Elijah Olaniyi was a former Stony Brook and Miami basketball star who recently passed away, find out more about him and his cause of death and more below
Olaniyi’s sudden and tragic death has left the entire basketball community in mourning as he leaves a lasting impact.
Who is Elijah Olaniyi, as ex-Stony Brook and University of Miami basketball player passes away, cause of death, bio, age, parents, college and school
Earlier today, our Seawolves family lost one of our own when Elijah Olaniyi passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Elijah will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0TQ7tLY7Gd
— Stony Brook Men’s Basketball (@StonyBrookMBB) February 27, 2025
Very Sad news as Former Stony Brook and Miami basketball player Elijah Olaniyi has passed away
A natural born leader, smart, winner, and hard worker. Elijah cared about his family more than himself, and was a self made all conference player
Pray for his family.
RIP E 🙏 pic.twitter.com/xFxcqHzfp7
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) February 27, 2025
Elijah Olaniyi passes away
Former Stoney Brooks and Miami player Elijah Olaniyi has sadly passed away, leaving the entire community in both institutions in shock. Elijah was a standout player at both Stony Brooks and Miami and leaves behind a lasting impact.
Cause of death
According to reports, Olaniyi passed away following a long battle with brain cancer after initially being diagnosed in November 2023. The condition ended his aspirations of playing professional basketball overseas. Elijah reportedly underwent three surgeries in December following the diagnosis. The surgeries successfully removed about 95% of the tumor.
However, a further biopsy revealed that the tumor was cancerous, and Elijah had to immediately begin radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Despite his long fight with the disease, Olaniyi ultimately succumbed to the disease. According to various medical experts, Olaniyi had likely been living with the tumor since his final season at Stony Brook. During that time, Elijah reported having experienced mental health struggles and seizures, which are symptoms linked to the tumor.
Elijah Olaniyi bio
Elijah Olaniyi was a former high school and college basketball player who recently passed away. He was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and developed a passion for basketball at a very young age. Elijah quickly made a name for himself at Stony Brook, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished players. Owing to his talent and work ethic, he earned a transfer opportunity to Miami.
During his time there, he briefly competed in the ACC before returning to Stony Brook to finish his college career. Despite strong dreams of playing professional basketball, he suffered an illness, which cut short his dreams.
Position G
Height 6-5
Weight 205
Hometown Newark, N.J.
High School Newark East Side
Major Business Management
He was born on January 11, 1999 in Brooklyn, New York and was the son of Festus and Ruth Olaniyi and had five siblings, Samson, Gabriel, David, Esther and Hannah.
Age and height
Elijah was just 26 years old at the time of his death and stood at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters).
Education
Elijah attended Stony Brook University and the University of Miami.
Basketball career and achievements
Elijah Olaniyi played three seasons at Stony Brook before transferring to Miami for the 2020-21 season. He was renowned for being a versatile guard-forward with strong defensive tenacity and scoring ability. Elijah returned to Stony Brook for his final college season in 2021-22.
Throughout his career, Elijah established himself as one of Stony Brook’s greatest players. He even earned the All-America East Conference honors twice and was named as the league’s Rookie of the Year in the 2017-18 season. Elijah ranks ninth on the Stony Brook’s all-time scoring list, seventh in steals, and tenth in total rebounds.
Tributes and condolences
Following the news about his tragic passing, tributes and condolences poured in from former teammates, coaches, and fans. The Stony Brook Athletics and the Miami Hurricanes basketball program both released their statements honoring Olaniyi’s contributions to their teams.
His former coach at Stony Brook, Geno Ford, also expressed his condolences towards Elijah Olaniyi, stating:
Elijah was not just a great player but a tremendous teammate and an even better person. His determination and leadership inspired everyone around him. He will be deeply missed.”
Former Stony Brook and Miami player Elijah Olaniyi has died at 26 after a battle with brain cancer
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