Malik Olafioye proving he鈥檚 one of top players in Michigan
ECORSE, Mich. (BVM) 鈥� There aren鈥檛 a lot of high school basketball players who score 30 or more points in six consecutive games, lead their team to state for the first time in over four decades, or become a 2,000-point scorer. However, Ecorse Community High School standout Malik Olafioye has done all of that.
The 6-foot-2 guard has helped put himself, and his Ecorse squad, on the radar over the past couple of years, and he has quickly turned into one of the best high school players in the state of Michigan.聽
For the humble, yet confident, senior, the success he has found while at Ecorse is no surprise. Impressing on the hardwood is something Olafioye has found himself doing since his dad and uncles introduced him to the game over a decade ago.
鈥淚 started playing basketball when I was about 7 years old,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淓ver since then, I鈥檝e just been getting better.鈥�
Growing up, Olafioye began playing in his local YMCA league, and eventually transitioned to AAU basketball where he has played for the Motor City Thunder, All-Ohio Red, Bates Fundamentals and Jalen Green Elite.
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His stops at those various programs developed Olafioye into a player that can impact the game in all facets, whether it is shooting, rebounding, defense, or just displaying his athleticism and leadership. No matter where he is playing, Olafioye makes those on his team better.
鈥淩eally getting my teammates involved,鈥� Olafioye said about what he tries to accomplish with his versatility on the court. 鈥淟eadership plays a big role.鈥�
Olafioye鈥檚 versatility and leadership had him in position to become a starter as just a freshman at Ecorse. So too did the constant work he was putting in.
鈥淚鈥檇 say by working hard,鈥� Olafioye said about becoming a starter in his first year at Ecorse. 鈥淚n my freshman year, I was shooting the ball a lot. I kept developing even better my sophomore year.鈥�
After an all-state sophomore year in which he averaged over 27 points and already became a 1,000-point scorer, Olafioye and his Red Raiders teammates continued to put it all together last season, as the standout guard again impressed with averages of 24.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists as a first-team all-state player.
Despite missing time with a wrist injury, Olafioye returned to help lead Ecorse to the MHSAA Division 3 state semifinals at the Breslin Center last March. It was Ecorse鈥檚 first trip to state in over 40 years.
win their first regional title since 1979 led by (17 pts, 9 rebs, 5 asts) (10 pts) and game winner from Derrick Kemp (14 pts) 馃弳
— Mike & Drew Sports鈩� (@MikeandDrewShow)
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鈥淚 would say I performed very well,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淚 was out for a good bit of games, but I still finished the season strong.鈥�
At state, the Red Raiders would eventually fall to Menominee. While the experience was a special one for both the point guard and his teammates, the loss has only made them hungrier to repeat their past success this year.
鈥淚t was an amazing experience for my first time being on that floor and playing at a big level like that,鈥� Olafioye said.
鈥淭hey [Menominee] did a very good scouting report on me. They limited a lot of my plays 鈥� If we ever go back there again, we鈥檙e going to have to win it.鈥�
Thus far in 2022-23, Olafioye has done all he can to indeed ensure his team does get back to state, which was one of his main goals entering the season.
鈥淕etting my 2,000 points, winning districts and regionals, and making it back to the final four and winning the state championship,鈥� Olafioye said.
Throughout the year, the senior guard has put up some truly incredible performances. During a six-game stretch through the end of January and early February, Olafioye put together six straight double-doubles, each of which he scored 30 points or more in, including one game where he posted a career-high 52 points.
over his last 6 Games!! @EHoopsSpotlight
— ecorsebasketball (@ecorseboyshoops)
. scored a career high 52 Points with 13 rebounds in a win over Bradford Academy.
— Athlazon (@athlazon_)
On the year, Olafioye has scored around 30 points per game while also averaging over 11 rebounds and four assists.
鈥淚鈥檓 working very, very hard,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淲aking up at 5 a.m. before school, working out, getting shots up. Working out at my lunch period, my break, practice, after practice. Really just staying locked in, because I know this is a very big season for me.鈥�
Olafioye鈥檚 big scoring outputs helped him achieve one of his other main goals recently, as he reached the coveted 2,000-point scoring mark, becoming the to accomplish the feat.聽
It was a night that was a long time in the making, and also one made more special by the fact that his longtime teammate, Kenneth Morrast Jr., also hit the 1,000-point career scoring mark in the same game.
Michigan Mr. Basketball Candidate 馃弨 passed 2000 career points in 91-54 win over East English, he finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals 馃シ馃従馃敟馃攱
— Mike & Drew Sports鈩� (@MikeandDrewShow)
鈥淚t was a very special night, 2,000 points is a lot of points to score in four seasons, 鈥淥lafioye said. 鈥淚鈥檇 say it’s a big accomplishment.鈥�
Olafioye鈥檚 elite play on the court at Ecorse has put him squarely in the Mr. Basketball conversation in Michigan. For the senior guard, just to be in the conversation is meaningful, but he hopes his continued hard work gives him a chance to win the award.
鈥淚t means a lot,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淢r. Basketball is obviously a good achievement, and I鈥檓 working as hard as I can to reach it.鈥�
Whether he claims the Mr. Basketball award or not, Olafioye鈥檚 focus throughout the last month or so of the season will not waiver, as he continues to hone in on getting back to East Lansing.
鈥淚t would mean everything to me,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淲inning the state championship, that鈥檚 a big part.鈥�
It is also part of the reason why Olafioye is not worried about making a college decision until spring. Currently, the three-star recruit holds multiple Division I offers, including a couple from some Power 5 schools in Arizona State and Boston College, as well as one from the current No. 1 team in the nation, the Houston Cougars.
鈥淢y recruitment is fully open right now,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been talking to a few schools. We鈥檙e going to wait until the spring to decide where I鈥檓 going.鈥�
Olafioye will have his choice on where to play, and will bring leadership, energy and athleticism, in addition to an elite all-around skill set, to whatever program he ends up at. Ultimately, it鈥檚 just about finding the right fit.
鈥淎 coach that believes in me,鈥� Olafioye said about what he鈥檚 looking for in a college program. 鈥淎 place where I can get better and have a shot at the next level.鈥�
With the numbers he鈥檚 putting up, many might expect Olafioye to be ranked higher than . There鈥檚 little doubt that his play could move him up the ranks sooner than later, but that isn鈥檛 something the talented guard is focused on.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really pay attention to rankings because I know how hard of a worker I am,鈥� Olafioye said. 鈥淚 just gotta keep my foot on the gas.鈥�
No matter where Olafioye goes from here, he can be proud of not only the tremendous accomplishments he has had in his high school career, but also that he has left the legacy he set out to leave as soon as he got to Ecorse.
鈥淣o matter where you go, as long as you put the work in, anything can happen,鈥� he said.
Now, Olafioye will continue doing the same thing he has over the past few years to find success. With the path he鈥檚 on, it will be no surprise if that success follows him to the college level and beyond.
鈥淚鈥檒l just keep working hard, keep believing and keep getting better,鈥� Olafioye concluded.