The University of Memphis community lost a valued student, basketball player and friend last Thursday after a nine-month-long battle with leukemia.
Karim Sameh Azab, a junior forward from Egypt, appeared in 15 games over the course of the 2017 season before learning of his condition prior to the conference tournament.
Heading into the start of last year’s campaign, Azab was in line to play a major role before a preseason knee injury delayed his debut. For his collegiate career, Azab averaged 5.6 minutes, 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds. Although he may have not left a notable impact on the box score, his presence left a lasting mark on both the basketball team and the campus community.
Mike Parks Jr., a senior forward, arrived at the U of M at the same time as Azab. The two practiced together closely and developed a strong relationship both on and off the court.
“He was always smiling,” Parks said. “When I first got here, he was my buddy, and he just always had a smile on his face.”
For a program that has recently seen an injection of excitement and hope, Azab’s passing presents a sobering reality that puts life outside of basketball into perspective. A beloved teammate, Azab was regarded highly by the rest of the team for his work ethic and the energy he brought every time he stepped on the court.
“It was tough news that he passed, but we’re proud of how hard he was fighting,” Jeremiah Martin, senior guard, said. “He really wanted to play, to be a part of the team and play basketball for real. It’s really hard news for the whole team, especially those who knew him from being here last year as far as the struggles he went through.”
With the new season still very young, the Tigers will rely on their memory of Azab to help keep them motivated moving forward.
“We’re going to play hard,” Parks said. “I know he isn’t here, but not many people get put in this position, so we’re going to play hard and get these wins for him like he was here.”
For the remainder of head coach Penny Hardaway’s inaugural season on the bench, the team will sport a patch on their jerseys to recognize and commemorate the legacy left behind by the 6-foot-10 Egyptian forward. In his postgame press conference after a hard-fought 109-102 double-overtime victory against Yale on Saturday night, Hardaway lauded his team’s ability to handle adversity.
“I learned that these guys are just resilient,” Hardaway said. “They’re tougher than I gave them credit for.”
With the first game under their belts after learning about the death of Azab, Martin said he is determined to honor his legacy in the best way possible.
“It was great for us to just get a win and for it all to just fall into place,” Martin said. “I told the guys we have to lay it all out for him tonight, and we’re going to do that every night going forward.”
Near the end of the second overtime period, with cameras panning the crowd, one fan’s sign captured the true significance of this victory. In large letters, the poster read “This one is for Karim.”
When Azab made his way to the U of M a year ago, he was viewed as a mystery prospect who could potentially anchor the Memphis front court for seasons to come. Although that possibility did not come to fruition, the legacy left behind by Azab is one that reaches well beyond athletics.
His big smile and genuine demeanor will leave behind an impact on the campus community, and the basketball team will aim to channel their memories of Azab into a campaign dedicated to him.
Karim Sameh Azab, far right, stands with teammates for the National Anthem before a game. Azab lost his nine-month-long battle with leukemia last week, and the Tigers paid him tribute with jersey patches this season.
