Men’s Basketball Adds Transfer Sam Alajiki
4/14/2023 1:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON — Rice men's basketball coach Scott Pera has announced Friday afternoon the signing of transfer Sam Alajiki to a grant-in-aid for the 2023-24 school year.
"We are thrilled to announce the signing of Sam Alajiki today," said Pera. "Sam is a proven college player in a very good league. He brings a combination of attributes that will help us the next two years. He is a terrific defender that can guard multiple positions and he brings a skill set on offense that will thrive in our system. He also will be a great leader and fits what we are all about on and off the court. Please join me in welcoming Sam to our family".
Alajiki, a 6-7 forward, comes to South Main after spending his last two years at California. This season, Alajiki saw action in 29 games for the Bears, making 14 starts. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds while playing 24.0 minutes a game. He led Cal in three-point shooting, making 33-of-92 attempts (35.9%). Alajiki recorded seven double-figure scoring games and placed third on the team with 16 blocks. He scored a career-high 19 points on five-of-six from three in a win over Stanford on Jan. 6.
Three weeks later, he recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds at Stanford.
As a freshman, he earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. He tied Cal's single-season three-point field-goal percentage record & set a it's freshman record, connecting on 50.0% from beyond the arc.
A native of Dundalk, Ireland, he averaged 13 points and six rebounds while leading Ireland to a 5-1 record at the 2022 U-20 FIBA European Championships (Division B).
Alajiki joins forwards Keanu Dawes (Stratford, Texas) and Gabe Warren (Plano, Texas) in the 2023-24 recruiting class, giving Rice the No. 51 class overall by 247 sports.
"We are thrilled to announce the signing of Sam Alajiki today," said Pera. "Sam is a proven college player in a very good league. He brings a combination of attributes that will help us the next two years. He is a terrific defender that can guard multiple positions and he brings a skill set on offense that will thrive in our system. He also will be a great leader and fits what we are all about on and off the court. Please join me in welcoming Sam to our family".
Alajiki, a 6-7 forward, comes to South Main after spending his last two years at California. This season, Alajiki saw action in 29 games for the Bears, making 14 starts. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds while playing 24.0 minutes a game. He led Cal in three-point shooting, making 33-of-92 attempts (35.9%). Alajiki recorded seven double-figure scoring games and placed third on the team with 16 blocks. He scored a career-high 19 points on five-of-six from three in a win over Stanford on Jan. 6.
Three weeks later, he recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds at Stanford.
As a freshman, he earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. He tied Cal's single-season three-point field-goal percentage record & set a it's freshman record, connecting on 50.0% from beyond the arc.
A native of Dundalk, Ireland, he averaged 13 points and six rebounds while leading Ireland to a 5-1 record at the 2022 U-20 FIBA European Championships (Division B).
Alajiki joins forwards Keanu Dawes (Stratford, Texas) and Gabe Warren (Plano, Texas) in the 2023-24 recruiting class, giving Rice the No. 51 class overall by 247 sports.
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