UConn's Shabazz Napier: 'Graduation was more important than winning a national championship'
Bob Donnan / USA TODAY Sports
In the era of one-and-dones and players leaving school early to chase the money the pro ranks have to offer, Shabazz Napier is an outlier, staying at Connecticut to complete all four years of his athletic eligibility and earn his diploma.
On Thursday night, Napier will officially become a professional as a likely first-round selection in the NBA Draft, but it's a moment he had at school not long ago that will still stand out as most memorable for him.
Love #UConn Shabazz Napier priorities: "Me walking across the stage for graduation was more important than winning a national championship"
— Fred Kerber (@FredKerber) June 25, 2014
Napier averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in his senior season at Connecticut, leading the Huskies to their fourth national title.