Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1323259
20 WAC Magazine | wac.net living fit meet the athlete / sleep health Meet the athlete Solomon Alabi By Mae Jacobson, Associate Editor Solomon Alabi grew up in Nigeria, where soccer was the preferred sport of his peers. Substantially taller than his friends—he tops out at 7-foot-1— Solomon switched to basketball at age 14, when he realized his height gave him an advantage on the court. Solomon moved to the U.S. to play high school hoops in Florida and attended Florida State University. He was drafted by the Toronto Raptors during his junior year of college and spent two years in the NBA before playing internationally in Europe and Asia. Solomon now plays for the WAC Open Team and in the WAC basketball league. Q. What does your athletic future hold? A. I hope to continue playing with the WAC Open Team and win more championships. I love playing with members of all ages and levels in the WAC league. I've even reunited with some former NCAA players who I knew in college and guys I trained with in the NBA. You can also find me on the 8th Floor becoming an exceptional Pickleball player! Q. Tell us about some of your career achievements. A. Professionally, playing in the NBA. I also played on the junior and senior Nigerian national teams and was named to the ACC All-Defensive team twice. Personally, my biggest achievement is my family. Q. Tell us about Seattle's basketball community? A. Our city has a great community, especially at the WAC. Donald Watts and Mike Knight have created an awesome program for youth that I'm excited for my daughters to be a part of. For myself, at the end of my professional athletic career, I didn't have motivation to play. All the hard workers and competitors on the WAC's court changed that. Q. What's your favorite part of playing basketball? A. Aside from winning, basketball has given me abundant opportunities in life and amazing chances to meet great people. e former pro athletes I've met at the WAC have been especially influential, inspiring me and helping me learn how to transition from that lifestyle to a new professional career. I'm now in real estate, so if you need a house with high ceilings, let the 7-foot agent help you! C O U R T E S Y P H O T O So much time, so little sleep Getting better shut-eye isn't just a dream. These tips can help. By Emily Melynn Alexander Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies the lack of sleep in the United States as an epidemic? In fact, studies have shown that insomnia affects at least one-third of people ages 60 and over, one-fih of teenagers, and more than half of pregnant women. No age group is immune. Here's the good news: Sleeping challenges can be solved! Good sleep is essential for your mind and body. Researchers have discovered that sleep correlates with three essential brain functions: concentration, cognition and productivity. Adequate sleep has been found to boost mood, increase emotional empathy, and prevent depression. e recommended daily amount of sleep for the average adult is seven to nine hours. According to the CDC, "Adults who sleep less than seven hours each night are more likely to say they have had health problems, including a heart attack, asthma, and depression." So what can you do to improve your sleep? e American Sleep Association identifies five factors that