Hasheem Thabeet: The Tanzanian Phenom

[Nyani Ngabu]

Connecticut Huskies center Hasheem Thabeet, left, dunks the ball in front of Buffalo forward Calvin Betts during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Amherst, N.Y. on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. Thabeet scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as No. 2 Connecticut survived a big scare, holding off Buffalo 66-64 on Thursday night. ​

He had a double double....impressive!!

 

[Quemu]

This is what Chad Ford (ESPN) said about Hasheem:

I've been among Thabeet's biggest skeptics, but I'm quickly running out of allies. More and more scouts appear convinced that the big man from UConn is finally able to deliver. We always knew Thabeet could block shots and run the floor. But his improved rebounding and confidence on the offensive end have more scouts calling him a top-5 lock.

And this how one person commented about Hasheem:

It's clear Chad has never seen Thabeet play consistently. He has exactly zero offensive moves and still struggles to even elevate and dunk the ball when he is under the basket. There has been very little offensive development in his game over the last 2-3 years and he still catches and brings the ball down below his waist. He would be eaten alive by 95% of NBA big men and has NBA bust written all over him.

For those who have seen him playing, how close/far the above comment is?

 

[Balantanda]

Nilisoma katika habari leo kuwa dogo Hasheem kaitwa na jamaa wa TBF kwenye timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa kikapu kwa ajili ya michuano ya challenge inayoanza December,2008...Sasa sijui atakwenda Bongo kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo ama,tusubiri tuone

 

[Yo Yo]

Nilisoma katika habari leo kuwa dogo Hasheem kaitwa na jamaa wa TBF kwenye timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa kikapu kwa ajili ya michuano ya challenge inayoanza December,2008...Sasa sijui atakwenda Bongo kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo ama,tusubiri tuone

Boale zake buku na kuiprove kiwango chake.....akienda Atarogwa.

 

[Balantanda]

Boale zake buku na kuiprove kiwango chake.....akienda Atarogwa.

.....dah nimecheka kweli mkuu,kwamba akirudi Bongo watamloga,,,lol,,kaazi kwelikweli

 

[Belo]

Dogo yuko tight but msuli mdogo inabidi aende sana gym na msosi wa kutosha

 

[Capitol Hill]

Dogo yuko tight but msuli mdogo inabidi aende sana gym na msosi wa kutosha

Mkuu sidhani point ya "msosi wa kutosha" ina hold water. Huyu jamaa (Hasheem) ana full academic scholarship inayo cover tuition na room and board (malazi na chakula), Kafeteria za shule zote Marekani achilia mbali University of Connecticut, ambayo ina hela nyingi sana kwenye Athletic Department yake (Coach Jim Calhoun ana make $1.6 million annual salary) zina menu kubwa na wide selection ya vyakula na cafeteria nyingi ni buffet style.

Nadhani Hasheem anaelewa kabisa areas ambazo anahitaji kufanya improvement. Na kwa vile yuko na ma trainers na coach Calhoun ambaye ametoa wachezaji wazuri sana kwenye ligi ya NBA kama akina Ray Allen, Donyell Marshall, Rip Hamilton, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor, na Ben Gordon.

Ma big men wengi wanaingia mwaka wao wa kwanza (rookie year) wakiwa okay but not solid. Mnakumbuka Yao Ming? Kila point guard alikuwa anataka ku dunk on him. Look at him now...he's extremely good!
I have no doubt kwamba by Sept 2009 wakati wa NBA pre season Thabeet atakuwa so strong with additional muscle pound, he will be even better than he is today.

 

[Capitol Hill]

Nilisoma katika habari leo kuwa dogo Hasheem kaitwa na jamaa wa TBF kwenye timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa kikapu kwa ajili ya michuano ya challenge inayoanza December,2008...Sasa sijui atakwenda Bongo kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo ama,tusubiri tuone

TBF wana insurance?

 

[Balantanda]

TBF wana insurance?

I do not know

 

[Pundit]

I do not know

Watamlostisha tu.

 

[Mtaalam]

hao tbf kwanza watamlipa kiasi gani?au ndo yale yale mambo ya kuwakilisha nchi na kuwa mzalendo?by de tym akirudi timu yake kalost if nt kukuta wengine wanamchukulia namba yake

 

[Capitol Hill]

Nilisoma katika habari leo kuwa dogo Hasheem kaitwa na jamaa wa TBF kwenye timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa kikapu kwa ajili ya michuano ya challenge inayoanza December,2008...Sasa sijui atakwenda Bongo kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo ama,tusubiri tuone

Mkuu...hii haitawezekana tukiachilia mbali maswala mengine, mwajiri wa Hasheem sasa hivi ni University of Connecticut. Na kipindi hiki (October mpaka mwezi wa April mwanzoni mwakani ndio season ya NCAA basketball). Kwa hiyo basi kwa sababu jamaa yuko kwenye scholarship, na ndiyo hiyo scholarship inamfanya aweze kuingia darasani, UConn ndio final decision makers kwenye hili swala na si Hasheem mwenyewe. Na kwa vile wanamtegemea, hawawezi kumwachia aende akachezee timu nyingine wakati wao ndio wanalipa gharama. Kama itatokea aumie kwenye mechi, ni bora aumie wakati yuko akimfanyia kazi mwajiri wake.
Hii issue kidogo inafanana na issue za wachezaji kikapu walioko college na NBA waliochezea nchi zao kwenye Olympic trials na hata kwenye Olympic. Ukiangalia wachezaji kama Yao Ming(China), Dirk Nowitzk (German), Tony Parker (France), Manu Ginobli (Argentina), Paul Gasol (Spain), na wengine walizichezea timu za nchi zao, wakati wa off season. Na ikitokea wakaumia wakati wanazichezea hizo seconday teams, then waajiri wao (NBA teams) hawako liable katika kuwa kugharamia matibabu, na wana haki ya kuwa waive (kuwaachia wajitafutie timu nyingine) na hizo timu then kwa kutumia salary inayoachwa nyuma ku sign wachezaji wengine kuziba pengo. Ndio maana tukauliza je tuna Insurance ya kum cover Thabeet should anything happens to him wakati analicheza taifa lake? Kwa sababu this kid is going to make BINGO ya nguvu NBA should all things go accordingly.

 

[Kuhani]

Thabeet anaweza kuja kuwa na off-court issues siku zake za NBA . (Kwa wasiofuatilia michezo na dynamics za professional athletics za Marekani, off-court issues refers to matatizo tatizo yanayo purukusa, yanayo distract timu na mchezaji, hasa mienendo inayohusu public antics and misbehavior.)

On at least two different occasions Thabeet amejiingiza kwenye viugomvi ugomvi kwenye vilabu feki, tena vya wakenya vya East Coast. Kiugomvi kimoja ni Thabeet mwenyewe alikinunua, jamaa wanapigana vikumbo kuhusu demu, Thabeet somehow gets in the middle of it na kuanza kusema "you know who I am...you know who I am?" Scuffle ikafikia ku "take it outside," lakini zikaamuliwa kabla wazee hawajaitwa.

Mi nikawaza, Thabeet, you have a bright and promising future ahead of you, kwa nini unataka kuanza na vi rekodi vibaya vibaya na law enforcement saa hizi kwenye vi night spots havina hata fire alarm batteries?

Wamarekani, kinyume na wanavyooneka watu wahuni na wenye tamaduni zilizooza, sio decadent and indulgent kihivyo, bado ni watu conservative sana sana. (Inawezekana hata wana maadili kushinda sisi, na ndio maana huwezi kuwa na nyumba ndogo Marekani na ukawa kiongozi.)

In any event, because of such deep conservatism that permeates even into sports culture, hata wanamichezo hawatakiwi kuwa na, sio tu criminal records tu, bali hata police contact!! Ukipigiwa hodi na polisi tu, itaiingia magazetini halafu wanasema una purukusa timu.

Thabeet inabidi aliangalie sana hili. Sasa hivi yuko under tremendous peer pressure ya ku conform to that hip hop, get-outta-ma-face machismo, pressure ambayo ni wengi tu ilitu weigh down. Mpaka baadae ndio unakuja kugundua, you know what, I don't have to be a nigger to be cool. So, naelewa what he is going through, and the pressure will, in fact, intensify once he gets the power of mullah!!

Sasa mara nyingi usipomwimbia nyimbo za pambio mtu fulani prominent unaonekana kama una kikorosho kikorosho hivi. Kumbe nia yako ni kueleza ya kujenga tu.

Lakini Thabeet mwenyewe akisoma hapa anajua what I'm talking about with those prepubescent scuffles he got himself into in the East Coast. Hao ESPN analysts haya hawayajui. Wao sasa hivi wanaangilia tu his on-court issues. Wabongo wenzie ndio wanajua hivi vi scuffles. So, word to the wise, Thabeet.

Kingine, kuhusu mwenendo na tabia, Thabeet bahati mbaya hajazungukwa na jamii fulani ya watu wazima anaewaogopa. Hana support structure, moral support structure, that is. Ana role na vijana wa kibongo, again, hip-hopping, pant-sagging, colloquial-like-that nigger-wanna be's. Vijana ambao hawawezi kumwambia "Hashimu, Hashimu, sikia Mkuu, unaenda kukutana na Rais wa nchi, vua mkofia huo babu, umepewa audience na Mkuu wa Jamhuri!!!" You know, funika kombe mwanaharamu apite. Hakuna wa kumwambia hayo. Inakuwa kama Kikwete ndo kapewa favor ya audience vile. Unafikiri Nyerere angekubali upuuzi wa watoto kama huo? I mean, kuna wakati ili uwe na mwenendo mzuri inabidi uzungukwe na watu wazima fulani unaowaheshimu kwamba duuuh, hapa nikiliharibu fulani atanionaje. Thabeet hajazungukwa na watu hao Marekani. Wale wazungu, kina Jim Calhoun, kocha wa UCONN, hawajui sana anachofanya weekend. Haya yakianza kupata limelight ya NBA watajua.

Isije ikafika huko halafu ikawa too late.

 

[Capitol Hill]

......Ridiculous!! uzushi kama ule wa "Dr. Masau." Mr Investigator kashindwa hata kusema jina la kilabu feki, mji na state, kaishia kusema "mitaa ya east coast. Wakti tunajua kuwa east coast ni vast na inaanzia Maine mpaka sijui wapi huko.... dogo anaishi maisha ya kama college baller yeyote na ktk kikosi cha UConn ni decent kiasi hata kocha ua anaona analeta u-decent wake mpaka kwenye korti....

Hao wanugu unao zungumzia ni wepi? research kuhusu kikosi cha UConn peke yake uone hao wanugu wako wastaarabu wana soo ngapi kiasi cha kufungiwa na team/wengine kusimamishwa shule!!

Shame on you Ku-ha_Ni kwa kuleta uzushi kama ule kwa kwenye "zeutamu"!! Kuwa mstaarabu na jifunze ku-mind maisha yako mwenyewe...mambo usoyajua, yaache kama yalivyo, badala ya kuandika tu ili uonekana "domokaya" na kutaka misifa!

Mkuu YournameisMINE, inawezekana Hasheem ni kijana mzuri kabisa kama unavyomzungumzia, lakini naomba kutofautiana na wewe kidogo kwenye hii issue. Mkuu mimi simfahamu Hasheem zaidi ya kumwangalia kwenye ESPN na kusoma blogs. Overall jamaa hajaibua scandal yoyote na tunamsifu na kumwombea aendelee kuwa balozi mzuri. Lakini kuna issue moja hapa ambayo mimi nakubaliana na Kuhani. Nayo ni issue ya judgment. Hivi kweli Hasheem anaenda kuonana na mkuu wa nchi yake, anavaa jeans mlegezo na kofia na t-shirt. What does this tell you? Kwa kweli this was a poor judgment. Labda washauri wake hawamshauri accordingly, labda ni mambo ya ujana. Kila mwaka timu bingwa kuanzia level ya DIV I na mpaka professional leagues, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL huwa zinaalikwa White House. Naomba uniambie kama kuna picha umewahi kuiona ya wachezaji, wakiwa wamevaa jeans, na hawakuchomekea. Ni mara moja tu niliona kituko tena ikawa topic kwenye news hapa Marekani, pale Florida Gators walipoalikwa White House na Joachim Noah anayechezea Bulls sasa hivi akaenda amevaa flip flops (ndala) na suti.
Kwa hiyo mkuu tumsaidie huyu dogo, lets congratulate him anapofanya vizuri and lets criticize him tunapoona anakwenda pembeni ya mstari. Nashukuru!

 

[Koba]

2009 NBA Draft Prospects: Top 100 View

2009 NBA Draft Prospects: Top 100

RK NAME POS HT WT AGE SCHOOL/COUNTRY PROJECTION

1 Blake Griffin PF 6-10 245 19 Oklahoma Top 5
Griffin has the size, strength and athleticism that NBA teams covet in power players. While... more
2 Ricky Rubio PG 6-4 180 18 Spain Top 5
Rubio has been on the NBA radar screen since he was 15. No one in... more
3 Hasheem Thabeet C 7-3 265 21 Connecticut Lottery
Thabeet was pegged early as a potential late-lottery sleeper. His size, athleticism and growing basketball... more
4 James Harden SG 6-4 215 19 Arizona State Top 10
Harden is an excellent scorer who generated significant buzz in the Pac-10 as a freshman.... more
5 Stephen Curry PG 6-3 185 20 Davidson Lottery
For the second straight year, a thrilling performance in the NCAA tournament is causing NBA... more
6 B. J. Mullens C 7-1 260 19 Ohio State Top 10
No one in the draft has more upside than Mullens. NBA scouts dream of athletic... more
7 Jrue Holiday PG 6-3 180 18 UCLA Lottery
Scouts believe Holiday may be the most complete freshman in the country. He can dominate... more
8 Brandon Jennings PG 6-2 165 19 Italy Top 10
Jennings' decision to bolt for Europe is unprecedented. There's no way this early in the... more
9 DeMar DeRozan SG 6-6 200 19 USC Top 10
DeRozan's combination of athleticism, size and skill have drawn Kobe Bryant comparisons. That's a little... more
10 Al-Farouq Aminu SF 6-8 205 18 Wake Forest Lottery to mid-first round
Aminu is the type of superathletic, long forward that has risen on draft boards the... more
To see Chad Ford's complete Top 100, become an ESPN Insider. Already an Insider? Sign in above or click here.

 

[Capitol Hill]

Kama unaijua "record" ya Ku-ha_Ni ktk hii JF, then nadhani unanielewa....! Jamaa kwanza havai jeans mlegezo, hiyo ni fact! "Mikofia na kadhalika anayoongelea jamaa nadhani ni ile ya kukutana na balozi NYC, i know some details kwanini ilikuwa kama ilivyokuwa kwani "nilisema" kwa one of his "handlers," kuwa "whats up with that?" nikapewa excuse(s), ambazo kimsingi zili-make sense na kuambiwa kuwa balozi mwenyewe hata "haku-mind."..B.S, right??

Kaka, kama uliangalia kwa Michuzi wakati wa Sullian kule AR, kuna pichaz alibandika...angalia dogo jinsi alivyovaa!! Isitoshe huyu ni 20-21 yo kid, yupo college, let him be a kid!! Najua wewe ni shabiki wa sports, hivi bila dress code ya Stern kwa NBA, ma-press conference yalikuwaje?? Hivi unafikiri mwaliko rasmi Ikulu Magogoni, dogo ataenda na kapelo?? Fikiria kaka, si mara ya kwanza Ku-ha_ni kwenda negative juu ya dogo...leo kafikia point kuongea "matusi" mpaka kwa wale wanao-hang na dogo, kimsingi ni diverse group of people kuanzia "wabeba box" mpaka wanaofunguliwa milango na walinzi...mtu kama jambo hulijui vyema ni bora kukaa kimya.

Watu wana ua sana reputation za watu hapa JF, sometimes ni kwa chuki binafsi au kukurupuka na "vifacts" visivyokuwa na vigezo vya aina yeyote... ni sawa na yule alosema, "dogo ana demu Boston...." Naishi in Boston na dogo hajawahi kuwa na demu ktk "Hub." Fact!!

Uzushi ni kitu kibaya sana!

YNISM Asante kwa majibu yaliyojitosheleza. Cha muhimu ni kumkumbusha dogo kuwa humble siku zote. Ukiweza kuishika kanuni hii na ukafanya kazi kwa bidii, basi mafanikio ni lazima maishani. Nimeona mock draft ya Chard Ford, nasikitika sijaliona jina la Tyler Hansbrough kwenye top 10. This kid play hard and he's so good on the board.

 

[Kuhani]

Kama unaijua "record" ya Ku-ha_Ni ktk hii JF, then nadhani unanielewa....! Jamaa kwanza havai jeans mlegezo, hiyo ni fact! "Mikofia na kadhalika anayoongelea jamaa nadhani ni ile ya kukutana na balozi NYC, i know some details kwanini ilikuwa kama ilivyokuwa kwani "nilisema" kwa one of his "handlers," kuwa "whats up with that?" nikapewa excuse(s), ambazo kimsingi zili-make sense na kuambiwa kuwa balozi mwenyewe hata "haku-mind."..B.S, right??

...Hivi unafikiri mwaliko rasmi Ikulu Magogoni, dogo ataenda na kapelo?? Fikiria kaka, si mara ya kwanza Ku-ha_ni kwenda negative juu ya dogo...mtu kama jambo hulijui vyema ni bora kukaa kimya.

YournameisMIKEJONES-KUZATIKA-CHINKALA,

Balozi wa wapi huyo kakutana na Thabeet unamwongelea? Unajua unachokiongea ? Huyu mwenye tai hapa chini ni balozi wa wapi huyu ?

Unasema Thabeet akikutana na Rais hawezi kumvalia kapelo, unajua unachokiongea ?

​

 

[Kuhani]

LOL, mambo ya Chinks, Kuzatika na Mike Jones yanatokea wapi tena!? Mambo ya Kuzatika na other aliases ilikuwa ni irrelevant kwa lengo la mjadala huu...usitoke nje ya topic

Sijajadili your "other aliases" kama ulivyoyaita mwenyewe, ila nilikuwa naku address tu. Unajua vile tunaanza posti na kumua address mtu kwa jina? Sasa kama unamuheshimu mtu unamu address na majina yake yote. Ndo maana nikasema YournameisMIKEJONES-KUZATIKA-CHINKALA.

Unajua balozi gani nilikuwa naongelea, kama unajifanya hujui/umesahau ili kuonyesha ujuaji wako, basi umeshinda...lakini kuwa fair na sema ukweli wako.

Umesema kwamba, umetuambia kwamba, mkutano ambao dogo alivaa kapelo alikuwa na balozi na kwamba balozi mwenyewe haku mind. Huhusema hivyo ? Wakati kumbe keshawahi kukutana na Rais. Kwa hiyo whether I know the balozi you are talking about or not umesema kiongozi aliyemvalia Kapelo alikuwa ni balozi. Kumbe kuna Rais pia, ulikuwa hujui ukadhani nadanganya. Sasa kubali, naona unacheka hapo juu, kubali. Muungwana akivuliwa nguo huchutama. Chutama!!

Je makutano hayo ya Kikwete na dogo yalikuwa rasmi?

Mkuu Chinkala, mtoto wa shule mcheza basket atakutana na Rais rasmi kwa minajili gani ? Mkutano ndo huo ndo huo, hakuna cha rasmi wala cha mkutano wa kienyeji unaoruhusu kumvalia Rais wako midabwada ya baseball hats na baggy pants!!

Hivi hiyo picha ina shida gani kwa 20 yo kid ambaye yupo college kukutana na rais wake ktk mkutano usio rasmi?

Mkuu Kuzatika, we mwenyewe umetamka kwamba ulipoona dogo kamvali kofia balozi ukauliza "what's up with that ?" Ulipoambiwa balozi haku mind ndo ukaridhika. Kwa hiyo hata wewe unaona there is something unbecoming a respectful youngster to do that, right ? Au, kwa nini basi na wewe uliuuliza kwa nini alivaa hivyo ? Kuwa mkweli YournameisMINE.

Kuwa fair, weka picha ambayo dogo kapiga na rais huku kavaa suti

MIKEJONES, hapa tunaongelea ulilobisha kwamba hakumvalia Rais wetu kapelo. Hapo alipovaa suti hapo haita batilisha, haitageuza ukweli, kwamba kuna siku alipewa audience na Rais wa Jamhuri akaenda na sagging pants na mkapelo!!

Of koz najua ninachokiongea.....je wewe unajua unachokiongea?

Niliuliza kama unajua unachokiongea sababu ulikuwa hujui dogo kaenda kukutana na Rais kamvalia mkapelo, ukasema alikuwa ni balozi tu. Kumbe uliteleza.

 

[Kuhani]

Kama unasema you expect a 20 year old to wear a baseball hat and saggy pants meeting the president, then why did you ask his handlers as to why he met with the ambassador dressing like that ? Kwamba kumvalia balozi mkapelo sio sawa lakini kwa Kikwete sawa ? Sio ?

Halafu sina nia mbaya. Kama mtoto alikuja baadae ku dress up alipokutana na Rais next time around inawezekana alijifunza kutokana na constructive backlash aliyoipata baada ya kituko kile siku ile. Sio wengi walopenda lile tukio, hata baadhi ya marafiki zake. Niliwahi kuongea na mmoja wa marafiki zake ambae yuko kidogo mature mature aliyekuwepo pale siku ile, nikasema ilikuwaje mkamwacha mwenzenu kaenda kihuni huni mbele ya Rais, akasema "hata mimi nashangaa sijui alipenyeza penyeza vipi pale nimeshtukia yuko pale kama Flavor Flav superimposed on Yao Ming anaongea na Rais."

Hakuna anaemjali Thabeet kama Watanzania. Huko kwenye ma blog ya Kimarekani watamwongelea kimpira na siku aki flop watamkandia, watamsahau. Sehemu kama JamiiForum ndo anaweza akapata feedback ya watu wanaomjali kweli. Tunasema haya kujaribu kumuinua mwenzetu tu.

Kum support mtu sio lazima umsifie. Unaweza ukatoa unfavorable assesment na bado ikamsaidia. Off-court antics akijiingiza tu zinaweza ku affect career yake. I'm just saying.

Angalia Joakim Noah ambae Capitol Hill hapo juu kamsema kama mfano wa mtoto mwenye public antics, kwenda whitehouse na ndala na suti baada ya kushinda NCCA. Kaingia NBA mara ka pick fight na Ben Wallace, mara kakamatwa na contraband kwao Florida huko, mpaka akapigwa benchi at some point. Bahati yake ni mkali. I am sure Thabeet will avoid such inauspicious start. I am just saying.

 

[Zogwale]

Kijana ni nyota nzuri kwa Tanzania. Naombeni mlio karibu naye huko mpeni maelekezo mazuri ya tabia hasa awapo huko ughaibuni. Awe mstaarabu especially unapohitilafiana na watu wa West Coast na few of East Coast!!! They are not good!! Pia heshima ni kitu kidogo sana na kinag'arisha jina la mtu!! Please, jitoleeni kuwa mentors wake tafadhali.

Unajua kwa umri pia si mkubwa, ni ule umri unaosumbua vijana wengi hasa wakipata fedha kidogo, so please take him slowly maana hatutafurahi tuone anapatwa na ubaya huko. Kumbuka vifo vya watanzani vya mashaka hasa huko marekani. We are worried na ukizingatia hata investigation za vifo hivyo haichukuliwi serious inavyotakiwa.

Jua binadamu wengine wana wivu sana. Ukweli ndiyo huo.
Pia kama ni starehe aende sehemu descent. Wakuu kazi ya malezi fanyeni huko.