Paradise Jam bracket released

The bracket for this year's Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands was released on Monday. UConn is one of eight teams participating in the early season tournament, which runs from Nov. 21 to 24. UConn plays LaSalle in the first round on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., and with a win, will move on to play the winner of Southern Miss. and Miami. on Nov. 23 On the other side of the bracket, San Diego and Valparaiso play for the right to play either Iona or Wisconsin. The finals are set for 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, though every team is guaranteed to play three games.

Unlike the women's bracket this past season, the men will hardly see a star-studded field, though a rematch with San Diego would be interesting.

More on Majok

Here's a preview of tomorrow's story on Ater Majok's verbal commitment to the Huskies. Also, I'm a little late on this but here is the link to the story on Thabeet returning that ran in today's paper. (There will be more on Thabeet in tomorrow's paper as well). Check back here later for more quotes and breakdown from a busy day in Storrs.

By MATT STOUT
Norwich Bulletin

Ater Majok found everything he was looking for in a college basketball program when he made an official visit to UConn late last week: a knowledgeable coaching staff, a campus he “loved,” players he related to and a team that just felt right.

"Plus you had great weather," said Ed Smith, Majok's coach and mentor in Australia, where he's lived for the last eight years. "So whoever planned that, did a great job."

It almost made his big decision inevitable.

Majok, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward out of Sudan, verbally committed to UConn Monday, ending a race for one of this year’s most highly sought-after recruits.

Touted as an instant impact player with the ability to play both inside and out, the man with a 7-foot-4 wing span joins an ever-growing freshman class that includes Kemba Walker (New York), Scottie Haralson (Jackson, Miss.), Charles Okwandu (Nigeria) and possibly, the well-traveled Nate Miles (Toledo, Ohio).

Majok's decision also extended a string of good news for the Huskies, who learned Sunday National Defensive Player of the Year Hasheem Thabeet was returning to Storrs for his junior year. It’s made the excitement around Gampel Pavilion palpable.

"After being here and everything was in place and he had been through the process, (Majok) said, 'Why don't I just go and shut it down,'" Smith said of Majok's recruitment. "He just felt good. I asked him (Sunday) night, 'How do you feel?' He said, 'I feel really good about the situation, I feel good about the staff.' There's a good blend of veteran coaches as well as younger coaches, and he felt really good about the team and the mix of the team."

Majok had visited Kentucky and Baylor, and had the opportunity to make one more visit, which would have been to UCLA. But after leaving Storrs Friday morning and remaining in the U.S. to mull the decision, he called UConn coaches Monday afternoon to inform them of his commitment.

"It's a really good opportunity to play," Majok told Scout.com. "It's a chance to play for a Hall of Fame coach at a good program. I'm about to jump out of my seat right now. (Jim Calhoun) was very excited and he feels that with my addition to the team, we’ll be national champions this season."

Smith said Calhoun's track record of molding "similar-type players" played a huge role in Majok's decision, as did the Thabeet's announcement to stay. Thabeet, a Tanzania native, hosted Majok during his visit, and his return coupled with that of several other veterans was appealing.

"He felt as a freshman coming in, he can rely on the veteran leadership of the seniors who are there to actually learn how to work and how to be successful," Smith said. "So there won't be as much pressure coming in as a freshman. He doesn't shy away from the pressure, he welcomes it. But he also welcomes the opportunity to learn."

UConn coaches aren't allowed to publicly comment on Majok until he signs his Letter of Intent, which Smith said could happen within the next two or three days.

But Calhoun has said he's expected four to five new players to enter the program, meaning if Miles is able to pass the academic standards of both the NCAA Clearinghouse and the UConn admissions board, one current player would have to transfer to free up a scholarship. Okwandu, though verbally committed, has yet to sign his Letter of Intent.

"If everything works out the way we think it's going to work out … somewhere in May, we're going to have a real good feeling about who we have," Calhoun said Monday. "But if assuming the best, which we try to do, most of these things should happen. It will be a different team."

Reach Matt Stout at 425-4250 or mstout@norwichbulletin.com

Majok commits

UConn recruit Ater Majok verbally committed to the Huskies Monday afternoon and will join a freshman class that already includes Kemba Walker, Scottie Haralson and Charles Okwandu.

The 6-foot, 10-inch Sudan native is in the United States with his coach and mentor, Edward Smith, and will most likely sign a Letter of Intent before the late May deadline.

If he had gone ...

There are countless NBA Mock Drafts and a number of spots Hasheem Thabeet could have went in if he had declared this year. But I found this link interesting for two reasons: 1) They put the average salary for players selected at their specific positions. For example, the No. 1 pick (Michael Beasley here, as he is everywhere) makes a standard salary of $4,822,800. In comparison, the No. 22 pick (this Web site has Thabee there) makes $1,176,240.

2)The last line of Thabeet's write-up says this: "Work ethic and true age are question marks." I have never heard any of these concerns -- ever -- about Thabeet. Where they pulled that is beyond me. Anyway, take a look if you have the time.

Tha Beet doesn't go on

It looks like you guys were right. All season, I predicted that Hasheem Thabeet would declare for the NBA Draft following the season. Yet, in a poll posted here at the beginning of the offseason, 22 of 33 voters said he would return. (Bowing)

That said, the longer the 7-foot-3 Thabeet prolonged his decision in the last few weeks, the more it felt likely he would be back in Storrs next season. And (this is just speculating), the decision may have come earlier if it weren't for students, players and the campus devoting the last few days to Spring Weekend festivities.

So what is Thabeet giving up by coming back to school. Millions of dollars, obviously, but according to UConn coaches and most published reports, Thabeet probably would have been a late lottery pick at best, meaning with another year of improvement, he could play himself into major money as a top-five or, as UConn associate coach George Blaney suggested Sunday night, even a top-three selection. And with A.J. Price expected to return next season along with the rest of the starting five, UConn seems destined for title contender status from here on out.

Thabeet is expected to meet with the media Monday at 1 p.m. Check back here after that for more reaction and insight into the biggest (non-)move for the Huskies this offseason.

Thabeet to return to UConn

UConn sophomore center Hasheem Thabeet will return for his junior season and will not make himself eligible for this year's NBA Draft, it was announced Sunday.

"I am excited about the opportunity to stay at UConn and continue the mission that we started this season," said Thabeet. "I also want to thank my family and close friends for all of their help and support. As a team, we took a step in the right direction this year, but I look forward to us working together to win a BIG EAST Championship and making a run at a national championship. I really enjoy being here, getting a great education and spending time with my friends and teammates."

"We are happy that Hasheem has made the decision to return for his junior season," said UConn coach Jim Calhoun. "Hasheem has made as much progress as any player I have coached in my 36 years and if he continues that incredible progress, he will help us take the next step as a team and help himself become one of the best players in college basketball."

Thabeet was named the 2007-08 NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He finished the year ranked No. 3 in the nation in blocked shots and is No. 2 all-time on the UConn career list, behind only Emeka Okafor.

Hasheem Watch continues ...

It appears the public will have to wait at least one more day for Hasheem Thabeet's decision to go pro or return to the Huskies for his junior season. UConn coach Jim Calhoun said Friday afternoon that he hasn't spoken with Thabeet today and with Spring weekend festivities and the "kids being out and about," he didn't expect any news to come out of Storrs tonight.

"We've had a couple different discussions," Calhoun said. "I think he'd like to stay, but I think his responsibilities back home are weighing on him."

Calhoun went on to say he thinks Thabeet has made his decision, he just hasn't told him of it yet. Check back here for any updates, but with no announcement today, Thabeet would inch closer to the 11:59:59 deadline on Sunday night.