Memphis basketball player Karim Sameh Azab dies after fighting leukemia
University of Memphis basketball player Karim Sameh Azab died Thursday after battling leukemia.
He was 22 years old.
The school first confirmed the news with the Memphis Commercial Appeal before making an announcement Thursday evening.
“The University of Memphis is deeply saddened by the passing of Karim Azab,” school president M. David Rudd wrote. “It is never easy when someone so young has their life cut short. Karim showed great courage battling with tremendous fight and determination. He was proud of being a Tiger, and Karim will be missed immensely.”
Azab confirmed his diagnosis in April on Twitter after the school announced he was dealing with an unspecified illness.
“I found out a few weeks ago that I had developed leukemia lymphoma (AML, ALL),” Azab wrote on April 21. “I have since started treatment and am working through the process, but I wanted to spread the word and ask for prayers to help strengthen me in this journey.”
Azab, a 6-10 power forward from Egypt, played in 15 games for the Tigers last season, averaging 1 point and 0.7 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game.
Azab was part of former head coach Tubby Smith’s initial recruiting class at Memphis. He played two years of high school basketball in the United States after moving from Egypt, according to the Commercial Appeal.
Smith told the Commercial Appeal that Azab complained about shoulder pain before the team’s appearance in the AAC tournament in March, which led to his diagnosis.
Azab played for Egypt’s national team at the 2014 FIBA Africa Under-18 Championships, winning a gold medal.
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