Fardaws Aimaq (born January 6, 1999) is a Canadian basketball player for Szolnoki Olajbányász of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A. He previously played for the Mercer Bears, Utah Valley Wolverines, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and California Golden Bears.
 Aimaq with the California Golden Bears in 2024 | |
| Szolnoki Olajbányász | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 6, 1999 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College |
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editAimaq grew up swimming and practiced mixed martial arts for 11 years, earning a black belt. He started playing competitive basketball after growing to 6'3" during eighth grade.[1] Aimaq attended Steveston-London Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia.[2] He led his team to its first-ever AAA provincial title game. Aimaq played a postgraduate season at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine.[3] He averaged 18.6 points and 13.8 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-NEPSAC Class AAA honors. Aimaq committed to playing college basketball for Mercer.[4]
College career
editAs a freshman at Mercer, Aimaq averaged five points and 5.3 rebounds per game.[5] He left the program after head coach Bob Hoffman was fired. He transferred to Utah Valley and sat out for one season due to NCAA transfer rules.[1] On December 12, 2020, Aimaq scored 27 points and grabbed a program-record 20 rebounds in a 93–88 loss to Wyoming.[6] On January 15, 2021, he recorded 29 points and 14 rebounds in a 93–92 win over Seattle.[7] On February 13, Aimaq posted 18 points and 25 rebounds, breaking his program record for rebounds in a game, as Utah Valley lost to Dixie State, 93–89.[8] As a sophomore, he led NCAA Division 1 in rebounding with 15 rebounds per game in addition to 13.9 points, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.[9] Aimaq was named WAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year and WAC Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but ultimately returned to Utah Valley for his junior season.[10] As a junior, he averaged a career-high 18.9 points per game, along with 13.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks. He repeated as the WAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-WAC honor.[11]
On March 18, 2022, Aimaq entered the transfer portal and also declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[12] On April 30, 2022, Aimaq committed to Texas Tech.[13] He suffered a foot injury prior to the season, which limited him to only 11 games played. He averaged 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Following the season, Aimaq exercised his additional year of eligibility and announced he would again enter the transfer portal.[14] On April 7, 2023, Aimaq committed to California, reuniting with head coach Mark Madsen whom he played for at Utah Valley.[15]
After a tournament game in November 2023, Aimaq was captured on video confronting a man in the stands. The man had allegedly hurled verbal abuse at Aimaq during the game. The man was approached and threatened by Aimaq. No other fans during the game overhead the "slurs." Aimaq's coach came to his defense, citing the fan's abuse as abhorrent, but not condoning Aimaq's actions. [16]
Professional career
editOn July 26, 2024, Aimaq signed with Szolnoki Olajbányász.[17]
Career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led NCAA Division I |
College
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Mercer | 29 | 5 | 14.9 | .517 | 1.000 | .420 | 5.3 | .2 | .2 | .8 | 5.0 |
| 2019–20 | Utah Valley |  Redshirt
| ||||||||||
| 2020–21 | Utah Valley | 22 | 22 | 30.5 | .485 | 1.000 | .618 | 15.0* | 1.6 | .2 | 1.7 | 13.9 |
| 2021–22 | Utah Valley | 32 | 32 | 34.4 | .490 | .435 | .723 | 13.6 | 1.7 | .7 | 1.3 | 18.9 |
| 2022–23 | Texas Tech | 11 | 9 | 27.5 | .443 | .278 | .742 | 7.9 | 1.5 | .5 | .3 | 11.1 |
| 2023–24 | California | 32 | 32 | 32.1 | .386 | .302 | .650 | 11.0 | 2.1 | .9 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| Career | 126 | 100 | 28.0 | .480 | .361 | .653 | 10.8 | 1.4 | .5 | 1.1 | 13.0 | |
Personal life
editAimaq's father, Faramarz, is from Afghanistan but moved to Germany, before settling in Canada, to escape the Soviet-Afghan War. Aimaq is a Muslim.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Toone, Trent (December 24, 2020). "'I respect everybody's faith': Fardaws Aimaq's journey to Utah County". Deseret News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Campbell, Alan (December 14, 2020). "Steveston-London hoops grad lighting up NCAA". Richmond News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Booth, Mark (May 23, 2019). "Richmond hoop standout taking his game to Utah school". Richmond News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Leong, John (April 19, 2018). "Fardaws Aimaq of Richmond signs with the Mercer University Bears". Vancouver Basketball. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Erickson, Jason (May 22, 2019). "Mercer's Fardaws Aimaq transfers to Utah Valley". Deseret News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger (December 15, 2020). "Wolverine Weekly: Aimaq breaks single-game rebound record". UVU Review. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Allen, Trevor (January 18, 2021). "Utah Valley C Fardaws Aimaq Named WAC Player Of The Week". KSL Sports. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "Dixie State edges UVU in game two of Old Hammer Rivalry, 93-89". Utah Valley University Athletics. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Ireland, Kyle (June 27, 2021). "Report: Utah Valley Center Fardaws Aimaq Puts On Impressive Show At Pro Day". KSL Sports. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "Aimaq withdraws from NBA Draft, announces his return to UVU". Utah Valley Wolverines. July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "2022 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced". WAC Sports. March 7, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ Ireland, Kyle (March 18, 2022). "Reports: UVU Center Fardaws Aimaq Enters NCAA Transfer Portal". KSL Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ Tipton, Joe (April 29, 2022). "Star transfer Fardaws Aimaq commits to Texas Tech". On3.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ Schultz, Nick (March 9, 2023). "Texas Tech F Fardaws Aimaq enters NCAA Transfer Portal". On3.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Tipton, Joe (April 7, 2023). "Texas Tech's Fardaws Aimaq announces transfer destination". On3.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Tipton, Joe (November 22, 2023). "Cal alleges fan called Bears player 'a terrorist' before heated exchange". San Francisco Gate.
- ^ "Fardaws Aimaq Signs With Szolnoki Olajbányász In Hungary". California Golden Bears. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.