A returning athlete to the Rock Ridge basketball program, sophomore forward Shawn Makassi has quickly become one of the key leaders on the varsity team. Off the court, Makassi likes to hang out with his girlfriend and friends. 

In this Q&A, Makassi shares a little about himself while also sharing his goals for his future with Phoenix Basketball.

Q: What inspired you to start playing basketball?

A: Definitely watching tv and also watching players like Kobe inspired me.

Q: How would you characterize your season so far?

A: I [have] had a bunch of hustle plays this season that I’m proud of, so one word I would use to characterize my season is hustle.

Q: What is your relationship with your coaches and team like?

A: My coaches and teammates are like a second family to me. Even if something happens off the court, I can tell them [what happened].

Q: What’s one moment that sticks out to you from this season and why?

A: Definitely the locker room. The energy is great [in] there and definitely [amps] up me and my teammates before the game.

Q: Which professional athlete do you look up to and why?

A: Definitely Micheal Jordan. His game is very unique. 

Q: How do you manage both academics and athletics when your athletics have such a demanding schedule?

A: I try my best to finish all my work in study hall and also on the bus ride to [the games] and back. I don’t like staying up late [doing work] because I feel like it affects my performance.

Q: How do you feel like you’ve grown from freshman year to now?

A: [In] freshman year, I was extremely nervous, but thanks to my coaches and teammates, I’m not nervous anymore and feel confident [while playing].

Q: What do you hope to accomplish before the end of the season?

A: Dunk on someone.

Makassi’s next chance to secure a win is against the Potomac Falls Panthers on Thursday, Jan. 16.