Abi Olajuwon Q&A: Part One

Keenan Clayton

NORMAN, Okla. -- Her father was known as The Dream and for many Sooner fans her signing was a dream recruiting coup.

Well Abi Olajuwon doesn't have a nickname of her own yet, but she couldn't be more anxious to establish her own identity within the Okahoma women's basketball program.

The McDonald's All-American graduated from The Marlborough School in late May and moved to Oklahoma two days after graduation. Since arriving in Norman the 6-3 center has started taking classes and taken part in off-season conditioning with the Sooner team.

As she packs up and gets ready to return to California for the month of July, Olajuwon took time out of her busy schedule for a question and answer session with SoonerSports.com.

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SoonerSports: First things first, you go by Abi but that is not your given name?
Abi Olajuwon: That's true, my full name is much longer than three letters. It is Alon Riskat Abisola Ajoke Olajuwon, which means born in wealth and loved by all.

SS: You have said that your last name is a gift and a curse, what do you mean by that?
AO: I do believe that sometimes. I love my dad and love my name but it can be a double-edged sword.

For example, in recruiting the name Olajuwon' brought people out to see me play, but then I had this flawless reputation to live up to. The expectations of a name can be exhausting. No one can match my father's ability on the court and I understand that fully. Hopefully I will create a new and unique legacy for Abi Olajuwon.

SS: Is it also correct that you are fluent in several languages?
AO: Not really. I am fluent in Arabic and took high school Spanish, but I don't claim to be proficient in it. I used to know a lot of Yoruba. (Editor's note: Yoruba is the native language of Lagos, map to right, which is the Nigerian-state that Hakeem Olajuwon was born in)

Olajuwon's Bio | 2006-07 Roster

SS: How is Oklahoma treating you?
AO: Good, I have enjoyed it. The intensity is fairly easy to manage. We have not done anything besides weights and pickup games. I enjoy the summer because you really get to know the players when it is not stressful and hectic. It is the same for the coaching staff, which is in town right now before they spend July on the road recruiting.

SS: Are you homesick at all?
AO: No, I love it here. When my mom came out with me, she was here for a couple days and I told her she could go. I told her, “I am home now and I feel fine.” I was comfortable immediately

SS: What do you miss the most about Los Angeles?
AO: Palm trees and the beach. That was a big thing for me. I loved seeing them (palm trees) 24/7. And being able to run to the beach for just 20 minutes if I felt like it.

SS: You have been here for the month of June, but you are leaving in July, what are you plans for the rest of the summer?
AO: I am going to the Bahamas for my birthday and I am taking two of my best friends with me. Then I will probably play some summer basketball and stay in shape. I also need to pick up a few things from home to help me get better acclimated here.

SS: How has summer school gone?
AO: It's good. I am in history of jazz with Jenna Plumley and Rose Hammond. We are the only freshmen here right now. It has been nice to get know Jenna and Rose beforehand and to get a class out of the way. I already know Amanda (Thompson) and we're cool. I am still looking forward to meeting Nyeshia (Stevenson).

SS: What was your welcome to Oklahoma moment?
AO: The moment I realized, okay I am in college', was when we got in trouble because we accidentally missed our physicals. We thought they were at 1:30 p.m. and they were at 9 in the morning. Coach Coale made it very clear that we had to be more responsible. There are not parents here to watch you and take care of you. We have to do this on our own free time. If we make a mistake, the only person to fall back on is ourselves.

That was the moment when I realized, "I am here and life has officially changed."

SS: I heard you have been mistaken for Courtney and Ashley Paris a few times already?
AO: Yeah, I had one girl come running up from behind yelling, “Courtney, Courtney can you give me an autograph?” She startled me because I was looking for Courtney too. I told her I wasn't Courtney. She asked me if I was Ashley and I said no. She was confused and asked, “Who are you then?” I told her, “To wait and see.”

I later apologized to Courtney because she may have lost a fan.

SS: What kind of music do you listen to?
AO: R&B, hip-hop and some rock. No country music, which is the big thing out here.

SS: What artists are in heavy rotation on your I-Pod?
AO: Raphael Sadiq, D4L and T.I.

SS: So are you going to give country music a chance?
AO: I will give it a chance. I am not used to it though. It's on every radio station out here. I'll give it a shot though. Toby Keith is kinda cute.

SS: We all know a lot about your father, but your mother has a pretty impressive resume herself. Can you tell us a little about what she does for a living?
AO: My mother owns a talent management company and she works with actors and actresses. She used to be a sports lawyer for players like Shaq, but she left that area to handle entertainers.

SS: So is it fair to describe your mother as a Hollywood type?
AO: Yeah, that would be accurate.

SS: Do you ever hope to work in Hollywood?
AO: Not at all. I really want to stay in the sports realm. I realized it when I was injured and could not play. I didn't know what I was going to do without basketball. I know I won't be able to live without basketball when my career is over, so I will probably pursue a career in broadcasting, journalism or training. I don't know now what it will be, but it will have to be around sports.

SS: Who is the biggest celebrity you have met?
AO: That's a tough one to answer. I know that I was the most excited about meeting (musicians) Ludacris and Usher.

SS: Tell us about your brother and sister in California?
AO: Lauren is nine and Landon is four. Landon is in love with football. That is why I am really excited for him to come out here. When he actually sees the football team on the field he is going to flip out. He called me the other day and told me that he learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, so he thinks he is hot stuff right now.

Lauren is one of those people that is part of everything. I don't know how she does it all. She plays basketball, volleyball, track, soccer, club cheerleading and club basketball. She also plays the clarinet and loves to read. She just quit karate, but she still has 12 other things to do. The day I turned 16 and got my driver's license, I became her chauffeur and she decided she wanted to take part in every extracurricular activity.

SS: If you weren't playing basketball, what would you play?
AO: Nothing, I only play basketball. That's it for me.

SS: Do you watch any other sports?
AO: When I first started the recruiting process, we bought the complete sports package with ESPNU and CSTV and everything. Sometimes I come across random sports and I get addicted. I am into pro paintball and dodgeball. And I love the Iron Man Contests.

SS: What TV shows do you watch regularly?
AO: I watch Grey's Anatomy religiously. America's Next Top Model, 8th and Ocean and My Sweet 16.

SS: You are a practicing Muslim, will there be an adjustment period to college life?
AO: One of the biggest obstacles of being a practicing Muslim is dealing with certain stereotypes and preconceived notions that people have. Some of those stereotypes have been fostered since the 9-11 attacks.

I have had a lot of people come up to me and ask, “How can you be Muslim when you are not Arab?” That seems to be the basic misconception, but unfortunately there are certain stereotypes you have to deal with.

It is something that has been hard at times in my life, but what differentiated Oklahoma from every other place I visited during the recruiting process was how welcoming strangers were to me. They had no idea who I was, yet they welcomed me into their tailgating area or went out of their way to say hello and introduce themselves.

Everywhere I have gone in Norman, people have been more than nice and willing to help my adjustment. So I am very hopeful that my religious preference will not affect what people think of me.

SS: It kind of sounds like you are praising the 'Southern hospitality' many give Oklahoma credit for?
AO: Definitely. I went to UCLA and Rutgers on recruiting trips. Those are just more populated states where people almost have to be about doing their own thing. Oklahoma is not like that. The whole state feels like a family.

I couldn't figure out how to do the gas yesterday and a guy not only helped me with the gas, but he also washed the windows. Everyone is more than helpful. It is definitely true that the South has much nicer people.

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...More to come on Wednesday...

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