Fatih Solak

Fatih Solak

No. 11 – Torku Selçuk Üniversitesi
Position	Center
League	Turkish Basketball League
Personal information
Born	(1980-07-25) July 25, 1980 Kayseri, Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
Playing career	2001–present
Career history
2001–2002	Beşiktaş Cola Turka
2002–2005	Ülkerspor
2005–2008	Galatasaray Café Crown
2008–2009	Aliağa Petkim
2009	Kepez Belediyespor
2009–2010	Galatasaray Café Crown
2010–2011	Türk Telekom
2011–2012	Olin Edirne
2013–present	Torku Selçuk Üniversitesi
Medals Men's Basketball Representing Turkey Mediterranean Games 2009 Pescara Team

Fatih Solak (born July 25, 1980) is a Turkish professional basketball player. He stands 2.13 m tall making him a Center. He also has a very impressive physique and weighs 125 kg. He is currently playing for the Turkish Basketball League team Torku Selçuk Üniversitesi.

Pro career

In the past, he has also played for Ülkerspor and Beşiktaş Istanbul again of the Turkish league.

Solak has always identified his ambition as playing in the NBA, in which other Turkish National players Mehmet Okur, Ersan İlyasova and Hidayet Türkoğlu are currently playing. Fatih Solak only started playing basketball at the age of seventeen, in which he had a height of 6 feet 3 (1.90 metres). Ever since his first year in basketball, Fatih Solak has developed vastly and has become an established figure for the Turkish National team. Due to his success in blocking, rebounds and 2.08 figure, Solak has been likened to Houston Rockets legend Dikembe Mutombo. Fatih is proud of being likened to one of his NBA idols and aims to continue producing the performances that has made him this popular with Turkish fans. Solak's average stats for the 2006-2007 season is as follows: 7.75 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 blocks per game; which is deemed to be successful by his coach at Galatasaray Cafe Crown Murat Özyer.

Fatih Solak has always thanked former coach Selcuk Ernak who is believed to have helped in Fatih's development as one of Turkey's top centres. Selçuk Ernak is the current coach at Banvitspor. Murat Özyer, his coach at Galatasaray Café Crown, has also received a mention from Fatih for consistently giving him enough minutes on the field. In June 2008, Fatih Solak transferred to Aliağa Petkim.

For the 2010-11 season he signed with Türk Telekom B.K..

Turkish national team

Fatih Solak was part of the Turkish national team that achieved sixth spot in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. He is best known for his amazing blocks and rebounds, and also contributes to the attack. Fatih Solak has been recently known for his close friendship with fellow National Team Player Ermal Kurtoğlu.

Solak most recently (2008 September) represented Turkey in the Division A Eurobasket Qualification tournament. Turkey won all her 6 games, against France, Belgium and Ukraine. Fatih Solak impressed especially in the last game of the group matches against France. Turkey won in France 80 to 78 and Fatih Solak recorded in this game 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. If he continues to play at this level he can be a dominant force for Turkey at the 2009 European Championship that Turkey has qualified for as the leader of its group of four.

External links

• Player profile at www.TBLStat.net