Rice University Athletics
Owls Sign 7-1 Oraby to Letter of Intent
5/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 6, 2010
HOUSTON - Rice University basketball coach Ben Braun announced Thursday the Owls have signed Omar Oraby to a National Letter of Intent.
"We are excited to have Omar join our program," Braun said. "He is a true post presence. He establishes great position in the low post and will help allow our players to get good looks from the perimeter. Omar has a tremendous upside as a collegiate basketball player. He is a bright student who also has a high basketball IQ."
Oraby, a 7-1, 250-pound, native of Cairo, Egypt, was one of the leading rebounders and shot blockers at FIBA's 2009 U19 World Championships played in New Zealand. Playing for the Egyptian National Team, he ranked fourth at the championship in rebounding, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game and was ninth in blocks, averaging 1.4 per contest.
Additionally, Oraby averaged 11.9 points per game and shot 53.9 percent from the field. He had double-doubles in his final two games of the championship capped by a 24-point, 11-rebound effort against Kazakhstan. He also had a 13-point, 12-rebound game against Spain during the tournament. In pool play, he led Egypt with15 points and had eight rebounds against Team USA.
Oraby's Egyptian team played in the same championship pool as the United States as well as an Iranian team which was captained by current Rice forward Arsalan Kazemi.
Oraby was also a member of Egypt's 2008 FIBA Africa U18 Championship team which won the African Cup with an 8-0 record. Oraby averaged nine points and six rebounds during the championship.
Oraby joins a Rice recruiting class which included three, early signees - Trevan Abraham, David Chadwick and J.R. Reynolds.
After signing with the Owls last November, all three players went on to have successful seasons.
Abraham's Sacramento Charter High School team posted a 26-7 record, won the San Joaquin Section Championship and were the Nor Cal runners-up.
Chadwick originally signed out of high school with Washington State but after a coaching change, elected to enroll in a preparatory school. He helped lead Hargrave Military Academy to a 24-1 record. The school advanced to the semifinals of the National Prep Championships.
Reynolds' Whitney Young High School Team lost in the finals of the Illinois Class 4A State Championship. Whitney Young, the 2009 Class 4A state champion, was 23-6 this past season
At Rice, Oraby has an interest in pursing a degree in engineering. He is the son of Tarek Saiid Oraby and Omneya Saad Gohar. His brother, Mohamed, played handball with the Egyptian National Team. He also has an older sister, Mayar.
