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Former College Basketball Star Died Of Cancer Thursday At 26

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Feb 27, 2025 10:50 PM ET

The college basketball community is mourning the loss of former Stony Brook and University of Miami star Elijah Olaniyi.

Olaniyi passed away Thursday at the too-young age of 26 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. An All-America East performer for Stony Brook and key contributor during his one season with Miami, Olaniyi briefly played overseas before retiring from basketball in December 2023 due to health issues.

In January 2024, he revealed in an interview with The Statesman that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer that past November and had dealt with symptoms, both physical and mental, going back to his final season of college basketball in 2021-22.

“I remember waking up with a nosebleed,” Olaniyi said. “Now, I’m getting the information that I was actually having a seizure. And then right after, I had to go to practice.”

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 21: Elijah Olaniyi #3 of the Stony Brook Seawolves takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the American University Eagles at Bender Arena on December 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

The Stony Brook men's basketball program confirmed Olaniyi's death in a social media post Thursday.

"Earlier today, our Seawolves family lost one of our own when Elijah Olaniyi passed away after a courageous battle with cancer," the official X/Twitter account for Stony Brook men's basketball wrote. "Elijah will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends."

A 6-foot-5 wing out of New York City, Olaniyi played his high school ball in Newark, N.J. before heading to Stony Brook. There, he averaged was named America East Rookie of the Year during the 2017-18 season and later made first-team all-conference as a junior when he averaged 18.0 points per game.

Olaniyi transferred to Miami for the 2020-21 season, averaging 10.5 points in 21 games for the Hurricanes, before transferring back to Stony Brook. He appeared in only seven games for the Seawolves in 2021-22 due to a combination of injuries and mental health struggles.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Olaniyi's family and friends during this difficult time.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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