Sharif Karim Fajardo Blanding (born June 9, 1976) is a Puerto Rican former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
player. Fajardo has played in the
CBA,
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
, and the
National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional, abbreviated as BSN, is the first-tier-level professional men's basketball league in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1929 and is organized by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation.
The Baloncesto Superior Nacio ...
(
BSN) with
Santurce Crabbers,
Quebradillas Pirates and the
San Germán Athletics. Fajardo has played internationally in France, Italy, and Greece. Fajardo participated in the 2005 Pre-Season Training Camp of the
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
of the
NBA. Fajardo was a member of the
Puerto Rican National Basketball Team
The Puerto Rico national basketball team ( es, Selección de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico) represents Puerto Rico in men's international basketball competitions, it is governed by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation ( es, link=no, Federación de ...
, most notably the
2004 Puerto Rican National Basketball Team
The Puerto Rico national basketball team ( es, Selección de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico) represents Puerto Rico in men's international basketball competitions, it is governed by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation ( es, link=no, Federación de ...
that defeated the United States at the
2004 Olympic Games
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
.
Biography
In 2001/02 season, he played in the Italian
LegADue
Serie A2, known for sponsorship reasons as Serie A2 Old Wild West, is a men's basketball league in Italy. It constitutes the second-tier of the Italian league pyramid, below the first division LBA and above the third division Serie B, with pr ...
for
Pallacanestro Messina Pallacanestro Messina was an Italian professional basketball team based in Messina, Sicily.
History
Established in 1976, the club was admitted to the first division Serie A for the 2003-04 season after Virtus Bologna was excluded for financial i ...
.
In 2002, Fajardo was close to joining the
Pompea Napoli Italian Serie A, but never did due to an injury and an adaptation about the number of extra-
EEC
The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organization created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957,Today the largely rewritten treaty continues in force as the ''Treaty on the functioning of the European Union'', as renamed by the Lisb ...
players. He underwent surgical treatment at his left knee in Sep 02. On Nov 02, Fajardo moved to
Idaho Stampede
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...
of the
Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and was waived on Jan 03. Fajardo played in 21 games and averaged 14.3 PPG 5.4 RPG 1.5 APG., Fajardo also played shortly at
Iraklio Crete, Greece playing in 3 games averaging 4.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, with 1 assist.
In 2003, he joined the
San Germán Athletics of the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico (BSN). He went on to play for the
Coop Nordest Trieste of the Italian
Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Cop ...
, where he played in 28 games averaging 15.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 0.6 APG.
In summer of 2004, Fajardo was a power forward of the 2004
Puerto Rican National Basketball Team
The Puerto Rico national basketball team ( es, Selección de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico) represents Puerto Rico in men's international basketball competitions, it is governed by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation ( es, link=no, Federación de ...
that defeated the United States in the
2004 Olympic Games
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
.
In 2004, he played for
Strasbourg IG of the French ProA where he played in the
FIBA
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. Originally known as the (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word ''amateur'' from its nam ...
Europe League playing in 13 games averaging 17.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8 assists, .549 field goal percentage, .459 3-point percentage. During the French ProA League, Fajardo played in 33 games averaging 13.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.2 SPG, .475 field goal percentage, .271 3-point percentage.
Fajardo helped Strasbourg IG win the French Championship in 2004-2005 season.
In 2005, Fajardo was invited to play with
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
during the
NBA Summer Pro League. He signed with the
Arecibo Captains of the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico (BSN). He also played in the Italian
Lega2 with
Banco di Sardegna Sassari.
In 2006, Fajardo injured his knee and was unable to participate with the Puerto Rican National Basketball Team in Japan in the
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was the 15th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. The tournament was hosted by Japan and held from 19 August to 3 September 2006. It was co-organised by ...
.
In 2007, Fajardo before playing with the
Santurce Crabbers of the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico (BSN).
References
External links
Statisticsin
BSN
Sharif Fajardoat eurobasket.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fajardo, Sharif
1976 births
Living people
Basketball players from New York City
Atléticos de San Germán players
Baloncesto Superior Nacional players
Basketball players at the 1999 Pan American Games
Basketball players at the 2003 Pan American Games
Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Idaho Stampede (CBA) players
La Crosse Bobcats players
Olympic basketball players for Puerto Rico
Pan American Games bronze medalists for Puerto Rico
Pan American Games medalists in basketball
Piratas de Quebradillas players
Puerto Rican expatriate basketball people in France
Puerto Rican expatriate basketball people in Greece
Puerto Rican expatriate basketball people in Italy
Puerto Rican men's basketball players
SIG Strasbourg players
UTEP Miners men's basketball players
Power forwards (basketball)
Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games