Sia DeyKoontz
Redshirt freshman guard Malik Olafioye dribbles the ball during Thursday’s game on Feb. 20, 2025, in Evansville, Indiana against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.
Editor’s Note: Malik Olafioye played four years on the varsity team, not three as stated on EIU athletics.
Redshirt freshman guard Malik Olafioye transferred to Eastern after spending one year with the Kansas City Roos.
The Ecorse, Michigan, native was a multisport athlete, playing basketball, football, soccer and baseball.
Olafioye was a three-star recruit coming out of high school after his stint at Ecorse High School. Olafioye scored more than 2,200 points in high school, ranking himself in the state of Michigan’s top 15 career scorers. He scored more points in high school than Magic Johnson did.
During his four years on the varsity team, Olafioye averaged 29.3 points per game, and he was also named the 2022-2023 Associated Press 3A Michigan player of the year.
In this Q&A, Olafioye shares why he believes LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time, the deeper meaning behind his jersey number 11 and what he’d tell his younger self.
Q: When did you first start playing basketball?
A: “I started playing basketball when I was 5. I played multiple sports growing up though.”
Q: What other sports did you play?
A: “I played soccer, baseball and football.”
Q: What positions were you in those sports?
A: “In football, I was a safety, wide receiver and slot [receiver]. I only played soccer in middle school, and I played pee wee baseball. It was nothing really crazy.”
Q: How long did you play football?
A: “Three years.”
Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat?
A: “To be honest, I really don’t know. I feel like it’s flat sometimes, and sometimes I feel like it’s round.”
Q: Pancakes or waffles?
A: “Pancakes.”
Q: Do you put anything on your waffles?
A: “Strawberries, syrup and whipped cream.”
Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team?
A: “Terry [McMorris].”
Q: Who on the team would you give the aux to?
A: “I might keep the aux. Nobody get the aux. We all listen to different types of music.”
Q: Give me your top five musical artists.
A: “In no order, we’re gonna go Lil Baby, we’re gonna go Future. We’re gonna go Rylo [Rodriguez]. Got to go [with] Gunna, and then for my last, we’ll go with Veeze.”
Q: Who do you believe is the G.O.A.T. in basketball?
A: “LeBron James.”
Q: Why do you feel like the G.O.A.T. is LeBron?
A: “He’s the greatest in all aspects of the game. You got to go with LeBron. He’s just different. He gets his teammates better.”
Q: Why did you choose to come to Eastern?
A: “Really, on my visit here, I really felt like this was a good environment to be around. I’m a family type of guy, and the coaches were like family to me. I feel like I had a connection on the first day I met them. It was a really good vibe, and this is somewhere I know I can get better also.”
Q: What has been your favorite memory with the team thus far?
A: “Really all of them, to be honest. There’s always something new happening all the time with us. I’d say every time we see each other it’s a new memory.”
Q: In a perfect world, what would be your postgame meal?
A: “Soul food and homemade red velvet cake.”
Q: Break down your perfect plate for me.
A: “Macaroni [and cheese], collard greens, dressing, cranberry sauce, ham, turkey, potato salad. Can’t forget about the candied yams too.”
Q: Does your jersey number have a deeper meaning behind it?
A: “My first number was three but NaKyel [Shelton] already has number three. I really just chose 11 because that’s my favorite number, and that was also my pop’s number when he played.”
Q: If you had a walkout song, what would it be?
A: “’Teach Me How To Dougie.’”
Q: Apple juice or orange juice?
A: “Apple juice.”
Q: There’s a one-point deficit in the game. Would you rather have the game winning shot or the game winning block?
A: “Game winning shot. Even though we win the game with both, I feel the game winning shot has more aura. I’m not a shot-blocker type of guy. I got to go with the game winning shot.”
Q: Do you have any secret or hidden talents?
A: “I know how to flip real good.”
Q: Who’s your favorite NBA team?
A: “I’d say the Phoenix Suns because my favorite player is on there.”
Q: Who’s your favorite player?
A: “Devin Booker.”
Q: Why is Devin Booker your favorite player?
A: “He’s a killer. He knows the game.”
Q: How do you like your steak cooked?
A: “Medium well.”
Q: What’s your major?
A: “Communications.”
Q: Are you planning to do something with that specific degree?
A: “I’m thinking about changing my degree soon, probably to business. One day, I want to own my own things, and I want to learn how to do that before I get to my late age.”
Q: How far is home for you?
A: “Probably five hours but eight with my type of car.”
Q: What type of car do you drive?
A: “A Mustang Mach-E. It’s an electric car, so I have to stop and charge.”
Q: What is the most memorable place you’ve been to?
A: “The Bahamas. The scenery is crazy out there.”
Q: Who would you say are your biggest supporters?
A: “My family and some of my friends, my teammates and my city too.”
Q: When did COVID-19 hit you?
A: “The end of my freshman year of high school.”
Q: How did COVID-19 affect you?
A: “I think that week COVID happened, we were supposed to play in our district championship, but we never played in it. That was really a bummer that happened. With everything shutting down, it was a bad time.”
Q: Was the team projected to win?
A: “Yes, 110 percent. We won districts the next year.”
Q: Knowing everything you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you?
A: “I would tell myself to stay humble, keep doing you and to keep following your dreams. They’ll come true.”
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.