TCU is still in the hunt for one of the country’s rising 2027 guards, as four-star shooting guard Malik Olajuwon has trimmed his list to six schools.
The Horned Frogs made the cut alongside SMU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Minnesota, giving Jamie Dixon and his staff a seat at a competitive table filled entirely with Power Four programs. For TCU, the inclusion matters. For Olajuwon, it’s another step in a recruitment that is starting to pick up real national shape.
Olajuwon, who stands 6-foot-4, is headed into his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after transferring from Fort Bend Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. That move should put him in front of top-level competition all season long, and it also gives college staffs another chance to see how his game holds up against elite talent.
247Sports rates Olajuwon as a four-star prospect and one of the top shooting guards in the 2027 class. He boosted his profile over the summer with JL3 Elite and the Canadian U18 national team, averaging 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in summer circuit play.
That stat line points to a guard who does more than score. He can rebound, he can pass and he gives coaches the kind of multi-layered production they value in today’s backcourt.
The connection to Texas also gives TCU something to work with. Olajuwon grew up in Sugar Land, about four hours from Fort Worth, so the Horned Frogs can sell familiarity and proximity while the rest of the field brings its own pitch. Texas Tech and Kansas State represent the Big 12, SMU and Virginia Tech come from the ACC, and Minnesota rounds out the group from the Big Ten.
The visit schedule is already taking shape. Olajuwon has official trips lined up to Texas Tech on Sept.
18, SMU on Sept. 25, Minnesota on Oct.
8, Kansas State on Oct. 16 and Virginia Tech on Oct. 23.
A date for TCU has not been publicly announced.
That leaves the Horned Frogs with room to keep building their case. Dixon is entering his 10th season leading his alma mater, and TCU has leaned into roster continuity while adding pieces around the returning core. The program kept several key players and brought in nine newcomers through the transfer portal, junior college ranks and international recruiting, a mix that could become part of its recruiting message.
For Olajuwon, the path is still unfolding. He is the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, known as “The Dream,” who played 18 NBA seasons, including 17 with the Houston Rockets. Hakeem led the Rockets to NBA titles in 1994 and 1995, won the 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player Award and was selected to 12 All-Star teams.
Malik’s older brother, Aziz Olajuwon, was a four-star prospect in the 2026 class and signed with Stanford. If Malik ends up at SMU, the brothers could eventually cross paths as ACC opponents.
For now, Malik Olajuwon is focused on carving out his own name while heading into a critical senior season at IMG Academy. TCU has made the first cut. The harder part is still ahead: turning that finalist status into a commitment.
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TCU Just Landed A Big Chance With A Fast-Rising 2027 Guard
TCU has jumped into the mix for one of the faster-rising guards in the 2027 class, with Elijah Paez recently picking up an offer from the Horned Frogs and setting an official visit for Sept. 18-20. The timing matters, because early offers can shape a recruitment before it gets crowded, and TCU is now positioned to make a real impression as Paez continues to sort through a growing list of high-major options.
Paez also has visits lined up to UConn and DePaul, and the Huskies have clearly caught his eye as he follows Danny Hurleys program closely. TCUs challenge will be to use that fall visit to separate itself in a recruitment that is still taking shape, especially with other Class of 2027 guards like Javion Tyndale also drawing attention after a strong summer and a recent stop at St. Bonaventure. [Read more 🡒]