Hakeem Olajuwon - University of Houston Cougars - Greatest Basketball Players

Basketball College Careers of Greatest NBA Players of All Time: Hakeem Olajuwon Born in Nigeria in 1963, it was not until 1980 that Hakeem Olajuwon would move to the United States. Obviously playing in Nigeria, there was not heavy U.S. college recruiting being done, however, after Guy Lewis, coach of University of Houston heard about Olajuwon’s power and skill, he was recruited to be a Cougar. In his freshman year, Olajuwon practiced with the team, however did not receive much playing time. After an off-season spent playing and training with NBA legend Moses Malone, Olajuwon would become a different player and a leader at University of Houston. Beside Clyde Drexler, Olajuwon and the Cougars would be dubbed Phi Slamma Jamma, for their explosive, above the rim play. Olajuwon would help lead the Cougars to the NCAA championship game in 1983, where they would lose to North Carolina. However, despite the loss Olajuwon would be named NCAA Tournament Player of the Year. After the 83 season, Drexler left the University of Houston for the NBA, leaving Olajuwon as the main go-to guy for the Cougars. Behind Olajuwon, the Cougars would reach the NCAA Championship Game again the following year, in 1984. However, they would come up short, this time against Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown Hoyas. In 1984, Olajuwon would leave the University of Houston for the NBA, where he would become the number one draft pick for the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon would later be named one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all-time. Scripted by Derek Allen

Mojo Supreme | March 7, 2008

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