All Things Basketball with GD - Week 14 Player Spotlight, Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon - 7'0", 255 lb (00:30)

Born 1/21/63 in Lagos, Nigeria (Akeem Abdul Olajuwon)

Family of 6; his parents owned a cement mixing company

Started playing at age 15; mostly played soccer & handball when younger

Entered a basketball tournament at Muslim Teachers College

As a HS junior he played in All-Africa Games

Emigrated to the US to attend the University of Houston in 1981

Coach Guy Lewis invited him on the recommendation of a friend

Redshirted in his 1st year; his soccer & handball skills served him well for basketball

In his debut season he came off the bench

Made it to the Final 4; lost to eventual champs UNC

In the summer of 1982 he worked out with HOU's Moses Malone

With his newfound skills which earned him the nickname The Dream, he became the starte ...