Seawolves sign Egyptian JC standout

ANCHORAGE – Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball coach Cameron Turner has added another international standout to the roster, announcing Friday that Karim Elgizawy has signed a scholarship agreement to play for the Seawolves.

A 6-3, 200-pound guard, Elgizawy comes north after an outstanding sophomore campaign at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, where he helped his team to the NJCAA Region 9 North Division title. The Cairo, Egypt, native averaged 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game at LCCC, shooting .364 from long range and .710 on free throws. He had 20 double-figure scoring efforts, including 16 straight games from Nov. 14 through Jan. 28. Among his top efforts, Elgizawy had 19 points and three steals in a loss to Southern Idaho, and 13 points and 10 rebounds against Southeast CC.

As a freshman, Elgizawy played at NCAA Div. I program Tarleton State, averaging 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game.

“Karim has phenomenal talent,” said Turner. “I first saw him play at the 2019 World Championships representing Egypt, then got to compete against him last year when he was at Laramie County. I saw firsthand that he plays with great energy and can score in multiple ways. He has relentless effort on the defensive side of the ball as well. He is the type of hooper who can impact the game anywhere on the court.”

Prior to his collegiate career, Elgizawy played several years for his nation’s national squads, suiting up as the youngest player on Egypt’s 2023 FIBA World Cup team. He also helped lead the Egyptian U-18 team to a continental championship in 2022.

He will join Australian Mack Keighran as the second international player on UAA’s 2026-27 roster, and will be the first African basketball player – men’s or women’s – in Seawolf history.

Elgizawy is the fifth player to sign since Turner assumed coaching duties this spring, joining Quincy Byas (6-8/185, G/F, Portland, Ore./Rosemary Anderson Prep/Eastern Arizona), Keighran (6-2/180, G, Melbourne, Australia/Chadron State), Joseph Mayberry (6-5/190, G, Lancaster, Texas/LHS/McLennan CC) and Tarrance Warren (6-2/175, G, Dallas, Texas/Sam Houston HS/Eastern Arizona/Barry U.).