Abdul-Malik Olajuwon, son of Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, has joined the SMU Mustangs ahead of the new NCAA season. The Canadian youth international will suit up in the ACC, the same conference as Duke.
At SMU, the 1.95m combo guard will line up alongside Jermaine O'Neal Jr, another prospect with an NBA father. Abdul-Malik also visited Kansas State, Minnesota and Virginia Tech before choosing the Dallas-based program. His father accompanied him on the visit.
"My father accompanied me on the visit and thinks this decision is excellent for me. I also leaned on my big brother's advice, who has already been through this process. He recommended not thinking only about basketball, but also about the long term," Abdul-Malik told ESPN.
Unlike Hakeem, a 2.13m two-time NBA champion, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year with the Houston Rockets, Abdul-Malik plays on the perimeter. SMU see him as a decision-maker who can run the offence or play off the ball, and his wingspan allows him to read passing lanes and generate steals.
"They consider me a player capable of making excellent decisions. I am a leader who can play with or without the ball. On defence, my wingspan lets me get a lot of steals and deflect many passes," he said. SMU will count on his playmaking and passing as he begins his path towards the next NBA Draft.
