UConn to Raise emeka okafor’s No. 50 into the Gampel Rafters on Feb. 18
Storrs, CT — UConn will retire Emeka Okafor’s No. 50 during halftime of the Huskies’ home game against Creighton on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. The jersey-raising ceremony at Gampel Pavilion will take place during the intermission of a contest that tips off at 7 p. m. ET.
Ceremony details and what to expect
The halftime tribute will elevate Okafor’s No. 50 to the rafters alongside the men’s numbers already retired by Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton, making it just the third men’s jersey to receive the honor. The Huskies will pause regular game activities for a formal presentation recognizing Okafor’s contributions to the program, followed by the banner-raising ritual that marks permanent entry into UConn lore.
Game time is set for 7 p. m. ET, with the retirement ceremony slated for halftime. Fans attending the Gampel Pavilion contest should expect pregame and in-arena elements celebrating Okafor’s career; broadcast and arena programming will note the milestone as the program continues a season that has the team positioned among national contenders.
Okafor’s college career and legacy in Storrs
Okafor’s three seasons as a Husky remain some of the most decorated in program history. He was a two-time All-American and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in 2004 after leading UConn to the NCAA title. His defensive résumé at the college level is particularly prolific—he owns the school records for career blocked shots with 441 and for blocks per game at 4. 3. Over 103 starts in Storrs, Okafor averaged 13. 8 points and 10. 6 rebounds per game and led the Big East in blocked shots in each of his three seasons.
Honors pile up across categories: two National Defensive Player of the Year selections, two Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, three All-Big East nods, and a first-team All-American selection in his junior year. Those accomplishments helped cement his status as a foundational figure in the program’s early-2000s renaissance.
Pro career, distinctive traits and enduring impact
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, Okafor made an immediate impact at the professional level, earning 2005 Rookie of the Year honors while with the Charlotte franchise. He compiled a decade-long NBA résumé that included stints with Charlotte, New Orleans, Washington and the Pelicans. Over that span he averaged roughly 12. 0 points and 9. 7 rebounds per game and was noted for defensive presence and rebounding consistency.
Injuries curtailed parts of his career—he did not play from 2013 through 2016—but he returned for a final NBA stop in 2017-18. One quirky statistical footnote underscores Okafor’s inside-focused game: he never attempted a three-point shot during his NBA career.
Raising his jersey in the Gampel rafters recognizes both peak achievements and lasting influence. Okafor’s No. 50 joins a select group of Husky numbers honored across the men’s and women’s programs, a reminder of his central role in a championship team and of the defensive identity he forged in Storrs. For alumni, teammates and fans, the ceremony will be a formal bookend to a career that helped shape the modern era of UConn basketball.
