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21 Shagari Alleyne

Shagari Alleyne
Name
Shagari Alleyne
Position
Center
Class
JR
Hometown (Last School)
New York, NY (Rice)
Ht
7'3"
Wt
271
Seasons
2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
Birthday
January 14, 1984

Shagari Alleyne was born in the Bronx, New York on January 14, 1984, to Claudia and Robert Alleyne. He attended Rice High School in New York City, where he averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks his senior year. Alleyne was a three-time all-city selection and helped Rice win city and state titles his junior year.  He was named MVP of the 2002 state playoffs and was a two-time first-team all-stater.

Alleyne stood 7-foot-3 and had an 8-foot wingspan.  He wore size 21 sneakers.  He could dunk without jumping.

In October of 2002, Alleyne committed to play his college basketball at Rutgers but did not sign a national letter of intent.  On April 24, 2003, he changed his mind and committed to Kentucky.  He’s believed to be the tallest prospect to ever commit to UK.

Alleyne played for the Wildcats for three seasons. He averaged 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds per game during his college career.

As a freshman, Alleyne played in 18 games, including six of the last seven.  He produced a season-high six points on 3-of-4 shooting against Eastern Kentucky.

Alleyne’s progression from project to contributor began at the end of his freshman season. After scoring a total of 14 points in 18 games as a freshman, he went to work. Over the summer, he gained 10 pounds and practiced his post moves. That hard work paid off as Alleyne continued to improve, turning potential into production. He played in 29 games, a significant jump from his freshman season.  During Kentucky’s 73-58 victory over Indiana in Freedom Hall on December 12, Alleyne posted 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two assists in 21 minutes off the bench. That line earned him the game’s MVP award, an annual honor presented by the Jefferson County UK Alumni Club. He finished seventh in the SEC with 1.52 blocks per game and shot 65 percent from the field (30-of-46), thanks to 21 dunks.  Alleyne became the first UK player in two seasons to block six shots in a game vs. Morehead State.  He also had 11 points and eight boards against Morehead.

As a junior, Alleyne saw action in 22 games and started two games.  He finished the season averaging 2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

In May of 2006, Alleyne was ruled academically ineligible.  Academic missteps marked his 3-year career at UK.  At least six times in the previous two seasons Coach Tubby Smith kept him on the bench and would not allow him to travel to away games.  Alleyne requested a release from his scholarship and Kentucky officially cut its ties with him on June 7, 2006.

On June 28, 2006, Alleyne announced that he would transfer to Manhattan College.

College Statistics:

NCAA

SeasonTeamMINFGMFGA3PM3PAFTMFTAORDRPFASTTOBLKSTLPTSGMPGFG%FT%3P%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kentucky60615002621080104014193.240.0033.3300.60.00.00.20.7
Kentucky268304600213015401871044181299.265.2270.0001.90.20.01.52.8
Kentucky1361832007101118851415243226.256.2570.0001.30.20.10.72.0
Total-46454930030462868341234633138706.658.0665.2201.40.20.00.92.0

Career Totals

SeasonMINFGMFGA3PM3PAFTMFTAORDRPFASTTOBLKSTLPTSGMPGFG%FT%3P%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2003-0460615002621080104014193.240.0033.3300.60.00.00.20.7
2004-05268304600213015401871044181299.265.2270.0001.90.20.01.52.8
2005-061361832007101118851415243226.256.2570.0001.30.20.10.72.0
Total46454930030462868341234633138706.658.0665.2201.40.20.00.92.0

 

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

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