21 Shagari Alleyne

Shagari Alleyne was born in the Bronx, New York on January 14, 1984, to Claudia and Robert Alleyne. The 7-foot-3 center attended Rice High School in New York City, where he averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as a senior. A three-time all-city selection and two-time first-team all-state honoree, Alleyne helped Rice capture city and state championships in 2002 and was named the state playoffs’ most valuable player. He initially committed to Rutgers before changing course and joining Kentucky in 2003 as one of the nation’s more intriguing prospects.

The tallest player in Kentucky basketball history, Alleyne spent three seasons developing from a raw project into a useful interior reserve for Tubby Smith’s Wildcats. He appeared in 69 games and averaged 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds for his Kentucky career. His length made him a natural shot-blocking presence, and during his sophomore season he ranked seventh in the Southeastern Conference with 1.52 blocks per game while making 65 percent of his field-goal attempts, many of them dunks.

Alleyne’s most memorable performance came against Indiana at Freedom Hall on December 12, 2004. Coming off the bench, he produced 10 points, five rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists in 21 minutes as Kentucky defeated the Hoosiers, 73-58. His performance earned him the game’s MVP award from the Jefferson County UK Alumni Club. He also recorded six blocks against Morehead State, becoming the first Wildcat in two seasons to reach that total in a game.

After the 2005-06 season, Alleyne received his release from Kentucky and transferred to Manhattan College, although transfer rules prevented him from playing his final collegiate season. He later pursued professional basketball, including time in the NBA Development League and with the Harlem Globetrotters, where the towering former Wildcat performed under the nickname “Skyscraper.”