16. MeAsIam
    16. Posted by MeAsIam Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    What does your comment has to do with that post... and why are you son Hangry? I am not saying you are wrong but let's stick with the subject. Suspend them for five years you have to be kidding (mericmccla)., amd just because I don't want them to win that doesn't mean I don't want to see these kids show case off their talents. Some will move on to the next level that could be the NBA or just another job. You know starting to get pay for something they love doing to take care themselves and their family... That is just my 2 sense.
  17. Stephen S
    17. Posted by Stephen S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:49 pm EDT

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    it still makes no sense why he dropped his last name. i think that is VERY disrespectful
  18. Ummy 18
    18. Posted by Ummy 18 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    First of all he never played a minute. He was only on campus for about a month. Either way the rest of the team/ school shouldnt be punished for someones mistake.
  19. Gagan G
    19. Posted by Gagan G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    ok....i bet that so many schools have broken the rules of recruiting but have been licky enough to not have been caught....if Nate Miles was still on the team, i agree that they should have punished them for it but the fact is HE IS NOT. Accept the fact that Uconn is a very talented team and they they will probably win the National Championship out of pure talent
  20. Curtis P
    20. Posted by Curtis P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    Yeah!
  21. mma1025
    21. Posted by mma1025 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    U cheat,U get penelized,period! schlorships aren't enuf anymore. No trips to a bowl game or tourney are necessary.
  22. Done
    22. Posted by Done Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    #10 you are so right we tend to do the opposite guilty till proven Innocent.
  23. Ingrid C
    23. Posted by Ingrid C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    This article is a poor piece of Journalism. Why? How do you create a story about why some change their name, without explain what they changed it form. Poor journalist. Bleah!
  24. AnthonyS
    24. Posted by AnthonyS Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    So basically an opportunity for scholarship was taken away from an American and given to someone from another country. I wonder how many intelligent kids with no athletic skills wish UConn would pay their way?
    This story is sad in so many ways
  25. JV
    25. Posted by JV Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    how does are any of these comments relevant to the article besides calvin, oh yeah i agree with the 8th and 9th person that posted

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