Abi Olajuwon

Abi Olajuwon
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Position Assistant coach
League Mid-American Conference
Personal information
Born (1988-07-06) July 6, 1988
Houston, Texas
Nationality American / Nigerian
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school Marlborough School
(Los Angeles, California)
College Oklahoma (2006–2010)
WNBA draft 2010 / Round: 3 / Pick: 28th overall
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career 2010–2013
Position Center
Number 21, 34
Coaching career 2014–present
Career history
As player:
2010 Chicago Sky
2010 SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr
2011 CSM Satu Mare
2011 Tulsa Shock
2011–2012 Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2012 ŽKK Novi Zagreb
2012 BC Castors Braine
2012 Esportivo Ourinhos
2012 Heilongjiang Chenneng
2013 Caja Rural Zamarat
As coach:
2014–2016 CSUF (assistant)
2016–present EMU (assistant)
Stats at WNBA.com

Alon Abisola Arisicate Ajoke Olajuwon, better known as Abi Olajuwon (born July 6, 1988) is an American basketball coach and former player.

Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. Her name, Abisola Olajuwon, means "born into wealth and the wealth is greater than them".[1]

Playing career

High school and college

Born in Houston, Texas, Olajuwon played varsity basketball for her Californian high school. Marlborough School, and helped her team win three consecutive Southern Section titles. Olajuwon was a 2006 McDonald's All-American,[1] and was one of the most prized recruits of the 2006 graduating high school class.[1][2] She played college basketball at the University of Oklahoma, and ESPN basketball analyst Nancy Lieberman stated before the 2006–07 season that the addition of Olajuwon would help propel the Sooners into contention for the NCAA championship.[3]

Professional

Olajuwon was drafted 28th overall (3rd round) by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA draft. However, she was waived during the season.[4] After being waived, she signed with Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr,[5] and later played for CSM Satu Mare (Romania).[6]

In 2011 Olajuwon returned to the WNBA and was signed by the Tulsa Shock and played there during the 2011 season.[7]

During the offseason she played for Hapoel Rishon LeZion (Israel), ŽKK Novi Zagreb (Croatia),[8] BC Castors Braine (France).[9] Olajuwon was waived by Tulsa Shock before the 2012 season.[10] After being waived she played for Esportivo Ourinhos (Brazil),[11] and Heilongjiang Chenneng (China).[12]

Olajuwon finished her career playing for Spanish club Caja Rural Zamarat.[13]

Coaching career

In May 2014, Olajuwon became an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at California State University, Fullerton.[14]

On May 20, 2016, Olajuwon was hired as an assistant coach for the women's Eastern Michigan Eagles.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michael Kinney, A name to remember: Abi Olajuwon Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., December 6, 2006
  2. ↑ Tony Sellars, Olajuwon wants to make her own name, scout.com, February 9, 2006
  3. ↑ Terps top preseason Top 25, espn.com, accessed January 30, 2007
  4. ↑ "Olajuwon waived by Sky". ESPN.com. July 2, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ "SEAT Lami Ved Gyor adds Olajuwon to their roster". www.eurobasket.com. August 24, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  6. ↑ Nenciu, Andru; Fabian, Ciprian (March 1, 2011). "Fiica unei legende a NBA a ajuns la Satu Mare! Numele ei: "Născută în bogăţie şi iubită de toţi" :)". ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ Bailey, Eric (July 21, 2011). "Tulsa Shock release Marion Jones, sign former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". NewsOK.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Novi Zagreb adds Abi Olajuwon". www.eurobasket.com. January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ Detroz, Christian (February 21, 2012). "Abi Olajuwon rejoint les Castors de Braine". Basketfeminin.com (in French). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  10. ↑ Moss, John (April 22, 2012). "Tulsa Shock Waive Former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". KTUL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ Balassiano, Fábio (October 12, 2012). "Filha de lenda da NBA, Abi Olajuwon chega a Ourinhos para a Liga de Basquete Feminino". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon agreed terms with Heilongjiang". www.eurobasket.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon joins Caja Rural". www.eurobasket.com. July 13, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Olajuwon Added to Women's Basketball Coaching Staff". Cal State Fullerton Athletics. May 27, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon Named EMU Women's Basketball Assistant Coach". EMUEagles.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.

External links


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