Jamal Abu-Shamala
{{Short description|Palestinian-American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Jamal Abu-Shamala
| position = Small forward
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|7|25}}
| birth_place = Shakopee, Minnesota
| nationality = American / Palestinian
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 210
| highschool = Shakopee (Shakopee, Minnesota)
| college = Minnesota (2005–2009)
| draft_year = 2009
| career_start =
| career_end =
| years1 = 2010–2011
| team1 = Sioux Falls Skyforce
| highlights =
}}
Jamal Abu-Shamala ({{langx|ar|جمال أبو شمالة}}; born July 25, 1987) is a Palestinian-American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Abu-Shamala played in the NBA Development League for the Sioux Falls Skyforce during the 2010–11 season.
Abu-Shamala first represented the Jordanian national team and began to play internationally in 2008. He joined the Palestine national team in 2011 and later represented them internationally.{{Cite web |url=http://rs.arabgames2011.qa/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_BK@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG_number=31517.htm |title=Basketball Biography & Results - ABU SHAMALA Jamal |access-date=2011-12-14 |archive-date=2012-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503021141/http://rs.arabgames2011.qa/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_BK@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG_number=31517.htm |url-status=dead }}
College career
Abu-Shamala came to the University of Minnesota as a walk-on but earned a scholarship after playing in 30 games and starting 10 games during his freshman season in 2005–06. His best season statistically was his sophomore season in 2006–07 when he played in 31 games, started 21 games, averaged 6.5 points per game, and made 44-of-102 three-point attempts. He finished his career with 128 games played, 62 starts, 592 points, 270 rebounds, a field goal percentage of 43.2% (203–469) and three-point field goal percentage of 40.1% (106–264). His career three-point field percentage ranked him seventh all-time at Minnesota. In 2009, Abu-Shamala was named the University of Minnesota's male recipient of the Outstanding Student-Athlete Award for his accomplishments in athletics, academics, leadership and volunteerism.{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022009aab.html |title=Abu-Shamala Named Outstanding Male Student-Athlete - University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site |website=www.gophersports.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909183405/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022009aab.html |archive-date=2015-09-09}}
International career
Abu-Shamala was noticed by the Jordan men's national basketball team while playing in a game broadcast on ESPN.{{cite web |title=TDG Interview with former Golden Gopher, Jamal Abu-Shamala |url=https://www.thedailygopher.com/2011/2/8/1980117/tdg-interview-with-former-golden-gopher-jamal-abu-shamala |website=The Daily Gopher |access-date=June 13, 2021 |date=February 8, 2011}} He said he was eligible to play for the team because of his Palestinian father and "65–75 percent of Jordan is Palestinian". Abu-Shamala was not aware of the Palestine men's national basketball team when he committed and only realized the team existed when he played against them in a tournament. Although he felt like he should be playing for Palestine, his commitments to Jordan prevented him from joining the team immediately. Abu-Shamala played for Jordan as they retained their title at the William Jones Cup.[http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=1514645 Abu-Shamala Helps Jordan National Team Win William Jones Cup] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802084713/http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=1514645 |date=2008-08-02 }}, July 18, 2008. Access Date September 5, 2008.
Abu-Shamala was unable to obtain a Jordanian passport after his second year with the team and played his first game with the Palestine team at the 2011 Pan Arab Games.
Personal life
Abu-Shamala was born to a Palestinian father and an American mother. His father moved to the United States from Gaza at the age of 21.{{cite web |title=Palestinian National Basketball Team, Interview with Jamal Abu-Shamala |url=https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/232358 |website=Institute for Palestine Studies |access-date=June 13, 2021 |date=October 17, 2015}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://basketball.asia-basket.com/player/Jamal-Abushamala/Palestine/Sariya-Ramallah/91267 Jamal Abu-Shamala] at asia-basket.com
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Jamal-Abu-Shamala/Summary/3917 Jamal Abu-Shamala] at RealGM
- [http://www.jaselitetraining.com/]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abu-Shamala, Jamal}}
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American people of Palestinian descent
Category:Asian Games competitors for Jordan
Category:Basketball players at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Basketball players from Minnesota
Category:Jordanian men's basketball players
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball players
Category:Palestinian men's basketball players
Category:Potros ITSON de Obregón players
Category:Sioux Falls Skyforce players
Category:People from Shakopee, Minnesota