Hasheem Thabit Zaidi Ya Ujuavyo

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Hasheem Thabeet was born on February 16, 1987 in Tanzania. He had only been playing organized basketball for less than five years before arriving at the University of Connecticut from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by way of the Cypress Christian School in Houston. As a three year starter at the University of Connecticut, Hasheem Thabeet was named the Big East co-Player of the Year while helping UConn to a 31-5 record and a Final Four berth during the 2008-09 season. He averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game during his final season for the Huskies.

During his career at Connecticut, Thabeet was recognized as an All-American, 2009 Big East Player of the Year, National Defensive Player of the Year and was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.

Thabeet has been referred to as "one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of college basketball” by his Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. He participated in a country music benefit “Nashville4Africa”, along with the Water for Life Global event on water purification with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania. Hasheem also enjoyed participating in a speaking tour in his native Tanzania, in which he visited orphanages to stress the importance of academics. He looks forward to continuing his work with charity organizations to raise awareness on the importance of education for African children.