Mahmud Zarif

Mahmud Zarif
(Addax, G/F)
ID# 386

Illustrated by AsterionBlazing
No. 11 – Retired
Position	Swingfur
Species	Addax ( Bovidae )
Gender	Male
Nickname(s)
Corkscrew
Personal information
Born	Cairo, EGY
Nationality	Egyptian
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Shoots	Left
Career information
School	Ongulés Université de Paris
FBA draft	2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36th overall
Selected by the Pittsburgh Keystones
Pro playing career	2013–2018
Career history
2013-2015	Pittsburgh Keystones
2015-2017	Queens Pride
2017-2018	Baltimore Spirits
Contract information
Contract year	2015
Player Contacts
(IC) Agent	Paula Braydi
(OOC) Creator	Unknown
(OOC) Actor	Unknown
(OOC) Usage	Ask me before any use

Top 24

Mahmud Zarif was ranked #11 in the 2013 Draft Candidate Combine.

Biography

Growing up in the slums of Cairo, Mahmud Zarif did not have the best of circumstances growing up. His father was a small businessman, while his mother stayed at home, caring for him and his 6 brothers and sisters.

At the young age of 6, he got into soccer like most other kids in Egypt's capital, but at the same time, he discovered basketball. There was something about this sport that just kept drawing him in, and how unique it was compared to what's commonly played in these parts. After school, he would spend as much time in the gym as possible, before he was kicked out by the janitor later at night.

During his high school days, he took the high school league in Cairo by storm with his athleticism, and willpower to score, racking up an average of 16 points per game, gaining great popularity in his school. He was simply the talk of the whole school. But his father did not seem to agree with Mahmud's decision to go for the professional level.

As much as Mahmud was a gifted athlete, his father kept pushing his son to go into law school, which brought stress and discomfort in his own home, making basketball his only stress reliever. In his sophomore year, Mahmud’s father tried to take his own son out of the team, which caused a huge protest from the players and even the coach, begging Mahmud to stay with the team and building his potential to go professional. After weeks of talks and convincing, Mahmud was back on the court, wearing his beloved jersey.

A few years later, he received a letter from France, from the Ungulate University of Paris, saying he’s earned himself a basketball scholarship to study and play at one of Europe’s top universities for hoofed furries. He was thrilled by this, but he could not tell his father, as he was trying to bring his own son into law school in Cairo, much to the protest of Mahmud. Though his mother kept the secret for him, and let Mahmud run away to Paris one night, sneaking him out of his home and driving him to the airport at night, so that the addax can attend university in Europe and play among the best.

Zarif’s game kept growing on the college level, leading his university to a national championship in his very first year (2011), averaging 18.6 points per game, and 2 crucial blocks in the final game.

2011 was also the time of the Egyptian revolution. His father was a great activist for the rights of his own people, which seemed ironic, because for what he wanted his own son to do, but the night before the French national championship, he received a phone call from his own mother, the worst someone could imagine. Mahmud’s father was shot and killed by pro-dictatorship forces during a protest in downtown Cairo. In the locker room, Mahmud broke down crying, holding his necklace tightly to himself. The necklace contained a family photo of his family he held dearly. He could not sleep the entire night, shattered by the events.

His coach begged him to sit the final game out, but Mahmud was too stubborn to think about it. At first, it seemed he would not be at the top of his game, but later on, he fought through and helped claim the championship. He would be crowned one of the greatest players French basketball has seen this decade. Calling his mother later, he would move on quickly and dedicate his success to his late father. Even if he did not support him, Mahmud forgave him.

Mahmud Zarif’s strength’s are as mentioned, his athleticism and jumping capabilities. His abilities are great for scoring and driving to the basket. His light weight and strength carry him higher than the average antelope can jump, making him great for dunks.

Zarif’s weaknesses don’t show a lot, but can be significant. His defense is about average, and his endurance isn't the greatest, tiring out faster. He is great for starting, but has to improve on his endurance, if he wants to take his game to the next level.