Solomon Hughes (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Solomon Hughes
Hughes at the LBJ Library in 2020
Born	(1979-02-28) February 28, 1979 (age 46)
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley (BA, MA) University of Georgia (PhD)
Occupation	educator athlete actor
Years active	1997–present
Known for	lead role of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Solomon Hughes (actor) Personal information High school John Wesley North High School (Riverside, California ) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, California) Fork Union Military Academy (Fork Union, Virginia) Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg) Career information College California (1998–2002) NBA Draft 2002 / Undrafted

Solomon Young Hughes, born on February 28, 1979, is an American educator, athlete, and actor. He is well-known for playing a main character in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. This show is a sports drama TV series that aired on HBO.

Solomon Hughes: Athlete, Teacher, and Actor

Basketball Journey

Solomon Hughes is very tall, standing at 6 feet 11 inches. His father, Ronald Hughes, also played basketball in college. He is now a professor of sociology. Solomon played basketball for Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California. He finished high school in 1997.

When he was 17, Solomon planned to play for Tulane University. However, he changed his mind and did not go there. This decision meant he could not play NCAA basketball for two years. He then went to Fork Union Military Academy for a year.

In 1997, Solomon enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley. He practiced with the California Golden Bears team. Even though he couldn't play in games at first, he kept working hard. On November 3, 1998, the NCAA allowed him to play. Solomon played his first college game that very night. He played for the Golden Bears for four years. He was also a captain of the team.

Playing Professional Basketball

After college, Solomon Hughes played for the famous Harlem Globetrotters. He played 13 games with them. In 2003, he tried out for the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Solomon also played in other professional basketball leagues. These included the United States Basketball League and the American Basketball Association. He also played in a professional basketball league in Mexico.

Learning and Teaching

Solomon Hughes is also a dedicated educator. He earned two degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Education.

In 2013, he earned his PhD from the University of Georgia. His special area of study was Higher Education and Policy Studies. His research looked at how highly recruited student athletes choose which college to attend.

Today, Solomon teaches at Duke University. He is an instructor and works with the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity. He has also taught at Stanford University. At Stanford, he was also an assistant director for a special fellowship program.

Becoming an Actor

Solomon Hughes took on his first acting role in an HBO series. He was chosen to play the legendary basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This was for the show Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Playing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Solomon's first time acting. He played the famous athlete for 17 episodes over two seasons. The show has now finished, with its second season finale being the last episode.