Emeka Okafor's number 50 is set to go into the rafters.
Despite the University of Connecticut men's basketball team falling to No. 6 in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll, there was some fun program news revealed on Monday.
The program announced that Emeka Okafor's No. 50 will be retired at halftime of Feb. 18th's game against Creighton. He will be the third men's player to have his number retired by the program, joining legends Richard Hamilton (No. 32) and Ray Allen (No. 34).
The ceremony will happen at Gampel Pavilion.
About Okafor in college
Okafor spent three years in Storrs, starting all 103 games he ever appeared in. He averaged 13.8 ppg for his career while also pulling down 10.6 rebounds.
He led the Big East in blocks all three seasons and led in rebounding twice. He was a first-team All-American in his junior year, also leading Connecticut to the national championship that season. He shot 59 percent from the floor.
In addition to being a champion and an All-American, he was a three-time All-Big East selection and a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
About Okafor in the pros
A 10-year veteran of the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans, Okafor averaged 12.0 ppg and 9.7 rebounds. He was a member of the All-Rookie team in 2004-05, also winning Rookie of the Year in that campaign.
Okafor played 65 games or more in seven of his 10 seasons, but injuries took their toll eventually. He did not play at all from 2013-2016, but came back in 2017-18 to play 26 games for the Pelicans.
He finished 11th in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2006-07. Amazingly enough, Okafor never attempted a three-point shot in the NBA.
Also on campus
--After suffering its first loss of the conference season on Friday against St. John's, the UConn men's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday at Butler. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m. ET. UConn has already beaten Butler once this season.
--The Olympic Games have begun in Milano-Cortina, Italy and UConn men's hockey alum Tage Thompson is representing Team USA. The Americans are one of the gold medal favorites and they'll begin play on Thursday, Feb. 12 against Latvia. Here's a full schedule of Team USA's games and how to watch.
--UConn alum Christian Haynes captured the Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night! He spent parts of six years with the Huskies.
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