Abi Olajuwon

Last updated

Abi Olajuwon
Connecticut Sun
PositionAssistant Coach
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1988-07-06) July 6, 1988 (age 36)
Houston, Texas
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school Marlborough School
(Los Angeles, California)
College Oklahoma (2006–2010)
WNBA draft 2010: 3rd round, 28th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2010–2013
Position Center
Number21, 34
Coaching career2014–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 Cal State Fullerton (assistant)
2016–2018 Eastern Michigan (assistant)
2018–2022 TCU (assistant)
2023–present Connecticut Sun (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com

Alon Abisola Arisicate Ajoke Olajuwon, better known as Abi Olajuwon (born July 6, 1988) is a Nigerian-American basketball coach and former player. Currently, she is an assistant coach for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.

Contents

Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. Her name, Abisola Olajuwon, means "born into wealth and loved by all". [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]

In 2010, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism and electronic media at the University of Oklahoma. [4]

Oklahoma statistics

Professional

Olajuwon was drafted 28th overall (third round) by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA draft. However, she was waived during the season. [5] After being waived, Olajuwon signed with Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr, [6] and later played for CSM Satu Mare (Romania). [7]

In 2011, Olajuwon returned to the WNBA and was signed by the Tulsa Shock and played there during the 2011 season. [8]

During the offseason, she played for Hapoel Rishon LeZion (Israel), ŽKK Novi Zagreb (Croatia), [9] BC Castors Braine (Belgium). [10] Olajuwon was waived by Tulsa Shock before the 2012 season. [11] After being waived she played for Esportivo Ourinhos (Brazil), [12] and Heilongjiang Chenneng (China). [13]

Olajuwon finished her career playing for Spanish club Caja Rural Zamarat. [14]

Coaching career

In May 2014, Olajuwon became an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at California State University, Fullerton. [15]

On May 20, 2016, Olajuwon was hired as an assistant coach for the women's Eastern Michigan Eagles. [16]

In May 2018, Olajuwon was added the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs women's basketball coaching staff. [17]

On December 27, 2022, it was announced Olajuwon had been added to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun as an assistant coach. [18]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

College

Source [19]

YearTeamGPPointsFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2006–07Oklahoma173748.4%0.0%58.3%1.50.10.20.12.2
2007–08Oklahoma193640.0%0.0%88.9%3.20.10.40.11.9
2008–09Oklahoma273731.7%0.0%55.0%2.20.10.30.11.4
2009–10Oklahoma3840150.6%0.0%61.7%7.30.50.50.910.6
Career10151147.8%0.0%62.1%4.20.20.40.45.1

WNBA

Source [20]

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2010 Chicago 605.0.500––.7.0.2.0.31.0
2011 Tulsa 1606.2.269–1.000.8.1.0.1.31.0
Career2 years, 2 teams2205.9.313–1.000.7.1.0.1.31.0

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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 Archived November 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , scout.com, February 9, 2006
  3. ↑ Lieberman, Nancy (October 11, 2006). "Terps top Lieberman's preseason Top 25". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon - Women's Basketball Coach". Eastern Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Olajuwon waived by Sky". ESPN.com. July 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ↑ "SEAT Lami Ved Gyor adds Olajuwon to their roster". eurobasket.com. August 24, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Bailey, Eric (July 21, 2011). "Tulsa Shock release Marion Jones, sign former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". NewsOK.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Novi Zagreb adds Abi Olajuwon". eurobasket.com. January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ Detroz, Christian (February 21, 2012). "Abi Olajuwon rejoint les Castors de Braine". Basketfeminin.com (in French). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ Moss, John (April 22, 2012). "Tulsa Shock Waive Former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". KTUL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ Balassiano, Fábio (October 12, 2012). "Filha de lenda da NBA, Abi Olajuwon chega a Ourinhos para a Liga de Basquete Feminino". UOL Esporte (in European Portuguese). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon agreed terms with Heilongjiang". eurobasket.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.[ dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon joins Caja Rural". eurobasket.com. July 13, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator profile". Cal State Fullerton Athletics. May 27, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon Named EMU Women's Basketball Assistant Coach". EMUEagles.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. ↑ "TCU Adds Abi Olajuwon to Staff". gofrogs.com. May 4, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Connecticut Sun Welcomes Abi Olajuwon as Assistant Coach - Connecticut Sun". sun.wnba.com. December 27, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  19. ↑ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Abi Olajuwon WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
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