Stony Brook’s Basketball Player, Elijah Olaniyi, Was Raised By His Father, Festus, After The Death Of His Mother, Ruth Olaniyi

Elijah Olaniyi’s father, Festus, a construction worker, immigrated to America from Nigeria three decades ago.

Olaniyi, a former Stony Brook University men’s basketball star, died on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 26, after a battle with brain cancer.

On November 30, 2023, Elijah was diagnosed with a tumor on his brain.

After undergoing three surgeries to remove it, doctors discovered that it was cancerous and had been present since the 2021-22 season.

He went through radiation therapy at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center and announced that he was cancer-free on February 27, 2024.

Unfortunately, the cancer returned later that year, and he was again hospitalized.

Stony Brook Men’s Basketball poured a tribute to Elijah through their official Facebook handle by stating,

As a freshman during the 2017-18 season, Elijah was a key player off the Seawolves’ bench, appearing in all 32 games that season.

He was named the America East Conference’s Rookie of the Year after averaging 7.8 points per game and shooting 45.5% from the field.

During his final year in 2021-22, he suffered a knee injury, and after coming back from the injury, he battled mental health issues that kept him off the court.

He launched a professional career playing for the Basketball Club Sparta Bertrange, a team based in Luxemburg, in the 2022-23 season. However, he was medically forced to retire on December 6, 2023.

Elijah Olaniyi’s Passing Leaves His Family In Deep Grief And Mourning

Elijah Olaniyi, 26, was born on January 11, 1999, in New York, United States, to his father, Festus, and his mother, Ruth Olaniyi.

He was the first member of his family to be a natural-born citizen of the United States after his parents immigrated from Nigeria.

Therefore, Elijah and his family hold African-American ethnicity and American nationality.

His parents moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey when Elijah was three.

Sadly, his mother, Ruth, passed away in July 2017, just two days after Elijah first moved into Stony Brook College.

After that, his father, Festus, who works at a construction company, cared for Elijah and his family.

When Elijah went through chemotherapy, neither he nor his widowed father had the necessary funds to afford his medical bills, so he started a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe in December 2023.

Currently, Festus is mourning the tragic loss of his son, Elijah Olaniyi. Closed ones and relatives have poured their heartfelt condolences and prayers to Festus and his entire family.

Rest in Paradise, Elijah Olaniyi.

Basketball Player Elijah Olaniyi Grew Up With His Six Siblings

Elijah Olaniyi grew up playing basketball with his six siblings.

He had two older brothers, Noah and Samson; one older sister, Esther; two younger brothers, Gabriel and David; and one younger sister, Hannah Olaniyi.

As per the source, Noah studied Journalism at Essex County College.

However, they have managed to avoid social media, so little is known about their personal lives.

Currently, they are mourning the tragic loss of their supportive brother, Elijah Olaniyi.

Additional Information

• On September 24, 2022, Olaniyi made his post-collegiate debut with the semi-pro team Sparta of the Luxembourgish Basketball League, recording 21 points, five rebounds, and six assists in a 98-69 victory over Soleuvre.
• ESPN listed him as a two-star recruit and a small forward with a 67 overall grade. ESPN ranked him as the 11th-best recruit in New Jersey and the 75th-best small forward.
• He was named American East Rookie of the Week four times and was also named to the America East All-Rookie Team.