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Profile: Guelph Nighthawks’ Olu Famutimi – “The fan base in Guelph is amazing!”
March 7, 2020
CEBL Team
Olumuyiwa "Olu" Famutimi, the Guelph Nighthawks
guard, returns for the 2020 season. In a chat with the CEBL, he talks about having his sights set on getting the Nighthawks to a CEBL championship, why he's excited to be back in Guelph, and the influence of Kobe Bryant on his bball life.
On Feb. 12, the Nighthawks announced that they had re-signed
Famutimi, unanimously named the team’s Most Valuable Player last year.
— Playing for the CEBL was a great opportunity for me last year, and I took full advantage of it. This coming season, I’m looking to do the same, it’s an honor to play in a league in Canada, my home country. And, to represent my country in the best way I can, said the veteran Team Canada
guard.
Another great season ahead?
The 36-year-old veteran guard led the team
in steals and 3-points made in 2019, and averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in the 19 games he played. At the end of the inaugural CEBL season, Famutimi took to the league’s leaderboard
as the fourth-best scorer (41.9 %), and total 3-points made (54).
— I’d be looking to have another good season but looking more towards winning more games, and possibly a championship this year, Famutimi explained.
Highly touted as a high school player, the six‑foot‑five Toronto-native transferred to Flint Northwestern High School as a junior. While playing for the Flint Northwestern Wildcats, Famutimi climbed the ranks to become the seventh best player in the US, according to ESPN.com.
Injury, and the inspiration of Kobe Bryant
He earned All-Southeastern Conference Freshman honors, playing Division I basketball at the University of Arkansas
, before tearing his ACL ahead of his senior year.
But giving up wasn’t an option. When times got tough, Famutimi looked to one of his heroes, Kobe Bryant, whose passion on the court kept motivating him.
— Just growing up watching him, how he developed over the years. From when he was a rookie all the way to becoming a mega superstar, he always showed a fight and an aggressiveness in his game, and I really admire that. That’s what he gave to a lot of basketball players watching him over the years, he said.
Pro success
Famutimi participated in NBA training camps with the Philadelphia 76ers
and San Antonio Spurs
, and went on to play professionally in the NBA G League
, as well in Europe for over seven years: Khimik Yuzhne
(Ukraine), Oyak Renault
and TED Ankara Kolejilier
(Turkey), Paris-Levallois Basket
(France) and Gloria Giants Düsseldorf
(Germany).
All while seeking to incorporate the tenacity of Bryant into his own game, offensively and defensively.
— Just like Michael Jordan, you see a lot of Michael Jordan in Kobe Bryant while he was playing, and I just think that he was a great example to my generation, especially. He was a great example because he played the right way as far as not giving up.
Facing Bryant
In 2007, Famutimi got the opportunity to play for Team Canada. In one of his most memorable games, he went up against the best in the world – including Kobe Bryant.
In a group game during the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Canada met Team USA. Named, the “Redeem Team” (a reference to the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball “Dream Team”), the American lineup featured several heavy NBA stars.
Although Team Canada was handed a huge defeat, losing 63-113, Famutimi ended up being the team’s top scorer (17 points). He still recalls the game as an important milestone in his career.
— Most what I remember about that game was all the high-profile players that we were going up against. There was a lot of stardom on the team: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. It was just a magical moment for me, he said.
Donning the red and white
Famutimi continued to play for Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball Team until 2010. In 2008, he was awarded, “ Player of the Game performance
,” after Canada won over New Zealand (the “Tall Blacks”), 90-63
, at the Jack Donohue International Classic.
— Playing for your country is an honour in itself. And, I didn’t play for the same team as Steve Nash but playing for a country that he represented, that I also wanted to represent as well. I know that my family and friends were very excited for me to play with Team Canada for those few years. Those years, I cherish to this day.
#TakeFlight 2020
This summer, he’ll be returning to Guelph and the Nighthawks fans are in for a treat.
— Man, the fan base in Guelph is amazing. I’m expecting them to bring even more energy this summer. With all the pieces that we got coming in, the coaching staff and the front office are very excited to do some things this summer. Hopefully, it just shows because we are fighting to win the championship.