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UConn Men’s Basketball in the 2000s and 2010s: The Stars Who Shaped a Dynasty

The Basketball Capital of the World Continues

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Quarter Zip Sports
September 01, 2025

Looking back from the vantage point of 2025, it’s easy to see just how dominant and influential the UConn men’s basketball program was in the first two decades of the 21st century. The 2000s and 2010s brought two national championships, unforgettable March moments, and a conveyor belt of talent that turned Storrs into one of college basketball’s true epicenters.

While Jim Calhoun set the foundation in the 1990s, the following two decades showcased just how high the Huskies could soar. The names on this list aren’t just players—they’re symbols of eras, highlight reels come to life, and in many cases, NCAA legends who left indelible marks on March Madness. Let’s revisit the top UConn players from that era.

Hashim Thabeet (2006–2009)

If Okafor set the standard for shot-blocking, Hashim Thabeet followed in his footsteps as a towering presence in the paint. At 7’3”, Thabeet was a force of nature—altering shots, intimidating opponents, and anchoring one of the best defenses in college basketball.

He won back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards and helped lead UConn to the 2009 Final Four. While his NBA career never matched expectations, Thabeet’s college dominance cemented him as one of the defining big men of his era.

Emeka Okafor (2001–2004)

If you’re starting a list of 2000s UConn greats, it has to begin with Emeka Okafor. The 6’10” defensive anchor wasn’t just a shot-blocker—he was the shot-blocker of college basketball. His timing, positioning, and relentless motor turned UConn’s defense into a suffocating force.

The peak, of course, came in 2004, when Okafor led the Huskies to a national championship alongside Ben Gordon. He battled through a back injury during that season but still averaged a double-double and won National Defensive Player of the Year. In the title game against Georgia Tech, he posted 24 points and 15 rebounds—an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers in UConn history.

Okafor wasn’t just about dominance; he embodied the blue-collar, workmanlike toughness Calhoun demanded. When people think about UConn basketball’s identity, Okafor is still one of the first names that comes to mind.

Ben Gordon (2001–2004)

If Okafor was the muscle, Ben Gordon was the flash. Few guards in UConn history could take over a game the way Gordon could, whether by hitting dagger threes, slashing to the basket, or rising to the occasion when the lights were brightest.

The 2004 NCAA Tournament was Gordon at his apex. He averaged over 20 points per game during UConn’s title run and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Phoenix Regional. In the Final Four, his ability to score from anywhere gave UConn an offensive punch that no opponent could match.

Gordon’s pro career was up-and-down, but his UConn legacy is ironclad. When fans recall “who hit the big shot” during those years, the answer is almost always Ben Gordon.

Rudy Gay (2005–2006)

Rudy Gay’s UConn career lasted just two seasons, but his talent level was undeniable. One of the smoothest wings ever to put on a Huskies uniform, Gay combined size, athleticism, and a silky jumper. His 2006 team, loaded with NBA talent, was expected to win it all before falling in a shocking upset to George Mason in the Elite Eight.

That loss remains one of the most stunning in tournament history, but it doesn’t diminish Gay’s impact. He represented the evolution of UConn into a destination for NBA-caliber wings, helping bridge the gap between the Okafor/Gordon era and the Kemba Walker years.

Shabazz Napier (2010–2014)

Every dynasty has a worthy sequel, and for UConn, that was Shabazz Napier. While Kemba blazed the trail, Napier perfected the art of the clutch guard leading an improbable run.

Napier was part of the 2011 championship team as a freshman, learning under Walker’s wing. But it was in 2014, as a senior, that he etched his name into history. Napier carried a UConn squad that wasn’t expected to make much noise all the way to the title, defeating Kentucky in the final. His swagger, fearlessness, and ability to hit contested shots made him the heart of that team.

When he declared, “This is what happens when you ban us!” in reference to UConn’s prior postseason ban, it summed up his defiant leadership. Napier may not have had Walker’s polish, but his grit was every bit as UConn as it gets.

Kemba Walker (2008–2011)

There are great UConn players—and then there’s Kemba. His 2010–11 season isn’t just the best in UConn history; it’s one of the greatest single seasons in college basketball history.

Walker was already a fan favorite as a lightning-quick guard with a killer crossover, but in his junior year he elevated to mythic status. The run began in the Big East Tournament, where he led UConn to five wins in five nights, capped by his iconic step-back buzzer-beater over Pittsburgh’s Gary McGhee. That shot is forever frozen in time as one of Madison Square Garden’s most legendary moments.

And then came the NCAA Tournament. Walker carried UConn all the way to the national championship, averaging nearly 24 points per game during March Madness. His combination of leadership, clutch shot-making, and sheer willpower turned him into a legend not just in Storrs, but across the sport.

When you say “Kemba” to any basketball fan, they know exactly who you mean.

Ripples and Role Players

Of course, UConn’s greatness in the 2000s and 2010s wasn’t just about stars. Talented players like Hilton Armstrong, Caron Butler (whose career bridged the early 2000s), Jeremy Lamb, and Ryan Boatright all played crucial roles in keeping UConn in the national conversation. The Huskies’ ability to reload year after year made them unique—and maddening for rivals.

The Legacy of Two Decades

From 2000 to 2015, UConn men’s basketball won three national championships (2004, 2011, 2014), reached multiple Final Fours, and produced a steady pipeline of NBA talent. That 15-year span is as good as any in college basketball history.

What stands out, though, is how the program defined itself through guards. Okafor and Thabeet were defensive anchors, but it’s the perimeter players—Gordon, Gay, Kemba, Napier—who became the faces of UConn’s identity. Clutch, fearless, and unafraid of the big stage, they made “March Magic” synonymous with Storrs.

Looking back now in 2025, the 2000s and 2010s feel like a golden age of UConn basketball. The sport has changed—conference realignments, NIL deals, the transfer portal—but the legends of that era remain untouchable.

Ask a fan their favorite memory, and you might hear about Kemba’s step-back at MSG, Napier’s title run, or Okafor’s dominance in the paint. Different moments, different styles, but all part of the same story: UConn wasn’t just a basketball program. It was a dynasty.

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