May 19, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time in the long and storied history of Kentucky men’s basketball, the Wildcats’ 2003-04 roster next season will feature two 7-footers, Coach Tubby Smith announced Monday.
Shagari Alleyne, a 7-2, 260-pound center from Rice High School in the Bronx, N.Y., and Lukasz Obrzut, a 7-1, 240-pound center from Gliwice, Poland, signed national letters of intent with Kentucky during the spring signing period which ended May 15.
“I’m excited about the chance to coach two 7-footers like Shagari and ‘Woo’ (Obrzut),” Smith said. “They’ll both be able to step in and fill our needs in the post after the losses of Marquis Estill and Jules Camara.”
Alleyne was a three-year starter for the Raiders who compiled an 82-28 record during his tenure. He averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks per game this past season as a senior.
“He really gives us an inside presence and shot-blocking ability that we can put to good use,” Smith said.
The three-time All-City selection helped guide his squad to the city and state titles as a junior while averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2002 state playoffs. He was twice named first-team All-State and recently played in the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, earning MVP honors there after totaling 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. He also played in the Michael Jordan Capital Classic this spring.
Obrzut averaged 12 points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks for Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, this past season, his first year in the United States. He helped the Wolverines to a 25-8 record and the top spot in the New England Prep School Conference’s top division. He was one of seven Wolverines to sign a national letter of intent with Division I universities, and played on the frontline with Alexander Johnson, who will attend Florida State, and Lamont Hamilton, who’s bound for St. John’s.
“Lukasz is a very good athlete to be 7-foot tall. He has good hands and good footwork,” Smith said.
Obrzut had originally committed to Fordham and former NBA coach Bob Hill, who is no longer coaching at the school. According to his high school coach Whit Lesure, Obrzut played in a typical European sports academy while growing up in Poland as a teammate of Mississippi State’s Michal Ignerski.
“He’s an A-B student whose game has already shown phenomenal growth since arriving in the States,” Lesure said. “To Coach Hill’s credit, he saw the potential in Lukasz and he feels that given the right situation, he’ll become a dominant player. And we both think that Kentucky is the right situation.”
Alleyne chose Kentucky over Rutgers while Obrzut picked the Cats over Utah. They join an incoming UK freshman class that includes Bobby Perry, a 6-8 swingman from Durham, N.C., and Sheray Thomas, a 6-8 forward from Montreal, both of whom signed with the Wildcats last November.
Other 7-footers to play for Kentucky include Bill Spivey (7-0, 1950-52), Tom Payne (7-0, 1970-71) and Sam Bowie (7-1, 1980-84).
Pronunciation Guide:
Shagari (SHU-gari) Alleyne (uh-LEAN)
Lukasz (WOO-kosh) Obrzut (ORB-zoot)
