After a summer spent representing Canada, Aziz Olajuwon has determined the next step in his basketball journey.
The son of NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon has committed to Stanford University, he told ESPN on Saturday.
The younger Olajuwon’s decision to join the Cardinal came after he had narrowed his list of schools to four, including Stanford, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt and Houston, his father’s alma mater.
Olajuwon’s stock rose over the spring and summer after impressive showings at the Nike EYBL circuit — averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists over the course of 19 games — and while representing Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup.
Although the 18-year-old lives and played high school basketball in Sugar Land, Texas, he was born north of the border, the homeland of his mother Dalia Asafi.
“My mom was really excited for me just to represent (Canada) on the world stage,” said Olajuwon as he averaged 7.6 points in 14.4 minutes for fifth-place finisher Canada. “It’s an honour.”
A six-foot-seven small forward, Olajuwon is the No. 40 recruit in the 2026 class according to ESPN, and the first top-100 prospect to commit to Stanford since Kyle Smith took over in 2024. Rivals has Olajuwon listed as a four-star prospect.
The youngster has shown a blossoming perimeter shot in recent months, converting at just under 42 per cent from distance at the Nike Peach Jam in July, including a 25-point performance in which he drilled six triples.
“I chose Stanford because the coaching staff made it clear they are about me, not just as an athlete, but as a person,” Olajuwon told ESPN. “That meant a lot in the process.
“Coach Smith and really the whole staff are people who really invest in their players, on and off the court. Their passion, leadership and ability to connect with the teams made a huge impression on me.”
Olajuwon is the second commitment for Stanford, joining fellow four-star recruit Isaiah Rogers. The Cardinal went 21-14 last season, and will have a major hole to fill with All-ACC player and 20-point, 10-rebound producer Maxime Raynaud getting drafted to the NBA.