Okafor Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and BIG EAST Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

NEW YORK, NY (March 11, 2003)-- University of Connecticut sophomore center Emeka Okafor was named the 2002-03 BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced Tuesday evening at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Okafor was also named the 2002-03 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Okafor is the UConn record holder for blocked shots in a career with 268 and set the UConn single season record with 138 last season. He enters the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament with 130 in 2002-03 and his per game average of 4.8 is No. 1 in the nation. Okafor also leads the BIG EAST in rebounding at 11.0 per game and is averaging 16.1 points per contest. Okafor was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection and is one of 22 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the nation's best collegiate player.

Okafor, a finance major at Connecticut, carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.73. He has earned 70 academic credits as a member of the honors program, giving him junior academic status. He has been on the Dean’s List all three semesters at UConn. He was previously named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-American First Team and First Team Verizon Academic All-District.

Okafor is the second Husky to receive recognition as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, joining Donyell Marshall (1993-94). He is the first men's basketball player at UConn to earn the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.