Okafor Earns Three National Player of the Year Honors

SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 4) – Emeka Okafor of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Co-National Player of the Year, National Defensive Player of the Year and the Pete Newell Big Man Award at the annual ceremony held at the Final Four, this year at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX.

Okafor earned Co-National Player of the Year award with St. Joseph’s Jameer Nelson at the night’s ceremony. For the second year in a row, Okafor was named the National Defensive Player of the Year. The Pete Newell Big Man of the Year was named to the nation’s top inside performer.

Okafor led the nation in blocked shots and double-doubles all season long. On the season, Okafor has blocked 4.14 shots and notched 23 double-doubles. He is averaging 17.5 points per game and has grabbed 11.4 rebounds per contest.

Junior Emeka Okafor accepts one of his three awards
from the National Association of Basketball Coaches.


Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and Pete Newell
award Okafor with Pete Newell Big Man Award.


Okafor accepts the NABC National Defensive Player of the
Year award.


UConn head coach Jim Calhoun praises UConn's
Emeka Okafor.


Emeka Okafor accepts the NABC Co-National Player
of the Year award.