By ADAM ZAGORIA
Aziz Olajuwon, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and a four-star small forward from IMG Academy (FL), announced his commitment to Stanford on Saturday.
The 6-foot-7 wing chose Stanford over Vanderbilt, Cincinnati and Houston, per Rivals.
“I chose Stanford because it’s a perfect balance of elite academics and high-level basketball,” he told Rivals. “It’s a place that will challenge me on the court and in the classroom, while also preparing me for life beyond basketball. The culture and tradition at Stanford really stood out to me.”
He added:
“From the very beginning, the coaches were genuine with me. They didn’t just talk about basketball, they cared about me as a person. Their vision for my development and the way they plan to use me in their system made me feel confident that this is the best place for me to grow.”
IMG coach Sean McAloon told ZAGSBLOG:
“Stanford is not only getting a fantastic young man, they are getting a highly dedicated individual to every aspect of life. On the court he will bring elite shooting, an energy that won’t be matched and a competitive nature that will make the entire group better. Off the court he will be beloved on that campus as he has done here in his short time. Home run for Stanford.”
Olajuwon is ranked the No. 24 small forward in the Class of 2026, per 247.
“I’d say my game is a mix of versatility, competitiveness, and IQ. I can shoot the ball, score, create for others, and impact the game on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I have fun playing defense and rebounding, I take pride in doing whatever my team needs, whether that’s leading, defending, or making the right play.”
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