Samford Completes Roster with Hamed Olayinka
It took until the last couple days of June but the 2024-2025 Samford men’s basketball roster is complete. Samford announced the transfer of Utah Tech F Hamed Olayinka. The 6-foot 9-inch 215-pound Olayinka comes to Homewood with two years to play.
Samford needed to fill their 13th scholarship spot and do so with an intriguing player in Olayinka. In 31 games, Olayinka averaged 5.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, along with 1.6 BPG in 16 minutes per game.
While only averaging 16 minutes a game, Olayinka finished with 51 total blocks. Per KenPom, Olayinka finished twelfth in the country in block percentage. He is an outstanding rim protector. For context, Purdue C Zach Edey had 79 blocks in 32 minutes a game.
On the offensive end, Olayinka has a high motor along with some athletic gifts that just cannot be taught. He finishes around the rim with ease and definitely can put someone on a poster should they get in his way.
Hamed Olayinka has plenty of potential and even more room to grow. If there is a staff that knows how to get the best out of him, it is this one (see Achor Achor). He has a high ceiling and is the type of exciting player not many teams get this late in the transfer portal cycle.
Bucky McMillan and staff may have just found another gem when Olayinka’s time is done in Homewood.
The Samford MBB Roster Tracker has been updated to reflect the addition of Hamed Olayinka.
