Jamal Abu-Shamala … an Olympian?
Posted on May 14th, 2008 – 11:01 AMBy Myron Medcalf
Gophers senior forward Jamal Abu-Shamala will try out for the Jordanian national team next month, according to Gophers spokesman Matt Slieter.
Abu-Shamala’s father, Subhy Abu-Shamala, is a native of the country, which makes him eligible to play for Jordan this summer, as the team seeks an Olympic bid.
According this site, Abu-Shamala is one of only two Jordanians playing for an American college.
18 Responses to "Jamal Abu-Shamala … an Olympian?"
Now this is funny!
So, is he going to have to play defense on lebron and kobe?
I’m not sure what the population of Jordan is, but if there’s more than 10 dudes, I don’t like his chances of making the team. He’s a zero-dimensional player.
I applaud this effort. He always gives his all! Good for him!
Ryan- I am pretty sure he would tear you apart on the court so please don’t rip on a college athlete.
Oh come on, he’ll make the team….there’s only 2 Jordanians in the NCAA, so we can safely assume there’s 2 Jordanians who play basketball. I like those odds. Last time I checked a basketball doesn’t bounce very well on sand….I don’t know who else would be his competition.
Jim is correct, he’d likely have all you negative critics for lunch on the court. Most negative bloggers have never ‘been there’ so they have NO clue.
He couldn’t do any worse than the Timberpuppies.
I wish Jamal the best in his quest. Wouldn’t that be something if he made the Jordanian team and Devoe Joseph made the Canadian team…. the Gophers would have two players with Olympics experience on the team next year!
Just to make it clear to all. Jordan has a pretty good basket ball program. One of the most successful teams in Asia. .
Jordanian clubs has won the Asian cups. 2006 was won by a Jordanian team. Right now the 2008 is still in the run.
1992 Jordan played USA in the youth world cup and the difference was less than 12-15 points as I recall.
So this guy better be good to make to the team.
Ball doesnt bounce on sand, but it bounces on the court. Games are played on court. Right!
Jamal was a walk-on for the gophers who impressed the coaches enough to receive a scholarship. Everything he has, he has earned with hard work. As a teacher in the Shakopee school district, I witnessed Jamal not only put in a lot of hours on the court, he put a lot of work into those hours.
This is a great opportunity, and if he makes the the team, will make him a better player for his last year as a gopher.
I agree with Warden, he has earned everything with hard work, and that is exactly what the Olympics are looking for, athletes with a great work ethic and got there the right way.
Makes you wonder how many hours Mike, Chris and Ryan put in to earn their credentials??
Actually I have met and worked out with jamal at lifetime fitness. I have played the game. You can put in all the hard work you want. I commend him for that, just like Dusty Rychart. Dusty is having a spectacular career in australia now. I am just being honest in that Jamal would have a hard time defending lebron and KoBE. Thank You.
Good for Jamal, a person should be proud of their background and international ball is a great opportunity. This is a young man who has conducted himself with honor.
Will someone tell Hoffarber to watch Manu Ginobilli of the SA Spurs play. Manu should be his role model. Besides looking similar, they have the same game except BH needs to play with Manu’s aggressiveness.
Fares, what map shows Jordan is in Asia?
I hope Jamal gets over there and puts ona a shooting clinic. That would certainly make things interesting as the Gophers enter their second season of “Tubby Ball.”
Good Luck Jamal! What a great opportunity to get international experience AND exposure.
Goph - Jordan is technically part of Asia. The Sinai Peninsula is technically what divides Asia from Africa - since Jordan lies to the west, it is part of Asia.
It’s only us Americans who call that area of the world the “Middle East.”
