Hakeem Olajuwon’s Son Abdul-Malik Commits to SMU in Major Texas Recruiting Win

One of Houston basketball’s most recognizable family names is headed to Dallas. Abdul-Malik Olajuwon, the son of Houston Rockets and University of Houston legend Hakeem Olajuwon, committed to SMU on Thursday. ESPN ranks the 6-foot-5 IMG Academy guard No. 57 nationally in the 2027 class, giving coach Andy Enfield and the Mustangs a significant early recruiting victory.

Olajuwon’s decision carries extra interest in Texas because of his Houston roots. He previously played at Fort Bend Clements in Sugar Land before transferring to IMG Academy and spent this summer helping Canada win gold at the U18 AmeriCup. After visiting SMU in late September, Olajuwon said the program’s system and its plan to use him as a point guard and defensive contributor fit what he wanted. His father accompanied him on the visit and supported the decision.

The commitment is more than a famous surname for SMU. Olajuwon owns a reported 6-foot-11 wingspan, brings positional size to the backcourt and has already competed internationally. For Houston-area fans, there is also an intriguing wrinkle: Hakeem became a legend with the Houston Cougars, while Abdul-Malik will begin his college career with another Texas program trying to build its own national profile.