Aziz Olajuwon, a four-star recruit who’s the son of legendary Corridor of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, introduced Saturday that he has dedicated to Stanford.
That charges as a little bit of a stunner since one of many different finalists was Houston, the place his well-known dad was a star within the Nineteen Eighties Phi Slama Jama period earlier than happening to star within the NBA.
However Aziz Olajuwon, a 6-foot-7 ahead, referred to as Stanford the very best place for him in interviews with a minimum of three retailers on Saturday.
“I selected Stanford as a result of it is an ideal steadiness of elite teachers and high-level basketball,” Olajuwon stated. “It is a spot that may problem me on the court docket and within the classroom, whereas additionally getting ready me for all times past basketball. The tradition and custom at Stanford actually stood out to me.”
NEWS: 4?? Aziz Olajuwon, the son of NBA Corridor-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, has dedicated to Stanford, he instructed @Rivals.
The 6-7 small ahead additionally thought-about colleges like Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, and Houston. https://t.co/wrJnDOx2dm pic.twitter.com/AEX5m7n1z2
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 20, 2025
Cincinnati and Vanderbilt had been Olajuwon’s different finalists.
Olajuwon, a top-40 recruit, represents Stanford’s greatest rating on the participant entrance since Kyle Smith grew to become coach following the 2023-24 season.
“Coach Smith and actually the entire workers are individuals who actually spend money on their gamers, on and off the court docket,” Olajuwon stated. “Their ardour, management and talent to attach with the groups made an enormous impression on me.”
Stanford went 21-14 in Smith’s first season however missed the NCAA Match for the eleventh straight 12 months.
Olajuwon is predicting a change in fortunes.
“Prepare, we’re constructing one thing particular,” Olajuwon stated. “I can not wait to placed on the Stanford jersey, compete on the highest stage, and provides every little thing I’ve for this system and the followers. The long run is vivid, and I am excited to be part of it.”
Hakeem Olajuwon performed within the NCAA Match championship sport in each 1983 and 1984 with the Cougars falling each occasions — the primary time on a well-known last-second basket by North Carolina State.
Within the NBA, he received the 1994 and 1995 NBA titles with the Houston Rockets and was league MVP for the 1993-94 season. Hakeem Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star throughout an 18-year profession that led to 2002.
Hakeem Olajuwon is the all-time chief in NBA historical past with 3,830 profession blocked photographs. He ranks 14th in each profession factors (26,946) and profession rebounds (13,748). Olajuwon’s 2,192 steals rank tenth.
–Subject Stage Media
