Fatih Solak
Encyclopedia
Fatih Solak 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 Olin Edirne
.
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.
.
that achieved sixth spot in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
in Japan
. He is best known for his amazing block
s and rebound
s, 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.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
team Olin Edirne
Olin Edirne Basket
Olin Edirne Basket, is a professional basketball team based in the city of Edirne in Turkey. Their home arena is the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall with a capacity of 2,500 seats...
.
Pro career
In the past, he has also played for ÜlkersporÜlkerspor
-History:Ülkerspor had been founded in 1975 but its basketball department was created in 1993 by buying a Turkish League spot from Nasaşspor. It won Turkish League titles in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2006 with greats including Harun Erdenay, İbrahim Kutluay, Michael Anderson, Orhun Ene, Kevin Rankin and...
and Beşiktaş Istanbul
Besiktas Cola Turka
Beşiktaş Milangaz is a professional basketball team of Beşiktaş J.K., which is a sports club from İstanbul, Turkey. Their home arena is the Sinan Erdem Dome with a capacity of 16,000 seats...
again of the Turkish league.
Solak has always identified his ambition as playing in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, in which other Turkish National players Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Murat Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He is also under contract with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, and can return to that team when the 2011 NBA lockout ends...
, Ersan İlyasova
Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan İlyasova is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Anadolu Efes. He is also under contract with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, though the NBA is currently in a lockout...
and Hidayet Türkoğlu
Hidayet Türkoglu
Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu is a Turkish professional basketball player in the NBA currently playing for the Orlando Magic. He plays the small forward position, although he has played four positions in his career...
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
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
legend Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo , commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a retired Congolese American professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
. Fatih is proud of being likened to one of his NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
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
Murat Özyer
Necdet Murat Özyer is a former Turkish national basketball player. He is now a coach, although currently a free agent.-Coaching career:...
.
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
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Banvitspor. Murat Özyer, his coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators...
, 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.
Türk Telekom B.K.
Türk Telekom Basketbol Kulübü is a professional basketball club of based in Ankara, Turkey. It is branch of the Türk Telekom GSK. Their home arena is the Ankara Arena with a capacity of 10,400 seats which was opened in April 2010...
.
Turkish national team
Fatih Solak was part of the Turkish national teamTurkey national basketball team
The Turkish national basketball team is the basketball section that represents Turkey in international competitions. The team is nicknamed "12 Dev Adam" ....
that achieved sixth spot in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He is best known for his amazing block
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
s and rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s, 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.