The whistle blows, UD's 6-9, 285-pound freshman center is at the scorer's table, and the UD Arena crowd goes nuts.

Desmond Adedeji is on his way into the game, and the home crowd, especially the students, seem to love him.

'I didn't know how to take it at first,' Adedeji said of his role as a Flyers fan favorite. '[Now] I take pride in that, you know, and that's just more incentive for me to work harder' so I think that helps me in a way.'

Like him or not, the player known as Big Des has played a big role on this year's UD squad. Adedeji averages 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game. He also leads the team in field goal percentage (minimum of ten attempts) shooting 51.5 percent from the floor.

Desmond comes to UD via a perennial basketball powerhouse, Maryland's DeMatha High School, where he was a three-year starter. Adedeji averaged 12.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks en route to being named Second Team All-State as a high school junior. He was also ranked the No. 1 center in the state of Maryland during his senior year.

While at DeMatha, Adedeji narrowed his college search to five schools'Virginia Tech, Providence, South Carolina, Illinois and Dayton.

'I wanted to not just base my decision on basketball,' said Adedeji. 'This is also a place where I'm gonna live and go to school at for four years.'

So he chose to attend UD. Other factors'including the fact that high school teammate Warren Williams is a Flyer, the fan base at UD and his recruitment by head coach Brian Gregory'contributed to his decision as well.

'When it came to basketball, BG really sold me on this program and what he was trying to get done,' Adedeji said. 'I wanted to go somewhere where I could start something, and I could see that's what BG is trying to do now.'

Like many freshmen, Adedeji said he had to adjust from high school to college games. The young center pointed to the differences in attention to detail and mental preparation for games as well as some off the court adjustments.

'I definitely had to learn to organize my time more,' Adedeji said. 'I just had to grow up and accept the responsibilities. I had trouble with it at first ' there's just so many distractions outside of basketball that, you know, you get tied up in. You just have to prioritize and know what you gotta get done.'

Big Des seemed to have a quick learning curve early in the 2005-06 season. In just this third game in a UD uniform, Adedeji scored a career game in just 15 minutes of action against Morehead State

'The first game [against Tennessee Tech] I didn't even play,' said Adedeji. 'I was clueless about why I didn't play. Then in the Morehead State game, I was able to get in and make my first shot' Things were just flowing for me that night.'

Things flowed so well for him that Adedeji scored 13 points on 6-6 shooting in a 67-41 win.

But is that his best game as a Flyer thus far? Adedeji says otherwise, citing games against Northern Iowa and George Washington.

'In the Northern Iowa game, we had just come off the loss to Cincinnati,' Adedeji said. 'We were down, and Northern Iowa is a real good team ' I went out with no fear, got the ball, took my first shot and made it. I also had my career high in rebounds [that game].'

Desmond finished with 10 points and six boards, but the Flyers lost 74-67.

'GW being ranked No. 8, that's another game where I just said [to myself], 'it's put up or shut up time. Let's see what you're made of,'' said Adedeji. 'You know, going up against an NBA prospect like [Colonials center] Pops [Mensah-Bonsu]' I think I made a stride in getting better.'

He scored 10 points in 18 minutes of play, eight of which helped keep the Flyers close until late in the first half. George Washington, though, went on to a 14-point victory.

Adedeji has started three games in his freshman season and is tied for second on the team with nine blocked shots.

The big man points to interior defense, scoring in the post and rebounding as the strengths of his game. Adedeji says his free throw shooting, stamina and conditioning are things he'd like to improve. Des also says he could see himself losing 15 to 20 pounds in the offseason.

Adedeji says his personal goals are he just wants to play hard, help the team and continue to be a fan favorite.

'I want to please the crowd every chance I get,' Adedeji said. 'That's what it's all about'the fans. The fans are what make you go.'