Ademola Okulaja Fighting Cancer

Tar Heel Fan on January 9th, 2009 |

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Former Tar Heel Ademola Okulaja was diagnosed with cancer back in July and is presently undergoing treatment to battle the disease. During the run up to the 2008 Olympics, Okulaja was playing with Team Germany when he suffered an injury to his back that would prevent him from playing in Beijing. It turns out the injury was a broken vertabrae caused by a tumor. Okulaja had surgery to excise the tumor and began undergoing treatment. According his personal website(translated from German by Google) Okulaja was working through the 2nd phase of his rehab in early November and was hoping to return to basketball for the 2009-10 season.

The website Slam Online picked up the story concerning Okulaja’s fight with cancer. A t-shirt has been created which is being sold for the purpose of raising money to benefit KINDerLEBEN(translated) which helps kids with cancer.

Okulaja’s journey to UNC was an interesting one. Former Tar Heel Henrik Rodl, member of the 1993 national title team, alerted Dean Smith to Okulaja since both were from Germany. Dean decided to take a flyer on Okulaja and was not disappointed. Okulaja ended his four year career at UNC with 1254 points, 890 rebounds, 327 assists and 175 steals. Those rebounding numbers are quite impressive considering he played next to Antwan Jamison for three years. Okulaja was first team All-ACC in 1999 after Vince Carter and Jamison left for the NBA leading the team in three point shooting(43%) while averaging 13.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg. Okulaja was that utility guy who did a little bit of everything and came up with a huge rebound or shot when the stars of the team were covered. He played the game in the Carolina way doing what was necessary to help the team win and will always rate among one of the favorites from Dean’s final teams.

So best wishes and prayers to Okulaja who is known as “the Warrior.” Hopefully he can overcome this and get back to playing the sport he loves.

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chuckheel85

January 10, 2009 at 12:15 am

Thank you THF for posting this. Hopefully the UNC official site will do a story and hopefully an interview with Ademola soon.

keithunc

January 10, 2009 at 7:17 am

Loved him as a Heel. Were praying for you OAK (what I used to yell at the t.v.)

JBowling

January 10, 2009 at 9:28 am

I know we all have our cancer stories that have affected either our lives or the lives of family members. In a way, we have come so far as to have methods that allow a few of us extra years with ones we love, but we’ve so far to go as it is such a crippling disease. It overtakes ones body so rapidly, really leaving families with little time to spend, research, prepare for what is to come. It is my hopes that he is a survivor that is able to battle through this with some divine help, and love from family & friends. I am one of the biggest complainers of Big government spending, but this is an area that needs to keep a high budget, and I am optimistic that the private sector will continue to lend its contributions to aiding in finding methods of cure. It will be so joyous, even if on the other side, that we do not have to deal with such a disease any longer.

uncgirl50

January 10, 2009 at 9:54 am

He is in my prayers. Such a great player does not deserve to have such a terrible diesease. Fight for Ademola Okulaja. Find a cure.

C. Michael

January 10, 2009 at 11:17 am

uncgirl50,

Agree with your sentiment, but I would change it to read, “Such a great PERSON does not deserve to have such a terrible diesease.” His skill as a basketball player is irrelevant to me…

January 10, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Basketball skill is just the method in which we have come to know Okulaja. I wish him well in his rehab.

January 10, 2009 at 6:41 pm

C Micheal, sorry thats what I meant. Great person and great player. Again he’s in my prayers.