Fardaws Aimaq

Fardaws Aimaq
Aimaq with the California Golden Bears in 2024
Szolnoki Olajbányász
PositionCenter
LeagueNemzeti Bajnokság I/A
Personal information
Born (1999-01-06) January 6, 1999 (age 25)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school
College
Career highlights and awards

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.

Early life

Aimaq 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

As 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

On July 26, 2024, Aimaq signed with Szolnoki Olajbányász.[17]

Career statistics

Legend
  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

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 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

Aimaq'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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Campbell, Alan (December 14, 2020). "Steveston-London hoops grad lighting up NCAA". Richmond News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Booth, Mark (May 23, 2019). "Richmond hoop standout taking his game to Utah school". Richmond News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Leong, John (April 19, 2018). "Fardaws Aimaq of Richmond signs with the Mercer University Bears". Vancouver Basketball. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Erickson, Jason (May 22, 2019). "Mercer's Fardaws Aimaq transfers to Utah Valley". Deseret News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger (December 15, 2020). "Wolverine Weekly: Aimaq breaks single-game rebound record". UVU Review. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Allen, Trevor (January 18, 2021). "Utah Valley C Fardaws Aimaq Named WAC Player Of The Week". KSL Sports. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "Dixie State edges UVU in game two of Old Hammer Rivalry, 93-89". Utah Valley University Athletics. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Ireland, Kyle (June 27, 2021). "Report: Utah Valley Center Fardaws Aimaq Puts On Impressive Show At Pro Day". KSL Sports. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Aimaq withdraws from NBA Draft, announces his return to UVU". Utah Valley Wolverines. July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "2022 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced". WAC Sports. March 7, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Ireland, Kyle (March 18, 2022). "Reports: UVU Center Fardaws Aimaq Enters NCAA Transfer Portal". KSL Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Tipton, Joe (April 29, 2022). "Star transfer Fardaws Aimaq commits to Texas Tech". On3.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  14. ^ Schultz, Nick (March 9, 2023). "Texas Tech F Fardaws Aimaq enters NCAA Transfer Portal". On3.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Tipton, Joe (April 7, 2023). "Texas Tech's Fardaws Aimaq announces transfer destination". On3.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Tipton, Joe (November 22, 2023). "Cal alleges fan called Bears player 'a terrorist' before heated exchange". San Francisco Gate.
  17. ^ "Fardaws Aimaq Signs With Szolnoki Olajbányász In Hungary". California Golden Bears. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.