Storrs, CT -- (Sports Network) - Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet will forgo his senior season and declare for the NBA Draft, the player announced on Tuesday. There was no official word if he would hire an agent.

"After spending time with my family and friends and speaking with Coach Calhoun, I have decided to give up my final year at UConn and enter my name in the 2009 NBA Draft," said Thabeet. "I have had a great experience at Connecticut and cannot thank my coaches and teammates enough. I look forward to the challenge of playing professionally and know that my time here at UConn has prepared me to be successful in the future."

The 7-foot-3 big man averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks over 36 games in helping the Huskies get to the Final Four this season. UConn, which lost to Michigan State in the semifinals, finished with a 31-5 record.

The native of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, started 63 of 64 games over his freshman and sophomore campaigns, averaging 8.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game.

Among his many accomplishments in 2008-09, Thabeet was named First Team All- American by the NABC, Big East Co-Player of the Year and garnered the John R. Wooden Award. In addition, he was the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons.

"Hasheem is more than ready to make the move to the next level," UConn head coach Jim Calhoun said. "He has been one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of college basketball and I am certain that wherever he ends up in the NBA, he is ready to be equally successful."